Gerard of Florennes
Encyclopedia
Gerard of Florennes bishop of Cambrai as Gerard I, had formerly been chaplain to Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
, and helpful to the latter in his political negotiations with Robert the Pious, King of France. In 1024 Gerard called a synod in Arras to confront a purported heresy fomented by the Gundulfian
heretics, who denied the efficacy of the Eucharist
. The records of this synod, the Acta Synodi Atrebatensis, preserve a summary of orthodox Christian doctrine of the early eleventh century, as well contemporary peace-making practices. According to this text's author, the heretics were convinced by Gerard's explanation of orthodoxy, renounced their heresy, and were reconciled with the church.
Gerard was the second son of Arnold, seigneur of Florennes
in the county of Namur, the son of Godefroi, count of Hainaut, and thus a member of the high nobility of the Low Countries
.
He was a student of the great Gerbert of Aurillac, the leading theologian of the tenth century, and a supporter of the monastic reformer Richard of Verdun, abbot of Saint-Vanne
. In 1012, while he was a canon
at Reims he founded the Abbey of Saint-Jean at Florennes, with Richard as its first abbot. At Florennes, on 12 September 1015, Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine
, whose appointment Gerard had recommended to the Emperor, defeated both of his rivals, Lambert I, Count of Leuven, brother-in-law of Otto, and Reginar IV, count of Mons
killing Lambert and forcing Reginar to make peace. In 1015, Gerard transferred the abbey to the church of Liège. drawing together a community of monks from Verdun
. Texts from the scriptorium show the innovative separation of words with spaces.
Gerard was one of the theorists who justified the division of European society into the three estates of the realm
, observing, as Georges Duby
characterised his thought, "that there were distinctions between men, an essential inequality which could be compensated only by charity, mercy and mutual service" within the framework of divinely ordained natural law. In addition to his role in the Investiture Controversy
, Gerard was a voice in the implementation of the Peace and Truce of God
movement to limit warfare. At Douai
in 1024 he introduced the Peace into Flanders at the urging of Count Baldwin IV, he himself apparently having reservations.
During his episcopacy, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Cambrai
was reconsecrated, 18 October 1030.
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
, and helpful to the latter in his political negotiations with Robert the Pious, King of France. In 1024 Gerard called a synod in Arras to confront a purported heresy fomented by the Gundulfian
Gundolfo
Gundolfo was a teacher of heretical Christian doctrines in the early 11th century. Of Italian origin, he turned up in the bishopric of Cambrai-Arras in northeastern France in 1025 when Bishop Gerard of Florennes discovered that there were heretics in the diocese.The heretics rejected the...
heretics, who denied the efficacy of the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. The records of this synod, the Acta Synodi Atrebatensis, preserve a summary of orthodox Christian doctrine of the early eleventh century, as well contemporary peace-making practices. According to this text's author, the heretics were convinced by Gerard's explanation of orthodoxy, renounced their heresy, and were reconciled with the church.
Gerard was the second son of Arnold, seigneur of Florennes
Florennes
Florennes is a Walloon municipality located in Belgium in the province of Namur. On January 1, 2006 Florennes had a total population of 10,754...
in the county of Namur, the son of Godefroi, count of Hainaut, and thus a member of the high nobility of the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
.
He was a student of the great Gerbert of Aurillac, the leading theologian of the tenth century, and a supporter of the monastic reformer Richard of Verdun, abbot of Saint-Vanne
Richard of Verdun
Richard of Verdun was the abbot of the influential northeastern French Monastery of St. Vanne from 1004 to 1046. Richard entered the monastery of St. Vanne as a young man, and upon his arrival he was shocked and dismayed by the relatively poor state of the monastery . So great were his feelings...
. In 1012, while he was a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at Reims he founded the Abbey of Saint-Jean at Florennes, with Richard as its first abbot. At Florennes, on 12 September 1015, Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Godfrey II , called the Childless, son of Godfrey I, Count of Verdun, was the count of Verdun from his father's death in 1002 and duke of Lower Lorraine after the death in 1012 of the Carolingian Otto, who left no sons....
, whose appointment Gerard had recommended to the Emperor, defeated both of his rivals, Lambert I, Count of Leuven, brother-in-law of Otto, and Reginar IV, count of Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
killing Lambert and forcing Reginar to make peace. In 1015, Gerard transferred the abbey to the church of Liège. drawing together a community of monks from Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
. Texts from the scriptorium show the innovative separation of words with spaces.
Gerard was one of the theorists who justified the division of European society into the three estates of the realm
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
, observing, as Georges Duby
Georges Duby
Georges Duby was a French historian specializing in the social and economic history of the Middle Ages...
characterised his thought, "that there were distinctions between men, an essential inequality which could be compensated only by charity, mercy and mutual service" within the framework of divinely ordained natural law. In addition to his role in the Investiture Controversy
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...
, Gerard was a voice in the implementation of the Peace and Truce of God
Peace and Truce of God
The Peace and Truce of God was a medieval European movement of the Catholic Church that applied spiritual sanctions in order to limit the violence of private war in feudal society. The movement constituted the first organized attempt to control civil society in medieval Europe through non-violent...
movement to limit warfare. At Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
in 1024 he introduced the Peace into Flanders at the urging of Count Baldwin IV, he himself apparently having reservations.
During his episcopacy, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Cambrai
Old Cambrai Cathedral
Old Cambrai Cathedral was the Gothic cathedral of the diocese of Cambrai in France, sited on what is now Place Fénelon in Cambrai but now entirely lost...
was reconsecrated, 18 October 1030.
Further reading
- "Gérard I" in Erik van Mingroot, ed., Dictionnaire d'Histoire et de Géographie Ecclésiastiques 20 (Paris: 1984), 742–51.