Papers by Michel Dubuisson
The origins of the abbey of Villers have been rendered obscure by late medieval historiography an... more The origins of the abbey of Villers have been rendered obscure by late medieval historiography and a poorly substantiated modern interpretation. A re-examination of the sources reveals a complex foundation process, marked by strong seigniorial tensions around the "locus monasterii": the lords of Marbais, the initial donors, lured the Cistercians by offering them a parcel of cleared land they held in dispute with the canonesses of Nivelles. The latter were then forced to endorse their role as "co-founders“ of the new abbey, with which they continued to have a difficult relationship. This explains the embarrassed silence of the Villers monks on the role played by their founders. The study also reveals the systematic hostility of established religious houses toward the young community, counterbalanced by the massive support of the Marbais family network and the Brabant aristocracy. The foundation of Villers seems, finally, to have been a collective undertaking.
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Papers by Michel Dubuisson