The Romanesque Elegance of Cîteaux: The 1111 Illuminated Moralia in Job

The artistic refinement of Romanesque illuminated manuscripts is exemplified in a 1111 CE copy of the Moralia in Job by Pope Gregory the Great, produced at the Abbey of Cîteaux in France. This manuscript, created within the influential Cistercian monastic tradition, stands as a testament to the elegant and imaginative craftsmanship of Romanesque book illumination.

Stylistic Features and Artistic Innovations

• Ornate Human and Animal Forms – The initials are intricately shaped by fantastically stylized human figures, dragons, and mythical creatures, a hallmark of Romanesque manuscript art.
• Intricate Lettering – The elongated, intertwined figures serve as decorative initials, transforming the written word into visual splendor, blending text and image seamlessly.
• Dynamic Movement and Expression – The creatures and human forms exhibit exaggerated poses and fluid gestures, imbuing the manuscript with a sense of animated elegance.
• Vibrant Colors and Contrast – The use of rich pigments, such as deep blues, reds, and gold, enhances the manuscript’s visual impact, drawing attention to its elaborate compositions.

The Cistercian Influence on Romanesque Illumination

The Abbey of Cîteaux, founded in 1098, became the heart of the Cistercian movement, which emphasized simplicity and austerity. Yet, in the early 12th century, Cistercian scriptoria still produced lavishly illuminated manuscripts, such as this copy of the Moralia in Job.

• A Departure from Cluniac Ornamentation – While Cluniac art was often highly elaborate, early Cistercian manuscripts retained a restrained yet sophisticated beauty, balancing elegance with clarity.
• Symbolism and Spirituality – The manuscript’s elaborate initials reflect a deeply symbolic artistic language, where fantastical creatures and contorted human forms serve not only as decoration but as spiritual metaphors.

Legacy and Artistic Significance

This 1111 manuscript from Cîteaux represents one of the finest Romanesque illuminated texts, bridging the grandeur of Cluniac traditions with the emerging Cistercian aesthetic. Its intricate designs and vibrant ornamentation continue to be celebrated as a high point of medieval book art, preserving the elegant beauty and creative ingenuity of Romanesque illumination for future generations.

The Foundations of the Cistercian Order and the Leadership of Stephen Harding (1112–1119 CE)

The Cistercian Order emerged from the efforts of three monastic reformers—Robert of Molesme, Alberic, and Stephen Harding—who sought to restore the Rule of St. Benedict in its purest form. What began as a small hermitic community in the forests of France became, under Stephen Harding’s leadership, a powerful and rapidly growing monastic movement that transformed medieval monasticism.

Origins: From Molesme to Citeaux

• Alberic, originally a hermit in the forest of Collan, was among a group of six monks who, dissatisfied with lax monastic discipline, invited Robert, abbot of Saint Michel-de-Tonnerre, to establish a new monastery.
• Robert led them to Molesme in 1075, where he became abbot, with Alberic serving as prior.
• Among the monks drawn to Molesme was Stephen Harding, an Englishman from Dorset, who had spent time as a traveling scholar before joining the monastery.

However, Molesme fell into corruption and laxity, prompting Robert, Alberic, and Stephen to leave and establish a new religious community at Cîteaux in 1098.

• Robert was the first abbot but soon returned to Molesme after only a year.
• Alberic then took over, guiding the small but committed community until his death in 1108.
• Stephen Harding, the youngest of the three, became the third abbot of Cîteaux, shaping the order into a distinct and rapidly expanding monastic movement.

The Expansion of the Cistercians (1112–1119 CE)

Under Stephen Harding’s leadership, the Cistercians (so named after their mother house at Cîteaux) began to expand beyond a single monastery, forming a network of austere, reforming monastic houses:

• The arrival of Bernard of Clairvaux in 1112 marked a turning point. Bernard, accompanied by a group of followers, infused new energy into the movement, and from 1112 to 1119, a dozen new Cistercian houses were founded.
• The monks of Cîteaux, wearing white habits with black scapulars, came to be known as "White Monks", in contrast to the black-robed Benedictines.
• The Cistercian movement gained international recognition, with its model of strict discipline, simplicity, and labor attracting numerous vocations across Europe.

The Carta Caritatis (Charter of Charity) and the Cistercian Constitution (c. 1119 CE)

To preserve unity and discipline across the growing number of Cistercian abbeys, Stephen Harding formalized the Carta Caritatis ("Charter of Charity"), which became the official constitution of the order by 1119.

This document:

• Established the Cistercian system of governance, where all daughter houses remained under the spiritual authority of Cîteaux.
• Ensured that all monasteries followed the same strict interpretation of the Rule of St. Benedict.
• Promoted mutual assistance and shared resources, reinforcing the egalitarian and austere nature of Cistercian life.

Stephen Harding’s Lasting Legacy

While no single person is considered the founder of the Cistercian Order, Stephen Harding’s vision and leadership were fundamental to its rapid expansion and enduring influence:

• He guided Cîteaux for 25 years, ensuring that the monastic ideal remained rooted in discipline, humility, and simplicity.
• His organizational reforms helped establish the Cistercians as one of the most important religious movements of the 12th century.
• The influence of Cistercian spirituality, reinforced by Bernard of Clairvaux, would shape medieval Christianity, with the order becoming a dominant force in monastic, intellectual, and even political life.

By the early 12th century, the Cistercian Order was no longer just a monastic reform movement—it had become one of the great pillars of medieval religious life, with Stephen Harding’s Carta Caritatis ensuring its cohesion, longevity, and influence across Europe.