Berne Abbey
Foundation
Foundation
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Berne Abbey was founded in 1134, the year of [Norbert of Xanten](/wiki/Norbert_of_Xanten "Norbert of Xanten")'s death, by the knight and nobleman Fulcold of Berne, lord of Teisterband, in the Dutch town of [Berne](/wiki/Bern_%28Netherlands%29 "Bern (Netherlands)"), on the banks of the river [Maas](/wiki/Meuse_%28river%29 "Meuse (river)"), two miles south\-east of [Heusden](/wiki/Heusden "Heusden") and about six miles north\-west of ['s\-Hertogenbosch](/wiki/%27s-Hertogenbosch "'s-Hertogenbosch").

Numerous legends surround its foundation. One is that Fulcold, when hotly pressed in battle, made a vow to build an abbey, if, by throwing himself into the river Maas, his life might be preserved from the enemy. This prayer having been heard, Fulcold converted his castle at Berne into a monastery, where he himself became a lay brother. Blessed Fulcold died on April 12, 1149, on which day his name is recorded in the [hagiology](/wiki/Hagiology "Hagiology") of the Premonstratensian order.

Fulcold initially brought Augustinian canons from [Rolduc Abbey](/wiki/Rolduc_Abbey "Rolduc Abbey") to Berne to start the monastery, but was dissatisfied with their lack of discipline, and sent them back again. He made another attempt at a foundation in 1134 with the newly established [Premonstratensian Order](/wiki/Premonstratensian_Order "Premonstratensian Order"), also called Norbertines after their founder [Norbert of Xanten](/wiki/Norbert_of_Xanten "Norbert of Xanten"). From the nearby Mariënweerd Abbey an abbot and some canons were sent to his castle. This time Fulcold himself also joined the community. His wife, Bescela, also chose a religious life in Berne and later in the monastery of Altforst, a Norbertine nunnery linked to the abbey. The appointed guardians of the abbey were at first the [dukes of Cleve](/wiki/Dukes_of_Cleve "Dukes of Cleve"). In 1248 the [dukes of Brabant](/wiki/Duke_of_Brabant "Duke of Brabant") took over this duty and finally in 1399 the [counts of Holland](/wiki/Count_of_Holland "Count of Holland") and the [Dukes of Guelders](/wiki/Dukes_of_Guelders "Dukes of Guelders").


When was the Berne Abbey founded?