William II of Agen

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William II of Agen was a French bishop and patriarch who played a significant role in European politics during the 13th century. He was appointed as the Bishop of Agen on April 8, 1247, by Pope Innocent IV.

In 1262, William was consecrated as the Patriarch of Jerusalem, succeeding Jacques Pantaleón de Court-Palais, who had been appointed pope and subsequently appointed William to the position. As patriarch, William held both spiritual and temporal authority over the local Church in Jerusalem, with a mandate to recover the church's rents.

William's diplomatic mission was marked by his investigation into the legitimacy of an ambassador from the Mongol Empire, John the Hungarian. In 1263, he received a letter written by Hulagu Khan on behalf of King Louis IX of France, which outlined the Mongols' desire for Jerusalem to return to Christian hands and proposed an alliance against the common enemy, the Mameluks of Egypt.

William's appointment as patriarch was significant not only because of his role in interfaith diplomacy but also due to his involvement with various European monarchs. In 1267, he traveled to Cyprus to crown King Ugo III of Lusignano on December 25 and remained in office until his death on April 21, 1270.

During his tenure as patriarch, William demonstrated both firmness and flexibility, particularly in his dealings with the French monarchy. He proposed a plan to postpone payments from the count of Aquitaine to make the burden more acceptable, which was approved by the count out of respect for him.

William's legacy is also marked by his involvement in the Inquisition in Toulouse, where he oversaw the task deemed urgent due to delays in prosecutions that were seen as encouraging Catharism. Additionally, William played a role in restoring peace between Simon de Montfort and the barons of Gascony rebel against him.

As patriarch of Jerusalem, William's authority extended beyond his own territory, with influence over other regions including Antioch, Armenia, Cyprus, and parts of Syria that had been conquered by Muslim forces. His appointment was seen as a strategic move to secure Western support for Christian claims in the region.

William II of Agen's life serves as an example of the complex web of alliances and rivalries between European monarchs and the Catholic Church during this period.