Baume Abbey
Encyclopedia
Baume Abbey, in its village of Baume-les-Messieurs
, Jura, France, was founded as a Benedictine abbey not far from the still-travelled Roman road
linking Besançon
and Lyon
. It stands near the source of the Dard
in the Jura, France. Around it the picturesque village of Baume-les-Messieurs is congregated. The abbey is famous for its sixteenth-century retable
.
inquired at the end of the 17th century, though an eleventh-century source and Peter the Venerable
in the following century recorded a tradition Mabillon followed, that it had been founded by Saint Columbanus, which would place the foundation in the late sixth century. In 732 Saracen
raiders destroyed the obscure community of monks, along with neighboring Château-Châlon and the village of Lons-le-Saunier
. It was refounded during the reign of Louis the Pious
in the early ninth century by Saint Eutice, probably a disciple of Benedict of Aniane
, who was revitalizing and reordering the Benedictine communities of the Gauls. In 817, when Emperor Louis at Aachen
divided the monasteries in his lands into three categories, monasterium Balma was one of only twelve that owed him annual subsidies.
Passing through Besançon on his way to Rome in 869 Lothaire granted Baume and all its lands and goods to Arduic, archbishop of Besançon, but died before the transfer could take effect; Beaume was among the royal properties that fell to the lot of Louis the German
at the division effected in May 870. After the desolation of Burgundy by the Normans
, 887—899, once again it had fallen into such desuetude, that its second refounding abbot, Berno, who was later called from Baume to found Cluny Abbey
in 910, is generally credited with being its founder, about 890. Berno was confirmed as abbot in 895 by Pope Formosus
, who took it and all its lands under the protection of the Holy See, asserting the right of the community to elect their own abbot, and threatening with excommunication any lay lord who might attach its lands and revenues; Berno took the prudent step of placing Baume under the secular patronage of Rudolph I of Burgundy
.
About 909, Odo
with his noble companion Adegrin, found Baume and became a monk, priest, and then superior of the abbey school, bringing with him a library of 100 books.
Subsequently, however, without the invigorating presence of Berno's first successors, Baume suffered a century of eclipse, before papal authority gave it in 1147 to Peter the Venerable
, abbot of Cluny
; dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, Baume — in a sense the mother-house of Cluny — thus became a Cluniac priory
.
The notorious Jean de Watteville was abbé de Baume. Baume was secularised in 1753 and its canons were expelled in 1790, at the start of the French Revolution
, when Baumes-les-Moines became Baume-les-Messieurs.
Baume-les-Messieurs
Baume-les-Messieurs is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.The village lies within the most extensive of the steephead valleys of the Jura escarpment, the Reculée de Baume. It is therefore almost surrounded by limestone cliffs about 200m high. The River Seille has...
, Jura, France, was founded as a Benedictine abbey not far from the still-travelled Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
linking Besançon
Besançon
Besançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008...
and Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. It stands near the source of the Dard
Dard
-People:* Khwaja Mir Dard, 18th century Urdu poet.* Dard Hunter, born William Joseph Hunter , an American authority on printing, paper, and papermaking—especially by hand....
in the Jura, France. Around it the picturesque village of Baume-les-Messieurs is congregated. The abbey is famous for its sixteenth-century retable
Retable
A retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
.
Early history
The abbey's origins had been irretrievably lost to memory when Jean MabillonJean Mabillon
Jean Mabillon was a French Benedictine monk and scholar, considered the founder of palaeography and diplomatics.-Early career:...
inquired at the end of the 17th century, though an eleventh-century source and Peter the Venerable
Peter the Venerable
Peter the Venerable , also known as Peter of Montboissier, abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Cluny, born to Blessed Raingarde in Auvergne, France. He has been honored as a saint but has never been formally canonized.-Life:Peter was "Dedicated to God" at birth and given to the monastery at...
in the following century recorded a tradition Mabillon followed, that it had been founded by Saint Columbanus, which would place the foundation in the late sixth century. In 732 Saracen
Saracen
Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
raiders destroyed the obscure community of monks, along with neighboring Château-Châlon and the village of Lons-le-Saunier
Lons-le-Saunier
Lons-le-Saunier is a commune and capital of the Jura department in eastern France.-Geography:The town is in the heart of the Revermont region, at the foot of the "premier plateau" of the Jura massif...
