GUGLIELMO of SAINT-AMOUR. - Philosopher and theologian, b. at the beginning of the 13th century, d. in 1271. He studied in Paris and at that University was magister artium in 1228; master in theology about 1250.
He belonged to the secular clergy and is famous for the struggle he waged against the Mendicant Orders (Franciscans and Dominicans), in order to prevent their members from teaching in the University, or at least to limit their number to one per Order. His adversaries were St Bonaventura and St Tommaso. At first, under the pontificate of Innocenzo IV, it seemed that G. had won the contest. Matters
changed with the accession of Alessandro IV (12 Dec. 1254). G. wrote against the Mendicants a Liber de Antichristo et eiusdem ministris and then (1255–56) a Libellus de periculis novissimorum temporum, which was condemned by Alessandro IV in Oct. 1256. A few months earlier G. had been deprived of all benefices and dignities. G. appealed to the Roman Curia, but obtained nothing and was exiled from the kingdom of France. He nevertheless persisted in his position and kept in touch with his friends and fellow combatants in Paris, Gerardo di Abbéville (v.) and Nicola di Lisieux.