Burchard of Bellevaux

Burchard of Bellevaux (c. 1100-1165) was a Cistercian monk and author who was known for his work Apologia de barbis (A Defense of Beards).

[1] After 22 years there, he became the abbot of Bellevaux, where he composed the Apologia de barbis[2] sometime before his death around 1165.

[3] The Aplogia de barbis was unknown until 1929, when the manuscript was discovered in a Swiss booksellers by E. Goldschmidt, who later produced the first edition of the book in a limited run of 300 copies.

(For example, his discussion of beards on goats leads to a conclusion that Jews are correctly caricatured as goats, since "their long, dangling beards prevent the 'truth' from entering their hearts", according to Sebastian Coxon.

[5]) Written in response to lay-brothers who believed they were being forced to shave their beards, the Apologia de barbis pays particular attention to explaining why lay-brothers should remain bearded while monks were required to shave.