William Marshall, a landless noble, was one of the bravest and most accomplished military men of Medieval Europe. He served three Plantagenet kings, Henry II, Richard I (Lionheart) and John.
William was one of the greatest champions of the joust, a game which consisted of a clash between two knights on horseback. The champions of these Medieval competitions are comparable to famous athletes of modern times. He won twelve horses and three hundred knights held for ransom in one season. He established himself early as the best at this competition.
He not only excelled at the joust, but was a brave warrior again his country’s enemies. He first came to the attention of the Plantagenets by saving Queen Eleanor, Henry II’s wife, from capture to be held for ramsom. His fierce fighting allowed the Queen to escape, but William was captured. Queen Eleanor not only paid his ransom, but rewarded him with horses, gold and fine clothes. From this point forward the Plantagenet castles were open to him. His first assignment was the tutoring of Henry’s sons, Henry, Richard, Geoffrey and John in the art of warfare and swordsmanship.
He served Henry II as an advisor and general of his army. He was loyal to the King until the very end. At the time of the King’s death Richard was involved in a rebellion with the French against his father. William Marshall confronted Richard on the road and could have killed him, but instead he told Richard, “I will not kill you; I will leave that to God” and with that he thrust a spear into Richard’s horse. Shortly after this event the Henry II died.
Richard was now the King of England. One of his first acts as King was to summon William Marshall. Although they were in confrontation before Henry’s death, Richard knew how valuable William Marshall would be to this kingdom. He bestowed on Marshall a major castle and kept him as his primary advisor. After Richard Lionheart was crowned King, he immediately left for the Third Crusade. William Marshall was left to hold the kingdom together. He did a marvelous job in the face of John, Richard’s brother, attempt to usurp the throne. William stood by Richard’s side until the King was killed in a frivolous encounter in 1199.
Richard designated John, the least qualified of Henry’s sons to be king,( according to historians) as heir to the English throne. Again Marshall was there. John had a disastrous reign due to the lands that he lost to the French. Marshall realized that John had no friends among his vassals, so he advised the surrender to the French. William was also instrumental in requiring John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, the first document of English freedom.
The Earl of Pembroke, William Marshall, died in 1219. He was one of the most chivalrous knights of any age.
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