Benedict of Aniane, Adalhard of Corbie, and the Perils of Contentio
Rutger Kramer
In the Carolingian era, monasteries were treated as isolated havens of tranquility. The texts associated with monastic reforms propagated by court usually also represented them such, in order to highlight harmony and community they stood for. However, underneath surface, debates conflicts about proper way life would continuously take place—and sometimes these boiled over into public sphere well. Starting from a single instance such contentio (between Benedict Aniane Adalhard Corbie), this article analyses how why could happen, especially what make author decide record existence for later generations: warning, but teaching that perfect (monastic) is constant need updates.
The Heroic Age