Guillaume with the White Hands
Guillaume de Champagne , known as Guillaume of Blois or Guillaume with the White Hands , born in 1135, died in 1202 with Laon, was bishop of Chartres (1164-1176) archbishop of Direction (1169-1176), then archbishop of Rheims (1175-1202). For this reason, it was the first duke and even of Rheims. It was wire of Thibaut IV, count de Blois and of Champagne, and Mathilde de Carinthie.
Intended very young person for a ecclesiatic career, he was educated by Saint Bernard de Clairvaux. Canon of Saint-Quiriace of Layered branches, then provost of the churches of Soissons and Troyes, it was elected bishop of Chartres in 1164. In spite of its young age and the reserves of the pope Alexandre III, it was confimé on this seat. In 1169, the chapter of Direction chooses it as archbishop but it preserved the diocese of Chartres.
It granted privileges to the city of Villeneuve-the Archevêque which had just been founded and organized the re-establishment of the rules which had been slackened in certain monasteries. In 1179, it was created cardinal and, with died of Henri de France, the chapter of Rheims chooses it to succeed to him. It renonça then with the dioceses of Chartres and Direction. The same year, he crowned king de France his nephew Philippe II Auguste.
He granted in 1182 a charter, known as charter Willelmine , with the middle-class men of Rheims. This charter will remain of use during more than five centuries.
Sources
- Guillaume with the White Hands with Direction
- the charter willelmine
External bonds
- TO&C