Abélard and Héloïse: A match made in heaven

Abelard, a medieval scholastic philosopher and theologian of the middle ages, had a very well known affair with a woman named Heloise. at the time they both lived in Notre-Dame. She lived with her uncle the canon Fulbert. Under the guise of seeking shelter, Abelard took a residence in the house of Fulbert and seduced Heloise. Abelard boasted of his conquest of Heloise and when Fulbert found out they were separated but they continued to meet in secret. Soon Heloise became pregnant and went off to Brittany to give birth to Astrolabe, their son.

To satisfy Fulbert, Abelard proposed a secret marriage to Heloise. She was initally against it but they still married. But Fulbert publically disclosed the marriage and Heloise left to join the convent of Argenteuil at Abelard's asking. Believing that he wanted nothing to do with his niece,Fulbert had Abelard castrated, ending his career. Heloise was forced to spend the rest of her days as a nun.

The two exchanged letters during their affair, and a set of 113 correspondence's were found in a fifteenth century manuscript that seem to be from the early stage of the relationship.