It appears that Torbeno was elected, probably with the support of the Republic of Pisa, over the pretensions of his young nephew.
His reign saw great liberality with the treasury in granting lands and other gifts to Pisans, probably as the price of their alliance.
In 1103, a donation was made by his nephew, then judge, to the church of San Lorenzo in Genoa recognising the assistance of six Genoese galleys under Ottone Fornari in recuperating Torchitorio's dominion.
Probably the Genoese, inveterate enemies of Pisa, were only too happy to overthrow Torbeno.
He was a leader, alongside Saltaro of Torres, of the Sardinian contingent of the Pisan expedition against the Almoravids of the Balearic Islands in 1113.