Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Hugo von Cluny

Hugh of Cluny (aka "Hugh the Great", "Saint Hugh", "Hugh of Semur"), abbot of Cluny, was born in this little village (one of the "Plus beaux villages de France") in May 1024. Hugh had the third abbey church at Cluny (aka Cluny III) built, the largest structure in Europe for centuries. He as well had Paray-le-Monial built, he founded Charité-sur-Loire, he was the godfather of Emperor Henry IV (see "Goslar) and an important mediator in the Investiture Controversy. And Hugh had the former collegiate church Saint-Hilaire, a basilica on a "cluniacensic blueprint" built in his home-village. The construction started of the church 1120/1130. Hugh must have been a very generous benefactor, as he obviously employed the best carvers around to work here. The lintel of the main portal on the western facade. The lintel is carved out of one block of sandstone. The lintel tells how St. Hilary of Poitiers fought the Arianistic heretics, the most important part of his lifework. A band of foliage frames the (main) scenes. On the left stands St. Hilary holding a book in his hand. On a kind of stage are three men sitting. They are discussing. Two men seated in front and between them is a third one, representing the crowd behind. This is probably stands for the "First Council of Nicaea" and we see the debating party of Arianists, who denied the Trinity of God. St. Hilary ("historicly " only 10 years old then) stands on the other side. He is holding his book "De Trinitate" as he was fighting the "heretics". Actually he was banned for four years of his life to Phrygia, when the Arianists were ruling. This exile in Phrygia may be depicted in the middle, where an angel is holding a censer over St. Hillary, who as the bishop of Poitiers, wears a mitra, even during the exile. On the right side, there is a stage again - this time populated with 5 debaters. There were different councils, where St. Hillary later defended the Trinity (and won!), so this may be a scene from Arles, Milan or Beziers. Further right, beside the stage - is an empty chair. The chair is decorated - as this is the throne of Pope Leo. The Pople had left the throne, to use the latrine on the right. Just sitting on the bowl - Pope Leo passes away. His heretic soul is leaving his body through his mouth, grabbed by one of three waiting devils. - What a drama! Here either the medieval storyteller mixed something up - or he knew the sentence "Never let truth get in the way of a good story..". - The fierce opponent of Pope Leo I was Hilary of Arles, not Hilary of Poitiers.

The abbey at Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire (originally known as Fleury Abbey) was founded on the banks of the Loire river mid 7th century. It is one of the oldest abbeys of the Benedictine rule in France. The story starts in 672, when some of its monks traveled to Montecassino (Italy), dug up the remains of St. Benedict of Nursia (+ 547) and his sister St. Scholastica and brought them home. After the relics had reached at Fleury Abbey it which was renamed Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire - and due to the relics became a major place of pilgrimage. Of course, this did not help when the Normans rowed up the Loire and burned the buildings of the monastery. But the convent recovered and rebuilt. A famous school and a scriptorium existed here in the late 10th century. The erection of the church started around 1071. When the church was consecrated in 1108, the long nave was not completed. The abbey thrived, but times got rougher. In 1562, the abbey was pillaged by Huguenots. The buildings were restored, but looted and destroyed again during the French Revolution. Saint-Benoît's monks left the abbey and so the history of the convent ended after more than 1100 years. The abbey church had escaped destruction and got restored in the 19th century. In 1944, the convent was refounded the abbey buildings were rebuilt by Benedictine monks after World War II. So the history of the convent was just interrupted for about 150 years. The choir got consecrated in 1108, it may well me, that the ambulatory and the four chapels were not finished then. But as Philip I of France (aka "the Amorous") died in July 1108 and as he had chosen this church as his burial place, there was a bit of a time pressure. The nave and the choir have some interesting capitals, like this one. Christ on the right, the cross-nimbus is flanked by an Alpha and an Omega. Three persons to the left - and three inscriptions. To the very left "CLEOPASMILES", what is "Cleopas Miles". Cleopas (aka "Cleophas") was one of the two disciples, who met Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. Miles (soldier) - "Miles Christi" - is metaphor deriving from the bible. The person beside Cleopas has the inscription "HUGOM" and further to the right "HUGOMILES". Hugo is standing and on his knees. This may be Hugh of Cluny (aka "Hugo von Cluny", "Hugues de Cluny"), the famous and very important abbot of Cluny. The Fleury abbey was part of the Cluniac Reforms already since the 10th century. Hugh died in 1109, so it could well be possible that this carving was commissioned in honour of him.

Hugh of Cluny (aka "Hugh the Great", "Saint Hugh", "Hugh of Semur"), abbot of Cluny, was born in this little village (one of the "Plus beaux villages de France") in May 1024. Hugh had the third abbey church at Cluny (aka Cluny III) built, the largest structure in Europe for centuries. He as well had Paray-le-Monial built, he founded Charité-sur-Loire, he was the godfather of Emperor Henry IV (see "Goslar) and an important mediator in the Investiture Controversy. And Hugh had the former collegiate church Saint-Hilaire, a basilica on a "cluniacensic blueprint" built in his home-village. The construction started of the church 1120/1130. To the right of the lintel, that tells a story out of the life of Saint Hillary, is this capital. A Luxuria with a snake and a toad. I have seen a couple of Luxurias over the time, but this one has, compared to others, a strange face. Either, she wears a cap - and these are hair hanging down, or she has a beard, or a combination out of these two. Or these are all wrinkels, standing as a symbol for an "old" and or "ugly" face. Luxuria is not alone, there is somebody around the corner. Seen on the next shot.

Hugh of Cluny (aka "Hugh the Great", "Saint Hugh", "Hugh of Semur"), abbot of Cluny, was born in this little village (one of the "Plus beaux villages de France") in May 1024. Hugh had the third abbey church at Cluny (aka Cluny III) built, the largest structure in Europe for centuries. He as well had Paray-le-Monial built, he founded Charité-sur-Loire, he was the godfather of Emperor Henry IV (see "Goslar) and an important mediator in the Investiture Controversy. And Hugh had the former collegiate church Saint-Hilaire, a basilica on a "cluniacensic blueprint" built in his home-village. The construction started of the church 1120/1130. Here is the "complete couple" on that capital. This is the impression given, after having piously contemplated over the life of Saint Hillary, seen on the masterly carved lintel.