Historia Calamitatum - Chapter I - Of the Birthplace of Pierre Abelard and of His Parents

Oct 13, 2026

Historia Calamitatum presents Pierre Abelard’s early life and the origins of his later suffering. In a personal foreword, Abelard explains that his account is meant to console readers by comparison of sorrows. Chapter I describes his birthplace, his family background, and how a father’s love of letters shaped Abelard’s education. He recounts leaving the worldly “court of Mars,” embracing logical reasoning, and traveling to pursue learning. The narrative then introduces the start of misfortunes linked to envy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time1 h 20 min

AccessFree to download

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I. OF THE BIRTHPLACE OF PIERRE ABELARD AND OF HIS PARENTS

CHAPTER II. OF THE PERSECUTION HE HAD FROM HIS MASTER WILLIAM OF CHAMPEAUX

# Historia Calamitatum Peter Abelard Digitized by the Internet Archivein 2021 with funding fromKahle/Austin Foundation https://archive.org/details/historiacalamita0000unse Historia Calamitatum Peter Abelard ## Table of Contents 1 Historia Calamitatum…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 Peter Abelard……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 CHAPTER II. OF THE PERSECUTION HE HAD FROM HIS MASTER WILLIAM OF CHAMPEAUX OF HIS ADVENTURES AT MELUN, AT CORBEIL AND AT PARIS HIS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CITY OF THE PARISIANS TO MELUN, AND HIS RETURN TO MONT STE GENEVIEVE OF HIS JOURNEY TO HIS OLDHOME…………………………………2 CHAPTER II. OF HOW HE CAME TO LAON TO SEEK ANSELM AS TEACHER……………………………………………………………………………………………………………5 CHAPTER IV.OF THE PERSECUTION HE HAD FROM HIS TEACHER ANSELM………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 CHAPTERV.OF HOW HE RETURNED TO PARIS AND FINISHED THE GLOSSES WHICH HE HAD BEGUN AT LAON………………………………………………7 CHAPTER VI. OF HOW,BROUGHT LOW BY HIS LOVE FOR HELOISE,HE WAS WOUNDED IN BODY AND SOUL………………………………8 CHAPTER VII. OF THE ARGUMENTS OF HELOISE AGAINST WEDLOCK OF HOW NONE THE LESS HE MADE HER HIS WIFE………12 CHAPTER VIII. OF THE SUFFERING OF HIS BODY OF HOW HE BECAME A MONK IN THE MONASTERY OF ST.DENIS AND HELOISE A NUN AT ARGENTEUIL……………………………………………………………………16 CHAPTER IX.OF HIS BOOK ON THEOLOGY AND HIS PERSECUTION AT THE HANDS OF HIS FELLOW STUDENTS OF THE COUNCIL AGAINST HIM………………………………………………………………………………18 CHAPTER X.OF THE BURNING OF HIS BOOK IF THE PERSECUTION HE HAD AT THE HANDS OF HIS ABBOT AND THE BRETHREN…………………………………………………………………………………………………2 CHAPTER XI. OF HIS TEACHING IN THE WILDERNESS…………………………27 CHAPTER XII. OF THE PERSECUTION DIRECTED AGAINST HIM BY SUNDRY NEW ENEMIES OR, AS IT WERE APOSTLES………………………30 CHAPTER XII. OF THE ABBEY TO WHICH HE WAS CALLED AND OF THE PERSECUTION HE HAD FROM HIS SONS THAT IS TO SAY THE MONKS AND FROM THE LORD OF THE LAND………………………………31 CHAPTER XIV.OF THE VILE REPORT OF HIS INIQUITY……………………34 CHAPTER XV.OF THE PERILS OF HIS ABBEY AND OF THE REASONS FOR THE WRITING OF THIS HIS LETTER……………………………37 ## Historia Calamitatum Peter Abelard Kessinger Publishing reprints thousands of hard-to-find books! Visit us at http://www.kessinger.net ## FOREWORD OFTEN the hearts of men and women are stirred,as likewise they are soothed in theirsorrows more by example than by words.And therefore,because I too I have knownsome consolation from speech had with one who was a witness thereof,am I now mindedto write of the sufferings which have sprung out of my misfortunes,for the eyes of onewho,though absent,is of himself ever a consoler.This I do so that,in comparing yoursorrows with mine,you may discover that yours are in truth nought,or at the most but ofsmall account,and so shall you come to bear them more easily. ## CHAPTERI.OF THE BIRTHPLACE OF PIERRE ABELARD AND OF HISPARENTS KNOW,then,that I am come from a certain town which was built on the way into lesserBrittany,distant some eight miles,as I think,eastward from the city of Nantes,and in itsown tongue called Palets.Such is the nature of that country,or,it may be,of them whodwell there—for in truth they are quick in fancy —that my mind bent itself easily to thestudy of letters.Yet more,I had a father who had won some smattering of letters beforehe had girded on the soldier's belt.And so it came about that long afterwards his lovethereof was so strong that he saw to it that each son of his should be taught in letters evenearlier than in the management of arms.Thus indeed did it come to pass.And because Iwas his first born,and for that reason the more dear to him,he sought with doublediligence to have me wisely taught.For my part,the more I went forward in the study ofletters,and ever more easily,the greater became the ardour of my devotion to them,untilin truth I was so enthralled by my passion for learning that,gladly leaving to my br

FAQs

What purpose does Abelard state for writing Historia Calamitatum?

He writes to console others by having them compare their sorrows with his, so they may bear them more easily.

Where does Abelard say he came from in Chapter I?

He says he is from a town built on the way into lesser Brittany, near Nantes, called Palets in its own tongue.

How does Chapter I explain Abelard’s education and change of pursuits?

His father ensured he was taught letters; Abelard becomes devoted to learning, exchanges other weapons for logical reasoning, and journeys where that study flourishes.

Oct 13, 2026

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