Benedictine priories, aristocraty and seigneury : a geopolitic of the feudal et gregorian Bas-Maine (end of the 10th-beginning of the 13th century) ; Prieurés bénédictins, aristocratie et seigneuries : une géopolitique du Bas-Maine féodal et grégorien (fin 10e-début 13e siècle)

Abstract

The study of the benedictine priories of the Bas-Maine was managed, in two times, in a geopolitic perspective. The first part of the work considers the apparition of the establishments and analyzes each foundation like a process elongated in the time and very contained : the study explores the historic antecedents et the geographical characteristics of the implantation sites, the sociology of the partners of the monks, and the chronology of their action, which is very similar to the general politic evolution. The analysis of the prioral terminology, relatively fluctuating, conduces to see in the apparition of the term of ¤prior¤ a clue of consolidation of the houses. The second part of the work takes up more specifically with the relation between the prioral fact and the politic world and with the analysis of the relationship between the monks and the aristocrats. In a first phase of association, the priories sanctioned and reinforced the legitimacy of the seigniorial domination of the aristocratic partners; in this regard, they let themselves use in the feudal struggles. At the same time integrated in the gregorian project of monastic transformation of the world, they grew on free seigneuries. At the end of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th, these prioral seigneuries appeared like rivals to the lay seigneurie, and the relationships between the monks and the aristocrats entered, then, in a phase of disassociation. During the second half of the 12th century the development of the royal power aggravated the relationship between priories and lay seigneurs. ; L'étude des prieurés bénédictins du Bas-Maine est réalisée en deux temps dans une perspective de géographie politique. La première partie du travail envisage l'apparition des établissements et analyse chaque fondation comme un processus étiré dans le temps et très contrôlé : l'étude s'attache ici à présenter les antécédents historiques et les caractéristiques géographiques des sites d¤implantation, la sociologie des partenaires sollicités par les ...