Council of Sens (1141) Historical Overview
Map describing the inquisition of Abelard, as constructed for a game design experiment.
1. Themes
2. Key Documents
2.1. Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux
2.2. William of St. Thierry's *Vita Prima* of Bernard of Clairvaux, (extended by Geoffrey of Clairvaux) briefly describes the council
2.3. BC's *On Conversion*
2.4. Letters of Peter the Venerable
2.5. Letter to Pope after Council
2.5.1. Signed by Henry of Sens
2.5.2. Geoffrey Bishop of Chartres
2.5.3. Bishops of Autumn, Auxerre, Meaux
2.6. papal edicts condemning Abelard
2.7. John of Salisbury's Historia Pontificalis
2.8. Abelard's History of my Calamities
2.9. William of Saint Thierry's Disputatio
2.10. Berengar of Poitiers
3. Events
3.1. Bernard Preaching in Paris (November 1, 1140)
3.1.1. needs to convert clerics
3.1.1.1. Geoffrey of Auxerre is convert
3.2. Bernard Preaching In Paris (January 6, 1141)
3.3. Bishops's Pre-Council Meeting (Council of Sens) - Bernard seeking to influence bishops prior to public hearing (sidestepping normal process of conflict resolution). (May 25, 1141?)
3.3.1. List of heterodox statements read aloud from Abelard's works
3.3.2. each statement is followed by address to assembly, "Do you condemn this" (damnatis?); they respond "we do" (damnamus)
3.3.2.1. Verbaal, p. 474.
3.3.2.2. Bishops do not seem to have considered this evenings verdict as open to challenge by Abelard's appeal to the pope.
3.3.3. Does this decide the heresy of the person or the text?
3.4. Exposure and Veneration of the Relics of St. Stephen; including Mass: Morning Day 1 - Council of Sens
3.4.1. Bernard was asked to offer sermon
3.4.2. asked all to pray for (unnamed) Abelard
3.5. Inquisition: Council of Sens (May 26, 1141)
3.5.1. Book/texts entrusted to two or more specialists for study/ examine orthodoxy
3.5.1.1. William of Saint-Thierry accuses Abelard to BC and Geoffrey of Auxerre
3.5.1.2. Bernard asks Thomas of Morigny to verify what WsT indicates
3.5.1.3. Questioning was likely done before council, when Bernard met with PA in private; and urged him to correct his writings - part of a "correction fraterna" procedure (Verbaal, 481)
3.5.1.3.1. Abelard however was likely unaware this was not just academic discussion
3.5.1.4. fraternal admonition in private
3.5.1.4.1. BC meets PA in private (privata correctio)
3.5.1.5. fraternal admonition with witnesses
3.5.1.5.1. BC meets PA with witness (privata denunciatio)
3.5.1.6. they seek "remedium" - confession and voluntary penance
3.5.1.7. if unsuccessful, then public accusation/ denuntiatio/ correctio.
3.5.1.7.1. Bernard preaches sermon (without naming PA) to students, warning students about heterodox teaching (publica correctio)
3.5.1.7.2. then denounced him to eccesiastical authorities (publica denuntiatio)
3.5.2. Delay to allow for examination and construction of list of heterodox statemetns
3.5.3. Juridical procedure opened by High prelate; short history given and accusation
3.5.3.1. Likely procedure opened by Henry, Archbishop of Sens: "Brethren, Fellows in the Christian religion, in every danger you ought to prevent faith in you from being disturbed and the sincere eye of a dove, from being clouded by the stain of swollen pride. For it will be of no avail to possess all the virtues when faith is failing, according to the words of the Apostle, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not chastity, it profiteth me nothing... "Peter always disturbs the Church. He always invents something new"
3.5.3.2. Bernard repeats this about Abelard, emphasizes Abelard's influence, popularity among cardinals of the Curia, accused him of discussing question of faith with his youngest disciples and of vulgarizing and simplifying the mysteries of the faith.
