Bishops, Canons, Counts, and the Writing of History in Angoulême, c. 1040–1160

The »Historia Pontificum et Comitum Engolismensium« (HPCE) was put together by the canons of Angoulême cathedral in the twelfth century, before 1159. As a panegyric, it needs to be used with more caution than many historians have hitherto afforded it. This study examines the environment from which the chronicle came, and the experience of the canons from the mid-eleventh century. Bishops frequented the ducal court; despite the testimony of the HPCE, the counts also maintained relations with the dukes, their support of church reform echoing that of Guy-Geoffrey, duke in 1058–1086. The canons became powerful within Angoulême from the time of bishops William (1043–1075) and Ademar (1075–1101), both members of the comital family. Despite use of fiery Gregorian rhetoric in charters, their interest was primarily in effective control of the church’s material resources – the HPCE provides evidence of friction with bishop Ademar that can be elaborated from other sources. Circumstantial evidence suggests the canons chose Gerard as bishop in 1101/1104; their support of his work as a modernising legate and lawyer was substantial. The HPCE’s silence on the kind of reforming initiatives initiated by Robert d’Arbrissel as they affected Angoulême reinforces the view of the canons as conservative in nature.