Career
He accompanied the French king, Louis VII, on the Second Crusade. William was the first Count of Auvergne to be given the title Dauphin (Prince). The young count was able to maintain his status in part of his county, especially Beaumont, Chamalières, and Montferrand.
Some authors have therefore named William VII and his descendants "counts of Clermont" (although this risks confusion with the county of Clermont in Beauvaisais and the episcopal county of Clermont in Auvergne).
The majority of authors, however, anticipating the formalization of the dauphinate in 1302, choose to call William VII and his successors the dauphins of Auvergne. Still others, out of convenience, choose to call these successors the "counts-dauphins of Auvergne."
The title of dauphin of Auvergne was derived from William VII"s mother, who was the daughter of the Dauphin de Viennois, Guigues IV. This meant that William VII"s male descendants were usually given "Dauphin" as a second name.
