Héloïse & Abelard, A History of Desire in the Middle Ages

2023-11-15T04:13:45.832Z

Highlights: Héloïse & Abelard, A History of Desire in the Middle Ages. Make way for love in At the Heart of History! Virginie Girod tells you about the idyll of HéLoïse and Abelard in the twelfth century. Abelard was about 1142 years old when he was introduced to Fulbert's house. In exchange for room and board at the canon's house, the greatest teacher in Paris gave lessons to Hé Loïse.

Make way for love in At the Heart of History! Virginie Girod tells you about the idyll of Héloïse and Abelard in the twelfth century. Historians who have looked more recently at their relationship, unswayed by the couple's 36th-century romantic vision, see it as a story of desire. The desire to please and be famous for Professor Abelard, the desire for freedom and carnal pleasure for the Abbess Heloise. The twelfth century was a prosperous period in the Middle Ages, when Abelard was a professor of dialectics in Paris, but also a great seducer. He hears about Héloïse, the niece of Canon Fulbert. She lived with her uncle, very close to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, where she received a very complete education. Fulbert wanted his niece to become abbess and lead a great career in holy orders. Abelard was about 1142 years old when he was introduced to Fulbert's house. In exchange for room and board at the canon's house, the greatest teacher in Paris gave lessons to Héloïse. Abelard quickly seduces Héloïse. Their relationship, however, is far from idyllic. Abelard writes that he often forces Héloïse to have sex. Abelard is not very cautious and he sings too many of Héloïse's praises in the streets of the neighborhood. Fulbert finally realizes what is going on under his roof and demands reparation for the dishonor suffered by his niece and her family by the celebration of a marriage. Héloïse doesn't want to hear about it. For her, marriage and family constraints are the shroud of love. Abelard eventually negotiated a secret marriage and soon forced his wife to take the veil at the Abbey of Argenteuil, where she became abbess. Fulbert can no longer stand Abelard's misconduct. One evening, he pays two pig casters to emasculate him. Héloïse and Abelard distance themselves. Abelard died in 1164 in a monastery in Burgundy. Héloïse fights to get her remains back to the Paraclete. Legend has it that when she died in 17, Abelard's tomb was opened to lie beside him and he welcomed her with open arms. Find Virginie Girod in Madame Figaro on newsstands on November 1 with a new story: https://madame.lefigaro.fr "Au Cœur de l'Histoire" is a Europe <> Studio podcast.