Wilchar[a] (died 786/787) was the archbishop of the province of the Gauls, succeeding Chrodegang after 766 as the leading bishop in the kingdom of the Franks.
Five letters in the Codex Carolinus refer to Wilchar as coepiscopus (co-bishop), the title in the eighth century of those bishops that would in the future be known as cardinals.
[9] Not long after, Paul sent him back to Pippin, authorized to consecrate as bishop a Roman priest named Marinus who was resident at the Frankish court.
[8] In Paul's letter authorizing Wilchar to consecrate Marinus, the bishop is not referred to as coepiscopus, indicating that he had already been translated to the diocese of Sens in Francia.
[13] Wilchar attended the Lateran Council of 769, where he was a prominent voice concerning the Antipope Constantine II at the first session.
[14] In the Liber pontificalis and in the acts of the council, his full title is given as "archbishop of the province of the Gauls from the city of Sens".
Wilchar, Abbot Fulrad, the notary Maginarius, and the counts Warin and Adalhard met with Charles at Corbeny later that month.
[20] As archbishop, Wilchar may have consecrated Charles and his wife, Hildegard, as king and queen of the Lombards in Pavia in 774.
[24] According to a letter of Hadrian in the Codex Carolinus, the mission was Wilchar's idea and he had assured the pope of Egila's theological bona fides.
[28] Wilchar is sometimes identified with the person of the same name recorded as archbishop of Vienne during the time of Pope Gregory III (731–741) and later as bishop of Sion.
[30] The Royal Frankish Annals expressly call him "bishop of Sion" (Sitten), but this is usually regarded as an error for Sens.