1In a memorial volume such as this it is appropriate that the theme of my paper should be necrologies; all the more appropriate that these themes should be explored in relation to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, a subject of special interest to Hubert Guillotel. It was Hubert’s scepticism with regard to the standard accounts of Montois history of the ninth and tenth centuries that first awakened my interest in the subject, jointly explored over many hours of conversation in the wonderful setting of La Vieuville. It is with an enormous sense of loss that I continue this research without the benefit of discussion with one of the shrewdest and most insightful historical minds of recent scholarship.

2The aim of this paper is a modest one. On the basis of my editions of the all the necrologies of Mont-Saint-Michel, currently being prepared for publication, I propose to revise the account of the abbots named in the necrologies as given nearly 40 years ago by Dom Jean Laporte.1 The only acount of the matter available until now, Laporte’s work was never the basis of an edition and has been inevitably open to misinterpretation by those who have relied on it.2 For example, very few of the total entries in the principal necrology identify the monastery from which the monk named came.3 Analysis of the necrology shows clearly that the two bases of the structure of each day’s names were first hierarchy (bishops and abbots first, laywomen last), and secondly chronology. Identifications of monasteries – fiscann’, Maj. Mon – etc., are never earlier than the twelfth century. Contrary to the impression of the list of such occurrences in Laporte’s paper, these names tell us nothing in themselves about the confraternities of earlier periods. Confraternities certainly change over time, as we shall see. With the recent publication of Véronique Gazeau’s magisterial account of Benedictinism in Normandy, in which she extensively used material from my edition, there is a further danger of skewing pereceptions of what the Mont necrologies actually reveal about their links with other Benedictines. Because space here is limited, I refer the reader to a full account of the Mont necrologies, including an account of what is known about the confraternities into which it entered, already published and available from my website.4

3In presenting a revised version of the abbots, I omit those for whom no likely identification can be suggested, based upon known Mont confraternities. Many of the unidentified abbots will have come from confraternities whose necrologies no longer survive; these include Redon, Saint-Jouin des Marnes, and Saint-Méen. What the notes reveal is that it can be very difficult to make a precise identification. Many sources slightly differ on the date of an obit, even where the identification is very secure; they can even differ by as much as two or three months. With common names such as Guillelmus or Hugo, and even with less common ones such as Lescelin, the problem is compounded. Of the necrologies used in order to help with identification, external evidence for confraternity is wanting only in the cases of St-Aubin d’Angers and Lyre. Problems occur because these lists were compiled and maintained year after year over a period of centuries. From time to time a fresh copy was written, to be annotated with later entries. The fact that relatively few mistakes – e. g. misplacements or corruptions of names – occur is remarkable. The level of deliberate omission and corruption is greatest in manuscripts produced after the fourteenth century, so I have avoided using those wherever possible. Finally, the list is restricted to those whose names occur in the first-hand version of the necrology, written ca.1220. The list incorporates abbots named in the Martyrology-Necrology, reserved for monks of Mont-Saint-Michel itself, and a handful of special confratres, which have been distinguished by italics. These are obits appended to each day’s saints in the Mont’s version of the Usuard Martyrology. When the date of death follows immediately, it refers to an abbot of the Mont. To save space, the word abbas is omitted throughout. Both texts are found in Bib. de la ville d’Avranches, ms. 214.

4The sources, primary and secondary, used and their abbreviations are as follows:

Bulst: Neithard Bulst, Untersuchungen zu den Klosterreformen Wilhelms von Dijon (962-1031), Pariser Historische Studien 11, Bonn, 1973.
Gazeau: V. Gazeau, Normannia monastica. Prosopographie des abbés bénédictins (x^e-xii^e siècle), Caen, 2007.
Heads: D. Knowles and C.N.L. Brooke, Heads of Religious Houses, Cambridge, 1976.
La Couture [Saint-Pierre-de]: Le Mans, Bibl. mun. 238.
Jumièges I and II, Rouen, Bibl. mun. U 50.
Lyre: Evreux, Bibl. mun. n. 17.
Molinier: Obituaires de la province de Sens, t. I-III, Paris, 1902-1909
RHF: Recueil des Historiens de la Gaule et de la France, t. 23 (extracts from Norman necrologies).
Saint-Aubin: Angers, Bibl. mun. 288.
Saint-Bénigne: Dijon, Bibl. mun. 634, with references to Schamper, (B. Schamper, Saint-Bénigne de Dijon: Untersuchungen zum Necrolog der Handschrift Bibl. mun. de Dijon, ms 634, München, 1979).
Saint-Evroul: Paris, Bibl. nationale, ms. lat. 5757.
Saint-Germain [-des-Prés]: edited, with facsimile, in Andrea Decker-Heuer, Studien zur Memorialüberlieferung im frühmittelalterlichen Paris (Beihefte der Francia, Band 40, Sigmaringen, 1998), pp. 297-352.
Saint-Serge [et Saint-Bacche]: Angers, Bibl. mun. 837.
Saint-Taurin [d’Evreux]: Paris, Bibl. nat., nov. acq. lat. 1899.
Saint-Vincent [au-Mans]: le Mans, Bibl. mun. 67.
Saint-Wand [rille]: Rouen, Bibl. mun. 227.
Tréport: Rouen, Bibl. mun. Y 36.

