William of Gellone

Saint William of Gellone was born in northern France around the middle of the eighth century, the son of Thierry, Count of Autun, and Aldana, and a kinsman of Charlemagne. Raised near the imperial court, he became a trusted commander and, in 790, was appointed Duke of Toulouse. William defended the Christian lands of the south, subduing the Gascons and resisting Muslim invasions that reached as far as Narbonne. Though he suffered setbacks, his steadfast courage helped turn back the attackers, and in 801 he joined King Louis of Aquitaine in the campaign that captured Barcelona. Yet William’s greatest victory was his surrender of worldly honor to Christ. In 804 he founded the abbey of Gellone, endowing it generously and entrusting it to the guidance of Benedict of Aniane; among his gifts was a relic of the True Cross. In 806 he laid down his arms to become a monk there, dying at Gellone on May 28, 812 or 814. He was canonized in 1066 and is honored as patron of Castielfabib and Fascia. His feast day is May 28.