L'Étoile
Title
L'Étoile
Also Known As
L'Estelle, L'Estoile, L'Estoille, L'Etoille, Stella
Dates
Founded by 9th c.; Premonstratensian from 1130s; dissolved 1790
Dedication
Holy Trinity?
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
There was an abbey at L'Étoile from an early date, certainly by the 9th century. It was first a Benedictine community, and later an Augustinian one. In 1130 at the instigation of Thibault, count of Champagne and Geoffroy Grisegonnelle, L'Étoile joined the Premonstratensian Order. It was never a large community and was damaged by fire and warfare on a number of occasions.
L'Étoile became a commendatory abbey in 1558. L'Étoile was suppressed in 1790. The former monastic complex was largely demolished in the mid-19th century and a château was built on the site.
L'Étoile became a commendatory abbey in 1558. L'Étoile was suppressed in 1790. The former monastic complex was largely demolished in the mid-19th century and a château was built on the site.
Heads of Community
Abbots
Thierry, 1132-46
Raoul, fl. 1150s/60s
Imbert, fl. 1172
Jean I le Gascon, fl. 1178
Richard, ca. 1180-1190
Gautier, ca. 1190-1211
Michael, 1214-ca. 1228
Godefroi I, ca. 1228-1234
Adam, ca. 1235-1240
Hugues, fl. 1240
Godefroi II, 1240-48
Guillaume I, 1248-1250
Jean II, 1250-1265
Gui, 1270-1275
Godefroi III, 1288-1298
Nicolaus de Vaux, fl. 1308
Julian, 1310-1317
Jean III, 1322-1328
Gui II, fl. 1335
Jean IV Le Picard, ?-1344
Guillaume II La Caille, ?-1385
Étienne Broderel, 1386-1419
Jean V de Fontenay, 1419-1459
Guillaume III de Cormeray, 1459-1469
Jean VI de Cormeray, fl. 1472
Guillaume IV de Montesson, 1480-1498
Jean VII de Montesson, 1499-1516
Ambroise de Montesson, 1516-1557
Thierry, 1132-46
Raoul, fl. 1150s/60s
Imbert, fl. 1172
Jean I le Gascon, fl. 1178
Richard, ca. 1180-1190
Gautier, ca. 1190-1211
Michael, 1214-ca. 1228
Godefroi I, ca. 1228-1234
Adam, ca. 1235-1240
Hugues, fl. 1240
Godefroi II, 1240-48
Guillaume I, 1248-1250
Jean II, 1250-1265
Gui, 1270-1275
Godefroi III, 1288-1298
Nicolaus de Vaux, fl. 1308
Julian, 1310-1317
Jean III, 1322-1328
Gui II, fl. 1335
Jean IV Le Picard, ?-1344
Guillaume II La Caille, ?-1385
Étienne Broderel, 1386-1419
Jean V de Fontenay, 1419-1459
Guillaume III de Cormeray, 1459-1469
Jean VI de Cormeray, fl. 1472
Guillaume IV de Montesson, 1480-1498
Jean VII de Montesson, 1499-1516
Ambroise de Montesson, 1516-1557
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Blois, Archives départementales de Loir-et-Cher
42 H (15th-18th c.)
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 1762 (992, vol. 15), 417-431
42 H (15th-18th c.)
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 1762 (992, vol. 15), 417-431
Reference
Bibliography
Audebrand, Fabienne. “Les abbayes Saint-Sauveur de l’Étoile (Authorn) et Saint-Georges (Saint-Martin-des-Bois): deux abbayes oubliées de l’ordre de Prémontré en Loir-et-Cher.” In Actes officiels des 31e et 32e colloques du Centre d’études et de recherches prémontrées : Loir-et-Cher ... 2005 : Mont-Saint-Martin (France), Leffe (Belgique), 2006, edited by Martine Plouvier, 29–58. Laon: Centre d’études et de recherches prémontrées, 2010.
Saint-Venant, R. de. “Une excursion à Authon, Saint-Arnoult, Montoire et Saint-Georges-des-Bois.” Bulletin de la Société Archéologique du Vendômois 35 (1896): 177–94, 263–66. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k433616t/f176.
Image Credit
A view of the abbey of L'Étoile, ca. 1695. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“L'Étoile,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/412.