3.5.4. List of heterodox statements is read allowed for assembly
3.5.4.1. each statement is followed by address to assembly, "Do you condemn this" (damnatis?)
3.5.5. Abelard chose a judicial solution and appealed to Pope
3.5.5.1. Suggested by Hyacinth Bobone
3.5.5.2. By allowing it, the gathered bishops (perhaps doubting its canonical regularity), nonetheless demonstrated their wish to act according to correct juridical procedure.
3.5.5.2.1. "Ivo of Chartres, Panormia, "If a bishop mistrusts his judge and sense that he is put at a disadvantagel he may feel free to appeal to the Apostolic See". Abelard, mind you, was not a bishop...
3.5.6. Judgement
3.5.6.1. Silence
3.5.6.2. Excomunication
3.6. Innocent II offers formal condemnation (ep. 448) - July 16, 1141
3.7. Retreat to Cluny/ Reconciliation
3.7.1. Vs. Book Burning in Paris
4. Factions
4.1. Condemnation
4.1.1. Bernardines etc.
4.1.2. Suger/Louis worried about anti-establishment discourse of heresy
4.2. Pro-Papacy (Worry about schism)
4.2.1. Innocent II
4.2.2. Vs. Anacletus II holdouts
4.3. Bernard is convinced to return as "prosecutor" - his presence could be sought/ prevented by different factions...
4.4. Suger vs Henry (i.e. Suger vs. Stephen Garlarnde)
4.5. Abelard called for large number of his students to show up. (Council of Sens Reconsidered, p. 467)
4.6. Pro-Abelard
4.6.1. Peter Abelard
4.6.2. Heloise of the Paraclete
4.6.3. Berengar of Poitiers, student
4.6.4. Hyacinth Bobone (one of the "true directors of the event")
4.6.5. Abelard called for large number of his students to show up. (Council of Sens Reconsidered, p. 467)
4.7. Anti-Abelard (Force for Royal Order?)
4.7.1. Bernard of Clairvaux
4.7.2. William of Saint-Thierry
4.7.3. Thomas of Morigny
4.7.4. Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis (one of the "true directors of the event")
4.8. Rabble-rousers (secret faction)
4.8.1. Eleanor of Aquitaine - age 15
4.8.2. Count/Duke of Poitiers
4.8.3. Arnold of Brescia
4.8.4. Others... bishops seeking independence from kings, archibishops or emperors (especially Italian bishops/archbishops/cardinals)
4.9. Indeterminates
4.9.1. Henry Sanglier
4.9.2. Peter the Venerable
4.10. Secondary Factions
4.10.1. aristocrats
4.10.2. men vs women
4.10.3. regular vs secular clergy
4.10.4. old school vs new school learning
5. locations
5.1. where does it take place
5.2. architectural plans of city, cathedral, buildings...
5.2.1. still unfinished cathedral
6. Dramatis Personae
6.1. Peter Abelard
6.1.1. Stephen of Garlande
6.1.2. Master Guido di Castello
6.1.3. Berengar of Poitiers
6.2. Bernard of Clairvaux
6.2.1. William of Saint-Thierry
6.2.2. Geoffrey of Auxerre (his secretary)
6.3. Henry Sanglier (Archbishop of Sens †1142)
6.3.1. Geoffrey, Bishop of Chartres
6.3.1.1. papal legate
6.3.2. Bishop of Orléans
6.3.3. Bishop of Auxerre
6.3.4. Bishop of Troyes
6.3.5. Bishop of Meaux
6.3.6. Bishop of Nevers
6.3.7. Bishop of Paris
6.4. King Louis VII
6.4.1. Count of Champagne
6.4.2. Count of Nevers
6.5. Archbishop Samson of Reims
6.5.1. his suffragan bishops
6.6. Relics of Saint Stephen
6.7. Arnold of Brescia (?) - counterfactual
6.8. Papal Legate
6.8.1. Pope Innocent II