Ballelay
A Praemonstratensian monastery located in northwestern Switzerland, 9 miles (14 km.) north-northwest of Biel. Under the authority of the prince-bishops of Basel, the establishment nevertheless held considerable local autonomy. Noted for a variety of cheese called monks-head, which is still produced today, the abbey was secularized when France invaded the Swiss Confederation at the end of the 18th century. The buildings were looted, but remain standing - they are presently a psychiatric hospital.
Said to have been founded in 1136 by Sigenand, Provost of Münster (Moutier) Cathedral.
Geroldus..........................................1142-1180
vacant..........................................?
Ludovicus...................................1187- ? d. 1202
Adam...............................................fl. 1195
Richardus.........................................1202-1237
Henri I de Soulce.................................1237-1256
Jacobus I von Wetterau............................1256-1258
Conradus..........................................1258-1270
Unknown name................................... ? -d. 1276?
Pierre I de Varres.........................fl. 1289 d. 1296
Burchard de Boécourt..............................1298-1316
Lambert...........................................1316-1326
Pierre II de Sancey...............................1326-1336
Henri II de Bassecourt............................1337-1350
Pierre III de Vannes..............................1350-1354
Jacques II de Séprais.............................1365-1374
Jean III de Pontenet..............................1374-1398
Jean IV Donzelat..................................1398-1401
Heinrich III Nerr.................................1401-1418
Heinzmann (Henricus IV) Girardin..................1418-1426
Jean V de Chatelat................................1426-1434
Petrus IV Martini.................................1434-1438
Heinzmann (Henricus V)............................1438-1448
Johann VI Rier...............................1448-1456 d. ?
Johann VII Gruel, or Grier........................1456-1483
Johann VIII Barth.................................1483-1490
Jean IX Brullard..................................1490-1508
Nicolaus I Schnell................................1508-1530
Jean X Gogniat....................................1530-1553
Servatius Fridez..................................1553-1561
Antoin Fottel.....................................1561-1574
Jean XI Simon.....................................1574-1579
Werner Spießbrecher (Brieselance).................1579-1612
David Juillerat...................................1612-1637
Jean XII Pierre Cuénat............................1637-1666
Johann XIII Georg Schwaller.......................1666-1691
Norbert Périat....................................1691-1692
Fridericus de Staal...............................1692-1706
Jean XIV Georges Voirol...........................1706-1719
Jean XV Sémon.....................................1719-1743
Gregoire Joliat...................................1743-1771
Nicolaus II Deluce................................1771-1784
Ambrose Monnin............................1784-1797 d. 1807
To France.........................................1797-1814
To Switzerland....................................1814-