Abbey's+in+France+A.M.

= Abbaye aux Hommes = =

=Abbaye aux Dames =

Faith: Catholic, Christianity
Dedication: St. Stephen

Facts About Abbaye's:
 = = =Bio on Matilda: = ﻿When William first asked for Matilda's hand in marriage she refused (She was too high born to marry him). Rumor has it that one day while Matilda was on her way to church William grabbed her by her braids and pulled her off her horse onto the ground. The king took offense at this, but before William was killed Matilda agreed to marry him (She was impressed by his passion). They were married in the year 1053, both in there early twenties. The pope disaggreed with the marriage because it went against the religion (they were cousins). To please the Pope they built matching Abbey's.
 * The Abbaye aux Hommes was built for the men and the Abbaye aux Dames for women, because of their uncanonical marriage (they were cousins).
 * The couple built both churches to appeal the pope. (who opposed their marriage)
 * The pope was so pleased to see William and Matilda's generacity he forgave them
 * The Churches were founded in 1067.
 * The Queen was burried in the Choir in 1083. 

Fun Fact: 
 * England's shortest Queen (4'2)
 * Had four sons, six daughters (favorite was their first born)
 * <span style="color: #1fe51f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She told William she would rather want to become a nun than marry him

= = = Bio on William the Conqueror: = William was Duke of Normandy as William the II and King of England as William the I. Became Duke of Normandy at age seven. King Henry I of France nighted him at the age of fifteen. With the help of King Henry, William finally gained controll of Normandy (in Battle of Val-es-Dunes in 1047). He married his cousin Matilda against the wishes of Pope Leo IX. = S**ources:** = [] [] [] []

Link back to My French Food Page!!!