1066 Battle of Hastings

 I remember before my addiction to family history researching, my understanding and interest in history was somewhat vague beyond one hundred years or so; English history was definitely a foggy mix of Roman occupation, War of the Roses, Kings and Queens, and the Battle of Briton. Mostly learnt through historically obscure movies or documentaries over the years, today I now only give historically accurate programs my attention. England has such a rich, well documented history that goes back many hundreds of years and because of my ancestry researching I have come to a richer and more objective understanding of past events. Through my ancestral journey I have discovered ancestors who forged history as we now know it.

During the last few day's prior to ending my 2000 visit to the UK I found my self exploring towns, villages reasonably close to Gatwick. One day I found my way to Hastings and exploring in the area I discovered the town known as Battle. Located north east of Hastings in East Sussex, approaching the town in my rental I was thinking how ominous the name Battle seemed. With my limited knowledge I'm thinking maybe the town of Battle had something in common with the Conquest and the battle of 1066. 

After driving around town for a short while I found my self at Battle Abby at first I was under the impression that I was parking in the car park of a tourist gift shop, and really didn't expect much more. My visit to Battle Abby was one of my most memorable tourist attraction visits in my 2000 UK activities.

I soon became aware that I was at the 1066 battle field were English history change with outcome of the battle between King Harald of England and William  of Normandy. I saw that for a small fee I would be able to take a self guided stroll out onto the actual battle field, an opportunity that I took up without hesitation.

 For a full Hour I wondered the battle ground taking in the imaginary images of men on foot, men on horse back glinting weaponry and armour the sounds of battle and death all over this place 14h Oct 1066. Standing at the place were King Harold of England laid dying is confronting, but then I realised when standing at almost any place on the field many men may have died at that very spot more than nine hundred years ago.

 

The 1066 Hastings Battle Field

Some years have past since the day I visited the 1066 battle field and I am now even more thankful that I had the opportunity to spend time on the field. Today thanks to the following  years spent research studying and documenting my family history, I have been successful in identifying some ancestral relationships to men at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and my Bond family line. Each person was individually researched, not for their connection to the battle but their connection to my Bond family line; and serendipitously connected to the battle. Knowing now that I acutely have ancestors who survived the carnage at the Battle of Hastings gives me a whole new perspective of the history surrounding the battle.

King Harold of England / Husband of 29th Great grandmother.

Gyrth Godwinson / Brother in-law to 29th Great grandmother.

Leofwine Godwinson / Brother in-law of 29th Great grandmother,

William of Normandy / 27th Great grandfather.

Robert Deaumont / 25th Great grand uncle.

Walter Giffard / 27th Great grandfather.

William De Warren / 26th Great grandfather.

Hugh De Montford / 28th Great grandfather.

1066 Battle of Hastings

Recommended reading:

The Battle of Hastings, by Jim Bradbury.

1066, by Kelly Devries. 

The Norman Conquest, by Mac Morris.

Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.

New Discoveries

 New discoveries just keep on coming, just when you think you have learnt all there is to know about the people in your family one or two individuals will suddenly give up new information, that will delight you. January 2022 and the new family research year started off with two such discoveries, from people that I have been researching one from the very beginning; my grandmother Kate and the other a cousin found through DNA matching some years back 4th cousin 1x recovered Reginald Albert Gorman. 

In the case of my grandmother I received an automated Email from a family tree building and research site that I subscribe to, informing me that a new Christening record had been found for my grandmother, and inviting me to come and see the record. After a day or so, I clicked on the record link and behold. I discover indeed more detailed information than in other past records.

Name Kate Elizabeth Wise

Sex Female  

Christening date 28 Mar 1875

Christening place Wareham, Dorset, England UK 

Christening place (original) St Mary's Wareham, Dorset England 

Fathers name William 

Mothers name Julia

The new fact I see for the first time in this record is St Mary's Wareham Dorset England, I had never known that Kate was Christened at St May's Wareham so I went Googling and found that St Mary's is still active today.

StMary's Wareham Dorset England/Public Domain.

Exploring St Mary's history on line I discovered an interesting fact about the Christening font, it is apparently the only 12th century Hexagonal lead font in existence. 

Christening font St' Mary's Wareham Dorset

   Grandmother Kate is a twin sister to my aunt Louisa so this discovery of the font is an interesting new fact to add to the family story.

