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Why did Peter Abelard challenge the traditional identity of 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.
While living as a monk at the royal abbey of Saint-Denis, Peter Abelard applied his dialectical methods to examine the history of the abbey’s patron saint. He challenged the traditional identity of St. Denis by arguing that the martyred apostle of Gaul, who served as the patron of the abbey, was not the same person as Dionysius the Areopagite—the Athenian convert of St. Paul.12
The monastic community viewed this historical criticism as derogatory to the kingdom and its religious heritage. Because the community perceived his findings as a threat to their traditional claims, Abelard faced the risk of being put on trial before the king of France. To avoid this, he fled the abbey and sought asylum elsewhere.12