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The Greatest Knight

Page 48

by Thomas Asbridge


  Marshal, William:

  absolution of, 372

  allegiance shown to John by, to safeguard Marches and Irish interests, 234

  anecdotes recounted by, 180

  and Angevin–Capetian Le Mans stand-off, see Le Mans: defence of

  Angevins’ territorial contraction forces reassessment of position by, 281–2

  antipathy of, for Longchamp, 223

  appointed co-justiciar, 215

  appointed guardian of realm, 346

  appointed regent, 346–7

  appointed Young King’s tutor-in-arms, 92

  and Aquitaine campaign, 79–84

  Aquitaine familiar to, 138

  arduous military training of, 47

  baronial household of, 218–22

  and battle for Normandy, 241, 242

  becomes leading adviser to Henry II, 184

  becomes guardian to Heloise of Lancaster, 183

  becomes guardian to John of Earley, 184

  begins life as lord of Striguil, 216

  bidding war for services of, 148

  birth of, 4, 19

  and Briouze family, 313–15

  Bristol Castle seized by, 236

  burial place of, xvi, 375

  and Capetian offensive in Normandy, 191–2

  Capetians acquire rights to Longueville estate of, 235

  Cartmel estate granted to, 183

  cautious manoeuvring and courtly neutrality of, 243

  Châteauroux promised to, 185, 194

  Cologne pilgrimage of, 149

  conspiracy against, 140–2

  and WM’s final attempt to clear name, 147–8

  at coronation of Philip II of France, 132

  death of, 375

  destrier given to, 63

  dilemma of, over Henry III’s succession, 339–41

  in diplomatic mission to French court, 191

  duties and expectations of, at Angevin court, see Angevins: court of

  dynasty of:

