The concurrent founding of the Abbey of Saint-Étienne to the west of the Caen Castle and the Abbey of Sainte-Trinité (Abbaye aux Dames) to its East were to enhance the development of the new ducal capital, and may have been a result of the reconciliation process of William, Duke of Normandy (soon after to become William I, King of England), and PopeLeo IX. William fell out with the pope when he married his cousin Matilda of Flanders after 1049 despite Leo's interdiction. Lanfranc of Pavia, Prior of Bec Abbey, who himself had initially expressed concerns regarding the marriage, acted on William's behalf to secure Leo's forgiveness. For this successful service, Lanfranc was made abbot of Saint-Étienne, a position he held until his appointment to Canterbury in 1070.[2]
The dedication took place in 1077. William's wife Matilda died in 1083 and was buried in the Abbaye aux Dames. After his own death in 1087 in Rouen, the body of King William was sent to Caen to be buried in Saint-Étienne, according to his wishes. The funeral, attended by the bishops and abbots of Normandy as well as his son Henry, was disturbed by the assertion of a citizen of Caen who alleged that his family had been illegally despoiled of the land on which the church was built. After hurried consultations the allegation was shown to be true, and the man was compensated. A further indignity occurred when the corpse was lowered into the tomb. The corpse was too large for the space, and when attendants forced the body into the tomb it burst, spreading a disgusting odour throughout the church.[3]
William's tomb has been disturbed several times since 1087, the first time in 1522 when the grave was opened on orders from the papacy. The intact body was restored to the tomb at that time. In 1562, during the French Wars of Religion, the grave was again opened and the original tombstone of black marble, similar to that of Matilda in the Abbaye aux Dames, was destroyed. William's bones were scattered and lost, with the exception of one thigh bone. This lone relic was reburied in 1642 with a new marker, which was replaced 100 years later with a more elaborate monument. This tomb was again destroyed during the French Revolution, but was eventually replaced with the current early 19th-century ledger stone in white marble.[4]
Architectureedit
Interior view of St.-Étienne
The abbey was to be built in Caen stone, and construction began in 1066.[1] For many decades during the 11th century, there was a mutually fruitful competition between Saint-Étienne and its sister building Sainte-Trinité. The west façade was built at the end of the 11th century.[2]
An important feature added to both churches in about 1120 was the ribbed vault,[2] used for the first time in France. The two abbey churches are considered forerunners of the Gothic. The original Romanesqueapse was replaced in 1166 by an early Gothic chevet, complete with rose windows and flying buttresses. Nine towers and spires were added in the 13th century. The interior vaulting shows a similar progression, beginning with early sexpartite vaulting (using circular ribs) in the nave and progressing to quadripartite vaults (using pointed ribs) in the sanctuary.
As a consequence of the Wars of Religion, the high lantern tower in the middle of the church collapsed and was never rebuilt.
The Benedictine abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and the abbey church became a parish church.
From 1804 to 1961, the abbey buildings accommodated a prestigious high school, the Lycée Malherbe. During the Normandy Landings, inhabitants of Caen found refuge in the church; on the rooftop there was a red cross, made with blood on a sheet, to show that it was a hospital (to avoid bombings).
^Douglas, David C. (1964). William the Conqueror: The Norman Impact Upon England. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. pp. 362–363. ISBN9780520003484. OCLC 399137.
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abbaye aux Hommes (Caen).
Conant, Kenneth J., Carolingian and Romanesque Architecture: 800 to 1200 (4th, illustrated, reprint ed.). Yale University Press. 1993. ISBN978-0-300-05298-5.
