William X, Duke of Aquitaine facts for kids

William X (born 1099 – died April 9, 1137) was a powerful ruler in France. He was known as the Saint. From 1126 to 1137, he was the Duke of Aquitaine, the Duke of Gascony, and the Count of Poitou. He was also called William VIII in Poitou.

Early Life and Family

William was the son of Duke William IX and his second wife, Philippa of Toulouse. He was born in Toulouse in 1099. At that time, his parents were ruling the city.

When William was young, his father, William IX, went on a crusade. He also gave away Toulouse to Philippa's cousin. This made William's mother, Philippa, very unhappy.

After his father returned, there was some family tension. William X later married Aenor de Châtellerault in 1121. Aenor was the daughter of Dangerose, a woman his father had a relationship with. William became Duke of Aquitaine in 1126.

William's Children

William and Aenor had three children:

• Eleanor: She became the most famous of his children. She inherited the Duchy of Aquitaine and later became a queen.
• Petronilla: She married Raoul I of Vermandois.
• William Aigret: He sadly died at age four in 1130. His mother, Aenor, also passed away around that time.

Ruling Aquitaine

As Duke, William X was interested in both art and warfare. He was a strong leader who managed his lands well.

He got involved in fights with Normandy. In 1136, he joined forces with Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou. They raided Normandy because Geoffrey claimed it for his wife and for France.

William also faced challenges within his own lands. Some powerful families, like the Lusignans, formed an alliance against him. William was able to defeat them completely.

A Change of Heart

In the early 1130s, there was a disagreement in the Catholic Church. Two different popes were chosen. William X first supported one pope, antipope Anacletus II. This was against the wishes of his own church leaders.

However, in 1134, a famous monk named Saint Bernard of Clairvaux convinced William to change his mind. William then decided to support the other pope, Pope Innocent II.

Saint Bernard and the Duke of Aquitaine by Marten Pepijn. This painting shows Saint Bernard talking to William X.

Death and Legacy

In 1137, William X began a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This was a long and important religious journey. However, he died during the trip.

Before he died, William had an important wish. He asked King Louis VI of France to protect his fifteen-year-old daughter, Eleanor. He also wanted Louis to help her find a good husband. King Louis VI agreed. He then arranged for Eleanor, who was the heiress to Aquitaine, to marry his own son, Louis VII. This marriage made Aquitaine a part of the French kingdom for a time.

Images for kids

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  Coin of William X

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  Depiction of the Conversion of William of Aquitaine X at Speed Museum of Art in Louisville

See also

• Dukes of Aquitaine family tree
• In Spanish: Guillermo X de Aquitania para niños