Why did Peter Abelard flee the abbey 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.

Peter Abelard fled the abbey of Saint-Denis after he applied his dialectical methods to the identity of the abbey's patron saint. He argued that St. Denis of Paris was not the same person as Denis of Athens (Dionysius the Areopagite). The monastic community viewed this claim as derogatory to the kingdom, and to avoid being brought to trial before the king of France, Abelard fled and sought asylum in the territory of Count Theobald of Champagne.1