Peter the Venerable (c. 1092–1156)

French monk. He was abbot of Cluny from c. 1122 to his death. He carried through important reforms in financial and educational spheres which caused a controversy with his friend St Bernard of Clairvaux, who wished monastic life to be confined to prayer and manual work. In c. 1130 he wrote his Epistola seu Tractatus adversus Pietrobusianos against the disciples of Peter of Bruys and Henry of Lausanne, whom he charged with preaching heresy in the south of France. He took part in the council of Pisa in 1134, and is said to have been influential in securing the papal throne for Innocent II. He is noted for befriending Peter Abelard in the latter's last days.