January

1 Guillermus fiscannensis
William de Dijon, died 1031. Monk of Saint-Bénigne, held multiple abbacies as the most influential monastic reformer of his time. Remembered also at Saint-Taurin (fol. 188r), Jumièges (fol. 210r), Saint-Bénigne (fol. 126v), Saint-Germain, p. 298, fol. 126v, and La Couture, fol. 1r.
Martinus
Peterborough, died 1155; monk of Bec.
2 Leduinus
Abbot of Saint-Vaast d’Arras. died 1041, he had resigned as abbot of Saint-Bavon de Gand in 1036; also Saint-Germain, p. 298. Petrus
Peter the Venerable, abbot of Cluny, d. 29 December 1156: Saint-Bénigne (Schamper, p. 200) and Jumièges II (fol. 209v; RHF, p. 417).
Provided support and a refuge to Peter Abelard (see 21 April)
4 Gaufredus (d. 1150)
5 Conudion
St-Sauveur de Redon in Brittany, died 868.
6 Ansbertus
Pontlevoy, d. 1040 (Molinier, ii, p. 208).
Guillelmus Tiron
Tiron, died after 1147: La Couture, fol. 1v.
7 Vlgerius
Saint-Aubin d’Angers: 6 January, Saint-Aubin, fol. 146v.
Heldebertus (I, 1009-17)
Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, fol. 127; Jumièges I, fol. 162r, and on the previous day at Saint-Taurin (fol. 188v).
8 Letselinus et Fromundus abbates
Lescelin, of Saint-Faron de Meaux, d. 1065. See Bulst, Untersuchungen, pp. 155-6; Hescelinus, Jumièges I, fol. 161v.
Also found in the Necrology, Abbot Fromund of Saint-Taurin d’Evreux occurs 989-1035 (Gazeau, p. 94). Saint-Taurin has Depositio Domini Fromundi abbatis on 11 January (fol. 189r).
9 Walerannus
Saint-Basle de Verzy, died 1075.
Geraldus
Gerald II of Saint-Aubin d’Angers d. 8 January 1106. St-Serge, fol. 6r.
10 Henricus
Fécamp, died 1188: Saint-Taurin, fol. 189r; Jumièges II, fol. 210r (RHF, p. 417), on 9 January; Saint-Bénigne, fol. 126v.
Viuianus Rothon
Redon, died after 1187.
12 Richardus (1124-30)
Guillelmus Fonten
Fontenay-sur-Orne, died 1131 (Gazeau, 127).
14 Robertus
Saint-Martin de Sées, died 15 January 1089 (Gazeau, p. 353); Jumièges II, fol. 210r (RHF, p. 417).
15 Richardus
La Couture, died after 1184: La Couture, fol. 2r.
16 Cauallonus
Redon, died after 1029.
17 Riuallonus
Prior of Mont-Saint-Michel; abbot of New Minster, Winchester, from 1072 to 1088 (ms Avranches 213, fol. 178, printed PL 202, col. 1326B).
Tescio
Tescelin, abbot of La Lucerne, d. 18 January 1157.
22 Robertus. Robertus cad.
Saint-Etienne de Caen, died 1107 (Orderic Vitalis, vi, 136-38). The other Robert might be Robert abbot of Saint-Germain, died 29 January 1072, former abbot of Saint-Wandrille (Gazeau, p. 337).
24 Robertus
Troarn, d. 1221 (Gazeau, p. 385): 23 January at Saint-Evroul, fol. 3r; Saint-Germain, 25 January (p. 302).
25 Gregorius
Malmesbury, died 1168: monk of Lyre, occurs in the necrology of Lyre on this date, fol. 5v.
28 Eudo
Fleury, d. 22 January? Molinier, III, Obit. of Fleury, p. 150: Jumièges II, fol. 211r (RHF, p. 417), remembers an Abbot Eudo on 27 January. Or possibly Sainte-Trinité de Caen, d. 1140, day unknown (Gazeau, p. 48).
Guilelmus S. Petri Cerneliensis
Mont monk William d’Agon, abbot of Cerne c. 1075/95 (ms Avranches 213, fol. 178; printed (incorrectly) in PL 202, col. 1326B).

February
2 Hamelinus episcopus Abbas
Abbot of Saint-Aubin d’Angers, bishop of Rennes, d. 1141: Saint-Aubin, fol. 149v.
4 Guillelmus
Abbot of Pontoise who became abbot of Vézelay in 1161; died 3 February 1171; for his confraternity see Keats-Rohan, ‘Testimonies’, p. 179.
11 Guillelmus
Saint-Taurin, died before 1122 (Gazeau, p. 96): Saint-Taurin, fol. 193r; 10 February, Jumièges II, fol. 272r. Less likely, Fleury, died after 1080; Molinier III, p. 150.
12 Felix
Monk of Fleury sent to Brittany in the early eleventh century. Died as abbot of Saint-Gildas de Rhuis on a 4 March.
15 Ricardus
La Couture, d. 15 January 1184: La Couture, fol. 2r.
16 Iohannes
Monk of Saint-Bénigne, Abbot of Fruttaria, d. c. 1041 x 1046: Saint-Germain, (p. 305), and Saint-Bénigne, fol. 130v.
18 Rodericus
Jumièges, died c. 1000: Jumièges II, fol. 212v (RHF, p. 418); Saint-Germain, p. 30.
19 Nicolus [sic]
A Nicholaus was remembered on this day at Saint-Taurin, fol. 194r. The most likely is Abbot Nicholas of Saint-Ouen de Rouen, died 27 February 1092. Son of Richard III of Normandy and a former monk of Fécamp (Ord. Vit., ii, 298); also Jumièges on 17 February (Jumièges II, fol. 212v), and La Croix-Saint-Leuffroi, fol. 8r, 26 February.
Martinus huius loci (1187-1191)
23 Faricius
Abingdon, died 23 February 1117. Also Jumièges II, fol. 212v (RHF, p. 418).

