The abbey of Aniane was a

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

monastery in southern France between 782 and 1790. Founded by

Benedict of Aniane Benedict of Aniane (; ; 747 – 12 February 821 AD), born Witiza and called the Second Benedict, was a Benedictine monk and monastic reformer who had a substantial impact on the religious practice of the Carolingian Empire. His feast day is ...

with the support of

Charlemagne Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...

, it was a major reforming monastery in the

Carolingian era The Carolingian Empire (800–887) was a Frankish-dominated empire in Western and Central Europe during the Early Middle Ages. It was ruled by the Carolingian dynasty, which had ruled as kings of the Franks since 751 and as kings of the Lombard ...

. It went into decline in the 16th century, when it was placed under custodianship (1542) and sacked by

Calvinists Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyterian, ...

(1562). After 1633, it was a

Maurist The Congregation of St. Maur, often known as the Maurists, were a congregation of French Benedictines, established in 1621, and known for their high level of scholarship. The congregation and its members were named after Saint Maurus (died 565), a ...

house. It was closed during the French Revolution.

History

Foundation

Aniane was founded in 782 in the

diocese of Maguelone The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Montpellier (–Lodève–Béziers–Agde–Saint-Pons-de-Thomières) (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Metropolitae Montis Pessulani (–Lotevensis–Biterrensis–Agathensis–Sancti Pontii Thomeriarum)''; French: ''Arc ...

as a Benedictine monastery.M. A. Claussen
"Aniane (abbey)"
in Robert E. Bjork (ed.), ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages'' (Oxford University Press, 2010), retrieved 15 December 2024.P. Cousin, "Aniane, Abbey of", in ''The New Catholic Encyclopedia'', 2nd ed., Vol. 1: A–Azt (Gale, 2002), pp. 453–454. Its founder was Witiza, son of the count of Maguelone and a friend of

. He took the religious name Benedict.A. Rastoul
"Aniane (abbaye d')"
in ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques'', Vol. 3: Anforaria–Arfons (Paris, 1924), cols. 277–279. The abbey was located on the banks of the brook Anian, now called Corbières, just upstream from where it joins the

Hérault Hérault (; , ) is a departments of France, department of the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. Named after the Hérault (river), Hérault River, its Prefectures in France, prefecture is M ...

. It took its name from the brook. Its original dedicated was to Our Lady (Notre-Dame) and the Holy Saviour (Saint-Sauveur). In its early years it also had altars dedicated to

Saint Michael Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel and the warrior of God in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in third- and second- ...

and Saints

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

and

Paul Paul may refer to: People * Paul (given name), a given name, including a list of people * Paul (surname), a list of people * Paul the Apostle, an apostle who wrote many of the books of the New Testament * Ray Hildebrand, half of the singing duo ...

Carolingian era

Aniane was endowed by Charlemagne. In 787, he also granted it immunity. By 800, it had 300 monks. Duke William of Toulouse retired from secular life to entre Aniane. In 806, with Benedict's authorization, he and some fellow monks founded the abbey of Gellone. Aniane was one of the "exemplary cloisters" of the

Carolingian monastic reform The Carolingian Church encompasses the practices and institutions of Christianity in the Francia, Frankish kingdoms under the rule of the Carolingian dynasty (751-888). In the eighth and ninth centuries, Western Europe witnessed decisive developme ...

. At the request of Bishop

Theodulf of Orléans Theodulf of Orléans (Saragossa, Spain, 750(/60) – 18 December 821) was a writer, poet and the Bishop of Orléans (c. 798 to 818) during the reign of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious. He was a key member of the Carolingian Renaissance and an im ...

, it sent monks to reform

Saint-Mesmin de Micy Saint-Mesmin may refer to the following places in France: * Saint-Mesmin, Aube, a commune in the Aube department * Saint-Mesmin, Côte-d'Or, a commune in the Côte-d'Or department * Saint-Mesmin, Dordogne, a commune in the Dordogne department * Sai ...

. In 817, the

council of Aachen A number of significant councils of the Latin Church were held at Aachen (also known in French as ''Aix-la-Chapelle'') in the early Middle Ages. In the mixed council of 798, Charlemagne proclaimed a capitulary of eighty-one chapters, largely a repe ...

imposed the customs of Aniane on all monasteries in the empire. Its monks spread their renewed emphasis on the

Benedictine rule The ''Rule of Saint Benedict'' () is a book of precepts written in Latin by St. Benedict of Nursia (c. AD 480–550) for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. The spirit of Saint Benedict's Rule is summed up in the motto of th ...

to the houses of

Cormery Cormery () is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire. Its inhabitants are called Cormeriens, Cormeriennes. Geography Cormery is located 21 kilometres from Tours and 18 kilometres from Joué-lès-Tours. The area of th ...

, , , Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe and

Celleneuve Celleneuve (''Cèlanòva'' in Occitan language, Occitan) is a part of ''Mosson'' Montpellier#Neighbourhoods, neighbourhood, in the West of the city of Montpellier, Hérault, France. The place name can be translated as ''new cellar''. It first a ...

. According to the ''

Notitia de servitio monasteriorum The ''Notitia de servitio monasteriorum'' ("Notice of the Service of Monasteries") is a list of monasteries in the Frankish Empire and the services they owed the crown. It was compiled under Emperor Louis the Pious in 819, probably as a summation ...

'' of 819, the ''monasterium Anianum'' owed the emperor prayers only, neither military aid nor aid in kind.Émile Lesne
"Les ordonnances monastiques de Louis le Pieux et la ''Notitia de servitio monasteriorum''"
''Revue d'histoire de l'église de France'' 6 (1920): 493. During the Carolingian era, the ''

Chronicon Anianense The ''Chronicle of Aniane'' (or ''Annals of Aniane'') is an anonymous Latin history covering the rise of the Carolingian family from 670 to 840. It was composed by a monk of the Abbey of Aniane (Hérault). The ''Chronicle of Aniane'' is closely ...

'' was written at Aniane. The monk

Smaragdus Ardo Ardo Smaragdus (died March 843 AD) was a hagiographer. He entered the monastery of Aniane in Hérault as a boy, probably as an oblate, and was brought up by Benedict of Aniane. He was ordained a priest and made head of the monastery school.

wrote a biography of Witiza. So prominent was the abbey that, in 822, Archbishop

Agobard of Lyon Agobard of Lyon (–840) was a Spanish-born priest and archbishop of Lyon, during the Carolingian Renaissance. The author of multiple treatises, ranging in subject matter from the iconoclast controversy to Spanish Adoptionism to critiques of th ...

and attended the abbatial election.

High Middle Ages

In 890, the abbey and its rich holdings were occupied by Archbishop

Rostang of Arles Rostang of Arles (or Rostang I, Rostaing; died 913) was Archbishop of Arles from 870 to 913. He supported the coup d'état of Boso of Provence against the Carolingians in 879. Early years Rostang became a monk, and then became abbot of Aniane in ...

. He managed to pass control of it down to his successor, Afterwards it was acquired by the

bishop of Béziers A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...

. By the 11th century, it had regained its independence. In the 11th century, Aniane was involved in a serious dispute with its daughter house of Gellone. Abbot Emneno, himself a former monk of Gellone, claimed authority over it. The monks of Aniane produced false documents to support their claims. These did not fool the pope, who confirmed the independence of Gellone. Aniane was also involved in a dispute with the

abbey of La Chaise-Dieu The Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu, in Auvergne (''La Chasa-Dieu'' in Occitan language, Occitan), is a former Benedictines, Benedictine abbey, headquarters of the Casadean order, located in the commune of La Chaise-Dieu in the Departments of France, depa ...

over the priory of . The parties reached a compromise settlement under

Pope Adrian IV Pope Adrian (or Hadrian) IV (; born Nicholas Breakspear (or Brekespear); 1 September 1159) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 4 December 1154 until his death in 1159. Born in England, Adrian IV was the first Pope ...

. In the 14th century, the abbots of Aniane were prominent at the

papal curia The Roman Curia () comprises the administrative institutions of the Holy See and the central body through which the affairs of the Catholic Church are conducted. The Roman Curia is the institution of which the Roman Pontiff ordinarily makes us ...

when the papacy was in Avignon. The abbey was highly favoured and several abbots became bishops of Béziers,

Montpellier Montpellier (; ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of France, department of ...

Nîmes Nîmes ( , ; ; Latin: ''Nemausus'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Gard Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of Southern France. Located between the Med ...

and

Saint-Papoul Saint-Papoul (; Languedocien: ''Sant Pàpol'') is a commune in the Aude department in southern France. History The town of Saint-Papoul was founded during the 8th century when an abbey was established here, dedicated to Saint Papulus. The ...

