Robert de Monte, Abbot of Mont St. Michel

Mont Saint-Michel

---

The construction of the dam began in The project also includes the removal of the causeway and its visitor car park. Since 28 April , the new car park on the mainland has been located 2. Visitors can walk or use shuttles to cross the causeway. On 22 July , the new bridge by architect Dietmar Feichtinger was opened to the public. The light bridge allows the waters to flow freely around the island and improves the efficiency of the now operational dam.

On rare occasions, tidal circumstances produce an extremely high "supertide". The new bridge was completely submerged on 21 March by the highest sea level for at least 18 years, as crowds gathered to snap photos. The original site was founded by an Irish hermit, who gathered a following from the local community.

Mont Saint-Michel was used in the sixth and seventh centuries as an Armorican stronghold of Gallo-Roman culture and power until it was ransacked by the Franks , thus ending the trans- channel culture that had stood since the departure of the Romans in From roughly the fifth to the eighth century, Mont Saint-Michel belonged to the territory of Neustria and, in the early ninth century, was an important place in the marches of Neustria.

Before the construction of the first monastic establishment in the 8th century, the island was called Mont Tombe Latin: According to a legend, the archangel Michael appeared in to Aubert of Avranches , the bishop of Avranches , and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. This marked the beginning of a brief period of Breton possession of the Mont.

In fact, these lands and Mont Saint-Michel were never really included in the duchy of Brittany and remained independent bishoprics from the newly created Breton archbishopric of Dol. When Rollo confirmed Franco as archbishop of Rouen , these traditional dependences of the Rouen archbishopric were retained in it. The mount gained strategic significance again in when William I Longsword annexed the Cotentin Peninsula from the weakened Duchy of Brittany. This made the mount definitively part of Normandy , and is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry , which commemorates the Norman conquest of England.

Harold Godwinson is pictured on the tapestry rescuing two Norman knights from the quicksand in the tidal flats during a battle with Conan II, Duke of Brittany. Norman ducal patronage financed the spectacular Norman architecture of the abbey in subsequent centuries. In the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel gave its support to William the Conqueror in his claim to the throne of England. This he rewarded with properties and grounds on the English side of the Channel, including a small island off the southwestern coast of Cornwall which was modelled after the Mount and became a Norman priory named St Michael's Mount of Penzance.

During the Hundred Years' War , the Kingdom of England made repeated assaults on the island but were unable to seize it due to the abbey's improved fortifications. The English initially besieged the Mont in —24, and then again in —34 with English forces under the command of Thomas de Scales, 7th Baron Scales. Two wrought-iron bombards that Scales abandoned when he gave up his siege are still on site. They are known as les Michelettes.

When Louis XI of France founded the Order of Saint Michael in , he intended that the abbey church of Mont Saint-Michel become the chapel for the Order, but because of its great distance from Paris, his intention could never be realised. The wealth and influence of the abbey extended to many daughter foundations, including St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall. However, its popularity and prestige as a centre of pilgrimage waned with the Reformation , and by the time of the French Revolution there were scarcely any monks in residence. The abbey was closed and converted into a prison, initially to hold clerical opponents of the republican regime.

High-profile political prisoners followed, but by , influential figures—including Victor Hugo —had launched a campaign to restore what was seen as a national architectural treasure. The prison was finally closed in , and the mount was declared a historic monument in Mont Saint-Michel and its bay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in , and it was listed with criteria such as cultural, historical, and architectural significance, as well as human-created and natural beauty.

He designed the Romanesque church of the abbey, daringly placing the transept crossing at the top of the mount. Many underground crypts and chapels had to be built to compensate for this weight; these formed the basis for the supportive upward structure that can be seen today. Today Mont Saint-Michel is seen as a building of Romanesque architecture. After having set fire to the village and having massacred the population, he was obliged to beat a retreat under the powerful walls of the abbey.

Unfortunately, the fire which he himself lit extended to the buildings, and the roofs fell prey to the flames. Horrified by the cruelty and the exactions of his Breton ally, Philip Augustus offered Abbot Jordan a grant for the construction of a new Gothic architectural set which included the addition of the refectory and cloister. Mont Saint-Michel has also been the subject of traditional jealousy from the Bretons. Bretons claim that since the Couesnon River marks the traditional boundary between Normandy and Brittany , it is only because the river has altered its course over the centuries that the mount is on the Norman side of the border.

