This paper discusses the literary, emotional and monastic relationship of Peter of Poitiers and Abbot Peter the Venerable, in particular looking at Peter of Poitier’s verse Panegyric in praise of his abbot, and Peter the Venerable’s subsequent verse Defence of his monk’s writings. The paper concludes that the Panegyric and its defence were part of a political struggle at the Abbey of Cluny among different factions who resisted and supported Peter’s abbatial power. This remains a preliminary statement of my analysis of these works that I am in the process of translating into English.