Guillaume (Abbot) De St Denis

Guillaume (Abbot) De St. Denis was born at Gapy and lived in the 12th century. It seems that he had studied medicine before entering the monastic life. In 1178 he was placed at the head of the celebrated abbey from which he derives his name, and governed it with zeal and wisdom. But he displeased king Philip Augustus, and resigned in 1186. He was a man well instructed for his time, translating from the Latin the Eulogy of St. Denis the Areopagite, composed by Michael Syncellus, patriarch of Jerusalem, and a Life of the Philosopher Secundus. His writings remain in MS. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.