Reginald Albert Gorman, Australian actor who has been in the tree since 2019 was only discovered for being the so well known actor of Australian TV that we know him for, while I was exploring my DNA match to his daughter Kate Gorman, who is also an accomplished Australian TV actress. Appearing in Neighbours and many other productions. Cousin Kate Gorman and her father Reg are related through William Bond and Sarah Bond/Acton and their daughter Sarah Jane Bond.

Reg Gorman

A third new discovery was while watching the program Who do You Think you Are, Australian journalist and television  presenter Jennifer Victoria Byrne was being presented with her family history and in the course of the program it became clear that her ancestral line had similarities to my own family. I have since learnt that we are 19th cousins.

 

Jennifer Byrne 

My lesson for this new year is I don't know what I don't know, when I think I know.  

Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.

Blackboy Hill

Blackboy Hill

 

Hell, on Earth.

A flicker of consciousness, a flicker of gloomy light, a wave of knowing, a realization of his surroundings and his commitment and duty.

Robert Vivian Bond was aged 19, and for the past two weeks he had been waking at five in the morning each day; at Blackboy Hill military training camp.

Blackboy Hill a military training camp in Western Australia was a tented military camp that gave basic training to the young men, who had volunteered for duty in the 1^st world war.

Notoriously known; because the men, mostly teenagers; would be going to the front line in France. After 2½ months training they will be in, hell on earth.

 “Ho God here we go again,” Viv muttered to himself, as his nostrils detected the smells of breakfast wafting through the camp. He knew it as a ploy, they feed us well and we go through a rigorous training schedule all day; it’s a ploy that was working because hundreds of young men like him would be rather keen on a good breakfast right now. 

The guys working in the mess, seem to have signed up to a different War to what the regular men had signed up for. Whatever, Viv and his mates had no complaints given their devotion to keeping their stomachs full and content, before and after a full day of training.   

Ratatattat, boom, all day the sounds of machine gun and single arm fire reverberated around the camp, the stench of cordite, gunpowder and smoke filled the air.

“You’re doing it wrong you bloody fool,” “keep shooting for god’s sake, boy;” The drill Sergeant bellowed.

He knew he was being singled out, so Viv’s reply was to fire his machine gun in a burst that cut his target to smithereens, sending splinters of wood flying in all directions.

“Good man, that’s what we like to see,” the sergeant said, slapping him firmly on the shoulder before moving on to his next victim.

Within a minute a new target would pop up to be dealt with, again and again Viv dispatched his targets like a man possessed.   

After completing his training Vivian was deployed to the battle front in France, newly trained troops usually took a train from Midland station bound for Fremantle port where ship boarding was conducted.

Hundreds of newly trained men, fully kitted out would patiently make their way to the gangways and on to the ship that would take them to the action.

He served in France, manning his machine gun; in the mud, the blood and filthy stench of death for seven months before the day, that the cloud of death came silently, creeping across the battle field.

“Gas, gas,” a fellow forward gunner bellowed, folowed by other men shouting out the same warning before franticly fitting their gas masks. 

The cloud of death had come creeping across Viv’s position before, he knew what he needed to do to be safe; get that bloody mask on and endure the following three or four hours of the suffocating effects of the mask. That or be killed by the truly Suffocating effects of the gas, it’s your choice.

There must have been an accumulation of the effects of the gas attacks on Viv because he was removed from the front, to a medical outpost for the treatment of gas exposure on the battle field, within six months of commencing active duty in the trenches.       

As a young child I remember, sitting all snug and warm, freshly bathed in my jim jams slippers and dressing gown; on the huge lounge that seemed to swallow me up. Visiting uncle Viv and aunty Eva was a delightful outing for a young lad, as I knew I would be fully captivated by my uncle’s presence.  

We held a warm connection between us, Viv and I, remaining quiet and seemingly uninterested I managed to take in most of the Adult conversation, or I thought so at the time. I remember his warm smile and wink of acknowledgment whenever our gaze met, I knew him as a kind gentle man; I remember him being like a Farther Christmas, without the red suit and white beard, huge smile and warm eyes.

He was a man; who had taken a journey to hell and returned home, those eyes had seen hell on earth.

Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.

