William III of Narbonne

Who was William III of Narbonne?

William III was Viscount of Narbonne and the nominal and Judge of Arborea.

He was the grandson of Beatrice, youngest daughter of Marianus IV of Arborea and Timbra de Rocabertí, and Aimery VI of Narbonne. When Marianus V, the youngest son of Beatrice' elder sister Eleanor, died in 1407, Arborea experienced a succession crisis. The late Beatrice had a claim to the judgeship which was picked up by her grandson, son of William II.

The real judge from 1407 was Leonardo Cubello, great nephew of Hugh II of Arborea. On 6 October 1408, Martin I of Sicily disembarked at Cagliari with a strong army. On 8 December, William also reached Cagliari. He was crowned "King of Arborea, Count of Goceano, and Viscount of Bas" at Oristano on 13 January 1409.

The two forced, of Martin and of William, met at the Battle of Sanluri. The Arborean troops of William, including many Genoese crossbowmen, broke into two battles. The left battle was destroyed in a location called occidroxiu. The right battle was broken into two, one part chased to Sanluri and there routed and the other forced, under William, to take refuge in the castle of Monreale, in the near village of Sardara, where it resisted. On 4 July, the Villa di Chiesa surrendered to Giovanni di Sena, a serious disaster, even though the Sicilian king had died on 25 July in Cagliari. William returned to France to seek aid, leaving Leonardo Cubello in charge in his absence. Leonardo successfully defended Oristano.