March

3 Serlo S. Petri Glocestrie
St Peter’s, Gloucester, died 1104: Jumièges II, fol. 213v (RHF, p. 418); 24 February, Saint-Bénigne, fol. 132r.
4 Hugo
Saint-Michel-de Tréport, died 1220: Tréport, fol. 105v, RHF, p. 451.
5 Mainerius
Saint-Evroul, d. 5 March 1089. Saint-Evroul, 6 March, p. 485: Jumièges II, fol. 213v, (RHF, p. 418), has on 7 March, Manerius, Gradulfus [St-Wandrille], Seifredus abbates.
9 Fulbertus Eremboldus Othelboldus
It is inherently unlikely that these names refer to three abbots of Saint-Bavon de Gand, d. 1067, 24 July 1017 and 5 December 1034, respectively, as Dom Laporte suggested, tempting though it is to accept the identification for Othelbold. There is no supporting evidence elsewhere in the Mont necrologies, or the others used, for such groupings, alienated from the day of death; cf. 14.i, 17.v, 5.ix, 17.x, 29.xi.
10 Trustinus
Glastonbury, died 11 March 1096: monk of Caen. (Heads, 51). Vidricus
Saint-Evre de Toul, monk of Saint-Bénigne, died 1050; Saint-Germain, p. 308; Saint-Bénigne, fol. 132v; Bulst, pp. 95-8.
Robertus Cer-.
Cerisy, died 1190 (Gazeau, p. 65).
14 Lanbertus
Saint-Taurin, died 1159 (Gazeau, p. 97). A Lambert occurs on the previous day in Saint-Taurin, fol. 196v, where the column for professed monks of the house is blank, as is the following day’s.
16 Godefredus
Also Jumièges II, fol. 214r (RHF, p. 418).
20 Philippus
Possibly Philip, abbot of Saint-Taurin, who was remembered there on xii kal. Sept (21 August; so also La Croix-St-Leuffroy, fol. 31v). Died between c. 1128 x 1146 (Gazeau, p. 97).
21 Haimo
Saint-Bénigne de Dijon (fol. 133v), died 1188.
22 Alueredus
Tréport, d. c. 1090; Tréport, fol. 107v: Jumièges II, fol. 214v (RHF, p. 418).
Rotgerius Fiscanni (also Necrology, 20 March).
Fécamp, d. 22 March 1138/9: Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, fol. 134v; La Croix-Saint-Leuffroi, f. 11r. 21 March, Saint-Taurin, fol. 197v.
26 Hunaldus
Saint-Michel de Tonnerre, died 1057/8; Saint-Bénigne, fol. 134v.
28 Auesgaudus
Saint-Vincent du Mans, 28 March, after 1064: St-Vincent, fol. 10r; Saint-Germain, p. 310, 27 March; Lyre, fol. 6r; La Couture, fol. 9v; Saint-Taurin (26 March), fol. 198r.
29 Vincentius
Abingdon, died 1130; monk of Jumièges: Jumièges II, fol. 215r (RHF, p. 418).

April

1 Moraldus
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, c. 1014: Saint-Germain, p. 311.
2 Rogerius (died 1123)
Roger II, monk of Jumièges: Jumièges II, fol. 215v.
Fulbert ep. Carnotensis
Bishop of Chartres, d. 10 April 1029 (so Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, fol. 135v); 2 April, Saint-Serge, fol. 19v, and 10 April, Saint-Bénigne, fol. 136r.
3 Mainerius
Saint-Florent de Saumur, died 16 April 1203: 14 April. Saint-Serge, fol. 21v.
7 Joscerannus S. Benedicti
Fleury, died 1095.
Bernardus maioris monasterii
Marmoutier, died 1100: St-Martin-des-Champs, Molinier I.i, 433.
9 Ingebaldus
Saint-Faron de Meaux, died on 17 April.
Robertus cad’.
Robert II, abbot of Sainte-Trinité de Caen, d. 1196.
12 Hingethenus
Saint Méen and Saint-Jacut, died 1008.
14 Heldebertus
Abbot of Saint-Ouen de Rouen, d. 1006 (Gazeau, p. 241-2): Jumièges II, fol 216r (RHF, p. 419).
16 Guillelmus Beci
Bec, died 16 April 1124: Jumièges II, fol. 216r (RHF, p. 419); Lyre, fol. 6v.
Mainardus (I, died 991)
Occurs 15 April in Saint-Taurin, fol. 201r; a Mainard occurs 16 April in Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, fol. 137r; St-Wand, f. 8r.
18 Macharius
Fleury, d. 16 April 1162: Jumièges I, fol. 174v. Vlualdus
Probably Wulfwold, abbot in plurality of Bath (in confraternity with the Mont) and Chertsey from c. 1058 to his death on 19 April 1084. Also Jumièges I, fol. 174v, as Vlfoldus.
20 Robertus
Redon, resigned in 1096. Still alive in 1107 (guillotel, Cart. Redon. p. 23).
21 Petrus
Pierre de Gascogne, abbot of Marmoutier, d. 22 April 1176. Peter Abaelardus
Controversial theologian whose works were read at the Mont, abbot of Rhuys, died on 21 April 1143 (Annales de Lagny, in Molinier, I.i, 386).
24 Philippus diuon.
Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, died 9 May 1177: Saint-Bénigne, fol. 137v, for 25 April.
27 Anfridus
Saint-Wandrille, died 27 April, 1178: St-Wand., fol 8r; Jumièges II, fol. 217r (RHF, p. 419).
28 Robertus
Saint-Aubin d’Angers, 28 April 1154: Jumièges II, fol. 217r (RHF, p. 419), for 27 April.
30 Araudus
Fleury, died 1181/2.