House of Plantagenet

House of Plantagenet:

Plantagenet

I discovered a distant connection to the Plantagenet's firstly through my Maternal family line, but then after another 2yrs of further researching I discovered a much closer Paternal Bond family line connection.

The House of Plantagenet was a royal house which originated from the lands of Anjou in France. The name Plantagenet is used by modern historians to identify four distinct royal houses – the Angevins who were also Counts of Anjou, the main body of the Plantagenets following the loss of Anjou, and the houses of Lancaster and York, the Plantagenets' two cadet branches. The family held the English throne from 1154, with the accession of Henry II, until 1485, when Richard III died.

Under the Plantagenets, England was transformed, although this was only partly intentional. The Plantagenet kings were often forced to negotiate compromises such as Magna Carta. These constrained royal power in return for financial and military support. The king was no longer just the most powerful man in the nation, holding the prerogative of judgement, feudal tribute and warfare. He now had defined duties to the realm, underpinned by a sophisticated justice system. A distinct national identity was shaped by conflict with the French, Scots, Welsh and Irish, and the establishment of English as the primary language.

In the 15th century, the Plantagenets were defeated in the Hundred Years' War and beset with social, political and economic problems. Popular revolts were commonplace, triggered by the denial of numerous freedoms. English nobles raised private armies, engaged in private feuds and openly defied Henry VI.

The rivalry between the House of Plantagenet's two branches of York and Lancaster brought about the Wars of the Roses, a decades-long fight for the English succession, culminating in the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, when the reign of the Plantagenets and the English Middle Ages both met their end with the death of King Richard III. Henry VII, a Lancastrian, became king of England; two years later, he married Elizabeth of York, thus ending the Wars of the Roses, and giving rise to the Tudor dynasty. The Tudors worked to centralise English royal power, which allowed them to avoid a number of the problems that had plagued the last Plantagenet rulers. The resulting stability allowed for the English Renaissance, and the advent of early modern Britain.

Ingelger De Anjou, 32nd Great Grandfather.

Fulk I (The Red) De Anjou, 31st Great Grandfather.

Fulk (The Good) De Anjou, 30th Great Grandfather.

Geoffrey I Ferreol Gastinios De Anjou, 29th Great Grandfather.

Geoffrey II of Gastinios Audri, Count, 28th Great Grandfather.

Fulk IV (The Rude) De Anjou, Count, 27th Great Grandfather.

Fulk V (The Younger) De Anjou, 26th Great Grandfather.

Geoffrey V (The Handsome) Plantagenet, 25th Great Grandfather.

Henry II (Curtmantle) 1st Plantagenet King, 24th Great Grandfather.

John (Lackland) Plantagenet, 23rd Great Grandfather.

Henry III Plantagenet, 22nd Grea Grandfather.

Edward I Longshanks Plantagenet, 21st Great Grandfather.

Joan Plantagenet, 22nd Great Grandmother.

War of the Roses 1455-58

The House of Plantagenet

Plantagenet

Recommended reading:

The Plantagenets, The Kings Who Made England. by Dan Jones.

Birth of The Plantagenets (series). by Blanche d' Alpuget.

War of The Roses (series). by Conn Iggulden.

Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.

Harry Bond Service.

Harry Bond
Service number 14666.

Grandfather

Privet Harry Bond

Harry was born 6^th April 1864; to parents James Robert and Anne Maria Bond of Kilburn London England. He enlisted in the Australian military forces; Bunbury Western Australia Thursday 12^th April 1917, he was a family man with a cheeky smile.

Harry Bond and his wife Kate Elizabeth were living in Balingup Western Australia in 1917; three of their five children Violet aged seventeen, Lena Rose aged fifteen and Cyril Leonard aged thirteen were still living at the family home in Forrest street Balingup. (Kilburn house)
Eldest daughter Lilian Bertha was living in Perth Western Australia with her husband Arthur Fitzgerald Chapman from c1916 and she was aged twenty-three in 1917.
The Eldest son Robert Vivian was aged twenty-one and convalescing in Boscombe military hospital England 1^st April 1917. He was suffering from the after effects of a gas attack in the front-line trenches of France, where he was serving at the time. He had been serving in the Australian military since 1914 and was not supportive of his father Harry enlisting for military service. He may have been comforted in his assumption that his father would be home looking after things; during this time of conflict.

