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Nefingus facts for kids

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Nefingus (died September 12, 973) was an important religious leader in France. He served as the bishop of Angers from 966 until his death. He took over after the previous bishop, Aimo, passed away in October 966.

Nefingus: A Helpful Bishop

Nefingus was known for being very generous, especially towards the Abbey of Saint-Aubin d'Angers. An abbey is like a large monastery where monks live and work.

Changes at the Abbey

With the help of Count Geoffrey I of Anjou, Nefingus made a big change at the abbey. He replaced the "secular canons" with Benedictine monks.

  • Secular canons were priests who lived by certain rules but were not part of a monastic order like monks.
  • Benedictine monks were religious men who lived together under strict rules, focusing on prayer and work.

Abbey's Freedom

In 970, Nefingus helped the abbey gain an important right. They were allowed to choose their own abbot (the head of the abbey) without anyone outside interfering. This meant the monks had more control over their own community. In 972, as bishop, Nefingus officially confirmed these special rights for the abbey.

The Next Bishop

Nefingus's death is recorded in the official records of Angers Cathedral. After he died, Renaud II became the next bishop.

A Special Agreement

According to old records called the Annales de Vendôme, the plan for Renaud II to become bishop was made even before Nefingus died. This was unusual because normally, when a bishop died, the position would be empty for a while. This empty period is called a "vacancy".

Why the Plan Was Made

During a vacancy, the local count (like Count Geoffrey) could collect the church's money and income. By planning the succession in advance, the position did not become vacant. This meant the count could not collect those revenues. Renaud II secured his election by making a payment to Count Geoffrey. This type of payment for a church office was known as a "simoniacal" payment, which was considered wrong at the time.

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