History of the Ile St Honorat

Between 400 and 410, Honorat, Caprais and some companions arrived on the island and formed a community of monks that quickly grew and spread throughout Roman Provence.

Starting in the 7th century, the monks adopt the Rule of Saint Benedict.

8th – 9th century, politically troubled period and destructive raids later attributed to the Saracens. We only know the history of this period from documents written much later.

Around 980 : "Liberation" of Provence.

978-1020: Lérins reappears in its history as a Cluniac monastery (St Mayeul and St Odilon, abbots of Cluny and of Lérins). Starting in the 11th century, many settlement deeds. Within one century, establishment of over a hundred priories in Provence and beyond. Persistence of insecurity because of the "Saracens" then the Genovese.

Around 1047 : Another devastation of Ile St Honorat and capture of the young monks who are taken to Spain. They would be ransomed by the abbot of St Victor in Marseille.

1327 : Installation of a system of signaling through the use of fire, between the fortified monastery's tower and that of Suquet.

Around 1391 : The relics of St Honorat are brought back from Arles.

1400 : The island is pillaged by Genovese pirates. The building would from then on be permanently defended by servants, then Provençal soldiers (1437) then French (1481), who continuously resided on the upper floors of the fortified monastery.

1464 : Start of the commendam. Augustin Grimaldi, third commendam abbot, reformed the abbey by resigning from the commendam and uniting the abbey with the congregation of Mont Cassin. Arrival of the first monks on May 3, 1516.

16th century : First description of the fortified monastery by Barralis, being 90 rooms (30 cells, 1 church, 3 chapels) for 15-30 monks (number fixed by a decree of the conventual chapter).

1635-1637 : The islands are taken by the Spanish and occupied for two years. They fortify the whole of Ile St Honorat by putting cannon batteries on the chapels. After recovering the islands, a large garrison permanently stayed there.

Starting in 1636 : The commendam system was established for good, which caused the rapid decline of the abbey, closed by a royal commission in 1788. There remained no more than four monks. The monastery's estate was incorporated into the bishopric of Grasse.