Bouet, Georges, 1868: Analyse architecturale de l'abbaye de Saint-Etienne de Caen. Caen: Le Blanc-Hardel
Davy, R., 1954: Le grand orgue de L'Abbaye aux Hommes à Caen. Caen: Caron
Gouhier, P., Fortier, J.A., 1974: L'Abbaye aux Hommes : Saint-Etienne de Caen. Nancy: Cefag
Hippeau, Célestin, 1855: L'Abbaye de Saint-Étienne de Caen, 1066-1790. Caen: A. Hardel
Decauville Lachênée, Abel, 1895: Le Lycée et l'Abbaye de St-Étienne de Caen. Caen: Chez tous les libraires
Sauvage, R.N., 1911: Le Fonds de l'abbaye de Saint-Étienne de Caen aux archives du Calvados. Caen: H. Delesques
abbey, saint, Étienne, caen, abbey, saint, Étienne, also, known, abbaye, hommes, abbey, contrast, with, abbaye, dames, ladies, abbey, former, benedictine, monastery, french, city, caen, normandy, dedicated, saint, stephen, founded, 1063, william, conqueror, mo. The Abbey of Saint Etienne also known as Abbaye aux Hommes Men s Abbey by contrast with the Abbaye aux Dames Ladies Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery in the French city of Caen Normandy dedicated to Saint Stephen It was founded in 1063 1 by William the Conqueror and is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in Normandy Abbaye aux Hommes Contents 1 Founding 2 Architecture 3 Later history 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksFounding edit nbsp Tomb of William the ConquerorThe concurrent founding of the Abbey of Saint Etienne to the west of the Caen Castle and the Abbey of Sainte Trinite Abbaye aux Dames to its East were to enhance the development of the new ducal capital and may have been a result of the reconciliation process of William Duke of Normandy soon after to become William I King of England and Pope Leo IX William fell out with the pope when he married his cousin Matilda of Flanders after 1049 despite Leo s interdiction Lanfranc of Pavia Prior of Bec Abbey who himself had initially expressed concerns regarding the marriage acted on William s behalf to secure Leo s forgiveness For this successful service Lanfranc was made abbot of Saint Etienne a position he held until his appointment to Canterbury in 1070 2 The dedication took place in 1077 William s wife Matilda died in 1083 and was buried in the Abbaye aux Dames After his own death in 1087 in Rouen the body of King William was sent to Caen to be buried in Saint Etienne according to his wishes The funeral attended by the bishops and abbots of Normandy as well as his son Henry was disturbed by the assertion of a citizen of Caen who alleged that his family had been illegally despoiled of the land on which the church was built After hurried consultations the allegation was shown to be true and the man was compensated A further indignity occurred when the corpse was lowered into the tomb The corpse was too large for the space and when attendants forced the body into the tomb it burst spreading a disgusting odour throughout the church 3 William s tomb has been disturbed several times since 1087 the first time in 1522 when the grave was opened on orders from the papacy The intact body was restored to the tomb at that time In 1562 during the French Wars of Religion the grave was again opened and the original tombstone of black marble similar to that of Matilda in the Abbaye aux Dames was destroyed William s bones were scattered and lost with the exception of one thigh bone This lone relic was reburied in 1642 with a new marker which was replaced 100 years later with a more elaborate monument This tomb was again destroyed during the French Revolution but was eventually replaced with the current early 19th century ledger stone in white marble 4 Architecture edit nbsp Interior view of St EtienneThe abbey was to be built in Caen stone and construction began in 1066 1 For many decades during the 11th century there was a mutually fruitful competition between Saint Etienne and its sister building Sainte Trinite The west facade was built at the end of the 11th century 2 An important feature added to both churches in about 1120 was the ribbed vault 2 used for the first time in France The two abbey churches are considered forerunners of the Gothic The original Romanesque apse was replaced in 1166 by an early Gothic chevet complete with rose windows and flying buttresses Nine towers and spires were added in the 13th century The interior vaulting shows a similar progression beginning with early sexpartite vaulting using circular ribs in the nave and progressing to quadripartite vaults using pointed ribs in the sanctuary Later history editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message As a consequence of the Wars of Religion the high lantern tower in the middle of the church collapsed and was never rebuilt The Benedictine abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and the abbey church became a parish church From 1804 to 1961 the abbey buildings accommodated a prestigious high school the Lycee Malherbe During the Normandy Landings inhabitants of Caen found refuge in the church on the rooftop there was a red cross made with blood on a sheet to show that it was a hospital to avoid bombings See also editFrench Romanesque architectureReferences edit a b Discover Caen a b c Abbey of Saint Etienne at Caen Abbaye aux Hommes Norman Connections Project Bates David 2001 William the Conqueror Stroud UK Tempus pp 207 208 ISBN 0 7524 1980 3 Douglas David C 1964 William the Conqueror The Norman Impact Upon England Berkeley CA University of California Press pp 362 363 ISBN 9780520003484 OCLC 399137 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abbaye aux Hommes Caen Conant Kenneth J Carolingian and Romanesque Architecture 800 to 1200 4th illustrated reprint ed Yale University Press 1993 ISBN 978 0 300 05298 5 Bouet Georges 1868 Analyse architecturale de l abbaye de Saint Etienne de Caen Caen Le Blanc Hardel Davy R 1954 Le grand orgue de L Abbaye aux Hommes a Caen Caen Caron Gouhier P Fortier J A 1974 L Abbaye aux Hommes Saint Etienne de Caen Nancy Cefag Hippeau Celestin 1855 L Abbaye de Saint Etienne de Caen 1066 1790 Caen A Hardel Decauville Lachenee Abel 1895 Le Lycee et l Abbaye de St Etienne de Caen Caen Chez tous les libraires Sauvage R N 1911 Le Fonds de l abbaye de Saint Etienne de Caen aux archives du Calvados Caen H DelesquesExternal links editVisiting information in French 49 10 54 N 0 22 22 W 49 18167 N 0 37278 W 49 18167 0 37278 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abbey of Saint Etienne Caen amp oldid 1196906913, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
