Mary de Monthermer
Encyclopedia
Mary de Monthermer, Countess of Fife (October 1297 – circa 1371) was an English noblewoman. She was a daughter of Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer
and his wife Joan of Acre
. Other sources have her being born in 1298.
was a daughter of Edward I of England
. In January 1297, her mother faced the intense disapproval of King Edward when she decided in early 1297 to secretly marry Ralph de Monthermer
, a lowly knight in her household. For her second marriage, the King had hoped to marry Joan to Amadeus V, Count of Savoy
. Ralph was subsequently imprisoned at Bristol Castle
. His release later that year occurred only when Joan made various attempts to persuade her father. She first tried to sway Edward by sending her three young daughters by her first marriage; when this failed to soften his mood, she was allowed to come plead to him in person, according to chroniclers. This she did in July 1297, and is said to have told him that it was no disgrace for an earl to marry a poor woman, it was not blameworthy for a countess to advance a capable young man. He gave his permission; rather than her remarks however, a more probable reason for his acquiesce is due to the fact that Joan was visibly pregnant with Mary at this time. The king restored most of her lands and pardoned Ralph, making him Earl of Gloucester
.
He and Joan would come to have five children together. Mary was the eldest of them. Mary and her full-siblings most likely lived in her mother's quarters in Windsor Castle
and Marlborough Castle
until her marriage. Because of the obscurity of her father's birth, Mary's paternal ancestors are not known.
Mary also had four half-siblings from her mother's first marriage to Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford. They were Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
, Eleanor de Clare
, (wife of Hugh le Despenser the Younger), Margaret de Clare
, and Elizabeth de Clare
.
and uncle Edward, Prince of Wales
arranged for her to wed Duncan Macduff, 8th Earl of Fife
(1289–1353). A papal dispensation was granted in 4 November 1307. A posthumous child, Duncan had spent his minority in England. As was common for the time, she was very young - only nine years old. They had one surviving daughter, who was born fourteen years after they married. She would come to inherit Duncan's lands:
In April 1307, Mary's mother died. Ralph ceased to be referred to as Earl of Gloucester shortly after her death, passing the title onto Joan's only son from her first marriage. On 6 November 1314, Duncan freed himself from English control and left for Scotland, leaving his wife behind (Mary would not join him in Scotland until January 1320).
In 1318, Mary's father made another advantageous marriage to the widowed Isabella de Hastings, daughter of Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester. The couple apparently had no surviving children.
by supporters of King David II of Scotland
. Isabella was sent as a ward to Northumberland, where she married her guardian Sir William Felton. Felton was styled "Lord of Fife" in right of his wife, as Isabella has no brothers.
In 1346, Mary's husband was tried for treason and sentenced to a traitor's death by Edward III of England
. He was able to obtain mercy however and was allowed to return to Scotland to raise money for his ransom, which he did in 1350. Duncan died three years later. Mary would die eighteen years later (sometime after 1371); their daughter succeeded as Countess of Fife, but resigned the earldom to Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany the same year her mother died.
Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer
Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer, Earl of Hertford, Earl of Gloucester, Earl of Atholl -Biography:Ralph was a knight in the household of Joan of Acre, daughter of King Edward I of England. After the death of Joan's husband Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford in 1295, Ralph and Joan...
and his wife Joan of Acre
Joan of Acre
Joan of Acre was an English princess, a daughter of the King Edward I of England and queen Eleanor of Castile...
. Other sources have her being born in 1298.
Family and early life
Mary's mother JoanJoan of Acre
Joan of Acre was an English princess, a daughter of the King Edward I of England and queen Eleanor of Castile...
was a daughter of Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. In January 1297, her mother faced the intense disapproval of King Edward when she decided in early 1297 to secretly marry Ralph de Monthermer
Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer
Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer, Earl of Hertford, Earl of Gloucester, Earl of Atholl -Biography:Ralph was a knight in the household of Joan of Acre, daughter of King Edward I of England. After the death of Joan's husband Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford in 1295, Ralph and Joan...
, a lowly knight in her household. For her second marriage, the King had hoped to marry Joan to Amadeus V, Count of Savoy
Amadeus V, Count of Savoy
Amadeus V , surnamed the Great for his wisdom and success as a ruler, was the Count of Savoy from 1285 to 1323. He established Chambéry as his seat...
