William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke

In 1189, while covering the flight of Henry II from [[Le Mans]] to [[Chinon]], William unhorsed the undutiful Richard in a skirmish. William could have killed the prince but killed his horse instead, to make that point clear. He is said to have been the only man ever to unhorse Richard. Nonetheless after Henry’s death, Marshal was welcomed at court by his former adversary, now King Richard I, apparently recognizing that Marshal’s loyalty and military accomplishments were too useful to ignore, especially for a king who was intending to go on Crusade.{{sfn|Kingsford|1893}}

In 1189, while covering the flight of Henry II from [[Le Mans]] to [[Chinon]], William unhorsed the undutiful Richard in a skirmish. William could have killed the prince but killed his horse instead, to make that point clear. He is said to have been the only man ever to unhorse Richard. Nonetheless after Henry’s death, Marshal was welcomed at court by his former adversary, now King Richard I, apparently recognizing that Marshal’s loyalty and military accomplishments were too useful to ignore, especially for a king who was intending to go on Crusade.{{sfn|Kingsford|1893}}

During the old king’s last days he had promised the Marshal the hand and estates of [[Isabel de Clare, 4th Countess of Pembroke|Isabel de Clare]] (c.1172–1220), but had not completed the arrangements. King Richard, however, confirmed the offer and so in August 1189, at the age of 43, the Marshal married the 17-year-old daughter of [[Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke|Richard de Clare]] (Strongbow). Her father had been [[Earl of Pembroke]], and Marshal acquired large estates and claims in England, Wales, [[Normandy]] and Ireland. Some estates, however, were excluded from the deal. Marshal did not obtain Pembroke and the title of earl, which his father-in-law had enjoyed, until 1199, as it had been taken into the king’s hand in 1154. However, the marriage transformed the landless knight from a minor family into one of the richest men in the kingdom, a sign of his power and prestige at court. They had five sons and five daughters, and have numerous descendants.{{sfn|Kingsford|1893}} William made numerous improvements to his wife’s lands, including extensive additions to [[Pembroke Castle]] and [[Chepstow Castle]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kenyon|first1=John R.|title=The Medieval Castles of Wales|date=2011|publisher=University of Wales|isbn=978-0708321805|page=67}}</ref>

During the old king’s last days he had promised the Marshal the hand and estates of [[Isabel de Clare, 4th Countess of Pembroke|Isabel de Clare]] (c.1172–1220), but had not completed the arrangements. King Richard, however, confirmed the offer and so in August 1189, at the age of 43, the Marshal married the 17-year-old daughter of [[Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke|Richard de Clare]] (Strongbow). Her father had been [[Earl of Pembroke]], and Marshal acquired large estates and claims in England, Wales, [[Normandy]] and Ireland. Some estates, however, were excluded from the deal. Marshal did not obtain Pembroke and the title of earl, which his father-in-law had enjoyed, until 1199, as it had been taken into the king’s hand in 1154. However, the marriage transformed the landless knight from a minor family into one of the richest men in the kingdom, a sign of his power and prestige at court. They had five sons and five daughters, and have numerous descendants.{{sfn|Kingsford|1893}} William made many improvements to his wife’s lands, including extensive additions to [[Pembroke Castle]] and [[Chepstow Castle]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kenyon|first1=John R.|title=The Medieval Castles of Wales|date=2011|publisher=University of Wales|isbn=978-0708321805|page=67}}</ref>

William was included in the council of regency which King Richard appointed on his departure for the [[Third Crusade]] in 1190. He took the side of John, the king’s brother, when the latter expelled the justiciar, [[William Longchamp]], from the kingdom, but he soon discovered that the interests of John were different from those of Richard. Hence in 1193 he joined with the loyalists in making war upon him.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=78}} In Spring 1194, during the course of the hostilities in England and before King Richard’s return, William Marshal’s elder brother John Marshal (who was serving as [[seneschal]]) was killed while defending [[Marlborough, Wiltshire|Marlborough]] for the king’s brother John. Richard allowed Marshal to succeed his brother in the hereditary [[Earl Marshal|marshalship]], and his paternal honour of [[Hamstead Marshall]]. The Marshal served the king in his wars in Normandy against Philip II. On Richard’s death-bed, the king designated Marshal as custodian of [[Rouen]] and of the royal treasure during the [[interregnum]].{{sfn|Kingsford|1893}}

William was included in the council of regency which King Richard appointed on his departure for the [[Third Crusade]] in 1190. He took the side of John, the king’s brother, when the latter expelled the justiciar, [[William Longchamp]], from the kingdom, but he soon discovered that the interests of John were different from those of Richard. Hence in 1193 he joined with the loyalists in making war upon him.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=78}} In Spring 1194, during the course of the hostilities in England and before King Richard’s return, William Marshal’s elder brother John Marshal (who was serving as [[seneschal]]) was killed while defending [[Marlborough, Wiltshire|Marlborough]] for the king’s brother John. Richard allowed Marshal to succeed his brother in the hereditary [[Earl Marshal|marshalship]], and his paternal honour of [[Hamstead Marshall]]. The Marshal served the king in his wars in Normandy against Philip II. On Richard’s death-bed, the king designated Marshal as custodian of [[Rouen]] and of the royal treasure during the [[interregnum]].{{sfn|Kingsford|1893}}