General Notes

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Earl
Note: aka Marshal, "The Protector," "The Flower of Chivalry"
4TH EARL OF PEMBROKE, KNIGHT'S TEMPLAR, LORD OF LEINSTER, L
ORD MARSHALL OF IRELAND
ADVISOR TO KING JOHN AT THE SIGNING OF MAGNA CARTA
MARSHALL OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD OF HENRY II
REGENT OF ENGLAND IN THE MINORITY OF HENRY III
SON-IN-LAW OF RICHARD "STRONGBOW" DE CLARE
King Henry II appointed William head of his military househ
old, responsible for the protection and military training o
f the King's sons and heirs. From 1170-1183, William won fa
me and glory as a tournament champion, fighting in over 50
0 duels and losing none. A landless knight, William's succe
ss was forged through the strength of his character. He bec
ame a Knights Templar and went on Crusade for two years i
n the Holy Land. He served King Henry II faithfully as a co
unselor and ambassador. When Richard the Lionheart ascende
d the throne, he recognized William as a brother in chivalr
y. William became his knight, justiciar, ambassador and fri
end. King John, however, treated Marshall horribly, accusin
g him of treason, seizing his lands and castles and even ho
lding his sons as hostage, yet through it all, the honorabl
e knight remained loyal to his king. Loyalty was, after all
, the most important bond of the code of chivalry and Marsh
all was the epitome of the virtuous knight. When King Joh
n died, Marshall was selected by his peers to be the Regen
t for young King Henry III. He ruled wisely, defeating Phil
ip II in a war with France and restoring order to the kingd
om. A pious man, he founded Kells Priory and Duiske Abbey i
n Ireland. He is buried in the Temple Church in London, fou
nded by the Knights Templar in 1186.
Richard I The Lionheart made the Knights Templar his elit
e fighting force in the 3rd Crusade.
King Richard married Isabel, the daughter and heiress of St
rongbow, to William, thereby greatly increasing his wealt
h and power.
BUILT KILKENNY CASTLE, OWNED PEMBROKE, USK AND CHEPSTOW CAS
TLES
FOUNDED BLACK ABBEY, 1125, AND KELLS PRIORY IN KILKENNY, IR
ELAND
FOUNDED DUISKE ABBEY IN GRAIGUENAMANAGH, IRELAND
Of all the knights of England, there is none greater, nor m
ore honorable than Sir William Marshall.
EULOGY OF SIR WILLIAM MARSHALL:
"Here lies all that remains of the best knight of all the w
orld who has lived in our time." --Archbishop Langton of Ca
nterbury
Sir William Marshall is a character in the film "Lion in Wi
nter" starring Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn.
William also appears in Shakespeare's play KING JOHN. In Ac
t IV, Sc. ii, he and William Longespee Earl of Salisbury le
arn of the death of the young Prince Arthur of Brittany
, a contender for the throne. The two Earls suspect the la
d has been murdered by King John:
KING JOHN
We cannot hold mortality's strong hand:
Good lords, although my will to give is living,
The suit which you demand is gone and dead:
He tells us Arthur is deceased to-night.
SALISBURY
Indeed we fear'd his sickness was past cure.
PEMBROKE
Indeed we heard how near his death he was
Before the child himself felt he was sick:
This must be answer'd either here or hence.
KING JOHN
Why do you bend such solemn brows on me?
Think you I bear the shears of destiny?
Have I commandment on the pulse of life?
SALISBURY
It is apparent foul play; and 'tis shame
That greatness should so grossly offer it:
So thrive it in your game! and so, farewell.
PEMBROKE
Stay yet, Lord Salisbury; I'll go with thee,
And find the inheritance of this poor child,
His little kingdom of a forced grave.
That blood which owed the breadth of all this isle,
Three foot of it doth hold: bad world the while!
This must not be thus borne: this will break out
To all our sorrows, and ere long I doubt.
Historical figures from Shakespeare's KING JOHN who appea
r in this database include:
King John Plantagenet (1166-1216)
Prince Henry Plantagenet (Henry III) (1206-1272)
Sir Willi