Sir William Marshall of England
Died 1219

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Buried in the Temple Church, London, England
Sir William Marshall, whose effigy you see to the right above the grave beneath, is considered by many to be the greatest real knight known in history in terms of his feats of chivalry and of arms.

His life story, told in an exciting adventure, captivates young and old.  I tell the story of his life in the first person as he might have told it were he present with you.  The basis of the story is 90% history and 10% invented dialogue which is in keeping with that historical knowledge we have of this great knight's life.

The story starts "When I was a wee boy of nearly five years of age, I was with my brothers in the courtyard of my father's castle.  Suddenly a huge stone of 500 pound crashed to the earth near us.  We ran to our father, John Marshall who told us to hide in the dungeon for King Stephen would this day seek to take the castle from us.  My father had broken his pledge to the King and so a thousand catapult stones did crash against my father's castle wall that day but ...."

And the story goes on to bring to one and all the amazing story of chivalry that followed - of how the young boy William was given as a hostage to the King, how his father's broken promise nearly costs William his life but how later in life Sir William, nevertheless, does honor this father.  It is a moving tale that never ceases to encourage young and old in the way of true chivalry.

If you look carefully at the effigy photograph I took when in the Temple Church you will notice the effigy is broken.  For example, a foot is missing.  The reason: Hitler bombed the Temple Church in WWII.  This great knight's descendants, however, were amongst those who defeated Hitler and his henchman.


For More on His Life

Visit this website:

http://www.castlewales.com/marshall.html

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~anachronauts/wmarshal/marshall.htm

http://www.smokykin.com/ged/f001/f90/a0019073.htm

3rd Earl of Pembroke, Marshall of England, Crusader, Regent for Henry III 1216-1219, called "The Great Knight".

His Earldom gave him large estates in Wales and Ireland. He remained true to King John through the Baron's Wars and was one of the King' Executors. He was succeeded in the Earldom by each of his five sons, all of whom died without children, but each of his five daughters married and left descendants.

 

Credit to this website for musical information below

http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/misc_poetry.html

[Tournaments Illuminated, very many years ago]

[music]
William the Marshall has come into France to win him renown with his sword and his lance. In
[music]
all that fair country no knight could be found in battle or tourney to cast William down.

 

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