In the early twelfth century a Burgundian monk set out to tell the 500-year history of his monastery, embedded within a broader history of early medieval France. The Cartulary-Chronicle of St-Pierre of Bèze is both a history of the monastery and a collection of its 331 charters, from its seventh-century foundation until the middle of the twelfth century. Bèze was a Benedictine house whose history included at least six incidents of sacking and destruction – and according to its twelfth-century chronicler it always recovered and emerged stronger than ever.

Combining the history of Burgundy and Francia with the history of his house, John, the chronicler, created a past for Bèze as he wanted it to be remembered. Based on John’s autograph manuscript, The Cartulary-Chronicle of St-Pierre of Bèze is published here in full for the first time. While the monks of Bèze have often been overshadowed by their more famous neighbours, the monks of Dijon, this edition recounts the history of one of the oldest houses in Burgundy and gives it its proper due.

In the early twelfth century a Burgundian monk set out to tell the 500-year history of his monastery, embedded within a broader history of early medieval France. The Cartulary-Chronicle of St-Pierre of Bèze is both a history of the monastery and a collection of its 331 charters, from its seventh-century foundation until the middle of the twelfth century. Bèze was a Benedictine house whose history included at least six incidents of sacking and destruction – and according to its twelfth-century chronicler it always recovered and emerged stronger than ever.

Combining the history of Burgundy and Francia with the history of his house, John, the chronicler, created a past for Bèze as he wanted it to be remembered. Based on John’s autograph manuscript, The Cartulary-Chronicle of St-Pierre of Bèze is published here in full for the first time. While the monks of Bèze have often been overshadowed by their more famous neighbours, the monks of Dijon, this edition recounts the history of one of the oldest houses in Burgundy and gives it its proper due.

In the thirteenth century, radical reformers – churchmen, devout laywomen and laymen, and secular rulers – undertook Herculean efforts aimed at the moral reform of society. No principality was more affected by these impulses than France under its king, Louis IX or "Saint Louis." The monarch surrounded himself with gifted, energetic moralists to carry out his efforts. Servant of the Crown and Steward of the Church explores the career of one of the most influential of King Louis’s reformers, Philippe of Cahors.

Born into a bourgeois family dwelling on the periphery of the medieval kingdom of France, Philippe rose through the ecclesiastical hierarchy to the office of judge. There he came to the attention of royal administrators, who recommended him for the king’s service. He ascended rapidly, and was eventually entrusted with the royal seal, effectively making constituting him the chancellor of the kingdom, the highest member of the royal administration. Louis IX secured his election as bishop of Évreux in 1269. Using the records of Philippe’s work in Reims, Paris, and Évreux, William Chester Jordan reconstructs Philippe’s career, providing a fascinating portrait of the successes and failures of reform in the thirteenth century.

In the thirteenth century, radical reformers – churchmen, devout laywomen and laymen, and secular rulers – undertook Herculean efforts aimed at the moral reform of society. No principality was more affected by these impulses than France under its king, Louis IX or "Saint Louis." The monarch surrounded himself with gifted, energetic moralists to carry out his efforts. Servant of the Crown and Steward of the Church explores the career of one of the most influential of King Louis’s reformers, Philippe of Cahors.

Born into a bourgeois family dwelling on the periphery of the medieval kingdom of France, Philippe rose through the ecclesiastical hierarchy to the office of judge. There he came to the attention of royal administrators, who recommended him for the king’s service. He ascended rapidly, and was eventually entrusted with the royal seal, effectively making constituting him the chancellor of the kingdom, the highest member of the royal administration. Louis IX secured his election as bishop of Évreux in 1269. Using the records of Philippe’s work in Reims, Paris, and Évreux, William Chester Jordan reconstructs Philippe’s career, providing a fascinating portrait of the successes and failures of reform in the thirteenth century.

In the early twelfth century a Burgundian monk set out to tell the 500-year history of his monastery, embedded within a broader history of early medieval France. The Cartulary-Chronicle of St-Pierre of Bèze is both a history of the monastery and a collection of its 331 charters, from its seventh-century foundation until the middle of the twelfth century. Bèze was a Benedictine house whose history included at least six incidents of sacking and destruction – and according to its twelfth-century chronicler it always recovered and emerged stronger than ever.

Combining the history of Burgundy and Francia with the history of his house, John, the chronicler, created a past for Bèze as he wanted it to be remembered. Based on John’s autograph manuscript, The Cartulary-Chronicle of St-Pierre of Bèze is published here in full for the first time. While the monks of Bèze have often been overshadowed by their more famous neighbours, the monks of Dijon, this edition recounts the history of one of the oldest houses in Burgundy and gives it its proper due.

In the early twelfth century a Burgundian monk set out to tell the 500-year history of his monastery, embedded within a broader history of early medieval France. The Cartulary-Chronicle of St-Pierre of Bèze is both a history of the monastery and a collection of its 331 charters, from its seventh-century foundation until the middle of the twelfth century. Bèze was a Benedictine house whose history included at least six incidents of sacking and destruction – and according to its twelfth-century chronicler it always recovered and emerged stronger than ever.

Combining the history of Burgundy and Francia with the history of his house, John, the chronicler, created a past for Bèze as he wanted it to be remembered. Based on John’s autograph manuscript, The Cartulary-Chronicle of St-Pierre of Bèze is published here in full for the first time. While the monks of Bèze have often been overshadowed by their more famous neighbours, the monks of Dijon, this edition recounts the history of one of the oldest houses in Burgundy and gives it its proper due.

In the thirteenth century, radical reformers – churchmen, devout laywomen and laymen, and secular rulers – undertook Herculean efforts aimed at the moral reform of society. No principality was more affected by these impulses than France under its king, Louis IX or "Saint Louis." The monarch surrounded himself with gifted, energetic moralists to carry out his efforts. Servant of the Crown and Steward of the Church explores the career of one of the most influential of King Louis’s reformers, Philippe of Cahors.

Born into a bourgeois family dwelling on the periphery of the medieval kingdom of France, Philippe rose through the ecclesiastical hierarchy to the office of judge. There he came to the attention of royal administrators, who recommended him for the king’s service. He ascended rapidly, and was eventually entrusted with the royal seal, effectively making constituting him the chancellor of the kingdom, the highest member of the royal administration. Louis IX secured his election as bishop of Évreux in 1269. Using the records of Philippe’s work in Reims, Paris, and Évreux, William Chester Jordan reconstructs Philippe’s career, providing a fascinating portrait of the successes and failures of reform in the thirteenth century.

In the thirteenth century, radical reformers – churchmen, devout laywomen and laymen, and secular rulers – undertook Herculean efforts aimed at the moral reform of society. No principality was more affected by these impulses than France under its king, Louis IX or "Saint Louis." The monarch surrounded himself with gifted, energetic moralists to carry out his efforts. Servant of the Crown and Steward of the Church explores the career of one of the most influential of King Louis’s reformers, Philippe of Cahors.

Born into a bourgeois family dwelling on the periphery of the medieval kingdom of France, Philippe rose through the ecclesiastical hierarchy to the office of judge. There he came to the attention of royal administrators, who recommended him for the king’s service. He ascended rapidly, and was eventually entrusted with the royal seal, effectively making constituting him the chancellor of the kingdom, the highest member of the royal administration. Louis IX secured his election as bishop of Évreux in 1269. Using the records of Philippe’s work in Reims, Paris, and Évreux, William Chester Jordan reconstructs Philippe’s career, providing a fascinating portrait of the successes and failures of reform in the thirteenth century.