. After the start of the Great Schism in 1378, the abbots continued to support the popes at Avignon. Benedict XIII rewarded Abbot Philippe by appointing him vicar general in the archdiocese of Arles. The result was that the abbey suffered a punitive visitation and reform in 1411 from the Roman pope

Gregory XII Pope Gregory XII (; ; – 18 October 1417), born Angelo Corraro, Corario," or Correr, was head of the Catholic Church from 30 November 1406 to 4 July 1415. Reigning during the Western Schism, he was opposed by the Avignon claimant Benedi ...

Reformation to Revolution

In the 16th century, Aniane went into decline. It was placed ''

in commendam In canon law, commenda (or ''in commendam'') was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice ''in trust'' to the ''custody'' of a patron. The phrase ''in commendam'' was originally applied to the provisional occupation of an ecclesiastica ...

'' in 1542. At the start of the

French Wars of Religion The French Wars of Religion were a series of civil wars between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants (called Huguenots) from 1562 to 1598. Between two and four million people died from violence, famine or disease di ...

, the

gained the ascendancy in the region. On 29 December 1561, they forced the abandonment of Catholic services in the church. On 15 April 1562, they sacked the abbey, razing the buildings and burning the archives and furnishings. The commendatory abbot himself, , soon abandoned Catholicism and converted. The abbey's property was acquired by the

Bonzi family The Bonsi della Ruota, usually known simply as the Buonsi, Bonsi or Bonzi, were a noble family from the late medieval Republic of Florence that rose to prominence in early modern France.Ludovic Lalanne, ''Dictionnaire historique de la France'' (Par ...

that controlled the diocese of Béziers between 1616 and 1703. The Bonzis charity and religious zeal assured that the irregularity of the acquisition was ignored. initiated a

reform in 1633.

Pierre de Bonzi Piero de Bonzi (also ''Pierre''; 15 April 1631 - 11 July 1703) was an Italian-French Roman Catholic cardinal. His last name is also listed as Bonsi. Biography file:(Narbonne) Armoiries de Pierre de Bonzy - Escalier du palais des Archevêques.jp ...

rebuilt the church, laying the first stone on 28 April 1679 and consecrating it on 10 February 1688. Despite the Bonzis interest in Aniane, the abbey had declined to ten monks in 1768. It was secularized during the French Revolution in 1790. The abbey church became the parish church of the village of

Aniane Aniane (; ) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. Population See also * Abbey of Aniane * Benedict of Aniane * Chronicle of Aniane * Pont du Diable, Hérault * Mas de Daumas Gassac *Communes ...

. The other buildings were declared ''

biens nationaux The were Real property, properties confiscated during the French Revolution from the Catholic Church in France, Catholic Church, the list of French monarchs, monarchy, French emigration (1789–1815), émigrés, and suspected counter-revolutiona ...

''. At first they served as a cotton mill, later a jail.

List of abbots

The following list is from the ''

Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques'' is an encyclopaedia founded by the future cardinal Alfred-Henri-Marie Baudrillart in 1912. This immense and exhaustive work is currently edited by Luc Courtois and Eddy Louchez of the ...

''.

Regular abbots

Benedict Benedict may refer to: People Names *Benedict (given name), including a list of people with the given name *Benedict (surname), including a list of people with the surname Religious figures * Pope Benedict I (died 579) *Pope Benedict II (635– ...

(782–814) **According to the ''Chronicon'', Benedict was succeeded by

, but a late copy of a diploma of the emperor

Louis the Pious Louis the Pious (; ; ; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aquitaine from 781. As the only ...

shows an abbot Senegild in 815. *George (819–822) *Tructesind (elected 822) *Ermenald (830–838) **Elias was abbot before the death of Louis the Pious in 840, but whether he preceded or succeeded Ermenald is not known. *Arnold (853–875), became

bishop of Carcassonne The Diocese of Carcassonne and Narbonne (Latin: ''Dioecesis Carcassonensis et Narbonensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Carcassonne et Narbonne'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese co ...

*Gilmond (890) * Rostang (890–913), also archbishop of Arles * (elected 914), also archbishop of Arles *Bernard Gerald (960–962), also bishop of Béziers *Leufred (971) *Reginald (972–986) *Hugh (dates uncertain) *Salvator (1025) *Pons I (1036–1059) *Emneno (1066–1089), died in office *Pierre de Sauve (1094–1114) *Pons II (1115–1119) *Pierre Raymond de Calz (1120–1140) *Guillaume (1146–1154) *Pierre (1155–1158) * (1161), became

bishop of Lodève A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...

