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William Marshal , fourth earl of Pembroke
(the Marshal)

Born: c. 1146   Died: 1219   

Soldier, magnate and administrator. William was a younger son of a minor nobleman but made his name and fortune through his military prowess and at the end of his life was regent of the realm and one of the most powerful men in England.

William found fame and fortune in the tournaments, served in the royal households and through his marriage to Isobel de Clare he acquired Striguil (Chepstow).
A biograpahy survives of William who is in fact one of the few laymen in the Middle Ages to be the subject of a biography. This takes the form of a poem in rhyming couplets and was commissioned by William's son and namesake.
William was buried in the New Temple, London, where his tomb effigy survives.

Sites associated with this person

Slebech Commandery, Pembrokeshire (benefactor)

Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire (patron)

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Hogan, Arlene, 'Wales and Ireland: monastic links', in Monastic Wales: New Approaches, ed. Janet Burton and Karen Stöber (University of Wales: Cardiff, 2013), pp. 163-174

Web links (open in new window)

Crouch, David, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online - William Marshal, first earl of Pembroke (View website)


 
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