Saint William of Gellone
Also known as
- William in the Desert
- William of Aquitaine
- William of Orange
- William of Toulouse
- Willliam Fierabrace
- Guglielmo…
- Guillaume…
- Marquis au court nez
Profile
Born to the nobility, the son of Aldana and Count Thierry of Toulouse. Career soldier. Member of the court of Blessed Charlemagne. Duke of Aquitaine. Led forces against the Saracens in southern France. In retirement he built a monastery at Gellone, France, and became a Benedictine monk there; the house was later named Saint-Guilhem-du-Desert in his honour. His reputation for chivalry, bravery and piety led to medieval romances being written about him including the Chançun de Guillaume (Song of William).
Born
- 812 of natural causes in the monastery that was later re-named Saint William in the Desert in his honour
- 1066 by Pope Alexander II
- hermit holding the abbey of Gellone
- knight holding the abbey of Gellone
- knight in armour, trampling a devil, with a ducal coronet at his feet
- man, usually armoured as a knight, holding a banner that has three lilies and three crescents
- old knight wearing a religious habit over a suit of armour, with a chain wrapped around him, holding a pilgrim‘s staff, with weapons and other parts of armour at his feet
- old knight, wearing a ducal coronet, with a chain around him
- receiving his religious habit from Saint Benedict of Aniane
MLA Citation
- “Saint William of Gellone“. CatholicSaints.Info. 5 April 2024. Web. 6 May 2024. <>