Biography of Gilbert Marshal 4th Earl Pembroke 1197-1241
Paternal Family Tree: Marshall
Maternal Family Tree: Aoife NI Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188
In Aug 1189 [his father] William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke (age 43) and [his mother] Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke (age 17) were married at Temple Church, London [Map]. The title Earl Pembroke (1C 1138) was not included in the settlement since it had been rescinded as a consequence of Isabel's father having supported King Stephen. The difference in their ages was 26 years. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Richard "Strongbow" Clare 2nd Earl Pembroke and [his grandmother] Aoife NI Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham.
In 1197 Gilbert Marshal 4th Earl Pembroke was born to William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke (age 51) and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke (age 25).
On 16 Apr 1234 [his brother] Richard Marshal 3rd Earl Pembroke (age 43) died from wounds at Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny. His brother Gilbert Marshal 4th Earl Pembroke (age 37) succeeded 4th Earl Pembroke.
On 01 Aug 1235 Gilbert Marshal 4th Earl Pembroke (age 38) and Marjorie Dunkeld Countess Pembroke (age 35) were married at Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland [Map]. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. She the daughter of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke. They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
In 1236 Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent (age 66) and [his sister-in-law] Margaret Dunkeld Countess Kent (age 43) were married. She by marriage Countess Kent. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
Chronica Majora. 19 Jan 1236. There were assembled at the king's (age 28) nuptial festivities such a host of nobles of both sexes, such numbers of religious men, such crowds of the populace, and such a variety of actors, that London, with its capacious bosom, could scarcely contain them. The whole city was ornamented with flags and banners, chaplets and hangings, candles and lamps, and with wonderful devices and extraordinary representations, and all the roads were cleansed from mud and dirt, sticks, and everything offensive. The citizens, too, went out to meet the king and queen (age 13), dressed out in their ornaments, and vied with each other in trying the speed of their horses. On the same day, when they left the city for Westminster, to perform the duties of butler to the king (which office belonged to them by right of old, at the coronation), they proceeded thither dressed in silk garments, with mantles worked in gold, and with costly changes of raiment, mounted on valuable horses, glittering with new bits and saddles, and riding in troops arranged in order. They carried with them three hundred and sixty gold and silver cups, preceded by the king's trumpeters and with horns sounding, so that such a wonderful novelty struck all who beheld it with astonishment. The archbishop of Canterbury (age 61), by the right especially belonging to him, performed the duty of crowning, with the usual solemnities, the bishop of London assisting him as a dean, the other bishops taking their stations according to their rank. In the same way all the abbats, at the head of whom, as was his right, was the abbat of St. Alban's (for as the Protomartyr of England, B. Alban, was the chief of all the martyrs of England, so also was his abbat the chief of all the abbats in rank and dignity), as the authentic privileges of that church set forth. The nobles, too, performed the duties, which, by ancient right and custom, pertained to them at the coronations of kings. In like manner some of the inhabitants of certain cities discharged certain duties which belonged to them by right of their ancestors. The earl of Chester (age 29) carried the sword of St. Edward, which was called "Curtein", before the king, as a sign that he was earl of the palace, and had by right the power of restraining the king if he should commit an error. The earl was attended by the constable of Chester (age 44), and kept the people away with a wand when they pressed forward in a disorderly way. The grand marshal of England, the earl of Pembroke (age 39), carried a wand before the king and cleared the way before him both, in the church and in the banquet-hall, and arranged the banquet and the guests at table. The Wardens of the Cinque Ports carried the pall over the king, supported by four spears, but the claim to this duty was not altogether undisputed. The earl of Leicester (age 28) supplied the king with water in basins to wash before his meal; the Earl Warrenne performed the duty of king's Cupbearer, supplying the place of the earl of Arundel, because the latter was a youth and not as yet made a belted knight. Master Michael Belet was butler ex officio; the earl of Hereford (age 32) performed the duties of marshal of the king's household, and William Beauchamp (age 51) held the station of almoner. The justiciary of the forests arranged the drinking cups on the table at the king's right hand, although he met with some opposition, which however fell to the ground. The citizens of London passed the wine about in all directions, in costly cups, and those of Winchester superintended the cooking of the feast; the rest, according to the ancient statutes, filled their separate stations, or made their claims to do so. And in order that the nuptial festivities might not be clouded by any disputes, saving the right of any one, many things were put up with for the time which they left for decision at a more favourable opportunity. The office of chancellor of England, and all the offices connected with the king, are ordained and assized in the Exchequer. Therefore the chancellor, the chamberlain, the marshal, and the constable, by right of their office, took their seats there, as also did the barons, according to the date of their creation, in the city of London, whereby they each knew his own place. The ceremony was splendid, with the gay dresses of the clergy and knights who were present. The abbat of Westminster sprinkled the holy water, and the treasurer, acting the part of sub-dean, carried the Paten. Why should I describe all those persons who reverently ministered in the church to God as was their duty? Why describe the abundance of meats and dishes on the table & the quantity of venison, the variety of fish, the joyous sounds of the glee-men, and the gaiety of the waiters? Whatever the world could afford to create pleasure and magnificence was there brought together from every quarter.