  collapse, 376–8

  and Henry III’s tumultuous reign, 375

  early years of, 24–30 passim

  education of, 46

  Eleanor of Aquitaine pays ransom for, 86–7

  eloping lovers robbed by, 125n

  embalming of, 375

  enduring loyalty of, to Young King, 104

  exile of, 146–8

  and family surname, 33

  as ‘father of knights’, 218

  final attempt of, to clear name, 147

  finger injury to, 73

  funeral of, 375–6

  funerary shroud of, 170

  ‘greatest knight in the world’, 3, 375

  ‘greedy guts’ nickname of, 43

  Henry II promises to hold household place for, 161

  and Henry II’s death, 204

  and Henry II’s last days, 202–3

  Henry III’s claim supported by, 341–2, 343

  Holy Land pilgrimage of, 160–9, 213

  horse stolen from, 123

  horsemanship of, 48–9

  and Hospitallers, 164

  identified as important royal servant, xviii, 382-3

  illness and last days of, 367–75

  as inspiration for writers, 382

  intimate bond of, with Richard I, develops, 247

  Ireland and Wales, first tour of, 293

  Irish Church condemns, 311n

  Isabel of Clare marries, 210

  Isabel of Clare meets, 208

  John Marshal leaves impression on, 29–30

  John demands son of, as crown ward, 286–7

  John–Philip dilemma of, 285–6

  John summons, from Leinster, 301

  John’s favour withdrawn from, 287

  John’s insurrection quelled by, 234–5

  and John’s proposed Poitou invasion, 285–6

  and John’s succession, 255–6, 259–60

  John’s trap for, 303

  as knight banneret, 129

  lance skill of, 50

  Leinster expedition of, 297–302

  Leinster return of, 309–10

  limited literacy of, 220

  and Lincoln battle, 352–60

  little interest in dancing, music, hunting shown by, 47

  as living embodiment of Lancelot, xix

  Longchamp’s ‘planting vines’ accusation against, 244

  and loss of Normandy, 278–9

  Lusignan ally comes to aid of, 86

  Lusignans attack and take captive, 82-6

  and Magna Carta, see Magna Carta

  map of family lands of, 289

  ‘millionaire overnight’, 206

  named as enemy of the state, 102

  new colours worn by, 129

  as new earl of Pembroke, 261, 262

  Normandy position found for, 34

  numerous Channel crossings made by, 34–5

  oath to Young King sworn by, 101

  office of royal master-marshal inherited by, 238

  ordered to take control of Rouen, 253

  own retinue attracted by, 129

  Paris peace embassy of, 194

  and Patrick of Salisbury’s death, 83–4

  and Philip’s attack on Arques, 273–4

  and Philip’s liege-lord demand, 284–5

  physical description of, 32

  and plot rumours against John, 320

  progress made by, as regent, 365–6

  pursuit of advancement by, 185

  reaffirms status as John’s subject in Ireland, 309

  received into Eleanor of Aquitaine’s military retinue, 87

  reconciliation attempt of, with Young King, 147–8

  refusal of, to forsake John, 338

  religious house of, 221–2

  relinquishes authority as regent, 368

  return of, to England after Aquitaine campaign, 88

  return of, to England, after Normandy sojourn, 74

  return of, to family, after Newbury, 29

  return of, from Leinster expedition, 303

  Richard I forgives, 206

  Richard I gifts Isabel to, 206

  Richard I summons, after father’s death, 205–6

  Richard entrusts England’s interests to, 215

  and Richard–Henry II feud, 194

  at Richard’s coronation, 211

  and Richard’s death, 254–5

  Richard’s encounter with, 200–1

  Richard’s horse killed by, 201

  Richard’s life spared by, 201

  and Richard’s reclamation of Angevin realm, 244–6 passim, 247–52 passim

  and Richard’s return from captivity, 236, 237

  Richard’s special commendation for, 246

  rising status of, in France, 123

  royal household appointment for, 175

  and sale of Somerset Marshal land, 33

  Salisbury’s offer of mesnie place to, 74

  sent to discuss peace with Philip, 282

  sexual activity of, 145

  sheriff of Gloucester office of, 217, 263

  shroud cloths of, 371–2

  spoken accent of, 35

  Stephen halts execution of, 29

  Stephen orders execution of, 3, 27–8

  Stephen’s hostage, 26–9

  Striguil becomes main residence of, 217–18

  and suppression of Angoulême, 113

  swordsmanship of, 49

  at Tancarville, 35–58

  arrival, 35

  falling out of favour, 57–8

  and horse’s death in border skirmish, 56

  knighting ritual, 51, 53

  and Neufchâtel-en-Bray border skirmish, 54–6

  Tancarville colours worn by, 67

  and Templars, 164–5, 170, 323, 328, 373–4

  Third Crusade not joined by, 212–13

  Tintern Abbey patronage of, 217

  tournament attack on, at St Brice, 73

  and tournaments, 62–73 passim, 115–26; see also tournaments


  ceremonial spear won at, 122, 180

  at Épernon, 123

  at Eu, 123

  financial security from, 69

  ‘grand and excellent’ Norman–French border encounter, 120–1

  increasing success in, 119, 123

  international renown brought by, 116

  at Lagny, 132–4

  last attended with Young King by, 146

  no fewer than 500 knights captured during, 116

  at Pleurs, 121–2

  Roger of Jouy’s partnership, 125

  treated almost like a business, 125

  without Young King, 121–3

  at Tours peace settlement, 111

  Wales and Ireland tour of, 293

  will of, 370–1

  Young King knighted by, 105

  Young King reputedly cuckolded by, 139–40, 143, 145–6

  Young King reunited with, 155

  Young King’s eventual hatred of, 142, 145–6

  Young King’s Holy Land request to, 157, 160

  fulfilment of, 164

  in Young King’s mesnie, 92, 97, 103

  and Young King’s first rebellion, 101–9 passim

  and second Normandy invasion, 111

  Young King’s reconciliatory message to, 149

  Young King’s strengthening bond with, 119–20

  Young King’s transformation of career of, 160

  Marshal, Young William (son), 286, 304, 311, 320–1, 331, 337, 376

  birth of, 216

  death of, 377

  History of William Marshal commissioned by, 331, 376

  at Lincoln battle, 352, 358

  Marlborough Castle rights granted to, 367

  Welsh territory recovered by, 376

  and WM’s death, 374

  and WM’s illness, 367

  and WM’s last days, 369

  in WM’s will, 370

  Matilda (daughter), 311

  birth of, 247

  Matilda (sister), 161

  Matilda of Boulogne, Stephen marries, 11

  Matilda of Briouze, 312, 314

  Matilda, Empress:

  Bristol power base of, 13

  claim to crown resurrected by, 13

  death of, 75

  declared heir to English throne, 10

  on instilling loyalty, 98–9

  John Marshal, supports, 14

  Robert of Gloucester supports, 13

  semi-retirement of, 75

  steadying hand of, 75

  Winchester besieged by, 15

  Matilda, of Perche, Countess, and White Ship incident, 7

  Matilda, duchess of Saxony:

  birth of, 76

  Henry the Lion marries, 90

  Matthew of Boulogne, 103

  death of, 108

  wounding of, 107

  Matthew of Wallincourt, 73

  Maurice of Gant, 162n

  Meath, 293, 300

  medieval society:

  aristocratic fashion in, 45

  bawdy entertainments in, 143

  etiquette and manners in, 44–5

  and facial hair, 46

  and female adultery, 144

  hairstyles favoured by, 45–6

  and horses, arms and armour, 47–8

  and hunting, 46–7

  knights in, see knighthood

  male adultery commonplace in, 144

  manners and etiquette in, 44–5

  popular fiction of, 142–3

  sexual activity in, 143–4

  Meleurs, 271

  Melisende, Queen, 164

  Merlin, 42

  Merovingian kings, 45–6

  mesnie, 38–9

  see also knighthood

  Meyer, Paul, xiii–xviii, xx, 383

  Michael of London, 221, 298, 367

  milites (soldiers), 36

  see also knighthood

  militia Christi (Knights of Christ), 41

  Milly-sur-Thérain, 249–50

  Mirebeau Castle, 99, 274

  Montmirail, 89, 93, 244

  Montreal, 162

  Morgan Library, New York, xviii

  Mortain, 11, 215

  Mortimer, William, 273

  Mosul, 166, 167

  Navarre, 227

  Neufchâtel-en-Bray, 273

  border skirmish at, 54–6, 68

  siege of, 106–8

  New Ross, 305

  Newark, 338, 352

  Newbury Castle, 26-9, 106

  Nicola de la Hay, Lady, 336, 338, 352

  Niger, Ralph, 113

  Norman Conquest, 4, 182

  ‘Norman-French chronicle on English Affairs (in Verse)’, xiv–xvii, 383

  Normandy:

