WILLIAM MARSHAL Guillaume Mareshal 1144May 14th 1219 age 75

1
WILLIAM MARSHAL /Guillaume Mareshal (1144?-May
14th 1219 age 75) 1189 (he was 45) Married to
the wealthy Isobel De Clare (18) - given to him
by Richard. Buried in the Temple Church London
having joined the Knights Templar not long before
he died. Son and Grandson of court officials at
King Henry 1 Son of John Marshal - a minor
official and petty landowner -John Marshal seized
castles in King Stephen's name but when Matilda
gained the upper hand he switched loyalties to
her and re-married the sister of the future earl
of Salisbury. This marriage produced four sons
and two daughters The second son born about 1144
was William.
2
As a boy William was taken as Hostage by King
Stephen who led him to the scaffold when his
father said he "still had the anvil and hammers
to forge still finer sons" But williams
innocence touched the King's heart . Someone
suggested they catapult William over the castle
walls. But Stephen saved him - "William you will
never be harmed by me" 1156 William (12) sent by
his father to be educated as a knight in the
castle of William of tancarville in
Normandy-chamberlain to the duke of
normandy. Apprenticeship as squire involved
training with lance and sword.,caring for his
masters weapons, horse, dressing him, waiting on
him at table, carving his meat etc.. From the
songs and romances sung in the castle hall he
absorbed the ideology of knighthood. At twenty
in 1164, William was knighted northwest of Rouen
by the Lord Tarcanville.-Blessing of the sword
and christian-religious investment of every
element of the ceremony took place.
3
William was bathed, clothed in a white robe, with
a narrow belt (to shun the sins of the flesh). In
church given a gilded spur (courage to serve
God), sword (fight the enemy and protect the poor
from the rich), the colee-a blow of the hand on
the shoulder or head."-in remembrance of him who
ordained you and dubbed you knight". He continued
brilliant success at tournaments.-a melee in
which two sides fought a mock battle.capturing
horses/weapons and having ransoms (arranged
beforehand)-carrying 40 pounds of iron. When
William returned to England in 1167 his father
and stepbrothers had died. Henry 2nd chose
William to take charge of his son's training in
1170when Young Henry was crowned. Young Henry
rebelled against his father with William's
support but lost in 1174. In 1175 William
accompanied the two Henry's-reconciled- to
England. Twelve years of Knight errantry with
Young Henry followed. William acted as bodygaurd
to the young King at Tournaments. In 1177 William
travelled with Roger De Gaugi for 2 years going
to tournaments. In 10months they took 103
knights prisoner. He also entertained others with
his singing. 1179 He rejoined the Young King's
household. In a tournament, William routed the
King of France's knights who were almost
defeating the old King west of Paris.Young Henry
died in 1183 and made William (41) take his
crusaders cloak with the red cross on the
shoulder and go to the Holy Sepulchre in
Jersusalem. William went with 2 of Henry 2nds
horses for 2 years to Syria. Returning to France
in 1187 He (45)entered the service of Henry 2nd
in Normandy.
4
He was given a fief in Lancashire and the
promise of marriage to a wealthy 18yr old
daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. Isabel De
Clare. With lands in Wales and Ireland it was to
make him one of the most powerful barons in
England . King Richard made him this (although
William had fought against him) as Henry died too
soon. William was 45 years old.(Lordship of
Striguil-a 100 square mile area in the Wye and
Chepstow Castle.-counties of Kildare, Carlow,
KilKenny, Wexford, Queens and part of Kings..
His elder brother died and he inherited (52) the
office of the King's Marshal in 1194.
5
1199 (57) he became Earl of Pembroke. He became
King John's most trusted counsellor and captain.
It was William who was sent to London to tell
the barons that for "the sake of the peace and
welfare and honour of his realm" the King would
grant the concessions they demanded.. He was
chief negotiator at Runnymede.(71/72 years
old) He was an example of the upwardly mobile
knight of the twellfth century. Vassalic system
of loyalties. William gave his son to John and
John D'Erley for 1 year. Freed in 1213 because
John needed barons help to fight philip. William
became the Regent for the 12 year old King.He
represented the age of chivalry when the rough
hewn ethics of the men of war whose values
wereProwess,generosity,loyalty. He represented
the triumph of honour against money, of loyalty
againstc the state-of having borne chivalry to
its fulfillment (William Marshal the flower of
Chivalry by Georges Duby Faber and Faber and The
knight in History by Francis Gies Ch 5 Robert
Hale London)) SONAMAGNA LINK