 It is very clear that Harry would have had compelling incentives to remain at home where he had his loving wife and three teenage children depending on his support and his being around. We must give him credit for the decision he made back then to enlist and serve his time, do his bitt. Knowing of his son Robert’s close call with death and possibly knowing of other local men who had not survived gas attacks in the trenches; he surely took account, of the possibility that he may not return. 

On the 12^th April 1917 in the town of Bunbury Western Australia Harry Bond of Balingup enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, unit A.S.C (May, Reinforcements)

The A.S.C (Army Service Corps) was a complicated unit of Companies that provided other units with specialised services. The enlistment paper has no birth date entered, but Harry has stated his age as being forty-four years; a clear understatement by nine years given his birth date is 6^th April 1864 in London England.
Harry was putting his age down from fifty-three to forty-four; to be eligible for enlistment for service in the army, and he has achieved his goal, for the time being.
In his application, he has nominated his calling as being a baker. He was possibly putting himself forward to an area in the army where he may not see too much action; in the catering services. 

Enlistment Form Harry Bond

He appears on English records for the last time with his London family in the 1881 England Census; Occupation Carpenter. In pre and post-war Balingup records, his calling moves from gardener to fettler and back to carpenter over a forty-five-year period. There is no mention of Harry having baking skills in any Electoral Rolls pre or post-war Balingup. 

It’s from here in Harry’s enlistment record that he begins to state truths in that his wife is Kate Elizabeth Bond and that his permanent address is the town of Balingup WA, also he has no prior military service nor had he ever been rejected for military service. 
Harry next indicates that he is perfectly willing to be inoculated against small pox and enteric fever, he was not about to let a jab or two in an arm stop him from enlisting. Finally, near the bottom of the enlistment record he allots no less than three-fifths of his army pay to the support of his wife and children. 

Amongst other military records for Harry, is a Will document that simply informs us that his will has been lodged with the Secretary of the Roads Board Balingup W.A, and an indication that he has taken account of the possibility he may not return. 
Age enlistment requirements in 1917 would have been made clear to all men offering themselves for military service, 18 – 47 years of age. By reducing his age Harry would have been offering to give three years of service.
We have men under age and men over age who are willing to do what is necessary to be enlisted into the services during WW1. In Harry Bonds case, he may have been attracted by the prospect of three years of reliable income for his family and an opportunity to travel back to the UK and his home town of London. Thousands of service men may have managed to work around the age requirement and Harry would not have been in a minority group at the time, but a group with multiple reasons for why they enlisted.     

Training camp at Black boy Hill Perth Western Australia was home for Harry and his fellow soldiers, from 1^st May 1917 with periodic visits back to his family in Balingup. Military records indicate approximately a three-month time frame between training and embarkation for Sydney 1^st August 1917 to sail for the UK 21^st September 1917 on board SS Orita Halifax, disembarking Liverpool, UK 3^rd October 1917. A very busy time for the men after signing up and training, before they are shipped off across an ocean. 

Mr. Harry Bond returned to camp from long leave on Monday, 21^st.
He expects to sail for France on or about the 23^rd inst.
Trove; National Library of Australia, The Blackwood Times Bunbury WA, Balingup Notes.
Fri 25^th May 1917

Blackboy Hill Training Camp, Greenmount Perth W.A

This must have been a traumatic time for the family, knowing that their father was going off to the war over aged and may well find himself on the front line in France. Baking bread or not they considered the front a dangerous place for him to be.        

While Private Harry Bond was going through his training at Black boy hill or at some time after, his wife Kate was at work behind the scenes thinking up a way to scuttle her husband’s plans of a full three years of service in the army or at best preventing his movement to France. 

 Son Robert Vivian Bond may have received news from his mother, Kate; of his father’s successful enlistment and subsequent deployment to England and on to France and at some time he decided to intervene and have his father discharged from active service on the grounds of being over age. 

From October 1917 through to December 1917 Harry's service in England seems to be going well, there are no statements in his service record to suggest he has been discovered. 

On the 31^st January 1918, his service record indicates that his game is up, he has been sprung and he is to return to Australia (discharge) reason senility. The family have got there way and their father is coming home where he belongs, thankfully to Viv's intervention.