This legend amuses the area's inhabitants, who state that the border is not located on the Couesnon River itself but on the mainland, 4 kilometres 2. Up to 20, people [ citation needed ] visit the city during the summer months. Among the 43 inhabitants as of [update] , 5 were monks and 7 nuns. Since 24 June , following the appeal addressed to them in by Bishop Jacques Fihey, Bishop of Coutances and Avranches [21] , a community of monks and nuns of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem , sent from the mother-house of St-Gervais-et-St-Protais in Paris, have been living as a community on Mont Saint-Michel.

They replaced the Benedictine monks who returned to the Mount in They are tenants of the centre for national monuments and are not involved in the management of the abbey. The community has seven sisters and four brothers. They live the mission that the Church has entrusted to them in their own charism of being "in the heart of the world" to be "in the heart of God". Their life revolves around prayer, work and fraternal life.

In this way, the building keeps its original purpose as a place of prayer and singing the glory of God. The presence of the community attracts many visitors and pilgrims who come to join in the various liturgical celebrations. In , the community undertook the renovation of a house on the Mount, the Logis Saint-Abraham, which is used as a guest house for pilgrims on retreat. Le Mont-Saint-Michel has long "belonged" to some families who shared the businesses in the town, and succeeded to the village administration.

Tourism is the main and even almost unique source of income of the commune. There are about fifty shops for 3 million tourists, while only 25 people sleep every night on the Mount monks included , except in hotels. Nowadays, the main institutions of the city are shared by:. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. An island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. For other uses, see Mont Saint Michel disambiguation. Commune in Normandy, France. The center of the commune the mount itself of Le Mont-Saint-Michel seen from the new bridge. Location of Le Mont-Saint-Michel. Michael for the soul of William king of the English and for the soul of king William his son, and for his own soul and that of his deceased wife Mathildis and for his living one Almodis, and for their boys.

This offering caritas is allowed by Robert his son, by the countess Almodis; and William his other son has promised concessit to grant it if Almodis should leave no heir and the land should thus return reveniret to him William. Istius caritatis istiusque conventionis existunt testes, a parte comitis: Albertus monachus, et Rainfredus de Say fn.

De conventione ista et caritate fecit Rogerus abbas et monachi caritatem comiti lx ta librarum Cenomanensium.

Original in private hands [see Preface]. Charter of Robert duke of the Normans, son of William, most glorious king of the English. For the weal of his soul and those of his father and mother and all his predecessors, he grants to Mont St. Michel—and for the soul of his brother Henry fn.

This gift was made in the year , the worshipful and strenuous Robert being abbot of Mont St. Charter of William Wilgelmus son of Hugh de Silliaco. For forgiveness of all the misdeeds of himself, his predecessors and his successors, he grants in the time of William Wilgelmi king of the English, of Hoel bishop of Le Mans, of Ubert the vicomte and of Geoffrey de Mayenne Mahena , to the monks of St. Michael, for the brotherhood and the prayers of St. Charter of William de Tracy.

On account of the greatness of his misdeeds, and for the salvation and good of his soul and the souls of his predecessors, he has assumed the Benedictine garb at Mont St.

Article contents

Michel, by the favour of God and by permission of the convent. And for this he has granted to God and St. Vigor; and the church of Argouges Argoge with all its tithe, and the tithe of the mill there. Hujus rei ex parte ipsius Guillelmi de Traceio testes fuerunt: Ex parte vero monachorum: Charter of abbot Richard and the convent of Mont St. Michel notifying that they have transferred the piece of ground platea held by them, at Portesmues, from the king of England, at an annual rent of twelvepence in usual money to Stephen Le Bochier and his heirs in fee for ever, to be held of them at an annual rent of sixpence and by honourably receiving them and their servants into his inn hospicium at Portesmues, and finding them in firing, candle, white robe albam , straw paleam , and salt, as is the custom in feudal feodales inns, as often as they happen to be at Portesmues, and he is to pay the king the twelvepence which was paid by them and to discharge all the burdens honera on that land.

