the 11th and 12th centuries were the first golden age, as moissac was affiliated to the abbey of cluny and accepted the cluniac reforms, under the guidance of durand de bredons, both the abbot of moissac and the bishop of toulouse. papal support, its location on the pilgrim road, the restoration of the buildings and the reforms of de bredon made the abbey one of the most powerful in france. in the 12th century the abbot of moissac was second in seniority within the cluniac hierarchy only to the abbot of cluny himself.