. It was refounded during the reign of Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious , also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was the King of Aquitaine from 781. He was also King of the Franks and co-Emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813...
in the early ninth century by Saint Eutice, probably a disciple of Benedict of Aniane
Benedict of Aniane
Saint Benedict of Aniane , born Witiza and called the Second Benedict, was a Benedictine monk and monastic reformer, who left a large imprint on the religious practice of the Carolingian Empire...
, who was revitalizing and reordering the Benedictine communities of the Gauls. In 817, when Emperor Louis at Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
divided the monasteries in his lands into three categories, monasterium Balma was one of only twelve that owed him annual subsidies.
Passing through Besançon on his way to Rome in 869 Lothaire granted Baume and all its lands and goods to Arduic, archbishop of Besançon, but died before the transfer could take effect; Beaume was among the royal properties that fell to the lot of Louis the German
Louis the German
Louis the German , also known as Louis II or Louis the Bavarian, was a grandson of Charlemagne and the third son of the succeeding Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye.He received the appellation 'Germanicus' shortly after his death in recognition of the fact...
at the division effected in May 870. After the desolation of Burgundy by the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
, 887—899, once again it had fallen into such desuetude, that its second refounding abbot, Berno, who was later called from Baume to found Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France. It was built in the Romanesque style, with three churches built in succession from the 10th to the early 12th centuries....
in 910, is generally credited with being its founder, about 890. Berno was confirmed as abbot in 895 by Pope Formosus
Pope Formosus
Pope Formosus was Pope of the Catholic Church from 891 to 896. His brief reign as Pope was troubled, and his remains were exhumed and put on trial in the notorious Cadaver Synod.-Biography:...
, who took it and all its lands under the protection of the Holy See, asserting the right of the community to elect their own abbot, and threatening with excommunication any lay lord who might attach its lands and revenues; Berno took the prudent step of placing Baume under the secular patronage of Rudolph I of Burgundy
Rudolph I of Burgundy
Rudolph I was King of Burgundy from his election in 888 until his death.Rudolph belonged to the elder Welf family and was the son of Conrad, Count of Auxerre, from whom he inherited the lay abbacy of St Maurice en Valais, making him the most powerful magnate in Upper Burgundy - present-day...
.
About 909, Odo
Odo of Cluny
Saint Odo of Cluny , a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, was the second abbot of Cluny. He enacted various reforms in the Cluniac monastery system of France and Italy....
with his noble companion Adegrin, found Baume and became a monk, priest, and then superior of the abbey school, bringing with him a library of 100 books.
Subsequently, however, without the invigorating presence of Berno's first successors, Baume suffered a century of eclipse, before papal authority gave it in 1147 to Peter the Venerable
Peter the Venerable
Peter the Venerable , also known as Peter of Montboissier, abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Cluny, born to Blessed Raingarde in Auvergne, France. He has been honored as a saint but has never been formally canonized.-Life:Peter was "Dedicated to God" at birth and given to the monastery at...
, abbot of Cluny
Abbot of Cluny
The Abbot of Cluny was the head of the powerful monastery of Cluny Abbey in medieval France. The following is a list.-List of abbots:-References:...
; dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, Baume — in a sense the mother-house of Cluny — thus became a Cluniac priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
.
The notorious Jean de Watteville was abbé de Baume. Baume was secularised in 1753 and its canons were expelled in 1790, at the start of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, when Baumes-les-Moines became Baume-les-Messieurs.