Guibert Of Nogent Argument Analysis

In the medieval period of 1050-1300, the Kingdom of France progressed and developed along many lines. A new culture developed, a central government emerged and new lines of thought began to come into fruition. With these developments, many problems began to emerge. The issue of violence in general emerged as a problem that needed to be addressed by the government. In addition, greed and corruption ravaged the church questioning its moral integrity, and thus, its authority. In the scholarly world there was also a need for a new, logical form of thought to emerge that would become innately associated with the kingdom of France. With all of these problems came solutions with varying success. Each of the problems and responses were integral to

This specific situation dealt with “wicked bishop” of Laon and the attempt to take him out of office for his exploitation of the people. In 1106 the seat of the Bishop of Laon, which was vacant for two years, was bought by Gaudri, a Norman who was not looked upon with high regard. An arrogant and somewhat ruthless leader, Gaudri was not liked by the burghers or a good amount common people alike, so when he left for England a “The clergy and knights came to an agreement with the common folk in hopes of enriching themselves in a speedy and easy fashion (Guibert).” The burghers set up a commune and sent money to the king in order to ensure its protection. Upon his arrival back to Laon the bishop was paid off to not object to the commune by the burghers and lived in peace for three years. In 1112 however, things began to change and the Bishop’s greed led him to seek power once more. Paying the king 300 more livres than the Burghers, he had the seal revoked from the commune and thus, taken out of legitimate power. This attempt at eliminating corruption in the church was done by the use of physical violence, and did not work out as well as the Burghers (organizers) had anticipated. The Burghers assembled with fierce anger, and forty of them swore by oath to kill the bishop and all those who had aided him to destroy the commune. The people swiftly caught on and a few days later, the Bishop Gaudri was thrown into the street and killed in minutes. Guibert describes the aftermath as a bloodbath with innocent and those supporting the bishop, slaughtered in the street and in their homes. “The progress of the fire, kindled on two sides at once, was so rapid, and the winds drove the flames so furiously in the direction of the convent of St. Vincent, that the monks were afraid of seeing all they possessed