If Stephen or his heirs should fail in any of their services, they shall have the right to execute their justice there. Charter of Rotbert de Duxeio notifying that on the eve of the Purification, he has entered the chapter of St. This was done in the presence of earl Rannulf and his barons of the Avranchin Abrincatensium , excepting the land of Ralf de Veim which he held of him Robert.

Hujus rei sunt testes: Rotbertus de Duxeio; Rannulfus comes fn. Charter of Rannulf Avenel. At the entreaty of the monks, on the day of his father's burial, he gives them the church of Sartilleium with eight arpents of land appurtenant, in alms, in the place of the tithe of St.

Evremund, which his father and he had given them, and which he is now to keep in his [own] hand[s], because it is too distant remotior from the abbey. This he does by the advice of Robert de Duxeio and other of his friends, etc. Et hec sunt signa eorum qui hujus rei interfuerunt. Charter of Henry I. He gives to Mont St. Michel and the monks there serving God twelve librates of land in Devenesira, in his manor of Budelega, in exchange for their two churches of Walegrava and Calcia which he has given to the abbey ecclesia of Radinguis in almoin.

It is to be held as freely as those churches. Apud Pirarios super Andelam. Notification that Thomas de Sancto Johanne, having begun his castle at St. Jean, wasted and destroyed the woods of Nerun and Crapalt, for its building, and then, eager with greed, proceeded to the wood of Bivia and laid it waste, and likewise occupied and seized invadere the lands of most of the vavassours in the Honour of St. Paternus and the Honour of Geneeium. The monks of St. Michael, hearing this, prayed to God to have pity on their house and to avenge them swiftly on such a wrongdoer etc.

Hearing this, Thomas, in horror, hastened like a madman to the Mount, with his brothers John and Roger and a great company, and enquired of the monks why they were clamouring to God against him and his brethren. On the monks fearlessly replying, because he had wasted their woods and wrongfully seized their lands, he, by the counsel of his brethren and of the leading men proceres who were with him, threw himself with all his company at the foot of abbot Roger and the monks, humbly begging them to have pity on his brethren and himself, and allow them to be reconciled on fair terms arranged by friends.

The abbot, by counsel of the monks, compassionately enquired on what terms he and his brethren were willing to the reconciled, as they could not absolve them nor cease their clamour unless they gave up absolutely everything they had seized. I will restore it him, saving his personal service. This he testified testamentum factum est in the chapter house of the abbey, in the time of abbot Roger and, afterwards, when he returned from captivity at Gorram, before the most pious and glorious king Henry at Argentan, Richard being abbot.

After this Thomas again returned to the Mount with his brethren, and renewed and confirmed this testimony in the presence, sight, and hearing of the following: Seal of the bishop. Charter of Rainald de Carteret Carterei.

Robert de Monte (DNB00)

For the weal of his soul and those of his predecessors he offers to Mont St. Michel and its monks in the time of abbot Richard the church of St. Germain of Carteret Cartraium with all the tithe of the whole parish and with the land of the king's alms belonging to St. Germain in Jersey Gerseium , and with the tithe of the goods of his house. At length, by God's grace, he repented, and with a contrite heart appealed for pardon to the mercy of God and St.

Michael and of abbot Bernard and the whole chapter. One day, of his own accord, he came to Mont St. Michel to pray, with his mother Lucy and his brethren Humfrey and Godfrey and certain of his men, and, with his mother and brethren, freely restored and granted the whole endowment his father had granted, and added, of his own, the tithe of his mills and two sites plateas terre in Jersey, outside his court, in a suitable spot, and one at Carteret, outside, in a suitable spot, and all the endowment of St.

For this, and for his fresh gifts, and for abolishing the evil custom, abbot Bernard gave Philip seven pounds in new money of Rouen, and his mother a bezant Bicanteum of gold, and his brother Geoffrey a hawk, and Humfrey certain wineskins ocreas. That this gift granted in the chapter [house], and placed by him with his mother and brethren, on the altar, might remain lasting and unshaken, the names of those who saw and heard it are recorded below. As to the evil custom spoken of above, it consisted in the grain of the tithe, when collected, being only allowed to be stored in Philip's court curia , where it was diminished.

