Guillaume, Saint (2)

a French prelate, was born in the borough of Arthel (Nivernais). He was descended from a noble family, educated by William the Hermit, archdeacon of Soissons, who was his uncle, and became -first canon of the Church of Paris and of Soissons. He entered the order of Grammont, in the diocese of Limoges, and later went over to that of the Cistercians at the abbev of Pontigny. In 1181 he was made abbot of Fontaine, dean in the diocese of Sens, and afterwards of Charlieu. There he was selected by Eudes of Sully, bishop of Paris in 1199, to occupy the episcopal see of Bourges. The epoch of his episcopate was marked particularly by the discussions with Philip Augustus, on the subject of the repudiation of queen Ingelburga. The bishop, who took the part of the queen, was threatened with exile and confiscation, but withstood the royal indignation, and Philip, having decided to take back Ingelburga, was reconciled with the prelate. Guillaume died in 1209, as he was about to march out against the Albigenses, who had propagated their doctrine as far as Berry. His body was deposited in the crypt of the basilica of St. Ittienne of Bourges, and remained in that church until 1562, when the Huguenots, on their taking possession of the city, burned his remains. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.