 Gautier appears to have been a knight of Arras who between 1160 and 1170 held many important fiefs of St. Vaast's Abbey and between 1166 and 1185 was an official at the court of Philip of Flanders.An apparent will is known dating from 1185, in which his wife Agnes and oldest son Roger are named.He dedicated his romance of "Eracle" to Theobald V, Count of Blois (d. 1191); among his other patrons were Marie, countess of Champagne, daughter of Louis VII and Eleanor of Guienne and Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut.