L’écrit et la justice au Mont Saint-Michel : les notices narratives (vers 1060-1150)

A study of narrative records from the Mont-Saint-Michel reveals that judicial practices at the site mirrored those of other Ligarian monasteries, with a peak during the abbacy of Bernard (1131-1149). These texts, part of a cartulary begun around 1150, blend diplomatic formulas and narrative styles to depict monastic autonomy while serving as tools for social reconciliation. Unlike traditional legal procedures, these records focus on mediating disputes through compromise rather than enforcing norms, involving a network of lay and ecclesiastical figures to validate written agreements. The analysis underscores the need for interpretive attention to implicit meanings within these patchwork texts.

Van Torhoudt, É. (2016). L’écrit et la justice au Mont Saint-Michel : les notices narratives (vers 1060-1150). Tabularia. https://doi.org/10.4000/tabularia.813