GUGLIELMO di BOURGES, saint. — Archbishop, born at Arthel, county of Nevers, in the first half of the 12th century, died in 1209. Of the family of the counts of Nevers, he studied under his uncle Pietro l'Eremita, archdeacon of Soissons, and then at the University of Paris.
A canon of Soissons and Paris, he renounced his benefices in order to withdraw to the monastery of Grandmont, which he later left following a dispute between clerics and laymen. He entered the Cistercian monastery of Pontigny (1167), where he became prior. Later (1184), he was abbot of Fontaine St-Jean (diocese of Sens), then of Châlis (diocese of Senlis, 1187). Eudes di Sully, archbishop of Paris, appointed him to the archiepiscopal see of Bourges on 23 November 1200. During his episcopate he retained the austere customs of the cloister. He incurred the wrath of Filippo Augusto by carrying out Innocenzo III's sentence of interdict at the time of the repudiation of Queen Isambert. He died on 10 January 1209, while, at the summons of Innocenzo III, he was preparing to take part in the crusade against the Albigensians. He was buried in Bourges cathedral and canonized by Onorio III on 17 May 1218. Feast: 10 January.