Abbey Of St Martin, Autun on:
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The Abbey of St. Martin is a former Benedictine monastery in Autun,
online version)
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online version)
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/ref> The new foundation was richly decorated and furnished, largely with marbles, mosaics and other items which Brunhilde took from neighbouring Gallo-Roman buildings. The abbey was however largely destroyed in 731 by invading Saracens. It was not rebuilt until 870, and then destroyed again in 880, doubtless by the Normans. It was rebuilt again in 885 by Charles the Fat. From 1058 it answered directly to the pope rather than to a bishop. At the latest from the time of this rebuilding, the abbey was also fortified. In 1570, it was pillaged by the troops of Admiral de Coligny, the fortifications having fallen into disrepair. In 1589 the '' États de Bourgogne'' refused financial help to Nicolas Brulard, the then
Gallica.bnf: Vue de l'abbaye de St Martin à Autun (drawing by Jean Baptiste Lallemand), 18th century
{{DEFAULTSORT:Autun Saint Martin Benedictine monasteries in France Buildings and structures in Saône-et-Loire
The Abbey of St. Martin is a former Benedictine monastery in Autun, Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire (; Arpitan: ''Sona-et-Lêre'') is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in France. It is named after the rivers Saône and Loire, between which it lies, in the country's central-eastern part.
Saône-et-Loire is Bo ...
, France, to the northeast of the city just outside the city walls, on the right bank of the Arroux
The Arroux () is a river in central France. It is a right tributary of the Loire. It is long. Its source is east of Arnay-le-Duc, in Côte-d'Or. The Arroux flows generally south through the following departments and towns:
* Côte-d'Or: Arnay-le ...
and to the north of the Roman road from Autun to Langres, Beaune and Besançon.Roland Niaux, ''Saint-Pantaléon, abbaye de Saint-Martin''online version)
/ref>
Jacques-Gabriel Bulliot Jacques Gabriel Bulliot (1817-1902)Jacques-Gabriel Bulliot (23 January 1817 in Autun – 13 January 1902) was a French historian and wine merchant, and a member of the Eduenne Society of Arts, Sciences and Arts, founded in Autun in 1836. He discov ...
, ''Essai historique sur l'abbaye de Saint-Martin d'Autun'', Autun 1849, 2.vol. in-8°, 449 p., Société Éduenneonline version)
/ref>
History
The abbey was founded byQueen Brunhilda
Brunhilda (c. 543–613) was queen consort of Austrasia, part of Francia, by marriage to the Merovingian king Sigebert I of Austrasia, and regent for her son, grandson and great-grandson.
In her long and complicated career she ruled the eastern ...
and the bishop of Autun
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Autun (–Chalon-sur-Saône–Mâcon–Cluny) (Latin: ''Dioecesis Augustodunensis (–Cabillonensis–Matisconensis–Cluniacensis)''; French: ''Diocèse d'Autun (–Chalon-sur-Saône–Mâcon–Cluny)''), more simpl ...
, Saint Syagrius Saint Syagrius (french: Saint-Siacre, link=no; died 600 AD) was a bishop of Autun. His feast day is August 27 (September 2 in some martyrologies).
He was bishop of Autun from around 560 until his death and travelled to Nanterre with Guntram for ...
, in or around 589. Brunhilda was later buried there.BNF: Abbaye Saint-Martin, Autun, Saône-et-Loire/ref> The new foundation was richly decorated and furnished, largely with marbles, mosaics and other items which Brunhilde took from neighbouring Gallo-Roman buildings. The abbey was however largely destroyed in 731 by invading Saracens. It was not rebuilt until 870, and then destroyed again in 880, doubtless by the Normans. It was rebuilt again in 885 by Charles the Fat. From 1058 it answered directly to the pope rather than to a bishop. At the latest from the time of this rebuilding, the abbey was also fortified. In 1570, it was pillaged by the troops of Admiral de Coligny, the fortifications having fallen into disrepair. In 1589 the '' États de Bourgogne'' refused financial help to Nicolas Brulard, the then
commendatory abbot
A commendatory abbot ( la, abbas commendatarius) is an ecclesiastic, or sometimes a layman, who holds an abbey ''in commendam'', drawing its revenues but not exercising any authority over its inner monastic discipline. If a commendatory abbot is an ...
, for the repair of the fortifications. The abbey was deserted soon afterwards and occupied by bandits: once they were expelled the fortifications were dismantled and the abbey left empty.
The vacant and dilapidated premises were taken over by the reformist Congregation of St Maur
The Congregation of St. Maur, often known as the Maurists, were a congregation of French Benedictines, established in 1621, and known for their high level of scholarship. The congregation and its members were named after Saint Maurus (died 565), a ...
in 1635 (or 1654), who repaired them, but not the fortifications.
The abbey was entirely rebuilt between 1740 and 1752. It was suppressed in the French Revolution and sold off as national property in 1793, to be used as an armaments factory. A few years later it was almost entirely demolished apart from a few service buildings. The city authorities of Autun eventually acquired what remained and undertook restoration in 1976–77. The renovated buildings now operate under the name "Prieuré Saint-Martin" as a local government social centre, with rooms for hire.
References
External links
Gallica.bnf: Vue de l'abbaye de St Martin à Autun (drawing by Jean Baptiste Lallemand), 18th century
{{DEFAULTSORT:Autun Saint Martin Benedictine monasteries in France Buildings and structures in Saône-et-Loire