ASR

The main aim of this research project is to propose a new reading of female monastic reform in the 17th century. Focusing on the regular reforms affecting Benedictine women's monasteries in France, it aims to emphasize the socio-economic dimension of these monastic reforms, which were not limited to the spiritual realm. This ASR project aims to study the transformation of the profession of abbess and seigneuress, in terms of both career and practical practice, with particular reference to economic and judicial matters. Through a combination of case studies and a more general trend in the world of Benedictine nuns, this project aims to offer a different reading of the Catholic reform, ultimately questioning the place of nuns in society in Ancien Régime France, at a time when strict enclosure was being imposed and financial and economic autonomy was needed.