PIERRE LOVES HELOISE
Born in a small village in France in 1079 Pierre
Abelard was meant for the army but chose a career of learning instead. He
became a wondering scholar looking for the best known teachers of his
time. Since in those days there were no
universities as such, but there were some well-known schools, he tried several
before settling on learning dialectic and rhetoric at the Cathedral School in
Paris lead by William of Champeaux.
As a student he was brash and
outspoken, constantly questioning and attacking what he was being taught. Impatient of the traditionalists of his time
his teachers found him more interested in his own theories than in what they
had to say. Far from impressing them
with his clever opinions, they felt these lacked substantial scholarship to be
taken seriously. Consequently, for a long
time he was blocked by the hierarchy in his endeavour to acquire a teaching
position at the school.
Undeterred, he opened a school of
his own waiting for the students to flock to him. Unsuccessful, he offered himself again for a
teaching position when a second vacancy took place. Being accepted, he now began to teach
dialectic and rhetoric himself.
In constant battle with his teachers
when he himself was a student, as a teacher he had no opposition. Throughout Paris he was admired for his
eloquence and confidence in his own ability.
His good looks and a distinguished air did not do him any damage
either. His reputation spread. Students came in droves, not only from France
but from other parts of Europe as well.
Wherever he went he was followed by
admiring throngs of students and even members of the general public. People stopped whatever they were doing to
gaze after him, the greatest living orator of his time.
Becoming attracted to Heloise, niece
of Canon Fulbert of Notre Dame Cathedral, he decided to seduce her by offering
himself as a tutor to her in her own home.
Since Heloise was a brilliant student Fulbert was only too eager to have
her tutored by one of the best-known teachers in Paris. On her part, Heloise already knew about
Abelard by reputation as both an orator and as one whom women found
irresistible.
Despite the fact that she was 22
years his junior, Heloise became Abelard’s lover at the age of 17 in the very
house where Abelard was treated as an honoured guest. As passionately in love as they were with
each other, the affair became obvious to everyone except the uncle.
Despite the many rumours brought to
him, he could not believe Abelard could betray his position of trust in such a
way. When convinced at last, he threw
Abelard out of the house a bitter, angry and a revengeful man.
Not long after, Pierre received a
letter from Heloise letting him know that she was pregnant. Abelard was torn between his love for her and
his reputation as a theologian and philosopher.
Heloise herself felt that marriage could destroy Pierre’s career, but
her situation required that something be done.
While waiting for inspiration Pierre stole her from her uncle’s house to
place her in the care of his own family.
Here she had their son who was later taken care of by Abelard’s sister.
Needless to say Flaubert was both
grieved and outraged. Heloise was not
only very beautiful, but a highly educated and gifted young woman. She was as interested in philosophy and logic
as Abelard himself was, and as able to debate as well as he. He mourned the waste of talent and was
waiting for a chance to retaliate.
Realising the implacable hatred that
his actions had inspired in Flaubert, Pierre offered to marry Heloise in a
secret marriage which, while it sanctified their union, would not change
anything outwardly and would not curtail his own career as a theologian.
So, after returning to Paris, and
with her uncle’s approval, Abelard married Heloise in a secret ceremony
witnessed by only a few members of the family.
Despite having initially agreed to keeping the marriage secret, Flaubert
could not countenance it.
To remove her from her uncle’s
influence Abelard placed Heloise in the convent where she had been educated as
a young girl, and where Abelard visited her in secret from time to time.
Hating to see what he felt was the
debasement of his niece Flaubert struck.
Catching him while he was asleep, Flauber had Abelard castrated. The action was no more a secret than the
marriage, and Abelard, feeling himself a laughing stock among all who knew him,
said goodbye to his brilliant career. He
entered a monastery while Heloise entered a nunnery.
Despite the misfortune, the two
remained close through the rest of their lives.
Corresponding freely with each other, they kept in touch with each
other’s feelings, emotions, and the manner of their lives.
When the buildings of their order
were torn down, their bodies were moved to Paris, where the romantic French
reburied them in one grave in 1817.
Extract from
'Cool Foods for Hot Lovers' by Vlady M Peters
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