John FitzGilbert Marshal

Male - 1165


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  • Name John FitzGilbert Marshal 
    Born Unknown Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 1165  Wiltshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Bradenstoke Priory, Bradenstoke, Wiltshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Wikipedia
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Marshal_(Marshal_of_England)

      He was a minor Anglo-Norman nobleman during the reign of King Stephen, and fought in the 12th century civil war on the side of Empress Matilda. Matilda fled the siege of Winchester and took refuge in the Marshal's castle at Ludgershall. While covering her retreat from Winchester, John Marshal was forced to take refuge at Wherwell Abbey. The attackers set fire to the building, and John lost an eye to dripping lead from the melting roof.

      In 1152, John had a celebrated 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, whom 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. The boy grew up to be William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, 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 was the son of Gilbert, Royal Serjeant and Marshal to Henry I, and his wife Margaret. After his father died in 1129 John inherited the title of the king's marshal. John married Aline Pipard whose father Walter Pipard had been a friend of John's father. John arranged an annulment of his marriage to Aline Pipard in order 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 had two sons by Aline: Gilbert (d. 1166) and Walter (d. bef.1165). Walter predeceased his father and Gilbert died shortly after inheriting his father's lands.

      John's eldest son by Sibyl of Salisbury, also called John Marshal (1145-1194), inherited the title of Marshal, which he held until his death. The title was then granted by King Richard the Lionheart to his second son by Sybilla, William (1147-1219), 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 Western Europe. John Marshal had four sons in total by his second wife. As well as John and William, there was Henry (1150-1206), who went on to become Bishop of Exeter, and Ancel, who served as a knight in the household of his kinsman, Rotrou, Count of Perche. There were also two daughters Sybilla and Margaret.
    Person ID I36231  Master File
    Last Modified 4 Oct 2016 

    Family Sibyl of Salisbury,   b. Nov 1126, Salisbury, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1176, Pembrokeshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 49 years) 
    Children 
     1. William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke,   b. ca 1146, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 May 1219, Caversham, Berkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 73 years)
    Last Modified 4 Oct 2016 
    Family ID F14950  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart