John Marshal (Earl Marshal)
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John FitzGilbert the Marshal (Marechal) (d. ~1164) was a minor Anglo-Norman nobleman during the reign of King Stephen, and fought in the 12th Century civil war on the side of the Empress Matilda. In September 1141, Matilda fled the siege of Oxford and took refuge in the Marshal's castle at Ludgershall, Wiltshire. From there, John covered her retreat to Gloucester, but was forced to take refuge a church. The attackers set fire to the building, and John lost an eye to dripping lead from the melting roof.
In 1152, John had a legendary confrontation with King Stephen, who had besieged him at Newbury Castle. After John had broken an agreement to surrender, Stephen threatened to kill his son, who John had given as a hostage. John refused, saying he could make more sons, but Stephen apparently took pity on the young boy and did not kill him. This son, William, was to become a legendary figure in medieval lore, and one of the most powerful men in England.
The office of Lord Marshal, which originally related to the keeping of the King's horses, and later, the head of his household troops, was won as a hereditary title by John, and was passed to his eldest son, and later claimed by William. John also had a daughter, Margaret Marshal, married Ralph de Somery, son of John de Somery and Hawise de Paynell.
[edit] Family
In 1141, John divorced his wife Aline Pipard to marry Sibyl of Salisbury, the sister of Patrick of Salisbury, who had been a local rival of his, and a supporter of King Stephen, up to that point.
John's eldest son, also called John Marshal (d. 1199), inherited the title of Marshal, which he held until his death. The title was then granted by Richard the Lionhearted to William, who made the name and title famous. Though he had started out as a younger son without inheritance, by the time he actually inherited the title his reputation as a soldier and statesman was unmatched across Europe.
| Preceded by Strongbow |
Lord Marshal 1170–1199 |
Succeeded by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke |
[edit] References
- Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Lines 55-28, 66-27, 81-28, 122A-29
- Barlow, Frank. The Feudal Kingdom of England 1042-1216 Londan: Longman Group Limited, 1961. ISBN 0-582-48237-2
