William X of Auvergne

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William X or IX (died 1247) was a prominent figure in medieval French history, serving as Count of Auvergne from 1222 until his death. Born around 1195, he succeeded his father, Guy II, as count at the age of 27 and inherited the conflict with the French crown.

Before ascending to the throne, William's family had attempted to arrange a marriage between him and a daughter of Count Guigues III of Forez; however, this plan ultimately came to fruition. In 1222, William succeeded his father as count and took part in the war against King Philippe-Auguste, who sought to assert French control over Auvergne County.

During the siege of Tournoël in 1213, at the age of 18, William was among the defenders of the fortress alongside his cousin Albert. Despite being outnumbered, they managed to hold out for a time before ultimately surrendering due to the superior force of the French army. The defeat led to the capture of many Auvergnats, including Guillaume and his family members.

Following this setback, William found himself in the custody of King Philippe-Auguste's representatives, Guy de Dampierre and Archambaud de Bourbon. However, he was eventually able to negotiate a treaty with Saint Louis, which restored some of the land confiscated from his father. This led to the division of Auvergne County into two separate entities: William's county and the former county proper, now known as the Terre d'Auvergne.

William married Alix, and they had several children together, including Guy, who became Archbishop, William, Geoffrey, Henry, Mary, and Matilda (Mahaut). Their son Robert V succeeded his father as count in 1247. During this time, Guillaume X was also involved with the production of literary works, such as Gerbert de Montreuil's contemporary romance, Roman de la violette.

William is believed to have commissioned the Chroniques de la Bible from Moses ben Abraham and ordered the Chronicles of the Bible from Moshe ben Abraham. He remained loyal to King Louis IX throughout his reign, choosing not to join forces with Guillaume X against France. William died in 1247, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most prominent figures in Auvergne's history.

The county of Auvergne under William X was marked by conflict and power struggles between the French crown