Chronica Majora. Sep 1236. In the same year, the king, by the advice of his nobles, proceeded to York to consult vith them and make arrangements for settling the dispute between him and [his brother-in-law] Alexander (age 38), king of Scotland, and which had now grown into hatred. For to wise men, who weighed future events in the scale of reason, it seemed foolish that the kingdom of England, surrounded on all sides by enemies on the continent, should secretly generate internal hatred. The origin of this discord was (it is said) as follows: -The king of Scotland had constantly demanded the county of Northumberland, which King John had given him as a marriage portion with his daughter Johanna (age 45), and for which he declared that he held a charter and had the evidence of a great many bishops and clergy of rank, as well as earls and barons; and he declared that it was an unworthy and execrable action to revoke what proceeded from the lips of kings, and to annul a compact made between persons of such noble station. He also added, that unless the English king would peaceably give him what plain reason proved to be his right, he would seek it at the sword's point. He was inspired with confidence by the secret, although suspected, friendship of Llewellyn, and by his alliance and affinity with Gilbert Marshal (age 39), who had married his sister [his wife] Margaret (age 36), a most handsome lady. The hostility of his continental states, too, was always in conspiracy against him, and moreover, his cause was just, as was proved by the muniments of former kings. After much discussion on both sides, the king of England, for the sake of peace, and for the protection of his kingdom, as far as lay in his power offered the king of Scots a revenue of eighty marks from some other part of England, in order that the boundaries of his kingdom might not be broken in upon in the northern parts. But whilst he waited until the affair should be settled to the satisfaction of both parties, the conference ended, and all for the moment remained at peace.
About that time, the knight, Philip Daubeney, a noble devoted to God, and brave in battle, after fighting for the Lord during several pilgrimages to the Holy Land, at length closed his life by a praiseworthy death there, and obtained a holy burial in the Holy Land, which he had long desired when living.
In 1239 [his brother-in-law] King Alexander II of Scotland (age 40) and Marie Coucy (age 21) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
On 27 Jun 1241 Gilbert Marshal 4th Earl Pembroke (age 44) was killed in a tournament at Ware, Hertfordshire [Map]. He was buried at Temple Church, London [Map] next to his father. His brother [his brother] Walter Marshal 5th Earl Pembroke (age 42) succeeded 5th Earl Pembroke; he had also attended the tournament. The King King Henry III of England (age 33) had expressly forbidden the tournament leading to anger at his disobeying the King's orders.