On the 6^th April 1918 Harry returns to Fremantle Western Australia on board RMS Osterley, and records state, Discharged 5^th MD 24^th April 1918. 

RMS Osterley Homeward Bound

Harry and Kate Bond remained living in Balingup up until August 1946 when they made the move to Bunbury, there is abundant community records at Trove Australia in the form of newspaper articles from the Balingup News giving acknowledgements in their community participation. 

Harry his son Robert Vivian and others returned soldiers received a big welcome home from the Balingup town community, this is well documented Balingup News at Trove Australia. 

Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.

The Acton Family Line

The Acton Family line is in itself a huge complex line of Baronet's and the pinnacle achiever would have to be Lord Acton.

(3rd Great Grandmother) Sarah Acton brings this line to the Bond,s.

The Bond,s where also of high order at this time in history.

9th Great Grandfather.

1.Sir Edward Acton, 1st Baronet.

2.Sir Edward Acton, 1st Baronet (20 July 1600 - c. June 1659) was the son of Walter Acton, Sheriff of 3.Shropshire. He was created 1st Baronet Acton, of Aldenham, Aldenham Hall, in Morville, Shropshire England on 17 January 1643/44.

Sir Edward was a Royalist during the English Civil War and fought at the Battle of Edgehill and the Siege of Bridgnorth. At the Battle of Worcester he was wounded in the thigh.

Sir Edward was MP for Bridgnorth during the Long and Short Parliaments and also sat in King Charles I's Parliament at Oxford.

He married Sarah Mytton, and they had the following children:

1.Sir Walter Acton, 2nd Baronet (1621-1665)

2.Edward Acton (1623-1654)

3.Thomas Acton (1623-1677)

4.Frances Acton (1625-1626)

5.William Acton (c. 1627-1659)

6.Robert Acton (1628-1654)

7.Richard Acton (1630-1674)

8th GreatGrandfather.

Sir Walter Acton, 2nd Baronet (1621 – 1665) was the son of Sir Edward Acton, 1st Baronet, he succeeded to the baronetage upon the death of his father. Sir Walter was elected MP for Bridgnorth at the Convention Parliament of 1660.

He married Catherine Cresset, and they had the following children:

1.Sir Edward Acton, 3rd Baronet (1649-1716)

2.Walter Acton (1651-11 Mar 1718)

3.Richard Acton (b. c. 1652-Mar 1705)

4.Thomas Acton

5.William Acton

6.Robert Acton (b. 1655) 7th GreatGrandfather. > Robert Acton Jnr 6th G.Gf. > Charles Acton 5th G.Gf. > John Acton 4th G.Gf. > Sarah Acton 3rd G.Gm (hus) William Bond 3rd G.Gf. > William Robert Bond 2nd G.Gf. > James Robert Bond 1st G.Gf. > Harry Bond Grand father. > Cyril Leonard Bond. > Noel L Bond.

7.Francis Acton (1657-24 Aug 1733)

8.Catherine Acton

9.Elizabeth Acton

10.Sarah Acton

7th Great Grand Uncle.

Sir Edward Acton, 3rd Baronet(c. 1650 - 28 September 1716) was the son of Sir Walter Acton, 2nd Baronet, he succeeded to the baronetage upon the death of his father. He was Tory Member of Parliament for Bridgnorth from 1689 until 1705, and was a barrister, being a member of the Inner Temple.

He married Mary Walter, and they had the following children:

1.Sir Whitmore Acton, 4th Bt. (1678 - January 1732)

2.Mary Acton (born 1678)

3.Edward Acton (1681-1741)

4.John Acton (born bef. 1716)

5.Sarah Acton

6.Elizabeth Acton

7.Frances Acton (died 29 October 1718)

9.Catherine Acton

He held the office of High Sheriff of Shropshire from 1684 to 1685. He held the office of Recorder of Bridgnorth in 1701.

1st Cousin 8x Removed.

Sir Whitmore Acton, 4th Baronet (c. 1677 - 17 January 1731/32) was the son of Sir Edward Acton, 3rd Baronet, he succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his father.

He married Lady Elizabeth Gibbon, and they had the following children:

1.Sir Richard Acton, 5th Baronet (1 January 1712-20 November 1791)

2.Elizabeth Acton (b. bef 1730)

3.Jane Acton (b. bef 1732)

4.Mary Acton (b. bef 1732)

He held the office of High Sheriff of Shropshire from 1727 to 1728.

2nd Cousin7x removed

Sir Richard Acton, 5th Baronet (1 January 1712 - 20 November 1791) was an English baronet. The son of Sir Whitmore Acton, 4th Bt., he succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his father.

He married Lady Anne Grey, Daughter of Henry Grey, 3rd Earl of Stamford on 21 September 1744, and they had the following children:

1.Elizabeth Acton (b. 1746)

2.Frances Acton (1749-1762)

He held the office of High Sheriff of Shropshire from 1751 to 1752.

As he had no surviving male issue, the title went to his distant cousin, Sir John Acton.

Sir John Francis Edward Acton, 6th Baronet (3 June 1736 – 12 August 1811) was commander of the naval forces of Grand Duchy of Tuscany and prime minister of Naples under Ferdinand IV.[1]

He was the son of Edward Acton, a physician at Besançon, and was born there in 1736, succeeding to the title and estates in 1791, on the death of his second cousin once removed, Sir Richard Acton of Aldenham Hall, Shropshire. He served in the navy of Tuscany, and in 1775 commanded a frigate in the joint expedition of Spain and Tuscany against Algiers, in which he displayed such courage and resource that he was promoted to high command.

In 1779 Queen Maria Carolina of Naples persuaded her brother the Grand-Duke Leopold of Tuscany to allow Acton, who had been recommended to her by Prince Caramenico, to undertake the reorganisation of the Neapolitan navy. The ability displayed by him in this led to his rapid advancement. He became commander-in-chief of both the army and the navy of the Kingdom of Naples, minister of finance, and finally prime minister.

His policy was devised in concert with the English ambassador, Sir William Hamilton, and aimed at substituting the influence of Austria and Great Britain for that of Spain at Naples. Such policy consequently involved open opposition to France and the French party in Italy. The financial and administrative measures resulting from a policy which necessitated a great increase of armaments made him intensely unpopular, and in December 1798 he shared the flight of the king and queen.

For the reign of terror which followed the downfall of the Parthenopean Republic, five months later, Acton has been held responsible. In 1804 he was for a short time deprived of the reins of government at the demand of France; but he was speedily restored to his former position, which he held till, in February 1806, on the entry of the French into Naples, he had to flee with the royal family into Sicily. He died at Palermo.

He had married, by papal dispensation (13 January 1799) Mary Anne, the eldest daughter of his brother, General Joseph Edward Acton (1 Oct 1737-12 Jan 1830), who was in the Neapolitan service, and had three children:

Sir Ferdinand Richard Edward Acton (later Dalberg-Acton) (1801-1837)

Cardinal Acton (1803-1847)

Elizabeth Acton (1806-1850) married Sir Robert Throckmorton, 8th Bt and had issue.

The elder son, Sir Ferdinand, being the father of the first Baron Acton.

Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.

Sir William Marshal

Sir William Marshal,1st Earl of Pembroke.

23rd great-grandfather 

The Marshal, arguably the greatest Knight that ever lived according to Archbishop Stephen Langto, and also living at the time.

In his career William Marshal served five Kings: King Henry II,Young King Henry, King Richard I, King John, King Henry III. 

Game of Thrones fans will recognise the Marshals life achievements with those of the character Sir Barristan Selmy, the commander of the Kings-guard. 

William Marshal was born in the year 1146 Pembroke Shire, Wales; the younger son to Sir John Fitzgilbert Marshal and  Lady Sibilla De Salisbury. Being the youngest and last in line for any inheritance from his fathers wealth, and also of low family station in his fathers eyes, William had little prospect of achieving any notoriety in his life. 

In the year 1153 Williams father Sir John was in command of the garrison defending Newbury Castle against King Stephen.

The King demanded that the Castle be given up to him to which the captain of the defending garrison replied  "No", let me consult with my commander to which the King agreed and gave one day truce for the consultation with the commander John Marshal. The following day after the truce the captain of the defending garrison requested an extension to the truce so as the commander John Marshal may consult with the Empress Matilda. 

King Stephen granted an extension  but demanded to take a son of the Commander as hostage as surety to the surrender of the Castle. John Marshal gave up his son William to the King as hostage. John fortified the garrison at Newbury Castle further and after the truce expired, he refused to give up the Castle to King Stephen risking the life of his son William. 

