Its litigious monastic community was prepared to defend its liberties and privileges against all comers: the bishops of Autun, who challenged its claims to exemption; the counts of Nevers, who claimed jurisdiction in their court and rights of hospitality at Vézelay; the abbey of Cluny, which had reformed its rule and sought to maintain control of the abbot within its hierarchy; the townsmen of Vézelay, who demanded a modicum of communal self-government.
Klostergemenskapen var beredd att försvara Vézelays frihet och privilegier mot alla uppstickare: biskoparna i Autun, som utmanade deras hävd till frihet; Grevarna av Nevers, som hävdade behörighet i deras råd and rätt till gästfrihet i Vézelay; abboten i Cluny, som hade reformerat sina regler och försökte behålla kontrollen över abboten inom dess hierarki; stadsbefolkningen i Vézelay, som krävde ett minimum av självstyre.