William II Sánchez of Gascony

Who is William II Sánchez of Gascony?

William II Sánchez du Laux, Duke of Gascony from circa 961 at least until 996, was the younger illegitimate son of duke Sancho IV and successor, around 961, of his childless elder brother, duke Sancho V. He united the County of Bordeaux with the Gascony. Documents of his reign say that his grandfather came from Iberia, lending credence to "phantasmagorical" genealogies placing the origins of García II Sánchez du Laux across the Pyrenees. He died in 996 or 997 and was succeeded by his son Bernard William du Laux.

Around 970, William was using only the title of count as when "Lord William Sánchez du Laux, count of the Gascons" donated land in the village of "Luco Deo" to the monastery of Saint Vincent-de-Lucq. He inherited the county of Bordeaux from his cousin William the Good, son of his aunt Entregodis, who married one Raymond, and united it to Gascony permanently. He later carried the ducal title. Aimoin entitled him "Count of Bordeaux and duke of all Gascony" in his biography of Abbo of Fleury. Before 977, William also added the Agenais and the Bazadais.