Marshal, William I

Marshal, William I (c.1147–1219), lord of Strigoil, earl of Pembroke, and lord of Leinster. Born in either Wiltshire or Berkshire, he was sent to Normandy to be fostered in 1160 and was knighted there in 1167. In 1168 he entered the household of Queen Eleanor and in 1170 moved to that of Henry, son of Henry II. He knighted the young Henry in 1173, supported him against his father, and was with him when he died in 1183. William then travelled to the Holy Land and joined the household of Henry II when he returned. He supported the king against his son Richard, but when Richard became king in 1189 he also employed Marshal. In the same year William married Isabel, the heiress of Strongbow, thereby eventually acquiring Chepstow, Pembroke, and Leinster. When he fell foul of King John for doing homage to King Philip of France for his Norman lands in 1205 he went to Ireland, but became embroiled with the King's justiciar, Meiler fitz Henry. William supported John against his barons and was made regent of England in 1217. He died in 1219. At the time he was under sentence of excommunication by the bishop of Ferns.

Brendan Smith