Varille, M., and D.Loisin. L’abbaye de Saint Chef en Dauphiné. Lyon: Masson, 1929.
SAINT-DENIS
. The abbey church of Saint-Denis, just north of Paris, one of the oldest and most
prestigious monastic foundations in northern France, marks the final resting place of St.
Denis (Dionysius), Apostle of Gaul and first bishop of Paris, who died during the
persecutions of Diocletian. A church was built here at the initiative of St. Geneviève
before 500, but associations with royalty are said to have begun only with King Dagobert
(r. 629–39). The legend is that Dagobert, fleeing the wrath of his father, sought refuge in
the church and fell asleep on the tomb of St. Denis. His vengeful father tried several
times to enter the church but each time was prevented from so doing. In gratitude,
Dagobert built a new church that was miraculously consecrated by Christ, Peter, Paul,
and Denis and his two companions the night before its dedication.
Dagobert’s basilica was decorated with marble columns and capitals, some of which
survive and most of which were reused when Fulrad rebuilt and enlarged the church,
beginning ca. 750, with the patronage of the Carolingian dynasty. When Pepin III the
Short died in 768, he was buried, according to his wishes, face down outside the west
doors to atone for the sins of his father, Charles Martel. Charlemagne, Pepin’s son, is said
to have paid for a new west structure that extended the consecrated space of the church
over his father’s burial site. The Carolingian kings followed the example of Pepin, who
had not only enriched the church with lavish donations but also employed its abbot,
Fulrad, for diplomatic missions, and frequently included the abbots among their trusted
advisers. Thus, it is no surprise that Fulrad’s church, as revealed in Crosby’s excavations,
was a splendid structure composed of a nine-bay nave with aisles, a projecting tran
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