Senones Abbey
Encyclopedia
Senones Abbey was a Benedictine abbey located in the valley of the Rabodeau, in the present village of Senones
in Lorraine
, France
.
The Vögte ("advocates"), from at the latest the 12th century, were the Counts, later Princes, of Salm
, in whose lands the abbey stood. There was frequent conflict between the abbey and its Vögte up the end of the monastery's existence. In the 16th century however the conflicts became so severe that to resolve them required the intervention of Emperor Maximilian II
and Popes Pius V
and Gregory XIII
; the resolution was not to the advantage of the abbey, which found itself from then on significantly weakened in relation to the claims of the Salms.
In the 12th century the abbey premises were rebuilt by abbot Anthony of Pavia, and included a round church, now vanished. At this time the abbey was responsible for the foundation of several small priories, including those at Xures
, Léomont and Vic-sur-Seille
(all in the first third of the century), Le Moniet (1126) and Fricourt
(in the mid-12th century). The priory at Mervaville was a later foundation of the abbey, from the first quarter of the 13th century.
The abbey was the home during the first half of the 13th century of the monk and chronicler Richer of Senones
.
The reform of the Congregation of St. Vanne
was introduced in 1618.
By far the best known of the abbots of Senones was Dom Antoine Calmet, famed for his extensive commentaries on the Bible, and author of other works including a history of Lorraine. (He also left a history of the abbey in manuscript). Voltaire
was an admirer of the abbot, and stayed at Senones Abbey in 1754. Dom Calmet assembled a library of 15,000 volumes, and rebuilt the entire complex.
On 2 March 1793 the Principality of Salm was incorporated into the newly formed department of Vosges
and at that time the abbey was dissolved.
The buildings on the site today are all from the 18th century rebuilding under Dom Calmet, except for (a) the church, a 19th century reconstruction apart from its bell tower, which is the only structure on the whole site remaining from the 12th century, and (b) the individual houses to the north, also 19th century, which stand on the sites of the old mill and a farm building.
The abbey has been listed as a Monument historique
by the French Ministry of Culture since 1983
Senones, Vosges
Senones is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Until 1793, Senones was the capital of the Principality of Salm-Salm.- External links :*...
in Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
History
The abbey was founded in the middle of the 7th century by Saint Gondelbert, bishop of Sens, who was also the first abbot.The Vögte ("advocates"), from at the latest the 12th century, were the Counts, later Princes, of Salm
Salm (state)
Salm is the name of several historic countships and principalities in present Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.-Origins:The County of Salm arose in the 10th century in Vielsalm, in the Ardennes region of present Belgium...
, in whose lands the abbey stood. There was frequent conflict between the abbey and its Vögte up the end of the monastery's existence. In the 16th century however the conflicts became so severe that to resolve them required the intervention of Emperor Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
and Popes Pius V
Pope Pius V
Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...
and Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...
; the resolution was not to the advantage of the abbey, which found itself from then on significantly weakened in relation to the claims of the Salms.
In the 12th century the abbey premises were rebuilt by abbot Anthony of Pavia, and included a round church, now vanished. At this time the abbey was responsible for the foundation of several small priories, including those at Xures
Xures
Xures is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
, Léomont and Vic-sur-Seille
Vic-sur-Seille
Vic-sur-Seille is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
(all in the first third of the century), Le Moniet (1126) and Fricourt
Fricourt
Fricourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Fricourt is situated on the D147 and D64 junction, some northeast of Amiens.-History:...
(in the mid-12th century). The priory at Mervaville was a later foundation of the abbey, from the first quarter of the 13th century.
The abbey was the home during the first half of the 13th century of the monk and chronicler Richer of Senones
Richer of Senones
Richer of Senones was a monk and chronicler of Senones Abbey in Lorraine, a traveller and one of the very few chroniclers or historians of the Vosges whose works have survived complete.-Life:...
.
The reform of the Congregation of St. Vanne
Congregation of St. Vanne
The Congregation of St. Vanne or Congregation of St. Vanne and St. Hydulphe , sometimes also known as the Vannists was a Benedictine reform movement centred on Lorraine. It was formally established in 1604 on the initiative of Dom Didier de La Cour, prior of the Abbey of St...
was introduced in 1618.
By far the best known of the abbots of Senones was Dom Antoine Calmet, famed for his extensive commentaries on the Bible, and author of other works including a history of Lorraine. (He also left a history of the abbey in manuscript). Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
was an admirer of the abbot, and stayed at Senones Abbey in 1754. Dom Calmet assembled a library of 15,000 volumes, and rebuilt the entire complex.
On 2 March 1793 the Principality of Salm was incorporated into the newly formed department of Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
and at that time the abbey was dissolved.
Buildings
The abbey's assets were sold off as national property. The buildings were bought by local industrialists who used them for textile works, which is what they remained until 1993, when they were acquired for preservation.The buildings on the site today are all from the 18th century rebuilding under Dom Calmet, except for (a) the church, a 19th century reconstruction apart from its bell tower, which is the only structure on the whole site remaining from the 12th century, and (b) the individual houses to the north, also 19th century, which stand on the sites of the old mill and a farm building.
The abbey has been listed as a Monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
by the French Ministry of Culture since 1983