Hugh of Vaucemain

Hugh of Vaucemain [Hugh or Hugues de Vaucemain.] (died 1341) was a French Dominican, who became head of his order in 1333. He was a Burgundian [ [http://www.dominicos.org/op/maestros.htm] , Spanish language.] .

His time as Master-General was marked by a conflict with Pope Benedict XII. Benedict, a Cistercian, was attempting a reform of the monastic orders. Hugh's position as the head of a mendicant order was apparently not against the reform as such, but derived from the feeling that the mendicants' position would then be threatened [ [http://www.domcentral.org/study/ashley/dominicans/ashdom03.htm Ashley/Dominicans: 3 Mystics 1300s ] ] .

The Order numbered around 12,000 at this time, according to a census of 1337 [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12354c.htm CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Order of Preachers ] ] . This was a decade before the Black Death, which caused a general fall in population.

Noyes