Le cimetière de Saint-Seurin de Bordeaux : mémoire et sacralisation de l’espace

Abstract

The Cemetery of Saint-Seurin in Bordeaux : Memory and Sacralization of the Space. From the middle of the 12th century on, the cemetery of Saint Seurin is mentioned in the History of the Pseudo Turpin (book IV of the Codex Calixtinus) as one of the two big sacred cemeteries, together with that of the Alyscamps in Arles. According to the book, this space was consecrated by the seven evangelist bishops of Gaul and received the mortal remains of many knights killed at Roncevaux. This funarary space is studied here using archeological written sources. 12th and 13th century narratives try to associate the cemetery with the old traditions of evangelic and carolingian times. The construction of this memory probably implies a reinterpretation of the material remains of the cemetery (especially of the numerous sarcophagus, with their varied typology). This article also studies these remains in general terms : topography, enclosure, worship place. In addition, the assertion of Saint-Seurin’s cemetery sacrality has to do with the history of the canonical community. Since the end of the 11th century, this community tried to assert itself, facing the bishops of Bordeaux.