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Why did Peter Abelard become a monk at Saint-Denis?
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Peter Abelard
Peter Abelard, with Héloïse, miniature portrait by Jean de Meun, 14th century; in the Musee Conde, Chantilly, France.
Peter Abelard embraced the monastic life at the royal abbey of Saint-Denis primarily out of shame following a violent attack. After he and his secret wife, Héloïse, were discovered, Héloïse’s uncle, Canon Fulbert, instigated an assault in which Abelard was castrated. In the wake of this humiliation, Abelard sought refuge in the monastery, while simultaneously requiring Héloïse to become a nun at the convent of Argenteuil.12