Actum autem est hoc donum, et ex parte Philipphi concessum presente et concedente Algaro Constantiarum sic episcopo coram capitulo et clero, anno ab incarnatione Domini M o C o XXXV o indictione nono fn. Ex partc ecclesie hi adfuerunt: Notification that Philip de Cartrait restores to St. Michael and abbot Bernard and the convent the tithe of St. Ouen Audoenus in Gersoi quit of all claim, as to oats and straw and all else, with an acre of land, at their choice, for making their grange and storing their tithe.

Notification that, in the time of Bernard abbot of Mont St. Michel ante Peter son of Desideria fn. And this he did with the consent of Osanna of the Isles his wife, and their daughter Orenge. And this gift they placed on the altar by per the arm of St. And, for it, the abbot and convent granted to Peter's wife and daughter, in Guernsey Guernereium , an acre and a half of land, where Peter's house was situate and three virgates of land from which he rendered three bushels of wheat, and, near by, an acre of in de Follaia.

And, for this, five shillings [of money] of Rouen were given to Orenge. Ex parte monachorum testes fuerunt: Osmundus de Curia, et Richardus filius Osanne. Michel, a certain knight Osbern de Evreceio gave the abbey the church of Evrecy etc.

Guillelmus; Ruellem Calcebovem fn. Notification that the Priory ecclesia of St. Michael of Cornwall was built by Bernard abbot of Mont St. Michel in the year king Henry died, and dedicated consecrata by Robert bishop of Exeter in the ninth nono fn. The abbot, in his wisdom, by counsel of the bishop, and with the approval suffragio of earl Ranulf Ranulfi fn. He also appointed that the prior chosen by the abbot of Mont St. Michel should, in person or by one of the brethren, pay 16 marcs annually [to the parent house. If he should be proud and contumacious, and disobedient to the prelates of the Norman Mount, he should lose all share in the benefits of that house, and be excommunicated by all churches in union with it.

As to the brethren who might enter the community in Cornwall, they should go to Mont St. Michel to receive the benediction, as monks, from its abbot, unless he happens to visit Cornwall and is willing to give it them there. Whoever should venture to infringe this, by diminishing the number of the monks or applying the possessions of the house to other purposes was to be sentenced to anathema etc.

Robert De Torigni

Possessions of the Priory. The possessions given to St. Michael of Cornwall by Robert count of Mortain are: Trevanne, two plonghlands; Traokaboht, three; Lismanehee, three; Tregavers, two; Carmailehc, two, besides pasture for stock of all kinds; in all 12 ploughs carruce. Letter of R[oger], prior of St. They have all come to the conclusion that they cannot administer the church, in his diocese, which they undertook at his request; and he who offered them the endowment is dead, and his heirs, as the bishop knows, disinherited.

Moreover, they are unable to implead placitare as they are summoned to do by the bishop; and the endowments of the church are being scattered abroad. They grant it, so far as they are concerned, to abbot T. Notification that Rainald son of Ugo mortgaged to the monks of Mont St. Michel for shillings [in money of] Le Mans, the land which he held by inheritance in Guernsey Guernereium on the terms that if he or any of his heirs should repay that money, he should have the free enjoyment of that land. But when, not long afterwards, Rainald fell ill and, becoming worse, felt death approaching, he granted that land, by consent of his wife, who was present, to St.

Michael and his monks for ever, for the love of God and the redemption of his soul. Of that gift his confessor is witness; and it is allowed by his daughter Aaelis and by Richard, the husband of his other daughter, on behalf of his wife. Johannes presbiter, Radulfus homo ejus de Donvilla fn. Concessionis vero quam postmodum filie ejusdem Rainaldi fecerunt, testes sunt hi: Rivallo Calcebos; Hugo Testa fn.

Charter of Robert pincerna son of Ascelin, giving to St. If, which God forbid quod absit he should die, without entering their order, his body, wherever he may die, shall be brought by the monks to Mont St. Michel, and [buried] with a service as for one of themselves.

This gift he places on the altar on Michaelmas eve fn. Hanc conventionem scripsit Gislebertus juvenis. Record of homage done to abbot Robert of Mont St. Michel by the barons of the abbey on his accession in Michael, strove strenuously, with his companions, to regain the demesne lands for St. And as the monks had no mansion-house of their own in that manor, he and they so prevailed on Fulchard son of Orgar that Orgar quitclaimed the house masura in which his father had dwelt, by the river Hart Erti , and the monks there made St.

