[2] In 1188,[1] he became abbot of Perseigne Abbey, to which his reputation for holiness and wisdom drew the great personages of his time to seek his advice.
He had at Rome a conference with the celebrated mystic, Joachim, Abbot of Flora, (in Calabria, Italy), on the subject of the latter's revelations, and aided Foulques de Neuilly in preaching during the Fourth Crusade.
In light of Adam de Perseigne's personality, his networks of influence and, in particular, his links with Richard the Lionheart and Innocent III, this article aims to explain why Rome and Cîteaux called on his good offices.
[3] Thirteen missions were carried out by Adam, including eight entrusted by Innocent III, three for the General Chapter, one jointly requested by Rome and Cîteaux, and one without an identified sponsor.
[4] On four occasions, Innocent III commissioned Adam, often in collaboration with other religious, to reform communities and dioceses, or at least to resolve complex disputes in order to put an end to unrest.
For example, in 1190, at Richard's request, the Chapter General commissioned Adam and other abbots to find a suitable site for the foundation of Bonport Abbey.
In 1208, Innocent III again asked Adam to negotiate a truce between Philip Augustus and John Lackland, with a view to launching the crusade against the Albigensians.
The delicate missions entrusted to him by Pope Innocent III bear witness to the trust and esteem he enjoyed in the Vatican.
As mentioned above, in 1208, Adam and the Abbot of Le Pin were asked by Innocent III to carry out a political mission aimed at securing a truce between John Lackland and Philip Augustus in order to support the crusade against the Albigensians.
Diplomatic missions, such as the search for a site for a new abbey and mediation between Richard and Philip Augustus, highlight Adam's key role in maintaining good relations between the King of England and the Cistercian order.
The exact nature of the personal relationship between Adam and Richard remains difficult to assess, but it seems to have had a strong political basis, with perhaps some closer exchanges in the spiritual realm.
In a letter to a nun named Agnes, Adam mentions the queen's promise to give him a pony because of a shortage of mounts.
Although the correspondence does not include any letters addressed to Berengaria, she and Adam were involved in negotiations for the construction of the new choir at Le Mans cathedral.