May

2 Rannulfus sancti Vincentii
Saint-Vincent du Mans, died c. 1105/6: Jumièges II, fol. 217v; St-Vincent, fol. 12v.
3 Heruardus
Gembloux, d. 991: monk of Mont-Saint-Michel.
8 Bernardus (d. 1149).
Jumièges II, fol. 217v (RHF, p. 419): Saint-Taurin, fol. 203v.
9 Constantinus
Constantine abbot of Saint-Germain en Auxerre, d. 9 May: Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, fol. 138r, Constantinus s. Germani Autisiod’ (Schamper, p. 86).
11 Gaufredus
Jumièges II, fol. 218r (RHF, p. 419), 14 March, reads: Gaufridus abbas jacet in capella Sci. Stephani.
13 Eholarnus
Landevennec, d. 27 May 1142.
17 Gunbaldus
Perhaps Gunbald abbot of St-Mesmin de Micy, died after 1112, remembered on 13 April at St-Père-en-Vallée (Molinier, ii, 187).
Theodericus (d. 1027)
Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, fol. 139r: also Jumièges II, fol. 218r (RHF, p. 419) for 16 May. Saint-Germain, p. 319, has 17 May. et Almodus abbates huius loci (1026; died at Cerisy in 1033).
Also Jumièges I, fol. 178v, where Almod appears on 16 May and Theoderic on 11 May. In Jumièges II Almodus appears on 18 May under nomina fratrum nostrum on fol. 218v. Occurs as Almondus on 23 May in St-Taurin, fol. 205v.
18 Penesius
Perenesius of Redon, d. 21 May 1060.
20 Gaufredus
Saint-Wandrille, died 1193 (Gazeau, p. 349): St-Wand. f. 8v. 19 May in Jumièges II, fol. 218v.
22 Albericus
Abbot of Tréport, then of La Croix-Saint-Leufroi, where his successor occurs in 1071; Saint-Taurin, fol. 205v; and Lyre, f. 7r; 21 May in necrology of Tréport, Rouen, BM Y 36 (1226), fol. 115; 23 May in Saint-Germain, p. 320.
Matheus
Saint-Taurin, d. 1193 x 1205 (Gazeau, 98): St-Taurin fol. 205v:
23 Garnerius
Marmoutier, died on 23 May 1155.
24 Odo
Abbot of Evron, died on a 24 May after 1164. An Abbot Odo occurs on 25 May in Saint-Bénigne, fol. 10r.
25 Guillelmus
Marmoutier, 23 May 1124: Saint-Taurin, fol. 206r.
26 Rotbertus archiepiscopus
Robert, prior of Saint-Ouen, abbot of Jumièges, archbishop of Canterbury died c. 1055/6: Jumièges II, fol. 219r; Saint-Évroul, fol. 15r; 27 May Saint-Taurin, fol. 206r.
28 Geruasius
Saint-Melaine. c. 1109: Lyre, fol. 75 (RHF, p. 472), on 21 May.