On learning of the possible fait of his son, hanging or being catapulted to the Castle wall; John Marshal replied I have the Hammer and I have the Anvil to make more like him. 

King Stephen having seen the innocents and bravery that the young boy showed through-out his ordeal, relented in his plan to do the boy any harm. So the young William Marshal survived his first brush with possible death, he remained hostage for some months after.

As the youngest son of John Marshal William had no or very little claim to inheritance from his father and was destined to make his own way in life from the very beginning. At the age of twelve when his fathers career was winding down. William was sent to Normandy to be brought up by his mothers cousin William De Tancarville were he received paratactical lessons and training in chivalry as a knight.

Young William was showing good aptitude in all his studies and gathering number of enemies in the Court of Tancarville.

In the year 1166 he was engaged in his first battle in Upper Normandy with mixed Reviews as to his success, he was nighted during this his first campaign.

At the age of twenty-one in the year 1167 he was sponsored by William De Tancarville in his first Tournament, here he found his calling and began his training that put him on the road towards becoming the Tournament champion.

In the year 1168 William Marshal served in the household of his maternal uncle Patrick Earl of Salisbury. The same year William was a part of an escort to Queen Eleanor moving near the border of her Provence of Aquitaine. The party was ambushed by Guy De Lusignan, Queen Eleanor escaped the ambush her brother Patrick Earl of Salisbury was killed during the melee and William was taken for ransom with a wound to his thigh. While in custody William was delivered fresh clean dressings for his wound concealed in a loaf of bread. A kind act that may have prevented infection taking hold due to his wound. Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine met his ransom, and William remains in Eleanors household for a further two years, building on his reputation as a chivalrous Knight during this time.

William was appointed tutor in arms to the son of Eleanor and King Henry II Plantagenet, Henry the young King in the year 1170. 

William and Henry the young King gained approval to travel Europe taking part in tournaments up against other nights and soon the young King was gaining prestige for himself from winning his tournaments, under the guide of the Marshal, 1176 -1182. Tournaments were dangerous gatherings of Knights where mock battles took place between teems and single Knight to Knight contest. It is said that William Marshal on his death bed recalled that he had personally defeated five hundred Knights in his tournament career.   

Depiction of Mounted Battle the the Tournament

In the year 1182 William was accused of having an affair with Margaret of France and wife to the Young King Henry. An allegation that he was cleared of by 1183. During the investigation William was removed from the Young Kings service, and returned to his service by May 1183.

January 1183 the Young King Henry declared war on his brother Richard the Lionheart, their father Henry II sided with Richard.

The Young King became ill in May 1183 and died on 11th June 1183.

On his death bed the Young King asked William to go on crusade on his behalf, to fulfil the promise that the Young King had made in 1182. After receiving the blessing of Henry II to take up his sons dying wish he left for Jerusalem in the Holy Lands late in the year 1183. There are no records of Williams crusade in the Holy Lands, we know he fulfilled the vow of the Young King; he was away for two years and had returned in 1185 -1186. On Williams own death bed we know he was committed into the order of the Knights Templar.   

Depiction of a Knights Templar

On his return William takes up the position of Captain in the court of King Henry II, he is given a large royal estate of Cartmel. 

William continues to serve with un questionable loyalty to the Kings, and in sorting out many of their differences he is trusted in having their backs when needed. 

In the year 1188 Henry II summoned William to join him in putting down an attempt by Phillip II to seize the region of Berry, in the letter to William he mentions Williams complaining of little reward for his service to the King, with a little sarcasm. He also then offers William the marriage of Dionisia Lay of Chateauruox, Berry. During this campaign Henry II has a falling out with his son Richard I and Richard sides with Philip II against his father. At this point I could understand William Marshal thinking of banging all their heads together, William didn't take Lay Dionisia as his bride.

Henry's final Campaign 

In the year 1189 William was escorting an extremely ill Henry II, in a litter from Le Mans to Chinon, after a truce conference. The conference collapsed and Phillip II and Richard I staged a surprise attack against Henry, in his failing condition. William Marshal unhorsed Richard I in the melee, the life of Richard was at the end of Williams sward tip and at this moment his life was spared by the only Knight to bring him down. To add to the point William dispatched the mount of Richard in his place. Henry II made his escape wile his sons life was in the hands of William Marshal. Henry died 6th July 1189 of the complications of a bleeding ulcer. 

