General Notes

via Larry Overmire

Burial: Temple Church, London
Note:
Note: aka Marshal, "The Protector," "The Flower of Chivalry"

4TH EARL OF PEMBROKE, KNIGHT'S TEMPLAR, LORD OF LEINSTER, LORD 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 household, responsible for the protection and military training of the King's sons and heirs. From 1170-1183, William won fame and glory as a tournament champion, fighting in over 500 duels and losing none. A landless knight, William's success was forged through the strength of his character. He became a Knights Templar and went on Crusade for two years in the Holy Land. He served King Henry II faithfully as a counselor and ambassador. When Richard the Lionheart ascended the throne, he recognized William as a brother in chivalry. William became his knight, justiciar, ambassador and friend. King John, however, treated Marshall horribly,accusing him of treason, seizing his lands and castles and even holding his sons as hostage, yet through it all, the honorable knight remained loyal to his king. Loyalty was, after all, the most important bond of the code of chivalry andMarshall was the epitome of the virtuous knight. When King John died, Marshallwas selected by his peers to be the Regent for young King Henry III. He ruledwisely, defeating Philip II in a war with France and restoring order to the kingdom. A pious man, he founded Kells Priory and Duiske Abbey in Ireland. He is buried in the Temple Church in London, founded by the Knights Templar in 1186.

Richard I The Lionheart made the Knights Templar his elite fighting force inthe 3rd Crusade.

King Richard married Isabel, the daughter and heiress of Strongbow, to William, thereby greatly increasing his wealth and power.

BUILTKILKENNY CASTLE, OWNED PEMBROKE, USK AND CHEPSTOW CASTLES

FOUNDED BLACK ABBEY, 1125, AND KELLS PRIORY IN KILKENNY, IRELAND

FOUNDED DUISKE ABBEY IN GRAIGUENAMANAGH, IRELAND

Of all the knights of England, there is none greater, nor more honorable than Sir William Marshall.

EULOGY OF SIR WILLIAM MARSHALL:
"Here lies all that remains of the best knight of all the world who has livedin our time." --Archbishop Langton of Canterbury

Sir William Marshall is acharacter in the film "Lion in Winter" starring Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn.

William also appears in Shakespeare's play KING JOHN. In Act IV, Sc. ii, he and William Longespee Earl of Salisbury learn of the death of the young Prince Arthur of Brittany, a contender for the throne. The two Earls suspect thelad 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 whichyou 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 'tisshame
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 appear in this database include:

King John Plantagenet (1166-1216)
Prince Henry Plantagenet (Henry III) (1