Ancienne Abbaye

The Abbey of Saint-Nicolas-aux-Bois was a Benedictine abbey located on the territory of the commune of Saint-Nicolas-aux-Bois, in the department of Aisne, in France.

History
The Abbey of Saint-Nicolas-aux-Bois was founded around 1086 by two hermits during the reign of King Philip Ier. It welcomes friars and nuns, who transform the abbey into a double monastery. From 1120 to 1134, Abbot Simon, from Saint-Nicaise de Reims, imposed a reform on the abbey.

In the 13th century, a dramatic event marked the history of the abbey. The lord of Coucy, Enguerrand IV had three schoolchildren of the abbey executed. He was sentenced by King Saint-Louis to make amends at the crime scene for 13 days.

The Hundred Years War brutally marks the abbey. In 1403 the abbot was killed by an arrow fired by an English soldier. In 1418 the abbey was sacked and destroyed by the English.

The abbey was founded, but again destroyed by the Protestants in 1567. From 1614 to 1645 it was restored by the commendatory abbot of Henri Listolfi.

The introduction of the Maurists in Saint-Nicolas-aux-Bois, long hindered by César d'Estrées, Bishop of Laon and abbey lawyer who wanted to secularize and establish his seminary there, took place in 1670. From 1722 to 1738 and then in 1764, the abbey was almost completely rebuilt.

On February 13, 1790, the Constituent Assembly pronounced the abolition of monastic vows and the dissolution of religious congregations.

The religious are expelled. Marked as a national property and it is being sold. There are no remains from the 15th century.

The abbey had a mansion in Laon called Petit-Saint-Nicolas.

We have of the abbey a watercolor by Tavernier de Jonquières and an engraving of the Monasticon Gallicanum.

The remains of the monasteries have been protected as historical monuments since 1927.

Source: Wikipedia

Leonard van Bakel