Flavigny Abbey

Flavigny Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery, now occupied by the Dominicans, in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d'Or département, France. The monks at this abbey were the original makers of the well-known aniseed confectionery Anise de Flavigny.

Benedictines

Elevations of the Carolingian crypt

This monastery was founded in 717 by Widerad, who richly endowed it. According to the authors of the Gallia Christiana the new abbey, placed under the patronage of Saint Praejectus (Prix), Bishop of Clermont, and martyr, was erected on the site of an ancient monastic foundation, dating, it is said, from the time of Clovis, and formerly under the patronage of Saint Peter, who as patron eventually overshadowed and superseded Saint Prix. Pope John VIII dedicated the new church about the year 877, from which time the patronage of Peter appears to have prevailed definitively.

The fame of Flavigny was due partly to the relics which it preserved, and partly to the piety of its religious. The monastery was at the height of its reputation in the eighth century, in the time of the Abbot Manasses, who was ordained by Pippin the Short. In 760/62, he attended the council of Attigny.[1] Pippin's successor, Charlemagne, authorized him to found the Carolingian style monastery of Corbigny. The same Manasses transferred from Volvic to Flavigny the relics of Saint Praejectus. Abbot Apollinaris, appointed by Charlemagne in 802, was also abbot of Saint-Bénigne de Dijon and Môutier-Saint-Jean.[2] Charlemagne's son, Louis the Pious, used Abbot Adrevaldus as an envoy to Septimania in 834 and 838, according to the Historia Hludowici imperatoris. These years do not correspond to the dates given in the abbey's only list, which says that he became abbot in 839 and ruled for three years.[2] Eygilo, the founder of Prüm Abbey, left his own establishment to become abbot of Flavigny in 860. He set up monks at Corbigny, but later left Flavigny to become Archbishop of Sens.[2] His successor, Geylo, also resigned to become abbot of Tournus and later bishop of Langres.[2]

There were also preserved at Flavigny the relics of Saint Regina, whom her acts represent as having been beheaded for the faith in the town of Alise (since called Alise-Sainte-Reine). The history of the translation of Regina (21–22 March 864) was the subject of a contemporary account.

In 877, Adalgar, the bishop of Autun (875–94), took control of Flavigny and appointed Wolfard its abbot. This man was a brother-in-law of the Emperor Louis II and had been ordained by the pope. In 880 or 881 he signed a charter of King Carloman II as the royal "protochancellor". After his death, only rectors were appointed to rule Flavigny on the bishop's behalf. The rector Girfred was accused of poisoning Adalgar at Tournus on his way to Rome.[3] Adalgar's successors, Walo (894–919) and Hervé (894–919), continued to rule Flavigny. Walo and Hervé were the brother and son, respectively, of Count Manasses of Autun.[3]

Episcopal rule at Flavigny continued under Bishops Rotmund (935–68), Gerald (968–77) and Walter (977–1018). Rotmund returned to the use of abbots, appointing no less than four. One abbot, Fulcher, was also abbot of Saint-Bénigne. Another, Milo, a nephew of the prelate Adrald, continued on as abbot under Gerald and Walter. When he died, Walter appoint Robert, a relative of the counts of Nevers, in his place, but he was removed for incompetence to the priory of Corbigny.[3] The next abbot appointed, Heldric, was a Cluniac monk who restored regular monastic life to Flavigny. He was simultaneously abbot of Môutier-Saint-Jean and Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre.[3]

Heldric's successor, Amadeus, restored abbatial control over Corbigny and established new monastic houses at Couches, Semur and Beaulieu.[4] His successor, Aymo (c. 1040), was forced to resign by Pope Leo IX on account of simony. He died on 26 December, year unknown.[4] Aymo's successor, Odo I, a monk from Montiéramey, resigned after only two years in office and died on 26 August, year unknown.[4] After the abbacy of Raynald (1084–90), a brother of Duke Odo I of Burgundy, the post was vacant for seven years (except for the two-month rule of one Elmuin).[4]

After this interregnum, the Abbot Hugh succeeded. He wrote a Chronicle, a Martyrology and a Necrology, but according to the Catholic Encyclopedia they "contain few facts of real interest". Hugh owed his appointment to the influence of Archbishop Hugh of Lyon and Bishop Agano of Autun. After many conflicts, he was forced to resign in 1100.[4] His replacement was the prior, Girard.[4]

The monastery was rebuilt in the 17th century and occupied by Benedictines of the Congregation of St. Maur, who were actively employed in research concerning the historical documents of the abbey, but the results of their studies disappeared during the French Revolution, when the abbey was dissolved.

Dominicans

In the 1840s Lacordaire rebuilt and restored all that remained of the monastery surrounded by a portion of its ancient estate, and established there a priory of the Order of St. Dominic.

Abbots

Notes

  1. ↑ Bouchard 1991, p. 145.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bouchard 1991, p. 146.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bouchard 1991, p. 147.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Bouchard 1991, p. 148.
  5. ↑ Bouchard 1991, p. 145. According to Hugh of Flavigny, he died while on a mission for Charlemagne, although this is chronologically impossible.

Sources

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Coordinates: 47°30′41″N 4°31′47″E / 47.51139°N 4.52972°E