Giles of Rome original name, Egidio Colonna (c.1243–1316), Italian theologian and ecclesiastic. A member of the order of the Hermits of St. Augustine, he studied arts at Augustinian house and theology at the University in Paris (1260– 72) but was censured by the theology faculty (1277) and denied a license to teach as master. Owing to the intervention of Pope Honorius IV, he later returned from Italy to Paris to teach theology (1285–91), was appointed general of his order (1292), and became archbishop of Bourges (1295).
Giles both defended and criticized views of Aquinas. He held that essence and existence are really distinct in creatures, but described them as ‘things’; that prime matter cannot exist without some substantial form; and, early in his career, that an eternally created world is possible. He defended only one substantial form in composites, including man. He supported Pope Boniface VIII in his quarrel with Philip IV of France. J.F.W.