He was a younger son of Stephen I, Count of Burgundy and Beatrice of Lorraine.

After the death of his brother, Renaud III, he took control of the county of Burgundy in the name of his niece Beatrice.

He effectively imprisoned Beatrice and was recognized as count by the emperor Frederick Barbarossa by 1152.

He died in 1156 while on Crusade in the Holy Land, and Frederick married Beatrice and took over the county.

[1] William married Adelaide-Pontia (Poncette), heiress of Lord Theobald of Traves, and had the following issue:[1]