June

1 Fulcrannus
Saint-Taurin, died before 989: St-Taurin, fol. 207r
2 Arnulfus
Briefly abbot of St-Taurin, then of Saint-Sever: occurs 1 June in Saint-Taurin (fol. 207r): Arnulfus sancti Seuerii monachus sancti Taurini. La Croix, f. 21r.
5 Ioffridus
Geoffrey d’Orléans, monk and prior of Saint-Evroul, appointed abbot of Crowland in 1109: died c. 1124 (Orderic Vit, ed. Chibnall, ii, 346-51). Saint-Évroul, fol. 16r.
7 Gislebertus
Monk of Fécamp, abbot of Sainte-Berthe de Blangy, d. 1240: Saint-Bénigne, fol. 141r.
10 Robertus .
Jumièges, died 1190: Jumièges II, fol. 220r; Saint-Évroul, fol. 16v.
12 Sigo
Saint-Florent de Saumur, d. 12 June 1070; Saint-Serge, fol. 31r, 11.vi Emmeno
An Immo occurs as abbot of Gorze from 984 until c. 1012/17. His obit was kept at various houses on 21 or 22 August. Bulst, pp. 87-8. Hermeno, Jumièges I, fol. 181r, on 11 June.
Sigifridus
Gorze, d. 1055 (Saint-Germain, p. 324). Pupil of William of Volpiano. Bulst, pp. 88-9. Also Saint-Taurin, fol. 208r, 11 June; Jumièges I, fol. 181v, 9 June.
Radulfus .
Saint-Taurin, fol. 208r: Depositio Domini Radulfi abbatis nostre congregationis abbatis sexti.
15 Raimbaldus
Saint-Germain, p. 324, remembered Abbot Rainard, or Rainald, of Saint-Pierre de Sens on this day.
16 Gozselmus Sancti Benedicti
Presumably Fleury; died as archbishop of Bourges on 8 March 1030.
19 Albertus
Albert of Marmoutier d. 20 May 1064: Saint-Germain, p. 320, or Albert abbot of Saint-Mesmin de Micy d. 14 January (Gall. Christ. viii, col. 1531). Rogerius
Saint-Wandrille, died1165: Jumièges II, fol. 220v; 20 June in St.- Wand. fol. 9r.
23 Rannulfus
Jumièges II, fol. 220v (RHF, p. 420).
Siluester sancti Saluatoris Rodon.
Redon, d. 1169.
24 Boso
Bec, d. 1136: RHF, p. 420; Saint-Taurin, fol. 209v.
27 Paulus
Saint-Taurin, c. 1050 (Gazeau, 96): twice entered into the necrology of Saint-Taurin, first on 25 June, on fol. 209v, an error for Rannulf, as the Mont necrology shows, and again on this day, fol. 210r; Jumièges II, fol. 221r.

July

5 Heliseus
Landevennec, d. 5 July 1155.
11 Gaufridus
Lonlay, monk of Evron, died on 14 July post 1172 (Gallia Christ. xi, 494).
Robertus huius loci (1154-86)
14 Mainardus (II of the Mont, died after 1006 as abbot of Redon)
15 Touo . Bouo S. Taurini et mon.
The same person. Mid-eleventh century abbot of Saint-Taurin d’Evreux; occurs in the Martyrology on 15 July as a monk of Mont-Saint-Michel. Saint-Taurin’s necrology, fol. 212r, reads: Depositio Domini Thouoni abbatis nostre congregationis; Lyre, fol.8r.
16 Johannes
Saint-Bénigne, died after 1182: Saint-Bénigne, fol. 144v.
17 Henricus
Saint-Ouen de Rouen (c. 1006-1032/3): 16 July in Jumièges I, fol. 186v.
20 Bouo
Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, dioc. Tournai, d. 1085.
25 Rainerius
Saint-Faron de Meaux: also Saint-Germain, p. 330; Bulst, Untersuchungen, p. 70.
28 Hunbertus
Saint-Aubin d’Angers, died circa 1020: 30 July, St-Aubin, fol. 162v.
29 Radulfus (died c. 1056)
Saint-Bénigne, fol. 146r.

August

2 Hilgodus
Marmoutier, d. 2 August 1104: Saint-Serge d’Angers, fol. 40r
5 Radulfus
Abbot Ralph of Mouzon was remembered at Saint-Bénigne, fol. 147r, on 4 August.
9 Guido
Successor of the Mont monk Scolland as abbot of St Augustine’s, Canterbury. Died 9 August 1093 (Heads, 36).
11 Hugo abbas sancti Saluatoris Constantiensis.
Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, he was present at the consecration of Robert de Torigny in 1154 (Chronique, i, pp. 284-5). He died after 1164.
13 Gauterius
Saint-Wandrille, died 1150 (Gazeau, 343): St-Wand. fol. 10r; Jumièges II, f. 224r (RHF, p. 420).
16 Rogerius
Jumièges, died 1176. Jumièges II, fol. 224r (RHF, p. 420).
23 Robertus Cerneliensis ecclesie.
Mont monk, abbot of Cerne in 1158, he died some time after 1166 (Chronique.. Torigny, i, 314; Heads, p. 37).
24 Gurloenus
Quimperlé, d. 25 August 1057. See Gallia Christ. xiv, col. 875B, 900C, 901A.
26 Herluinus
Bec, d. 1078. Jumièges II, fol. 225r.; Lyre, fol. 8v
28 Gausbertus
Influential reformer who was abbot of Saint-Julien de Tours, Bourgueil, Maillezais, Marmoutier and La Couture, d. 27 September 1007 (ie. fifth of the calends of October, not September, as here; see La Couture, fol. 27v).

