activities. We know that Bernard showed himself to be very partial in some conflicts concerning episcopal appointments—for instance, in the controversy surrounding the see of Langres in 1138, and in the appointment of William Fitzherbert as the archbishop of York against his wishes. This struggle began in 1140 and was not resolved until thirteen years later.2 More widely known was the fierce battle that Bernard waged in 1141 against the theological writings and the person of Peter Abelard and,