*Raymond Guillaume (1162–1187), became bishop of Lodève *Adhemar (1187–1195) *Gaucelin (1201–1204) *Amien (existence uncertain) *Bernard de Vertefeuil (1205–1218), died in office *Guillaume de Brignac (1221–1230) *Guillaume de Valhauquès (1232–1235) *Guillaume de Parme (1236–1247) *Pierre de Sauve (1250–1280) *Raymond Delmas (1281) **Raymond de Sérignac and Jean de Sauve were jointly elected abbot in 1282. *Pons de Canillac I (1285–1311) *Gui de Canillac (1312–1333) *Guillaume de Landorre (1335–1349), became bishop of Béziers *Pons de Canillac II (1349–1360) * (1365–1367), became bishop of Nîmes * (1367–1369), became bishop of Saint-Papoul *

Pierre de Vernols Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...

(1369–1373), became bishop of Montpellier *Pierre de La Plotte (1373–1377) *Hugues de Pujols (1378–1397) **Jean de Bordet, vicar *Philippe (1399–1412) *Guillaume (1413–1422) *Pierre de Roquessels (1423–1443) **In 1443, Bertrand de Brisson was canonically elected. King Charles VII appointed a commendatory abbot, Jean d'Armand, in response. In 1444, Bertrand resigned. Jean continued in power until 1452. *Girard de Roux (1452–1490) *Jacques de Roux (1490–1494) *Antoine de Narbonne I (1494–1516) * (1516–1542), also

bishop of Sisteron The former French diocese of Sisteron existed until the French Revolution. Its see was at Sisteron in southern France and at Forcalquier, in the modern department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Sisteron was the only diocese in France which had two ...

and

Mâcon Mâcon (), historically Anglicization, anglicised as Mascon, is a city in east-central France. It is the Prefectures of France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Saône-et-Loire in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Mâcon is home t ...

Commendatory abbots

Jean du Bellay Jean du Bellay (1492 – 16 February 1560) was a French diplomat and cardinal, a younger brother of Guillaume du Bellay, and cousin and patron of the poet Joachim du Bellay. He was bishop of Bayonne by 1526, a member of the ''Conseil privé'' ...

(1542–1546), also cardinal * (1546–1556), also

bishop of Orange The ancient residential diocese of Orange in the Comtat Venaissin in Provence, a fief belonging to the papacy, was suppressed by the French government during the French Revolution. It was revived in 2009 as a titular see of the Catholic Church. ...

* (1557–1567), also

archbishop of Aix The Archdiocese of Aix-en-Provence and Arles (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Aquensis in Gallia et Arelatensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse d'Aix-en-Provence et Arles''; Occitan Provençal: ''Archidiocèsi de Ais de Provença e Arle'' or ''Archidioucès ...

*Jean Bourgois (1568–1571) *Laurent de Fizes (1582–1595), also abbot of *Louis du Caylar d'Espandeillan (1595–1600) **A layman, Louis was represented in spiritual matters by the priest Pierre Host. *Taneguy Le Blanc du Rollet (1603–1614) *Pierre Le Blanc du Rollet (1614–1615) *

Jean de Bonzi Jean de Bonsi (Florence, 1554 – 4 July 1621) was born in Florence, Italy to Domenico Bonsi, prime minister of the Duke of Tuscany, and Costanza Vettori. Early life and studies He studied in University of Padua canon and civil law. Ferdinand ...

(1616–1621), also cardinal and bishop of Béziers * (1621–1659), also bishop of Béziers *

(1660–1703), also cardinal *Francois Blouin (1703–1723) * (1723–1737), also

bishop of Toulon The former French Roman Catholic Diocese of Toulon existed until the Concordat of 1801. Its seat was in Toulon. Bishops To 1000 * c. 451: Honoratus * † c. 472: Saint Gratien * 524–549: Cyprian * 549–c. 554: Palladius (or Palais) * 573– ...

*Antoine-Joseph de Chevrières (1738–1752) * (1752–1782), also

bishop of Vence The former French Catholic diocese of Vence existed until the French Revolution. Its see was at Vence in Provence, in the modern department of Alpes Maritimes. After the Concordat of 1801, the territory of the diocese passed to the diocese of N ...

and Mâcon *Jean-Baptiste de Joussineau de Tourdonnet (1782–1790), also vicar general of the

diocese of Meaux The Diocese of Meaux (Latin: ''Dioecesis Meldensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Meaux'') is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese comprises the entire department of Seine-et-Marne. It was suffragan of the Archdiocese of Sens ...