Psalmody Abbey

Ruins of the Abbaye de Psalmody.

Psalmody Abbey, also Psalmodie Abbey or Psalmodi Abbey (French: Abbaye de Psalmody, Psalmodi or Psalmodie), was a Benedictine abbey located near Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze in the Camargue, in the department of Gard and the region of Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France.[1][2]

History

Psalmody Abbey was founded in the 5th century by monks from the Abbey of St. Victor, Marseille. The purpose was perhaps to enjoy a favorable location for the installation of fisheries on the Rhone and saline in the marshes of delta1. The monks built on a small hill overlooking the surrounding marshes.

The new monastery acquired considerable importance and became directly accountable to Rome. Its influence grew throughout the region, mostly because of its trade in salt. The Abbey enjoyed the favor of successive emperors in 816, Louis the Pious granted protection, and in 851, Charles the Bald granted him certain privileges. To all this is added the act of 791, whereby Charlemagne confirmed the possessions of the abbey; although the charter is false and fabricated at the end of the tenth century or the next century, it is considered authentic at that time and therefore increases the prestige of the abbaye.[3]

In 908, the monks fled the abbey in face of Saracen raids. From the beginning of the 10th century, salt marshes belonging to the monks are signalés [4]whose production is marketed by river from the two small ports of the abbey, Notre Dame des Ports and Counc-Haute.[5]

Late Middle Ages

In 1004, an assembly of monks, clerics and knights took place and decided the reconstruction of the abbey, at the same time it receives its first possession overseas, Rhône.[6]

From 1052 to 1096, the abbey lost its autonomy and is directed by the Holy Victor5 abbey. She took a considerable importance to depend directly on Rome. [Ref. needed] His monks did radiate throughout the region, including through the salt trade. Abbey flourished in the twelfth century. In 1248, it sold its harbor of Our Lady of Ports on Agual Death to the King of France, Saint-Louis, who built Aigues-Mortes.[7]

It reached its peak in the 12th century. From the 15th century, the abbey declined. It was secularised in the 16th century by a bull of Pope Paul III and the buildings were largely destroyed during the war of the Camisards by Catinat, although its revenues continued to be drawn by commendatory abbots until the French Revolution.

Early Modern Times

In 1537, the abbey was secularized, the monks took refuge in the college Our Lady of Salvat. The greater part of his property was given to local bishoprics.[8] Abandoned, she gradually fell in ruins before being burned in 1701 during the War of the Camisards by Catinat.

Modern Times

Under the French Revolution, the Abbey was dissolved and its goods declared national property and sold. Today only a few scattered ruins survive.[9] The site was declared a monument historique in 1984.

List of abbots

Seal of the Abbey 1317.

Source: Gallia Christiana

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Jean-Paul Clébert, Guide de la Provence mystérieuse, (Éd. Tchou, Paris, 1972).
  2. ↑ Cédric Bonato, Aux origines de Psalmodie, Aix-en-Provence, (Université d'Aix-Marseille (mémoire de maîtrise), 2001)
  3. ↑ Christiane Boekholt, « Les prieurés de Psalmody en Provence », Chroniques de Haute-Provence, Revue de la Société scientifique et littéraire des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, 2012, n° 369, 132e année, p.74
  4. ↑ Christiane Boekholt, « Les prieurés de Psalmody en Provence », Chroniques de Haute-Provence, Revue de la Société scientifique et littéraire des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, 2012, n° 369, 132e année, p.74
  5. ↑ Patricia Payn-Echalier, « Entre fleuve et mer, le port d'Arles et le delta du Rhône (XVIe-XVIIIe siècle) [archive] », Rives méditerranéennes 1/2010 (n° 35), p. 29-44.
  6. ↑ Christiane Boekholt, « Les prieurés de Psalmody en Provence », Chroniques de Haute-Provence, Revue de la Société scientifique et littéraire des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, 2012, n° 369, 132e année, p.74
  7. ↑ Patricia Payn-Echalier, « Entre fleuve et mer, le port d'Arles et le delta du Rhône (XVIe-XVIIIe siècle) [archive] », Rives méditerranéennes 1/2010 (n° 35), p. 29-44.
  8. ↑ Christiane Boekholt, « Les prieurés de Psalmody en Provence », Chroniques de Haute-Provence, Revue de la Société scientifique et littéraire des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, 2012, n° 369, 132e année, p.83.
  9. ↑ Encyclopédie-universelle.com: photograph of the ruins of Psalmody Abbey
  10. ↑ De Manteyer Georges, pp. 101-102, doc. n. LXXXVIII.

Sources and external links

Coordinates: 43°38′07″N 4°11′46″E / 43.63528°N 4.19611°E / 43.63528; 4.19611

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