In 1234 he fought in the battle of Altenesch in the Stedinger Crusade and was made imperial administrator of Konzen and Aachen, guardian of Kornelimünster and over the possessions of Essen Abbey on the left bank of the Rhine river.
He also won the imperial fiefdoms of Sinzig, Hengenbach-Heimbach, Merzenich, Thürnich, Düren and Bardenberg, thus doubling the possessions of the Counts of Jülich.
As a result of the Hochstander inheritance, William gained parts of Münstereifel, which moved him even closer to his opponent.
The city of Aachen was later ordered to pay a high compensation to William's widow Richardis on account of his murder.
Most sources accept Margaret as the mother of William's elder children but there is no evidence that this marriage was ever consummated.