ABSTRACT
The abbey of St. Victor in Paris was founded in 1108 by William of Champeaux. In 1113 William left St. Victor to become bishop of Châlons. The abbey of St. Victor gradually prospered under the leadership of Abbot Gilduin (d. 1155) and Master Hugh (d. 1141). In these early days, the school and abbey of St. Victor seem to have attracted some of the most promising of the students who had come to Paris in search of an education. Gilduin was succeeded by Abbot Achard (abbot of St. Victor, 1155–61; bishop of Avranches, 1161–70/1; buried in the Premonstratensian Abbey of La Lucerne of which he was a patron). None of Achard’s works were published until the twentieth century, but he may have been Hugh’s student and seems to have been his equal in intelligence and virtue. Almost contemporary with Achard was Richard of St. Victor (d. 1173), who served as prior under Achard’s successor, the unworthy abbot Ervise (1162–72).
