AIGREFEUILLE, GUILLAUME (JUNIORE)

AIGREFEUILLE, GUILLAUME (the younger). — Cardinal, born at Saint-Exupéry in 1339, died at Avignon on 13 January 1401. He studied at Toulouse, where in 1365 he became a doctor in decrees. On 12 May 1367, Pope Urban V created him cardinal with the title of S. Stefano Rotondo, and on 19 October 1369 he was elected “camerarius” of the College of Cardinals, an office he held for life. He took part in the conclave following the death of Gregory XI and played an important role in the events that led to the Great Schism. Clement VII sent him to Germany to the Emperor Wenceslaus, but despite letters in his favour written by the Duke of Anjou and by Charles V, he was unable to obtain a safe-conduct. Indeed, he was forced to leave Metz, where he had gone, and settle in Freiburg in Brisgau, where he remained from 1381 to 1384. The following year he returned to Avignon, where he later died. He was buried in the chapel of S. Stefano, which he had had built in the church of S. Marziale. He wrote a treatise against Benedict XIII and Sermons in praise of the Blessed Virgin.