ABELARD, (Fr. Abelard, lir), Pierre, pe-ir, a distinguished philosopher, and lover of Heloise. His real name was Pierre de Palais the other being a nickname spelled in many otber ways, but originally Bajolardus, ebacon-licker," from a school joke, which he changed to Habelardus, ubacon-haver," as a retort : b. 1079 near Nantes, in the little village of Pallet, the property of his father Berengar; d. Chalon-sur-Saone, 21 April 1142. Full of intellectual enthusiasm, he gave up his patri mony to his younger brothers to devote himself to a life of study. Those studies were very wide, though the usual inclusion of Greek and Hebrew is an error; but his chief passion was philosophy, and its great implement, the scho lastic logic, in which he soon became the most eminent master of his age. Having learned all that Brittany could teach him, he went to Paris, the university of which attracted stu dents from all parts of Eurime. Guillaume de Chamoeaux, a follower of Anselm and an extreme Realist, was the most skilful disputant of his time, and Abelard, profiting by his in structions, was often victorious over his master in contests of wit and logical acumen. The friendship of Champeaux was soon succeeded by enmity ; and Abelard, who had not yet com pleted his 22d year, removed to Melun, whither he was soon followed by a multitude of young men, attracted from Paris by his great reputa tion. Hostility still pursued him, but he left Melun for Corbeil, nearer the capital, where he was still more admired and persecuted. Soon after he ceased teaching to recruit his strength, and after two years returned to Paris and found that his former teacher had removed to a monastery outside the city.
He again joined issue with him and gained so. complete a triumph that he opened in Paris a school of rhetoric, the fame of which soon de prived all the others of their pupils. afterward he was appointed to his rival's in the cathedral school of Notre Dame, where he educated many distinguished scholars, among whom were the future Pope Celestin II, Peter of Lombardy, bishop of Paris, Berenger, bishop of Poictiers, Arnold of Brescia.
At this time there resided close to Notre Dame, a young lady, by name Heloise, niece to the canon Fulbert, then of the age of 17, and remarkable for her beauty, genius, and varied accomplishments. Abelard became inspired with
such violent love for Heloise as to forget his duty, his lectures, and his fame. Heloise was no less susceptible. Under the pretext of fin ishing her education he obtained Fulbert's per mission to visit her, and finally became a resident in his house. His conduct in abusing the confi dence which bad been placed in him opened the eyes of Fulbert. He separated the lovers, but too late. Abelard fled with her to Brittany, where she was delivered of a son, who died early. Abelard now resolved to marry her se cretly. Fulbert gave his consent, the marriage was performed, and in order to keep it secret Molise remained with her uncle, while Abelard retained his former lodgings and continued his lectures. Abelard, however, carried her off a second time and placed her in the convent Argenteuil.
Fulbert erroneously believed it was intended to force her to take the veil, and under the in fluence of rage subjected Abelard to mutilation. He became, in consequence, a monk in the abbey of St. Denis, and Heloise took the veil at St. Ar genteuil. After time had somewhat moderated his of he resumed teaching. At the Council of Soissons (1121), no defense being permitted him, his °Essay on the Trinity) was declared heretical, and he was condemned to burn it with his own hands. Continued persecutions obliged him at last to leave the abbey of St. Denis and to retire to a place near Nogent-sur-Seine, where he built a rude hut in which he deter mined to live a hermit's life. Even here, how ever, students flocked to him, and they built him an oratory, which he dedicated to the Holy Ghost and hence called Paraclete. Being subse quently appointed abbot of St. Gildas de Rtrys, in Brittany, he invited Heloise and her religious sisterhood, on the dissolution of their monastery at Argenteuil, to reside at the above oratory, and received them there. He lived for some years at St. Gildas. Ultimately,, however, he fled from it and lived for a time in other parts of Brittany.