And Fulcard received in exchange a ferling and 4 acres of demesne land, quit of all dues to the monks, and five shillings of St. Michael's money at the hand of Robert de Mont-Sorel. Hec concessit Robertus abbas et collaudavit] fn. In the same year, when abbot Robert wished to have a trial by battle tenere unum duellum for de the honour of St. Pair at Mont St. Michel, and William de Sancto Johanne forbade it to be held duceretur outside that honour, the abbot laid the case ostendit hoc verbum before Arnulf, bishop of Lisieux and Robert de Novo Burgo, who were the king's justices, in assize, at Domfront, and it was adjudged by decision consideratione of the king's court that all the barons of Normandy who held in chief of the lord of Normandy, as did the abbot of Mont St.

Michel, could, if they would, bring to their chief residence all trials by battle, even from their most remote lands. And thus the abbot proved his case. Robertus de Novo Burgo; Hasculfus de Folligncio fn. In the year …. Michael's land in the island. Stephanus prepositus; Gislebertus Brito, et Gislebertus de Hoga. In the year , when abbot Robert had come to England, he took in [to] his hands six islands insulas which four men held at two shillings rent. In them were nearly 20 acres, what with wood and meadow. In the same year abbot Robert granted to Adam the priest the church of Erticumbe for 40 shillings, releasing the tithe of the demesne, and for the tithe of a ferling, though cum his predecessor had the whole tithe both of the demesne and of the villeins rusticis with the whole church for six years.

In the same year, at Otterton Otrintonam he demised to Nicholas the priest, for a right of way through his land between the gardens of St. Michael two pence of rent de gablo terre from the demesne. Alricus prepositus; Jordanus de Bordelai; Rasa. In the same year, when the abbot had returned from England and had come to king Henry at Mortain Moretolium and had complained to him that his officers at [South]Hampton had exacted pontage for his horses at that port he most graciously freed the actual property of the abbot and monks of Mont St.

Michel from all due, toll, passage and pontage, throughout his realm, both in England and Normandy. All the property of the monks of St. Michael, declared to be their own by their men, is to be free of toll and passage and pontage and every due throughout his realm, in England and Normandy and the seaports. Ten pounds penalty for infringement. Teste Roberto de Novo Burgo. Michael at Britavilla and Versun and the men of the monks and nuns of Caen brought the king's hay, as Robert earl of Gloucester made them do after king Henry's death, or whether it was brought at the king's cost. When Robert, porter of the castle, Ralf de Leun, Humfrey de Burnelvilla, and Fulk de Herovilla, who were demesne serjeants of the king, had sworn, the evil custom was discontinued by the good prince studio pii principis decidit , and the men of St.

Michael were relieved of it, and consequently the men of the monks and nuns of Caen. And it was directed that the hay should be brought at the king's cost, as had been sworn. Charter of Richard, bishop of Coutances, notifying that Philip de Cartraeio, of his diocese, for the weal of him and his, and at the bishop's desire and prayer, has given in[to] his hand for God and Mont St. Michel the church of St. Ouen Audoenus and the chapel of St. Mary in the island of Jersey Gerseium , with their lands and endowments and appurtenances.

And the bishop Philip being present and agreeing, has confirmed that endowment to St. Blessings on those who ratify this gift and curses on those who would impair it. Ricardo et Willeelmo archidiaconis; Petro, Roberto, et Petro de Sancta Susanna, capellanis nostris; Hamone decano; Stephano ejusdem ecclesie presbitero. Et de laicis, Alano de Winceles; Gisleberto de Hoga, fn. Bull of pope Adrian IV.

Michel … all that they possess in the island of Gersoy; in Guernsey Guernerium a fourth part of the island, the churches of St.

Mary of the Castle, St. Mary of Lishou, the chapels of St. George, and the island called Quetehou…. In England, in the diocese of Exeter, the cell of St. Michael's Mount de Monte , Cornwall, with its appurtenances; the vill of Otritone with the church and its appurtenances; Seduine and its church; the church of Cudeb[iria] fn.

