William of Gellone

Saint William of Gellone
William of Gellone, Guillaume d'Orange, William of Aquitaine by Guercino
Bornc. 755
somewhere in northern France
Died(812-05-28)28 May 812 or (814-05-28)28 May 814
Gellone, near Lodève?
Spouse(s)Cunegonde and Witburgis
ChildrenBernard, Witcher, Gotzelm, Heribert, Helimburgis, Gerberge and (perhaps) Rotlinde
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized1066 by Pope Alexander II
Major shrineMonastery of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert in Gellone, France
FeastMay 28
Romanesque apse of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, originally Gellone, the monastery William founded in 804 and entered in 806

William of Gellone (c. 755 – 28 May 812 or 814), the medieval William of Orange,[1] In 804, he founded the abbey of Gellone. He was canonized a saint in 1066 by Pope Alexander II.[2]

In the tenth or eleventh century,[3] a Latin hagiography, the Vita sancti Willelmi, was composed. By the twelfth century, William's legend had grown. He is the hero of an entire cycle of chansons de geste, the earliest of which is the Chanson de Guillaume of about 1140. In the chansons, he is nicknamed Fièrebrace (fierce or strong arm)[4] on account of his strength and the marquis au court nez (margrave with the short nose) on account of an injury suffered in battle with a giant.

  1. ^ Occitan: Guilhem d'Aurenga, French: Guillaume d'Orange
  2. ^ "William of Aquitaine, St.". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved on 2014-01-17.
  3. ^ Written before the 11th century, according to Jean Mabillon, or during the 11th century according to the Bollandist Godfrey Henschen.
  4. ^ Cf. Firapel in the Roman de Renart: strong skin, like iron-hide

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