Chronica Majora. "Whilst the mutability of time was thus sporting with and deluding the world with its variable occurrences, Earl Gilbert, marshal (age 44), had, with some other nobles, arranged a sort of tilting-match, called by some adventure," but wliich might rather be called a "misadventure;" they tried their strength about a crossbow-shot from Hertford [Map]; where he by his skill in knightly tactics, gained for himself the praise of military science, and was declared by all, considering his small size of body, to have justly distinguished himself for his valour. This was what the said earl chiefly aimed at; for he was, in the first place, destined to clerical orders, and was reported to be weak and unskilful in warlike exercises. He was, at this tournament, mounted on a noble horse, an Italian charger, to which he was not accustomed, accoutred in handsome armour, and surrounded by a dense body of soldiers, who soon afterwards, however, left him, and dispersed, intent on gain. Whilst the earl, then, was amusing himself by checking his horse at full speed, and anon goring his sides with his sharp spurs, to urge him to greater speed, and, as the case required, suddenly drew rein, both the reins suddenly broke off at the junction with the bit. By this accident the horse became unmanageable, and tossing up his head, struck his rider a violent blow on the breast. Some there were who imhesitatingly asserted that the bridle had been treacherously cut by some jealous person, in order that, being thus left at the mercy of his horse, he might be dashed to pieces and killed; or, at least, that he might be taken by his adversaries at will. Moreover, he had dined, and was nearly blinded by the heat, dust, and sweat, and his head was oppressed by the weight of his heavy helmet. His horse, too, could not be restrained by him, or any one else; but he, at the same time, fainted away, began to totter in his saddle, and soon after fell, half-dead, from his horse-with one foot, however, fixed in the stirrup; and in this manner he was dragged some distance over the field, by which he suffered some internal injuries, which caused his death. He expired in the evening of the 27th of June, amidst the deep and loudly-expressed sorrow of those who beheld him, at a house [Map] of the monks of Hertford. When he was about to breathe his last, having just received the viaticum, he made a bequest to the church of the blessed Virgin at Hertford, for the redemption of his soul. His body was afterwards opened, when his liver was discovered to be black and broken, from the force of the blows he had received. His entrails were buried in the said church, before the altar of St. Mary, to whom he had committed his spirit when dying. On the following day, his body-preceded by his [his brother] brother (age 42), and accompanied by the whole of his family - was carried to London, to be buried [Map] near his [his father] father. At this same tournament, also, was killed one of the earl's retinue, named Robert de Saye, and his bowels were buried with those of the earl. Many other knights and men-at-arms were also wounded and seriously injured with maces, at this same tournament, because the jealousy of many of the parties concerned had converted the sport into a battle. The affairs of the cross and the interests of the Holy Land suffered great loss by the death of the said earl, for he had intended to set out for Jerusalem in the next month, without fail, having collected money from all in the country who had assumed the cross; for permission to do which, he had paid two hundred marks to the pope; following the prudent example of Earl Richard (age 32).
On 17 Nov 1244 [his former wife] Marjorie Dunkeld Countess Pembroke (age 44) died.
Chronica Majora. About the same time, Earl Richard, the king's brother, Earl G. Marshal, John, earl of Chester and Lincoln, the earl of Salisbury [Note. Unclear as to who this is referring since the last Earl of Salisbury William "Longsword" Longespee Earl Salisbury died in 1226 and his wife Ela of Salisbury 3rd Countess of Salisbury, de jure Earl of Salisbury, remained unmarried], G. de Lucy, his brother, Richard Seward, and many other nobles, assumed the cross. Earl Rchard at once ordered his woods to be cut down and sold, and endeavoured by all the means in his power to raise money to sustain his pilgrimage. Not long afterwards, by means of Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, and (as was reported) Peter de Eivaulx, Richard Seward unjustly incurred the king's anger, and was taken and imprisoned; but was soon afterwards released with the same ease.
Kings Franks: Great x 13 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 5 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France
Great x 1 Grandfather: Gilbert Giffard
GrandFather: John Fitzgilbert
Father: William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward of Salisbury 1st Baron Trowbridge 1st Baron Chitterne
Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter of Salisbury 2nd Baron Chitterne
GrandMother: Sybil of Salisbury
Gilbert Marshal 4th Earl Pembroke
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gilbert Clare 2nd Count of Eu
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard de Clare
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gilbert de Clare
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Giffard 1st Earl Buckingham
Great x 3 Grandmother: Rohese Giffard
Great x 1 Grandfather: Gilbert de Clare 1st Earl Pembroke
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Claremont
Great x 2 Grandmother: Adeliza Claremont
GrandFather: Richard "Strongbow" Clare 2nd Earl Pembroke
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey "Vielles" Beaumont
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger "Bearded" Beaumont
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adeline Meulan
Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabel Beaumont Countess Pembroke
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry I of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh "Great" Capet
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Rurik Queen Consort France
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Capet Countess Leicester, Meulan and Surrey
Great x 4 Grandfather: Herbert Vermandois IV Count Vermandois
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adelaide I Countess Vermandois
Mother: Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke
Great x 1 Grandfather: Diarmait Macmurrough
GrandMother: Aoife NI Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham