Robert Of Arbrissel, founder of the order of Fontevrault, born at Arbrissel, Brittany, in 1047, died at Orsan in 1117. In 1085, upon his appointment as vicar general of the bishop of Rennes, he began sweeping reforms among the clergy and people of the diocese, which brought him into such bad odor that upon the death of his superior in 1089 he retired to Angers and gave instructions in theology. At the expiration of two years, disgusted with the world, he retired into the forest of Craon, where he lived as a hermit. Numerous anchorets soon placed themselves under his direction, and he gave his followers the name of " The Poor of Christ." In 109G he founded the abbey of La Roe, of which he became the first prior, but soon relinquished this peaceful life to travel barefooted through the country, preaching repentance and penance to the people. He soon had several thousand followers of both sexes, for whose accommodation he built a number of abbeys, the most celebrated of which is that of Fontevrault, near Poitiers, established in 1099.