Navigation menu

In the diocese of Winchester, three churches in the vill called Basinges, and the church of Basinguestoche. In the diocese of Salisbury Calisberiensi the churches of Salisburne and Hectone. In the diocese of Bath, the church of Menroch with its appurtenances. In the diocese of Ely Heliensi , the church of Wiburham. In the diocese of Durham the vill called Wath with the church and everything belonging to the vill.

No one is to trouble the above monastery or seize its possessions, or retain them [if they have been] seized. They are to remain intact for the sustenance of the brethren, saving the authority of the Apostolic see, and the canonical jurisdiction of the diocesan. Datum Beneventi per manum Rollandi Sancte Romane ecclesie presbiteri cardinalis et cancellarii.

Mont-Saint-Michel - Wikipedia

Original in D'Ainsy's collection. Notification that in the year at an assize in assisia at Caen, when Robert abbot of Mont St. Michel complained of Jordan de Sacchevilla that he had taken certain dues and exactions, by force, from the men of Eventhoth and strove to uphold, and as it were defend them against the abbot, on the ground that his predecessors had given St. Charter of Philip de Carteret, giving the abbot and monks of St.

Michael at the[ir] chapel of St. Mary de la Wik 29 perches of land adjoining their manor of la Wik on the west, which land William son of Robert Bauche held of him, he having given William an equivalent holding in exchange, namely, near the great enclosure of the monks, on the east. This gift Philip and his heirs are bound, in good faith, to warrant to the monks, so that they may enclose the land in their manor of la Wik with a wall, or otherwise as they will, without impediment. Letter of Henry II. Michel his churches of Pontorson as king Henry his grandfather, had granted them.

Therefore, if the bishop of Avranches refuses to give holy water for them, the archbishop is to do so, lest the churches of the castle he has recently established firmavi should be left without divine service. Letter of Hugh, archbishop of Rouen to his dear son Herebert bishop of Avranches. At the request of their lord king Henry, and in right of his metropolitan authority, he has given holy water to his dear son Robert abbot of Mont St.

Michel for the chapel of Pontorson as the bishop, after three requests, has refused to do so. Charter of Robert, abbot of Mont St. Michel and the convent, giving Gervase of Chichester, clerk to Thomas the Chancellor, at the prayer of Thomas, and out of love for king Henry, their church of Basinges with all its appurtenances, for his life, on condition that he pays them annually eight pounds sterling sterlingorum for the church and for that of Saleburne, which he holds from them. Gervase has sworn on the holy [Gospels] to be faithful to their church in all respects, and not to hamper impedire that church, to their harm, in his lifetime.

Charter of Henry II. He is himself witness and pledge for both parties utrinque. Thoma cancellario, et Ricardo de Campivilla. Charter of Hugh, archbishop of Rouen, notifying that the dispute between the church of Avranches and the monastery of Mont St. Michel concerning the churches of Pontorson has been thus settled in the presence of Henry the second, king of the English, of himself, and of bishops Philip of Bayeux, Rotrou of Evreux, Herbert of Avranches, [and] Hugh of Durham, of Thomas the Chancellor, Richard [du Hommet] the constable and many other nobles proceres at Rouen: Testes autem supradicte transactionis sive concordie sunt: Quitclaim from Rualen de Genecio to the abbot of Mont St.

Acta est hec eadem conventio assensu et consilio domini regis Henrici secundi et actum publice in capitulo montis iiij o Idus fn. Apud Fulgerias in exercitu. He quitclaims to the abbot and monks of Mont St. Michel the work they used to execute at his keep of Wavry Guavreium , on condition that the abbot and the barons of the Honour of Saint Pair Sanctus Paternus give the constable of that castle, annually, at Michaelmas 20 shillings in money of Anjou, or of the Roumois Romesinorum if current, nor shall any collector gravennarius or beadle have ingress on the abbot's land for [demanding] those 20 shillings, but the abbot shall send them, by his officer, to the constable at Michaelmas.

And for this grant the abbot and the barons of that Honour have given him a hundred pounds of Anjou. Fine seal, perfect [drawing].

• Your Angry Child: A Guide for Parents
• The Carriage House
• TRACKING TREASURE BY COMPUTER: With Computerized Scatter Patterns of Treasure Finds
• Por amor al arte (Calle negra) (Spanish Edition)
• Los Bombardeos Atomicos de Hiroshima y Nagasaki (Spanish Edition)
• Opera: In Few Bytes