French preacher of crusades, and a historian; born at Argentine, in the second half of the twelfth century; was a zealous apostle of Maria of Oignies; and, led by his enthusiasm, he undertook to preach a crusade against the Albigenses, but finally devoted himself to the interest of the Holy Sepulchre. In 1217 he was appointed, by Pope Honorius III., Bishop of Acre, where he brought about great conversions of Saracen children. Pope Gregory IX., in 1229, appointed him Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum, and papal legate of France, Brabant and the Holy Land. He was considered one of the most fluent preachers of his time, but he is best known as the writer of Historia Orientalis or History of Jerusalem. He died at Rome in 1240.
