Abbey of Saint-Savin-en-Lavedan

The Abbey of Saint-Savin-en-Lavedan (French: Abbaye de Saint-Savin-en-Lavedan; Latin: [Abbatia] Santi Savini di Bigorra or Santi Savini Levitanensis[1]) was a Benedictine abbey in the commune of Saint-Savin, Hautes-Pyrénées, France. It was one of the most important religious centres in the County of Bigorre. The Romanesque abbey church remains, in use since 1790 as a parish church. It has been listed since 1840 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.[2]

Former abbey church

History
Nave of the abbey church
Tabernacle

The abbey dates at least from the 10th century, and it was built by order of Charlemagne on the site of an ancient Gallo-Roman fortress called Palatium Æmilianum ("Palace of Emilianus").[3]

From no later than the time of the Congregation of St. Maur, the abbey possessed a coat of arms.[4]

According to Pulci's poem Il Morgante maggiore, Roland, protagonist of the Chanson de Roland was in the abbey at some point.[5]

In 841, the abbey was looted and burnt by the Normans, and previously by the Saracens.[6]

In 945, Count Raymond I of Bigorre gave the abbey a generous endowment consisting of a territory known as thePascal de Saint-Savin , which was made of the eight villages of Saint-Savin (Sen Sabi), Castet, Lau (Laou), Balagnas, Adast (Adas), Nestalas, Soulom and Uz; the church of Saint-Jean-de-Saint-Savin became their communal church.[7]

In 1080 the abbey was united to the Abbey of St. Victor, Marseille.

In 1130 Bernard d'Arcizas and Centule II, Count of Bigorre, confronted the abbot and the inhabitants of the Val d'Azun over a burial.[8]

Queen Marguerite of Navarre (1492–1549) took refuge in the abbey from a flood.

From the thirteenth century, the abbey still controlled the territory of seven villages.

From the 16th century the abbey suffered due to the destruction associated with the French Wars of Religion and relaxed its discipline, although there were attempts to restore it in the 17th century by the monks of the Congregation of St. Maur.

Only three monks remained living in the abbey in 1790. In the following year, the church and the monastic buildings were converted for the use of the parish. Part of the abbey was sold for a stone quarry and the chapter house became a stable.[7] In 1854, a strong earthquake caused further destructions.[9] Prosper Mérimée took charge of its restoration in 1855.

Goods and tithes

The House of Arcizac, or d'Arcizas from Arcizans-Dessus or Arcizans-Avant, played a key part in the enrichment of the abbey.

In 1083 Raymond-Arnaud d'Arcizas and Raymond de Vieusac witnessed the gift of the tithes of Azos by Arnaud de Tors.

In 1130 Pierre de Silhen and his sons gave the tithes of the church of Silhen to the abbey.

In 1157 Arnaud d'Arcizas witnessed the gift made by Gailliarde d'Orout of lands in Uz to the abbey.[8]

Abbots
List of Abbots[10]

The list of abbots begins in 945 with Eneco d'Ygnigue, or possibly with Bernard I d'Escors in 940. A list is given at Gallica, reproduced here[11][12]

  • Saint-Savin: lithograph by Eugène de Malbos (1811–1855)
  • Saint-Savin: lithograph by Joséphine Sarazin de Belmont (1790–1870)
  • Saint-Savin (Hautes-Pyrénées) in the second half of the nineteenth century (photo)

Contact details

Abbatiale de Saint-Savin, 9 place du Castet, 65400 Saint-Savin-en-Lavedan (tel: 05.62.97.02.23)

Bibliography
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References
  1. Benjamin Guérard, Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille, Volume 2, Lahure, 1857, Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille – Benjamin Guérard, M. GUERARD – Google Livres
  2. Mérimée PA00095415, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French) Eglise Saint-Savin
  3. Bulletin monumental, ou, Recueil de documents et de mémoires relatifs aux différentes branches de l'archéologie, Volume 18, Société française d'archéologie, Musée des monuments français, 1852, books.google.fr
  4. Gustave Bascle de Lagrèze, Monographie de Saint-Savin de Lavedan, p.94.
  5. Pierre Laboulinière, Itinéraire descriptif et pittoresque des Hautes-Pyrénées franç, Volume 2, Itinéraire descriptif et pittor. des Hautes-Pyrénées franç – Pierre Laboulinière – Google Livres
  6. J.M. Besse, « Archives de la France monastique », tome III, 1910, consultable https://archive.org/stream/archivesdelafran10abbauoft#page/80/mode/2up/search/Savin
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. François-Alexandre Aubert de La Chesnaye-Desbois, Badier, Dictionnaire de la noblesse, contenant les généalogies, l'histoire…, Volume 1 Dictionnaire de la noblesse, contenant les généalogies, l'histoire & la ... – François-Alexandre Aubert de La Chesnaye-Desbois, Badier – Google Livres
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. Revue d'Aquitaine et du Languedoc, Volume 11. 1867. The University of Michigan
  11. Revue d'Aquitaine: journal historique de Guienne, Gascogne, Béarn, Navarre, etc, Volume 11. Published by Revue d'Aquitaine, 1867. Harvard University
  12. For a more complete listing see chapter 4 of p.65ss.|Gustave Bascle de Lagrèze's Monographie de Saint-Savin de Lavedan
  13. Cartulaire de l'abbaye des bénédictins de Saint-Savin en Lavedan
  14. Cartulaire de l'abbaye des bénédictins de Saint-Savin en Lavedan (945–1175) / publ. par Charles Durier,...

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