  battle for, 240–2

  duke of, see Henry II

  eastern, Philip’s offensive against, 273

  first invasion of, during Young King’s rebellion, 106

  forts that guard borderlands of, 106

  Geoffrey of Anjou invades, 25

  loss of, 277–9

  name of, 4

  Philip II claims for crown, 273

  Philip II’s major incursion into, 235

  second invasion of, during Young King’s rebellion, 111

  Upper, border dispute concerning, 54–6

  upstart dukes of, 78

  see also individual places and events

  Northampton, 260, 329

  Northampton Castle, 329

  Notre-Dame la Grand, church of, 80

  Nottingham Castle, 234, 238, 315, 319

  siege of, 238–9

  Occitan, 79

  Offaly, 295, 300, 309

  Old Sarum, 19

  Order of the Garter, 380

  Ossory, 295, 296, 302

  Otto IV of Germany, 324, 325

  Pacy, 235

  Painter, Sidney, xx, 330

  Pandulf (papal legate), 322–3, 366, 368, 370, 371–2

  Paris, 62, 75, 76

  Paris, Matthew, 362, 363

  Patrick, earl of Salisbury, 18–19, 74, 162–3

  and Aquitaine campaign, 79

  burial of, 87

  and chevauchées, 81

  death of, 83

  installed in Poitiers, 82

  Lusignans attack, 82–3

  Pembroke, 263, 291, 294

  earldom of, 217, 377

  in WM’s will, 370

  see also Marshal, William

  Pembrokeshire, 24, 294–5, 334

  Périgord, 138, 240

  Peter of Capua, 248

  Peter of Leschans, 126

  Peter of Préaux, 141, 231, 247, 279, 280, 281

  Peter des Roches, 316–17, 324, 328, 335, 343–4, 366, 368, 376

  day-to-day care of Henry III entrusted to, 346

  at Lincoln battle, 352, 354, 357, 358

  Philip II of France, 134, 168, 187–8

  and Angevin–Capetian Le Mans stand-off, see Le Mans: defence of

  and Angevins’ loss of Normandy, 277–9

  Aquitaine barons pay homage to, 280

  Arthur of Brittany supported by, 268

  assault on England called off by, 235

  Baldwin IX of Flanders abandons, 248

  and battle for Normandy, see Normandy: battle for

  Berry incursions of, 188–9, 190

  birth of, 130

  and Bonsmoulins peace conference, 193

  and Bouvines battle, 324–5

  coronation of, 130–2

  cross taken by, 189–90

  death of, 376

  and division of Acre, 232

  England itself eyed by, 319

  and La Ferté-Bernard abortive peace conference, 196

  Richard–Philip offensive follows, 196–7

  growing political stature of, 269

  Henry II’s final conference with Richard and, 202–3

  Henry II’s suspicion of, 190

  huge war chest of, 269

  illness of, 130

  John desperate for protection of, 235

  Joh
n signs over parts of Normandy to, 235

  John’s lands confiscated by, 273

  and John’s marriage to Isabella of Angoulême, 272–3

  and Le Goulet treaty, 270, 271

  liege-lord demand of, 284–5

  Marcher lords transfer allegiance to, 235

  Marguerite sent to, 146

  Normandy offensive by, 190–3

  oath of, not to attack Angevin forces, 228

  broken, 235

  peace treaty with, 134

  Philip’s homage-for-estates deal with, 282–5

  pope rescinds support for England invasion by, 323

  prepares for invasion of England, 322

  forced to back down, 323

  remainder of Normandy swept up by, 280

  renewed amity between Richard and, 193–4

  return of, from Crusade, 228

  Richard I now adversary of, 207

  Richard joins, against Henry II, 189

  and Richard’s reclamation of Angevin realm, 244–6

  humiliating defeat during, 246

  and Richard’s Vienna captivity, 233

  Third Crusade joined by, 214, 216

  Tours falls to, 201

  truce broken by, 190

  WM sent to discuss peace with, 282

  WM’s homage-for-estates deal with, 282–5

  Philip of Alsace, count of Flanders, 103, 105, 108, 109, 111, 127, 129, 131, 145, 146, 180, 191

  and bidding war for WM’s services, 148

  at coronation of Philip II of France, 132

  in Crusades, 137–8

  death of, 227

  and Philip II of France, 134

  Third Crusade joined by, 212

  and tournaments, 118–19, 122

  WM’s endowment from, 148–9

  Young King’s offensive against, 135

  Philip of Prendergast, 220, 298, 301, 303, 304

  shaming of, 310

  Philip of Valognes, 64, 69, 71

  Phillipps, Sir Thomas, xv, xvi–xvii

  Picardy, 62

  Plantagenet, Geoffrey, see Geoffrey V of Anjou

  Poitiers, 75, 80

  subduing of, 87

  Poitou, 80–2

  Ponthieu, and border skirmish of 1166, 54–6

  Powys, 290

  pre-emptive coronations, 91

  see also Henry the Young King

  preudhomme, 38, 39, 40, 70, 179

  see also knighthood

  Puy-St-Front, siege of, 138

  Quévilly, 176

  Radnor, 312

  Ralph of Beaumont, 90, 93

  Ralph of Coggeshall, 276, 285

  Ralph of Diss, 42n, 128, 151, 196, 265

  Ralph of Somery, 162n

  Ranulf of Broc, 178

  Ranulf of Chester, 260, 288, 326, 337, 344, 345

  at Lincoln battle, 352, 357

  Raymond of Poitiers, 75–6

  Raymond of Toulouse, 155

  Joanne marries, 246

  Reginald of Quetteville, 224

  Reynald of Châtillon, 162, 167, 170

  Richard I of England (the ‘Lionheart’):

  and Angevin–Capetian Le Mans stand-off, see Le Mans: defence of

  Angevin realm reclaimed by, 244–52

 

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