| 1079 | Born of minor nobility at La Pallet (near Nantes). |
| 1092–1099 | Studies with Roscelin sometime during this period (either immediately before 1092, when Roscelin is tried for heresy, or some time later in the 1090s, or during both periods). |
| 1100 | Arrives at Paris to study logic with William of Champeaux. |
| 1102–1104 | Establishes school of logic at Melun, then transfers it to Corbeil; perhaps writes series of commentaries known as the Introductiones parvulorum. |
| 1108–1110 | Studies rhetoric at Paris with William of Champeaux; defeats William in disputation over universals; teaches briefly at school of Notre Dame. |
| 1110–1112 | Reestablishes school at Melun, then transfers it to Mont Ste. Geneviève. |
| 1113 | Studies theology with Anselm of Laon. |
| 1114 | Teaches at Notre Dame (until 1117); perhaps begins writing his most famous logical works, Logica “ingredientibus” and Dialectica (between 1114 and 1121). |
| 1115/1116 | Begins affair with Heloise. |
| 1117 | Secretly marries Heloise (after the discovery of her pregnancy); Astralabe’s birth; Abelard’s castration. |
| 1118 | Enters monastery at St. Denis; implores Heloise to become a nun. |
| 1121–1122 | First version of Theologia (“summi boni”) condemned at Soissons. |
| 1126/1128 | Appointed Abbot of St. Gildas; retires from public teaching. |
| 1133 | Resumes teaching at Paris (until 1140/1141); around this time writes his major ethical treatises, Scito te ipsum and Collationes. |
| 1140/1141 | Revised version of Theologia (“scholarium”) condemned at Council of Sens; Abelard and his followers excommunicated. |
| 1141 | Stops at Cluny on his way to Rome to appeal the sentence at Sens; excommunication is revoked. |
| 1142 | 21 April, dies at Cluny. |