September

5 Viuianus et Hubertus abbates
Laporte suggested two lay abbots of Marmoutier, Count Vivian, k. 22 August 851, and Hubert k. 864. More likely these are later abbots of different monasteries. Vivian, monk of Cluny and abbot of Saint-Denis, d. 9 August 1049, remembered at St-Bénigne, fol. 148r, on 10 August (Schampfer, p. 86). Almodus S. Saluatoris
Prior, then abbot of Redon, d. c. 1083.
6 Drogo
Sainte-Trinité de Rouen, d. 10 September 1174
8 Donuuallonus
? Quimperlé, d. 4 October 1163.
12 Guarinus
La Couture, died on 11 or 21 September c. 1213/1218. Abbot Warins occur on each day in La Couture, fol. 26r, 27r. Abbot Warin of Saint-Julien de Tours died 9 September 1160.
16 Herbertus
Herbert of Saint-Germain occurs in that house’s necrology under 10 September, p. 337
23 Gaufredus
Evron, died on a 21 October after 1202.
24 Alexander
Jumièges, d. 25 October (viii kal. Nov.) 1213: Jumièges II, f. 229r; Saint-Evroul, f. 30r; RHF, p. 420.
Raginaldus
Saint-Wandrille, d. 25 September 1207: St-Wand., fol. 10v; Jumièges II, fol. 226v (RHF, 421)
25 Eudo roth’.
Euen abbot of Saint-Melaine de Rennes, d. 25 September 1081: Euuenus in Jumièges I, fol. 195v.
26 Columbanus
A Columban was appointed abbot of the refounded abbey of Eynsham in 1091 by Bishop Remigius of Lincoln, a former monk of Fécamp. He died c. 1094/1100 (Heads, 48-9); occurs the previous day in Jumièges I, fol. 195v.
30 Heldebertus (II, died, or perhaps removed, 1023)
Actually written Helbertus. Cf. Saint-Germain, p. 340: Hildebertus sci. Taurini episcopi; Saint-Taurin, fol. 222r.

October

2 Petrus
Saint-Bénigne, died 1142: see Schamper, pp. 42-4.
3 Genesius
Saint-Calais, d. after 1015: La Couture, fol. 28r, for 4 October.
4 Teibertus
Evron, d. before 1015: St-Père de Chartres, Molinier ii, 196. Restorer of the abbey in 988, confirmed by Hugh III of Maine, a benefactor of the Mont, in 994.
5 Adroldus
Saint-Germain died 15 August 1060 (p. 332).
9 Vrso
Montebourg, after 1113 (Gazeau, 192-3): Jumièges II, fol. 228r.
10 Iustin
? Redon, d. 1105
14 Gausbertus
Gausbert II, abbot of Saint-Julien de Tours: died in the early eleventh century; La Couture, fol. 29r.
17 Ingelbaldus
Pupil of William of Volpiano; abbot of St-Vivant de Vergy. His obit occurs on this day at Saint-Germain (p. 343; cf. p. 127) and Saint-Bénigne, fol. 152v; see Bulst, pp. 54-5. Laporte supposed that the Robert who precedes Ingelbald in this entry was Ingelbald’s successor of that name, a supposition Bulst accepts. I find it highly unlikely, on the evidence of these and the other necrologies used.
18 Rogerius (died 1112)
20 Mathias
Peterborough, died 20 October 1103.
29 Hugo
Perhaps Hugh V of Saint-Germain, died 1154: see Decker-Hauer, p. 140, note 310; Saint-Taurin d’Evreux, fol. 225r.
30 Rogerius
Jumièges, d. 1191; Jumièges II, fol. 229r (RHF, p. 422); Saint-Évroul, fol. 30r.

November

3 Gauterius
Saint-Wandrille, died 1187: St-Wand., fol. 11v; Jumièges II, fol. 229v (RHF, p. 422), for 1 November.
Suppo (died 1061).
Occurs Saint-Bénigne, fol. 154v. Jumièges I, fol. 200v, on 5 November. Saint-Taurin, fol. 226r, on 7 November.
8 Iustinus
Landevenec, monk of Redon, d. on an 8 November after 1089.
10 Rogerius
Montebourg, died in 1093; La Croix, f. 42v; RHF, p. 555; also Jumièges II, fol. 230r (RHF, p. 422), for 11 November.
13 Abdo
Fleury, died1004; Saint-Germain, 14 November, p. 346
15 Durandus
Evron, d. 15 December after 1015. La Couture, fol. 32r.
16 Guarinus sci Vigoris (Cerisy: died after 1066)
18 Iuo Rothon
Redon, died c. 1159.
19 Hilgodus
Saint-Ouen de Rouen, d. 20 November 1112. Hilgotus, La Croix, fol. 44r. Helgotus in Saint-Taurin, fol. 227v, and, for 20 November, Jumièges II, fol. 230v.
Garinus
St. Arnulf of Metz, an associate of William of Volpiano. Died 1050. Bulst, p. 85 and note 21.
26 Alfredus
? Saint-Melaine de Rennes c. 1048
28 Ingelbaldus
La Couture, d. 28 November c. 1010; La Couture, fol. 33v. Gerardus
Saint-Wandrille, d. 28 November 1029. Remembered on 29 November in Saint-Germain Usuard (p. 349); 27 Nov. in Jumièges II, fol.231r; 28 November in Mont Martyrology.
29 Andreas
Fruttaria: remembered at Saint-Bénigne on 20 November (Schamper, p. 266).
Berardus
An abbot Berald of Ainay d. c. 1135 (Molinier, i, p. 469, obituary of Saint-Martin-des-Champs, which has an abbot Berald on 18 November).
Rainardus
Mainardus in Saint-Taurin, fol. 229r.
et Gerardus abbates
Saint-Wandrille, duplicating 28 November above.
30 Gislebertus
Conches, monk of Fécamp, d. 1 December after 1050 (Gazeau, p. 66).

