Johan Belaen is a historian of the Central Middle Ages. He graduated with a Masters degree in history at Ghent University in 2015. Since October 2016 he is employed as a PhD researcher under the supervision of prof. Steven Vanderputten (Ghent University). His project deals with the development of the Benedictine Order, and is entitled 'The Reluctant Order: a Bottom-up Approach to the Shaping of Supra-institutional Structures in Twelfth- and Thirteenth-century Benedictine monasticism' (FWO-funded, 2016-2020). Johan's further research interests are traditional religious orders (Cistercians, Cluniacs, Premonstratensians, etc.), papal reform policy, the episcopacy's role in monastic supervision, rituals of the chapter office, and finally, monastic preaching. An article concerning the role of preaching in the functioning of monastic networks is currently under review. At the moment Johan is finishing another article regarding the implementation of Pope Gregory IX's Ordinationes and various other legislative texts in the abbey of Saint-Trond during the abbacy of William of Ryckel (1249-1272).