List of abbots of Saint-Denis explained
This is a list of abbots and grand priors of the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
This list is drawn mostly from Félicie d'Ayzac, Histoire de Saint-Denys (Paris, 1861), Vol. 1, pp. cxxiii–cxxxi.
Abbots
For the first part of this list, dates may indicate attestations and not dates of reign.
- Dodo: 627
- Chunuald: 632
- Aigulf: before 639
- Wandebercht: 647
- Charderic: 678×690
- Chaino: 690–696
- Dalphinus: 709/710
- Chillardus: 710–716
- Turnoald: 717
- Hugh I: 718–730
- Berthoald: 723
- Godobald: 726
- Amalbert: 749
- Fulrad: 750–784
- Maginarius: 789–793
- Fardulf: 793–806
- Waldo of Reichenau: 806–814
- Hilduin († 841): 814–841
- Louis: 841–867
- Charles the Bald: 867–877 (in commendam)
- Gozlin I: 877–886
- Ebles: 886–903 (in commendam)
- Robert I: 903–923 (in commendam)
- Hugh II: 923–956 (in commendam)
- Hugh III: 956–??? (in commendam)
- Gozlin II
- Gerard
- Robert II: 980
- Odilo: 994
- Vivian: 998
- Hugh IV: 1049–1062
- Raynier: 1067
- William I: 1071
- Yves I: 1091
For the remainder of the list dates are regnal dates.
- Adam: 1094/1099–1122
- Suger: 1122–1151
- Odo II of Deuil: 1151–1162
- Odo III of Taverny: 1162–1169
- Yves II: 1169–1173
- William II of Gap: 1173–1180, dismissed by the king
- Hugh V Foucaut: 1186–1197
- Hugh VI of Milan: 1197–1204
- Henry I Troon: 1204–1221
- Pierre d'Auteuil: 1221–1229
- Odo IV: 1228–1245
- William III: 1246–1253
- Henry II Mallet: 1254–1258, resigned
- Matthew of Vendôme: 1258–1286
- Renaud de Giffard: 1286–1304
- Gilles I de Pontoise: 1304–1325
- Guy I de Châtres: 1326–1343, resigned
- Gilles II Rigaud
1343–1351
- Gauthier II de Pontoise: 1351–1354
- Robert III de Fontenay: 1354–1363
- Guy de Monceau: 1363–1393
- Philippe I de Vilette: 1393–1418
- Jean I de Borbon: 1418–1431
- Guillaume IV Farréchal: 1431–1442
- Philippe II de Gamaches: 1442–1464
- Jean II Jouffroy
1464–1474
1474–1499
- Antoine de la Haye: 1499–1505
- Pierre II de Gouffier: 1505–1517
- Aymar Gouffier de Boisy
1517–1519
1529–1557 (in commendam)
1557–1574
1574–1589
1589–1594
1594–1622
1622–1642
1642–1654
1654-1661
- Jean-François Paul de Gondi
1662-1679
Grand priors
In 1691, Louis XIV suppressed the title of abbot and subsequent superiors bear the title of grand prior. Its revenues were given to the Maison royale de Saint-Louis.
- Charles le Bouyer: 1691
- Julien Raguideau: 1693
- Pierre Arnould de Loo: 1696
- Mathieu Gilbert: 1702
- Charles Petey de l'Hostellerie: 1705
- Pierre Arnould de Loo: 1708
- Denys de Sainte Marthe: 1711
- Robert Marchand: 1714
- Denys de Sainte Marthe: 1717
- François Anseaume: 1720
- Pierre Richer: 1723
- Pierre du Biez: 1729
- Joseph Castel: 1736
- Pierre du Biez: 1741 (par commission)
- Joseph Avril: 1741
- Pierre Boucher: 1748
- Jacques Nicolas Chrestien: 1751
- Pierre Boucher: 1760
- Jacques Nicolas Chrestien: 1763 (elected at Marmoutiers)
- Joseph Delrue: 1766
- René Gillot: 1767
- Jacques Nicolas Chrestien: 1770
- Pierre Français Boudier: 1773
- André de Malaret: 1775
- Pierre Bourdin: 1778
- Pierre François Boudier: 1781
- Pierre Bourdin: 1784
- André de Malaret: 1788
- François Verneuil: 1791
In 1792, the abbey was secularized amidst the French Revolution. In October 1793, the tombs of the abbey were desecrated. On 25 March 1809, the buildings were given to the Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur.
