GUALA BICCHIERI. — Cardinal, born in Vercelli around the middle of the 12th century, died in Rome on 31 May 1227. He entered the canons of S. Eusebio at a very young age, where he obtained a benefice in 1187. In 1205, Innocent III created him cardinal with the deaconry of S. Maria in Campitelli. He served as papal legate in Tuscany, in France (1208) with Philip Augustus, and in England (1216) with Henry III. As early as 1211, he was transferred to the presbyteral title of SS. Sylvester and Martin. In 1218, upon his return from England, he founded in Vercelli the church of S. Andrea with the attached abbey, which he entrusted to the canons of S. Vittore in Paris; this later became the first *Studium generale* of the city, as well as a hospital, to which he donated all his property located in the territories of S. Germano, Coresana, and Vercelli. In 1225, he served as legate with Frederick II. He was a learned and eloquent man, a man of letters and a jurist.
BICCHIERI, GUALA
Bibl.: E. Baggiolini, *Lo studio generale di Vercelli*, Vercelli 1888, pp. 60-66; R. Pasté, *L'abbazia di S. Andrea di Vercelli*, ibid. 1907, p. 941 and passim; id., *Il card. G. B. e l'ospedale di S. Andrea di Vercelli*, ibid. 1935 (with bibliography).