After the death of King Henry II, William was welcomed into the court of the new King Richard I (The Lionheart) regardless of their past conflicts William and Richard are now besties. And William will now have Richards back.

In the days prior to the death of King Henry II, he had promised the hand and estates of Isabel De Clare to William, but unfortunately had not completed the arrangements. All was not lost because the new King Richard was most happy to honour the arrangement of marriage of William Marshal and Isabel De Clare and the marriage took place August 1189 in London. Though his marriages to Isabel, William Marshal has now arrived financially and in higher status from military captain and Knight; he is now one of the most wealthy men in England. Isabel brings with her large estates in England, Ireland, Normandy and Wales however Pembroke was not included as one of the estates in the marriage; William is now Lord Marshal of England.

King Richard I departed England in 1190 for the Holy Lands and his third Crusade, William was appointed in the council of regency before Richards departure. William was on the side of Richards brother John when he expelled Justiciar William Longchamp from the Kingdom and his duties. William soon discovered that Johns motives didn't correlate to those of the King and he declared War on John along with loyalist to the King 1193. 

In the year 1194 Williams older brother John Marshal was killed while defending Marlborough for John, William was granted his brothers title Earl Marshal and his paternal honour Hamstead Marshal by King Richard on his return to England. William accompanied Richard in his wars against King Philip of France  in the land of Normandy after his return to England, conflict between Richard and Philip had been on going from  the time that Richard broke his betrothal with Philips sister in the year 1191 and the conflict remained on simmer until King Richards death 6 April 1199. Conflicts over laying Conflicts seems to be the ongoing theme of these times.  

King Richard I (The Lionheart) has died and William Marshal is now in support of Richards brother John, being the next King of England. Others in court are supporting Arthur of Brittany the son of John's brother Geoffrey II Duke of Brittany, John was crowned King John of England 27 May 1199.

William Marshal was still involved in the Defence of Normandy against the House of France, (Philip of France) from 1200 to1203.

William and King John abandoned the Duchy in 1203 and had a consequent falling out over the mater, in days that followed. In 1204 William returned with the Earl of Leicester as ambassadors to negotiate a truce with King Philip. William was given special considerations by King John to also pay homage too Philip over his land holdings in Normandy. William should have seen that when dealing with Kings that things can turn sour at the drop of a hat.

When William paid homage too Philip, John spat the dummy and took offence and a row broke out in his court. By1207 the air between William and King John was hostile and John was turning against Irish Barons including William Marshal. During the conflict between King John and the Barons 1207 - 1215 William remained loyal to the King, even after having his own lands in Ireland invaded by Meilyr Fiz Henry on be half of King John, the attack was seen off by Countess Isabel Marshal after considerable property damage.

The Baron's (this time is known as the Barons war) joined united in their quest to get King John to sign a document of agreement, that document being the Magna Carta, singed 15 June 1215 at Runnymede.

Magna Carta Island, Runnymede

19 October 1216 at the age of forty-nine King John died, on his death bed he entrusts in William Marshal to see his nine year old son Henry is crowned King of England. Despite their past on and off relationship King John had total faith in the Marshals total loyalty to the Crown. The Marshal took responsibility for the funeral and burial of the King at Worcester Cathedral. The barons of the Kings council, loyal to King John appointed William to serve as Protector of the nine year old King Henry III, and regent of the kingdom.

William Marshal 1st Earl of Pembroke died 11 March 1220, at his estate, Caversham Manor, Berkshire.

William Marshal Temple Church 

Issue of William and Isabel:

1. William Marshal 1190 - 6 April 1231

2. Richard Marshal 1191 - 1 April 1234

3. Maud Marshal 1192 - 27 March 1248

4. Gilbert Marshal 1194 - 27 June 1241

5. Walter Marshal 1196 -24 November 1245

6. Anselm Marshal 198 - 22 December 1245

7. Isabel Marshal 9 October 1200 - 17 January 1240

8. Sibyl Marshal 1201 - before 1238 

9. Joan Marshal 1202 - 1234

10. Eva Marshal 1203 - 1246

Recommend reading:

The History of William Marshal, by Nigel Bryant.

Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.