Lindsay Rudge PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

By any standards, however, the degree to which Benedict of Aniane re-used the
works of Caesarius of Arles is remarkable, and merits an extended consideration.
Caesarius writings became one element in texts which were intended to provide the
normative backbone of ecclesiastical reform. The major figure in this reform has
traditionally been seen as Benedict of Aniane, abbot, author and director of the reforming
legislation at the councils of 816-9. However, Benedict’s position was neither so pre-
eminent, or the proposed and actual reforms as effective, as such historiography would
set forth. This chapter therefore falls into three parts. Forming a prologue to the main
body of the chapter, the first assesses Charlemagne’s legislative activity concerning
dedicated women and contrasts this with the situation of Charlemagne’s sister Gisela, the
abbess of Chelles. Continuing the theme of legislative activity, the final councils of
Charlemagne’s reign in 813 are assessed for their interpretations of female dedicated life:
both what can be gleaned of the actuality, and what attitudes were towards it. The second
main part of the chapter makes a detailed study of the documents of reform which
appeared under Benedict of Aniane’s aegis: the Institutio sanctimonialium, and the Codex
and Concordia regularum. Of critical importance, these documents allow us to assess the
ways in which Caesarius’ writings were used in the ninth century. Lastly, this weight of
normative evidence will be set against a range of other types of evidence for women’s
dedicated life in the ninth century, in order to assess the impact of the reform measures
which were ongoing throughout this period.
Prologue: Charlemagne and Gisela
In 794-5 Angilbert, Alcuin’s pupil and protégé, composed a poem on
Charlemagne (‘David’) and his entourage, praising the king and those around him.
Among the latter was his sister Gisela (d. c. 810), abbess of Chelles, who made her
appearance in the following terms:
I greet you too, Gisela, God’s holy virgin,
distinguished sister of David, in my never-ending poem.
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