Berengar of Poitiers

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Berengar of Poitiers, known by the Latin name Pictauensis, was a younger, zealous follower of the philosopher Peter Abelard (died 1142). Very little about his life is known beyond his few writings. He was a member of the secular clergy and likely came from Poitou.

His writings survive in five manuscripts, all written after Abelard’s condemnation at Sens in 1140–41. Three works still exist:
- Apologeticus, a defense of Abelard against Bernard of Clairvaux;
- Epistola contra Carthusienses, a critique of Abelard’s Carthusian critics;
- Epistola ad episcopum Mimatensem, a letter asking for protection from the bishop of Mende.

He also wrote at least one lost work, De incarnatione Christi, a treatise against a heretical Marseille canon named Benedict. The last known work was written from the Cévennes, where he had taken refuge after stirring up strong hostility. His later life is unknown.

In Apologeticus, probably written before Abelard’s death in 1142, Berengar satirizes Bernard and the trial while acknowledging that Abelard made mistakes. He argues that Bernard is a hypocrite with no right to prosecute Abelard. He notes that Bernard accuses Abelard of contradicting the Church Fathers, but Bernard himself in his own writings breaks literary rules. Berengar also contends that Bernard has promoted a Platonic idea that souls come from heaven and move to earth; if Abelard had taught something like that, Bernard would have labeled it an error.

In Epistola contra Carthusienses, Berengar condemns the monks for hypocrisy in strong scriptural language.

The Epistola ad episcopum Mimatensem was written around 1150. In it, Berengar retracts some of his earlier criticisms of Bernard, saying he is older and wiser now. He still defends his own writings by a comparison to philosophers: just as Colotes criticized Plato and Aristotle defended truth over friendship, Berengar says he would place truth above Bernard. He ends with a paraphrase that Bernard may be his friend, but truth is a greater friend.