Career
William"s religious policy was a continuation of Aleram"son He founded the monastery of Spigno. Between his succession and 1002, he made other donations to Acqui Terme.
While following in the familiar policy of ecclesiastical patronage, William abandoned Aleram"s support of the Holy Roman Emperors.
Instead, he intervened in the wars of the Italian communes which characterised early eleventh-century Italy. He joined an anti-imperial alliance with Count Obert the Red, Margrave Ulric Manfred II of Turin, and Bishop Leo of Vercelli.
The allies soon found themselves at odds and warring on each other. Leo besieged Santhià, where William was then residing, and William, to avenge himself on the bishop, besieged Vercelli and put it to flame.
Conrad destroyed his fortress in the valley of Orba.
The Miracula sancti Bononii records William"s wife as Waza. She prayed at the tomb of Saint Bononio, abbot of Santissimi Michele e Genuario di Lucedio.
