Renée de Bourbon (fl. 1477)

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Renée de Bourbon (fl. 1477)

Abbess of Fontevrault. Name variations: Renee of Bourbon. Flourished in 1477 in France.

Renée de Bourbon was abbess of Fontevrault, in central France, and spent most of her life trying to rid France's monasteries of corruption. With single-minded determination, the noble-born Renée traveled from one religious foundation to another, preaching, writing letters, and even resorting to armed conflict when the corruption she faced was too severe for mere words. She put much effort into improving her own convent-monastery at Fontevrault, trying to return wayward monks and nuns under her rule to the way of God. Her harsh discipline included the use of oaths of loyalty and even threats of punishment.

Laura York , Riverside, California

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