WILLIAM of 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 Peter the Hermit, bishop of Soissons, and then at the University of Paris.
Canon of Soissons and Paris, he renounced his benefices to retire to the monastery of Grandmont, which he later left following a dispute between clerics and laymen. He entered the Cistercians at Pontigny (1167), where he became prior. Later (1184), abbot of Fontaine St-Jean (diocese of Sens), then of Châlis (diocese of Senlis, 1187). Odo of Sully, archbishop of Paris, appointed him to the see of Bourges on 23 November 1200. During his episcopate he maintained the austerity of his monastic life. He incurred the wrath of Philip Augustus by enforcing the sentence of interdict issued by Innocent III at the time of the repudiation of Queen Isambert. He died on 10 January 1209, while, at the summons of Innocent III, he was preparing to take part in the crusade against the Albigensians. He was buried in the cathedral of Bourges and canonized by Honorius III on 17 May 1218. Feast on 10 January.