A Brief Chronology of the Life and Works of Bernard of Clairvaux

1090 Birth of Bernard

1095 The First Crusade

1098 Founding of monastery at Citeaux by Robert of Molesme

1109 Anselm of Canterbury dies

1113 Bernard enters Citeaux

1115 Bernard founds monastery at Clairvaux

1118 Founding of monastery at Trois-Fontaines

1119 Founding of monastery at Fontenay

1121 Abelard’s teachings on the Trinity condemned (Abelard born 1079)

1121 Founding of monastery at Foigny

1124 The Steps of Humility and Pride

1126–1141 On Loving God* [* The exact dates of some of Bernard’s works are not known; completed sometime between the years given.]

1126–1135 On Grace and Free Choice* [* The exact dates of some of Bernard’s works are not known; completed sometime between the years given.]

1127–1128 Duties and Conduct of Bishops

1128 Order of Knights Templar established

1128–1136 In Praise of the New Knighthood* [* The exact dates of some of Bernard’s works are not known; completed sometime between the years given.]

1130 Pope Honorius II dies controversy between rival successor popes begins eight-year schism

1130–1138 Bernard works (successfully) to secure papacy for Innocent II

1132 Founding of monastery at Rievaulx

1135 Bernard sent on political mission as papal envoy to Bamberg, Germany

1135–1153 Sermons on the Song of Songs (in progess at Bernard’s death)

1138 Second Lateran Council confirms Innocent II; annuls all acts of rival antipope Anacletus II

1139–1140 Sermons of Conversion

1139 Bernard’s controversy with Abelard

1140–1141 Abelard condemned at Sens

1143 Death of Pope Innocent II

1145 Election of Pope Eugenius III (Bernard’s former pupil)

1146–1147 Bernard preaches the Second Crusade

1148 Bernard attempts to have Gilbert of Poitiers condemned at Council of Rheims

1148 Defeat of the Second Crusade at Damascus

1150s Five Books on Consideration (completed 1153)

1150 Univeristy of Paris Founded

1150–1152 Life of St Malachy

1153 Death of Bernard

1153 Pope Eugenius III dies

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