Background
He was the son of William d'Aubigny "Pincerna" of Old Buckenham Castle in Norfolk, and Maud Bigod, daughter of Roger Bigod of Norfolk.
He was the son of William d'Aubigny "Pincerna" of Old Buckenham Castle in Norfolk, and Maud Bigod, daughter of Roger Bigod of Norfolk.
William fought loyally for King Stephen of England, who made him first Earl of Lincoln and then Earl of Arundel (more precisely, Earl of Sussex). In 1153 he helped arrange the truce between Stephen and Henry Plantagenet, known as the Treaty of Wallingford, which brought an end to The Anarchy. He remained loyal to the king during the 1173 revolt of Henry the Young King, and helped defeat the rebellion.
He was the builder of Castle Rising Castle at Castle Rising, Norfolk. William is the first proven English supporter of the crusader Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem and before 1146 had granted them land at Wymondham and built a Leper Hospital near his castle in Norfolk.
The younger William was an important member of Henry I of England's household.