Monastic Reform Under the Normans Flashcards
How popular were monasteries in Anglo-Saxon England?
Monasticism had declined in England. Many monasteries had been destroyed in Viking raids for two hundred years, and many of their treasures had been looted.
Why did the Normans want to reform the monasteries?
Monasteries relied on gifts of land from secular lords. This raised the concern that monasteries had lost their independence.
The was a great concern that monks were becoming lax, and were not following the Benedictine Rule properly
Who was the main figure planning to reform the monasteries?
After Lanfranc became Archbishop of Canterbury, he set about reforming the monasteries, at the same time that he was reforming the Church.
How did the Lanfranc reform the monasteries and churches?
❖Lanfranc reformed the liturgy (the words of church services), to make it more like that used in the rest of Europe.
❖The role of the abbot was clearly defined, and a new monastic hierarchy was put in place.
❖Lanfranc also created strict rules about when and how people could be made into saints.
❖Lanfranc ensured that monks’ lives were more strictly regulated. They would be seen to be more pious, and therefore they would be more respected.
❖Over time, the Saxon leadership of the monasteries was replaced by Normans. In 1086, only three Saxon abbots remained in charge of monasteries.
By 1086, how many Saxon abbots were present?
3, the rest were Norman
What were the Cluniac monasteries introduced by the Normans during the monastic reforms?
Cluniac monasteries were a new type of monastery, first introduced to England in 1077. They followed the Benedictine Rule, but were slightly different from other Benedictine monasteries.
How did the Benedictine rules present in Cluniac house differ from other monasteries?
The Benedictine Rule was imposed more rigidly in Cluniac houses than at other monasteries.
How independent were the Cluniac?
The Cluniac foundations were answerable only to the Abbot of Cluny in France. Therefore they were not subjected to secular interference. They even rejected King William the Conqueror.
What were monks part of Cluniac foundations exempts from?
Many Cluniac foundations were exempt from military service and other feudal duties. This meant that they were not subjected to secular interference.
In 1066, how many monks and nuns were in England?
In 1135, how many monks and nuns were in England?
The number of monks and nuns in England increased. In 1066 there had been around 1,000, and by 1135 there were nearly 5,000.
How did the number of monasteries grow during Norman rule?
The number of monasteries grew, from around 60 to over 250.
How did the relation between Cathedrals and Monasteries grow in 1066 and 1135?
In 1066 there had been four cathedrals with attached monasteries out of 15 monasteries. By 1135, ten out of 19 cathedrals had monasteries.
What negative reaction did the monastic reform face?
The reforms were not accepted everywhere. At Glastonbury Abbey, in 1083, the monks refused to accept a new chant. The abbot sent knights to enforce the change, and three monks were killed, along with 18 wounded.
