Editing Suger (section)

==== Suger, the Regent (1147–9) ====
Though Suger was openly against<ref>Willelmus, ''Vita.'', 394.</ref> Louis VII's intention announced in 1145 to lead a crusade to rescue the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a council in February 1147 elected Suger to be a regent.<ref group=note>Initially, Suger and [[William II, Count of Nevers|William, count of Nevers]] were chosen in an election dominated by St Bernard, with the rationale as "twin swords—the ecclesiastical and securar—[to] protect the realm." William's imminent retirement as a monk meant that [[Ralph I, Count of Vermandois|Ralph of Vermandois]] and, to a lesser degree, [[Samson of Mauvoisin|Archbishop Samson of Reims]], to be co-regents with Suger. Grant, ''Church and State'', 157.</ref> One of the reasons Suger was opposed to the crusade were the issues present in France at the time: Louis VII wrote shortly after setting out to ensure protection of Gisors, and only six weeks after his expedition, asking for money, asking Suger to use some from his own resources if necessary.<ref group=note>"sive de nostro seu de vestro pecuniam sumptam nobis mittatis," [whether you send us money taken from us or from you,] in ''Recueil des Historiensdes Des Gaules et de la France'', ed. Martin Bouquet et al. (Paris, 1869–1904) vol 15, p. 487.</ref>

He urged the king to destroy the feudal bandits, was responsible for the royal tactics in dealing with the communal movements, and endeavoured to regularize the administration of justice. He left his abbey, which possessed considerable property, enriched and embellished by the construction of a [[Saint Denis Basilica|new church]] built in the nascent [[Gothic style]]. Suger wrote extensively on the construction of the abbey in ''Liber de Rebus in Administratione sua Gestis'', ''Libellus Alter de Consecratione Ecclesiae Sancti Dionysii'', and ''Ordinatio''.