Final answer:
Saint Odo was the first abbot of the monastery at Cluny, and he based his reforms on the Benedictine Rule, seeking to renew monastic life by advocating for independence from secular rule and restoring the traditional principles set by Saint Benedict of Nursia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first abbot of the monastery at Cluny was Saint Odo, who served from 910 until his death in 942. Odo's reforms were based on the Benedictine Rule, established by Saint Benedict of Nursia, which advocated for a monastic life of moderation, balancing prayer and work, and self-sufficiency of monastic communities. The Cluniac Reforms that he initiated were aimed at reviving the original rigor and simplicity of monastic life, freeing the monks from interference of secular lords, and placing the election of bishops under the control of the Church, rather than lay rulers.
The Cluniac Reforms were a series of changes within medieval monasticism focused on restoring the traditional Benedictine lifestyle and reducing external influences on monasteries. These reforms had a significant impact on the wider church, encouraging ecclesiastical independence and eventually influencing the papacy itself to adopt a reforming platform.