December

3 Arnulfus
Troarn died c. 1106: remembered at Saint-Évroul, fol. 33v (p. 490), and, on 4 December, Jumièges II, fol. 231v (RHF, p. 422) and La Croix, Ernulfus, fol.45v.
4 Ioffredus
Evron, d. 3 December, after 1144: Gauffridus occurs the previous day in Saint-Taurin, fol. 229v.
10 Otgerius
Saint-Pierre-sur-Bèze, died 9 December 1052: Saint-Germain, p. 351, 9 December. Also Saint-Bénigne, fol. 158v.
Rogerius
Bec, died on 10 or 11 December 1194: Jumièges II, fol. 232r (RHF, p. 422).
17 Richardus
Saint-Georges-de-Boscherville, died 1224 x 1228: Jumièges II, fol. 232v (RHF, p. 422).
19 Ranulfus (died 1085)
20 Laurentius
Beaulieu de Touraine d. 18 December c. 1030
23 Godefredus
Jumièges, died 1048: Jumièges II, fol. 232v. Saint-Évroul, fol. 35v.
26 Theodericus
Saint-Aubin d’Angers, died 1059: Saint-Aubin, fol. 179v; Jumièges I, fol. 207v, on 25 December.
28 Robertus
Saint-Julien de Tours, partim Redonensis, fl. 1058/62, was remembered on 28 December at Saint-Julien (Gall. Christ., xiv, 240).
30 Gauterius
Saint-Aubin d’Angers, d. 29 December 1054: Saint-Aubin, fol. 180v.
31 Adalardus
La Couture, fol. 36v, 28 December.
Rannulf Longiledi
Monk of Caen, abbot of Lonlay by 1078, d. 14 December after 1100 (Gazeau, p. 178).
The following tables showing which abbeys were best represented in the Mont necrologies will clarify these findings:

Redon
Conwoion 5.i.868
Mainard (previously abbot of Mont-Saint-Michel) 14.vii. post 1009
Cadwallo 15.i. circa 1029
Perenesius 18.v.1060
Almod 5.ix.1083
Robert 20.iv. post 1107
Justin 10.x.1105/6
Ivo 18.xi. post 1157
Silvester 23.vi.1169
Vivian 10.i. post 1187

Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Ebbo 27.vi. 892
Herbert 18.ix.?
Morard 1.iv. c. 1014
William de Dijon 1.i.1031
Adrald 5.x.1060
? Robert 22.i.c. 1072
Hugh 20.x.1132

Fleury
Odo 22.i
Abbo 13.xi.1004
Gauzlin 16.vi.1029
Joscerann 7.iv.1095
? Simon 24.viii.1107
Macharius 16.iv.1162
Adrald 13.xi.1181

Saint-Aubin d’Angers
Hubert 28.vii.1020
Walter 30.xii.1054
Theoderic 26.xii.1059
Gerald II, 9.i.1109
Hamelin died as bishop of Rennes 2. ii.1141
Robert 28.iv.1154
Ulger 7.1.

Notre-Dame d’Evron
Tetbert 4.x. ante 1015
Durand 15.xii. post 1015
Geoffrey 3.xii.1144
Odo 24.v. post 1164
Geoffrey 23.ix. post 1202

Saint-Pierre-de-la-Couture au Mans
Gausbert 28.viii.1007
Ingelbald 28.xi. circa 1010
? Laurence 20.xii. post 1071
Richard 15.i.1184
Warin 11.ix.1213

Saint-Bénigne de Dijon
William de Dijon 1.i.1031
John 16.ii.1054
Philip 24.iv.1177
John, 16.vii. post 1182
Haimo 21.iii.1188

Saint-Ouen de Rouen
Hildebert 13.iv.1006
Henry 18.vii.1032/3
Nicholas 19.ii.1092
Hilgod, 20.xi.1112
William 7.xii.1126

Jumièges
Roderic 18.ii.c.1000
Thierry 17.v.1027
? William 26.iv.1037
Robert 26.v.1055/6
Godfred 23.xii.1048
Roger of Bec, 16.viii.1176
Robert 10.vi.1190
Roger II 30.x.1190/1
Alexander 24.ix.1213

Fécamp
William de Dijon 1.i.1031
John, 22.ii.1078
Roger 20.iii.1139
Henry 10.i.1188

Saint-Wandrille
Gerard 28.xi.1031
? Robert 22.i.1072
Walter 13.viii.1150
Roger 19.vi.1165
Anfrid 27.iv.1178
Walter 3.xi.1187
Reginald 24.ix.1207
Robert II 28.iv.1194
Geoffrey 20.v.1193

Saint-Taurin d’Evreux
Fulcran 1.vi. before 989
Fromund 8.i. c. 1035
Touo 15.vii.mid-eleventh century
Paul 27.vi.early-twelfth century
Ralph 12.vi.1104
Arnoul 2.vi. forced out 1106
William 3.ii.1113-22
Philip 20.iii.c. 1146/54
Ranulf 23.vi ante 1157
Lambert 1159? 14.iii
Matthew 22.v.ante 1205

