Heloise D Argenteuol's Unwed Father

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There is not much information on the birth and early life of Heloise d'Argenteuil. This important information has been lost over time; however, it is said that she was born around in either 1098 or 1101 and was the daughter of Hersint. It is not known if Hersint was a widow, married, a formal concubine or just an unwed mother. There is no information about her father. Heloise d’Argenteuol was most likely raised in a nunnery. During this time period many women chose to live in monasteries. This way they could receive education that they would otherwise not receive. It is here that Heloise d’Argenteuol first received her education. As a very young child she had been known as a prodigy. She was very well versed in secular Latin poets and …show more content…

She became the ward of her uncle, her mother’s brother, Fulbert, a canon of Notre Dame. Her uncle made sure that she continued her education, and when she was 18 years of age he hired a fellow canon, Peter Abelard to tutor her. Peter Abelard was one of the most well-known teachers and philosophers in Paris. He taught Heloise the classics, and Latin letters and rhetoric, and he also advanced her knowledge in philosophy. She was very well educated, even knowing some Greek and Hebrew. Heloise’s uncle wanted her to learn and become even more educated so she could have a career as an abbess
Peter Abelard began tutoring Heloise. He already knew about her before taking on the job of tutoring Heloise. Peter wrote: "A gift for letters is so rare in women that it added greatly to her charm and had won her renown throughout the realm" (New World Encyclopedia). He actually planned ahead of time to seduce her and he did just that. Due to their studies they were able to be alone in private, which led to their …show more content…

Due to this he ordered Abelard to be castrated. This occurred while Peter Abelard was asleep in his bed. This event wen public and everyone learned of his castration. Due to the shame and embarrassment Peter took vows and became a monk. Heloise was devastated by this and felt she lost her true love. Heloise wrote: “I love you more than ever; and so revenge myself on him (Fulbert). I will still love you with all the tenderness of my soul till the last moment of my life. If, formerly, my affection for you was not so pure, if in those days both mind and body loved you, I often told you even then that I was more pleased with possessing your heart than with any other happiness, and the man was the thing I least valued in you” (New World Encyclopedia). Peter, after joining the monkhood, asked Heloise to do the same, and join the convent. Initially she refused, but with his persistence she listened to him, and joined the convent. While serving as a monk Peter founded a new religion call the Oratory of the Paraclete. It was located fifty miles from Paris.
During this time, Heloise was now living at the old’s woman’s monastery of Argenteuil, where she was the abbess. She was teaching the nuns Abelard’s doctrine. Abbott Suger took over the monastery and kicked all women out, leaving Heloise and the nuns homeless. Peter invited them to stay at the now empty Paraclete. Heloise and the nuns moved in and all control

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