Ulger

Who was Ulger?

Ulger was the Bishop of Angers from 1125. Like his predecessor, Rainald de Martigné, he consolidated the Gregorian reform in his diocese.

Ulger was a student of Marbod and the latter's successor as archdeacon. Ulger composed a eulogy for his teacher, crediting him with bringing genius and art to Anjou. He also compares his master to Cicero, Virgil and Homer: Cessit ei Cicero, cessit Maro junctus Homero: ut dicam breviter, vicit eos pariter.

Shortly after becoming bishop, Ulger entered into a dispute with Glanfeuil Abbey, whose abbot, Drogo, rejected the authority of the bishop over his monastery and even had a papal bull forged to support his claim. As bishop, Ulger established a several new parish churches, began renovation to Angers Cathedral and constructed a hospice at Saint-Maimboeuf. In the 1140s, Ulger also got involved in a dispute with Fontevraud Abbey, which became an international scandal. The abbess Petronilla accused the bishop's men of having despoiled the property of laymen, named Basset, who was a friend of the abbey's. The victim went to Rome to appeal to Pope Innocent II directly, while the celebrated Bernard de Clairvaux wrote an angry letter to Ulger. The pope appointed a panel of five bishops to decide the case—which really concerned the abbey's rights in Les Ponts-de-Cé—and in 1149 the bishopric was ordered to pay restitution to Basset of 1,000 marks.