5Concealed within their necrologies was the story of the relationships between the monks of Mont-Saint-Michel and their widely scattered Benedictine brethren. Probably the single most important entry is that for Conwoion, founding abbot of Redon, in Brittany, who died in 869. This is the one indisputably early entry in the necrologies, and is undoubtedly linked to the origins of Benedictinism on the Mont in the early ninth century. The link remained exceptionally close. Probably early links, certainly important ones, occur with Fleury and Marmoutier. Both were linked with the reforms led by Odo I of Cluny (d. 942) and Maiol of Cluny (d. 11 May 994), both of whom (as was not uncommon) are found in the Mont’s Usuard Martyrology (p. 40, 174); the case of Maiol is especially striking since by far the longest and most fulsome known eloge of the saint is found in this text. Maiol and Marmoutier figure in the earliest extant charter of the abbey, whilst the earliest list of monks of Mont-St-Michel occurs in a sacramentary written in England and intended for use at Fleury.5 Very evident among these obits is the names of abbots associated with the reforming currents of c. 1000-1040, notably those dominated by William of Dijon, who, amongst many others, reformed and headed the Norman abbey of Fécamp and its dependency Bernay. The abbots of all the oldest Norman abbeys of this period are represented, including St-Wandrille, whose abbot Gerald was associated with the reforming currents of Fleury and Chartres through Herbert, his teacher and predecesor as abbot of Lagny. It is uncertain whether his successor Gradulf (6 March, St-Wand. fol. 7v) was remembered at the Mont, since the name occurs only in the list of monks, not as abbot, but it seems more likely than not. So striking is this connexion that I have also included the obit of special confraternity of Bishop Fulbert of Chartres (d. 10.iv.1029), one of the great churchmen and teachers of the time, though not known to have been a monk himself. What is clear, however, is that the extensive links of the Mont to tenth and early eleventh century reforming circles were little, if at all, affected by the reorganization of monasteries in Flanders in the early tenth century. Overall, as will have to be demonstrated elsewhere, the interests of the abbey in the tenth and eleventh centuries lay mainly in the archdioceses of Tours, Reims (linked by reforming currents from Fleury), and Rouen. In the case of Rouen, the most striking result of an analysis of the abbots is the strength of the Mont’s links with the older abbeys of Saint-Ouen de Rouen, Jumièges, and in particular, Saint-Taurin d’Evreux. Indeed, the links with Saint-Taurin were so important that the necrology Mont-Saint-Michel is at least as important as Saint-Taurin’s in preserving the obits of Saint-Taurin’s abbots from the tenth to the mid-twelfth century, avoiding the error of St-Taurin’s thirteenth-century necrology of duplicating Abbot Paul, rather than writing the name of Ranulf on 23 June, and preserving the obit of Abbot Lambert. Abbot Touo was a monk of the Mont. The only abbot of St-Taurin before Lambert to be omitted was Fromund’s successor, Restald, whose obit was 24 November (St-Taurin, f. 228r), unless he is concealed on 8 November as one of only three Restalds to occur in the entire Mont Necrology. Intriguingly, the St-Taurin text describes Abbot Ralph as the sixth abbot, though he is the fifth in the known series, and Saint-Germain’s necrology referred to the shadowy Hildebert II of the Mont (died or removed 1023) as abbot of St-Taurin. Little can be made of this, but a strong link between Mont-Saint-Michel and the revival of Saint-Taurin looks very likely; indeed, a link to that of Saint-Ouen (revived by an abbot Hildebert) is not inconceivable.

6But what of Saint-Wandrille, which much later claimed to have been first established in Normandy by a Fleming who subsequently became Mainard I of Mont-St-Michel? The obits show that confraternity between the two communities existed in the time of Gerald I, possibly in that of Gradulf and Robert, but was then ruptured and not re-established until the mid-welfth century, despite the special confraternity apparently enjoyed by the reformer Gerard I, who appears in both the necrology and the Martyrology-Necrology on successive days. As Bulst has shown, William de Dijon encouraged reformed monasteries to circulate their obits, as many did until shortly after his death in 1031. A number of ruptures occur in the Mont obits in the mid-eleventh century, to continue for about a century, including Saint-Wandrille, Jumièges, Evron and La Couture, but all featured in the confraternity list of Avranches ms 211.6 Occasional discontinuities among confraternities were obviously not uncommon, being a reflection of prevailing circumstances. One result of the early eleventh century link with St-Wandrille was the copying for use there of the earliest version of the Revelatio Ecclesie Sancti Michaelis, which survives as a heavily-abbreviated version in eight lessons (St-Wand., fol. 3). On this slender basis one might see influence going from Mont-Saint-Michel to Saint-Wandrille, rather than the other way about. But it may not be so significant. Saint-Wandrille was associated with the cult of St Michael before and after its refoundation; all the major Norman monasteries (Fécamp, Jumièges, St-Ouen, St-Taurin, Bec, St-Evroul) kept the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Mont-Tombe on 16 October, just as all kept the feast of St-Wandrille on 22 July. Confraternity agreements played their part: St-Taurin and La Couture agreed that the latter would keep the feast of St. Taurin, and the former that of St Bertram du Mans (La Couture, fol. 177v), for example.

7Hubert Guillotel and I shared a conviction that the commonly held views about the tenth century at Mont-Saint-Michel rest upon some very insecure foundations. If those foundations are to be shored up, then some very serious digging needs to be done. Continuing to over-elaborate the weak framework provided by Laporte’s inevitably superficial survey of some extremely difficult but extremely important documents is not the way to go about it. Whatever the truth may or may not have been, we evidently have a very great deal more to learn.