William’s exact date of birth is not on record but is thought to be around 1146 or 47. He was the fourth son of John FitzGilbert, the king’s marshal, and his second wife Sybil, sister to Patrick, Earl of Salisbury. When John took the side of Queen Matilda during her hostilities with King Stephen, William – then aged around five or six years old – was handed to the king as a hostage. John promptly went back on his promise to negotiate surrender and told Stephen to do as he wished with the child. Stephen could not bring himself to hang the boy and William was eventually returned to his family.
Trainee Knight
As a teenager, William became squire to William de Tancarville, a cousin to one of his parents. It was during his sojourn with de Tancarville that William was knighted. He quickly proved that he was an asset in combat, though he learned the hard way that victory in battle could bring him wealth. While his comrades took hostages, William at first fought only for the victory, and walked away from the battle with nothing, even losing his horse.
Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II
He soon joined his uncle the Earl of Salisbury to protect Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II and her sons. The Earl was killed when their party was attacked at the roadside and William was injured and captured. The Queen paid the ransom and William is given the task of training young Prince Henry in chivalry. The Prince had been appointed king in all but name by his father and William’s loyalty to his young charge did not falter. His time at court was interrupted when those jealous of his success spread rumours that he had committed adultery with the Young King’s wife. He was cast out of the court and an appeal to Henry II for the opportunity to prove his innocence was unsuccessful. William returned to the tournament circuit until summoned back to the court.
The Young King needed William’s assistance with his ongoing feud with his father and brother, but young Henry died during the hostilities. On his deathbed he asked William to go on a crusade, to fulfil a promise that Henry had made but never achieved. William did as he was asked and on his return joined the household of his former master’s father, King Henry II. It was during his time with the King that he was granted a sizeable estate at Cartmel in Lancashire.
Richard the Lionheart and King John
William also became a guardian to Heloise, the heiress to the Barony of Kendal and Westmoreland. William had the option to make Heloise his wife but instead declared his interest in Isabel de Clare, heiress to Richard Strongbow and granddaughter to a King of Leinster. Isabel’s estates were vast and included Pembroke, Chepstow (formerly Striguil) and lands in Ireland and southern England. The King made a vague promise to allow William to marry Isabel, but the marriage only took place when Richard the Lionheart became King. Richard had apparently forgiven William for killing his horse from under him during the hostilities with Henry II. Titles followed, with William becoming Earl of Pembroke among others. He made several additions to the castles at Pembroke and Chepstow which survive today.
Henry III and William Marshal as Regent
William had uneasy relationships with both Richard and his brother John when he later became king. This could have been due to his prior loyalty to Henry II and the Young King. He did however recognise both as his king and they both recognised his loyalty. William was a witness to the Magna Carta and became one of John’s most trusted aides towards the end of the reign. Upon John’s death, his nine year old son became Henry III and William was appointed his guardian and acted as regent, effectively ruling the country in the final few years before his own death.
William Marshall died in 1219 leaving his wife, five sons and five daughters. On his deathbed he became one of the Templar order and was buried in the Temple church in London, where his effigy can be seen today.
Further reading:
- David Crouch William Marshal: Knighthood, War and Chivalry 1147-1219 (Longman, London, 2002)
- Elizabeth Chadwick The Greatest Knight (Time Warner Books, 2005)
 |
