GARNERIUS OF ROCHEFORT

Also known as Garnier of Rochefort or Langres; monk, bishop, monastic author; b. c. 1140; d. Clairvaux, after 1225. He was an active and influential man, related to the lords of Rochefort-sur-Brévon of the Côte d'Or, France. A cistercian of Longuay Abbey, he became prior of clairvaux c. 1175 and abbot of Auberive in 1180 and then of Clairvaux in 1187. He preached the Third crusade, and it was to Garnerius that richard i, the Lion-Heart, wrote on Oct. 1, 1191, telling of his successes and asking for reinforcements. Garnerius was bishop of the important See of Langres by 1193 at the latest, but he was soon in conflict with his cathedral chapter. Pope Innocent III demanded his resignation; after a delaying action, he complied in 1199 and retired to Clairvaux. He has left a letter and some sermons (crit. ed. in prep.). In all likelihood he wrote the treatise Contra Amaurianos and compiled an onomastic list beginning with angelus. Numerous charters signed by him have been preserved. A fervent monk, a worthy bishop, and a distinguished humanist, Garnerius should be studied also as a representative of the monastic theology of the late 12th century. For a long time scorned, he now attracts more attention, particularly for his exegetical method and his mystique of numbers.

Bibliography: Gallia Christiana 4:591–594 and Instrumenta: 194–195. j. c. didier, "Garnier de Rochefort: Sa Vie et son oeuvre," Collectanea Ordinis Cisterciensium 17 (1955) 145–158; "Une Lettre inédite de G. de R.," ibid. 18 (1956) 190–198; "Quelques précisions sur G. de R.," Les Cahiers haut-marnais 46 (1956) 164–166; Dictionnaire de théologie catholique Tables générales 1:1775. j. leclercq, "Manuscrits cisterciens dans diverses bibliothèques," Analecta Sacri Ordinis Cisterciensis 11 (1955) 139–148. m. d. chenu, "Erigène à Citeaux. Expérience intérieure et spiritualité objective," La Philosophie et ses problèmes: Recueil d'études … offert à R. Jolivet (Paris 1960) 99–107.

[j. c. didier]