Monasticism in seventh-century Northumbria and Neustria: a comparative study of the monasteries of Chelles, Jouarre, Monk Wearmouth/Jarrow and Whitby

Abstract

This thesis studies a part of the monastic history of the kingdoms of Anglo- Saxon Northumbria and Merovingian Neustria. It is a comparative analysis of monasteries in the seventh century in these two kingdoms, focusing on four particularly famous houses, for which textual and archaeological sources are abundant. These four monasteries are those of Chelles and Jouarre in Neustria, and Whitby and Wearmouth/Jarrow in Northumbria. The aim is to detennine the different influences which affected them, by analysing every possible aspect of monasticism. The influence of Rome and Ireland is evident on these monasteries. The main difference lies in the fact that Irish influence came to Neustria through the missionary Columbanus in 590, 40 years before it reached Northumbria with Aidan in 635. A close study of the various aspects of monasticism for these four houses leads to the following conclusions. In several aspects, Neustrian and Northumbrian monasteries have the same characteristics, some of which come from a similar and simultaneous influence. Thus, the emergence of the Rule of St Benedict in the four monasteries occurred at approximately the same time. Similariy, and for what is related to the cultural life, monasteries on both sides depended largely on Rome. However, on other points, it is clear that the Northumbrian monasteries were directly influenced by the Neustrian Columbanian houses. We find that the institution of double houses, such as Chelles, Jouarre and Whitby, came from Prankish Gaul. As for the layout the organisation, including both communal buildings and cells is the same. Finally, new privileges were issued by the Columbanian monasteries in the seventh century, which were imitated later on in Northumbrian monasteries, such as Wearmouth/Jarrow. It is possible to say that these similarities and influences from Neustria to Northumbria, which have often been underestimated, were due to the intense personal relationships between churchmen and monastic founders in both kingdoms.