Les miracles du suaire de Cadouin-Toulouse et la folie de Charles VI

Abstract

The holy shroud of Christ venerated in the Cistercian abbey of Cadouin in Périgord since the thirteenth century guaranteed the success of a very popular pilgrimage until the outbreak of the Hundred Years’ War. The shroud was brought to Toulouse in 1392 where it remained until 1455 and was the object of an active local cult as well as of local ambitions. Among the many miracles which occurred there, we can see a double specialisation - the protection of children and the curing of mental disorders. The second aptitude justified the loan of the shroud to Charles VI, the mad king, who venerated the relic in Paris in 1399. The half-failure of the effort led to expressions of skepticism on the part of certain clerics. But that did not, it seems, hinder the success of a relic that remained in demand. Its eventful return to Cadouin subsequently allowed the reconstruction of the abbey to take place, thanks to the generosity of Louis XI.