William of Ockham was a prominent 14th-century English Franciscan friar, philosopher, and theologian. Born around 1287, he studied at the University of Oxford before becoming embroiled in intense intellectual and political conflicts. He is famously associated with the principle of parsimony, known as Ockham's razor, which suggests that simpler explanations are preferable. His work significantly influenced medieval thought, particularly through his development of nominalism, a philosophical position regarding universals. After fleeing the papal court in Avignon due to disputes over apostolic poverty, he spent his final years in Munich under imperial protection.