| Clerics |
William of Volpiano (the island of San Giulio, 962 - Fécamp, 1031)
A Benedictine monk, who, in 969, entered the monastery of Locedo, and followed St Maïeul to Cluny in 985. In 990 William became Abbot of St Bénigne in Dijon. His influence extended as much to the spiritual domain, through the promotion of Cluniac monastic precepts, as it did in the architectural field: he had St Bénigne re-built in the same manner as Cluny where the great principles of the new Romanesque architecture were being developed. The reputation of William of Volpiano attracted the attention of the Duke of Normandy, Richard II who persuaded him to set himself up in his capital of Fécamp, in 1101, with some monks from Dijon. William of Volpiano turned the abbey of the Trinity in Fécamp, under the direct protection of the Duke, and with the privilege of papal exemption, into the centre of revival of Benedictine monasticism which accompanied the rise to power of the Duchy of Normandy in the first third of the 11th century. William re-established monastic life at St Taurin in Evreux, in Montivilliers (a female community), and participated in the renaissance of the abbeys in Jumièges, St Ouen in Rouen, and St Wandrille. In 1015, Duchess Judith of Brittany, the wife of Richard II, called upon the support of William of Volpiano and his followers for the foundation of Bernay. Mont St Michel, which was less receptive to external influences, received two abbots from William’s entourage: Thierry, abbot 1024-7, and Suppo, 1033-1048. William of Volpiano also contributed to the work of libraries and monastic scriptoria. This was continued by his nephew and successor John of Ravenna (1028-1079). We have William of Volpiano's sermons, letters and a treaty on spirituality De vero bono et contemplatione divina (On true goodness and divine contemplation). His service of worship was never officially recognised, but is recorded in the liturgical calendar of a number of Benedictine congregations.
Bibliography :
- François Neveux. - La Normandie des ducs aux rois, Xe-XIIe s. - Rennes : Ouest-France, 1998.
- Michel de Boüard. - Guillaume le Conquérant. - Paris : Fayard, 1984.