 The term "Cistercian" (French "Cistercien"), derives from "Cistercium," the Latin name for the village of Cîteaux, near Dijon in eastern France.It was in this village that a group of Benedictine monks from the monastery of Molesme founded Cîteaux Abbey in 1098, with the goal of following more closely the Rule of Saint Benedict.The best known of them were Robert of Molesme, Alberic of Cîteaux and the English monk Stephen Harding, who were the first three abbots.