. Ralph was subsequently imprisoned at Bristol Castle
Bristol Castle
Bristol Castle was a Norman castle built for the defence of Bristol. Remains can be seen today in Castle Park near the Broadmead Shopping Centre, including the sally port.-History:...
. His release later that year occurred only when Joan made various attempts to persuade her father. She first tried to sway Edward by sending her three young daughters by her first marriage; when this failed to soften his mood, she was allowed to come plead to him in person, according to chroniclers. This she did in July 1297, and is said to have told him that it was no disgrace for an earl to marry a poor woman, it was not blameworthy for a countess to advance a capable young man. He gave his permission; rather than her remarks however, a more probable reason for his acquiesce is due to the fact that Joan was visibly pregnant with Mary at this time. The king restored most of her lands and pardoned Ralph, making him Earl of Gloucester
Earl of Gloucester
The title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear. See also Duke of Gloucester.-Earls of Gloucester, 1st Creation :...
.
He and Joan would come to have five children together. Mary was the eldest of them. Mary and her full-siblings most likely lived in her mother's quarters in Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
and Marlborough Castle
Marlborough Castle
Marlborough Castle, locally known and recorded in historical documents as The Mount, was an 11th-century royal castle located in the civil parish of Marlborough, a market town in the English county of Wiltshire, on the Old Bath Road, the old main road from London to Bath...
until her marriage. Because of the obscurity of her father's birth, Mary's paternal ancestors are not known.
Mary also had four half-siblings from her mother's first marriage to Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford. They were Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford, 7th Earl of Gloucester was a powerful English noble. Also known as "Red" Gilbert de Clare, probably because of his hair colour.- Lineage :...
, Eleanor de Clare
Eleanor de Clare
Eleanor de Clare was the wife of the powerful Hugh Despenser the younger. She was born in 1292 at Caerphilly in Glamorgan, Wales. She was the eldest daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and 7th Earl of Gloucester, and Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile; thus...
, (wife of Hugh le Despenser the Younger), Margaret de Clare
Margaret de Clare
Margaret de Clare, Countess of Cornwall, Countess of Gloucester , was an English noblewoman, heiress, and the second eldest of the three daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and his wife, Joan of Acre, making her a granddaughter of King Edward I of England...
, and Elizabeth de Clare
Elizabeth de Clare
Elizabeth de Clare was the heiress to the lordships of Clare, Suffolk in England and Usk in Wales. She was the youngest of the three daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and Joan of Acre, and sister of Gilbert de Clare, who later succeeded as the 7th Earl...
.
Marriage and issue
In 1306-07, her grandfather Edward IEdward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
and uncle Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
arranged for her to wed Duncan Macduff, 8th Earl of Fife
Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife
Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife [Duncan IV] was sometime Guardian of Scotland, and ruled Fife until his death. He was the last of the native Scottish rulers of that province....
(1289–1353). A papal dispensation was granted in 4 November 1307. A posthumous child, Duncan had spent his minority in England. As was common for the time, she was very young - only nine years old. They had one surviving daughter, who was born fourteen years after they married. She would come to inherit Duncan's lands:
- Isabella, Countess of FifeIsabella, Countess of FifeIsabella of Fife was Countess of Fife from 1363 until she resigned the title in 1371. She was the daughter of Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife, by his wife Mary de Monthermer ....
(sometimes called Elizabeth) (1320–1389); married four times with no issue.
In April 1307, Mary's mother died. Ralph ceased to be referred to as Earl of Gloucester shortly after her death, passing the title onto Joan's only son from her first marriage. On 6 November 1314, Duncan freed himself from English control and left for Scotland, leaving his wife behind (Mary would not join him in Scotland until January 1320).
In 1318, Mary's father made another advantageous marriage to the widowed Isabella de Hastings, daughter of Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester. The couple apparently had no surviving children.
Later life
In 1332, Mary and her daughter were captured at PerthPerth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
by supporters of King David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
. Isabella was sent as a ward to Northumberland, where she married her guardian Sir William Felton. Felton was styled "Lord of Fife" in right of his wife, as Isabella has no brothers.
In 1346, Mary's husband was tried for treason and sentenced to a traitor's death by Edward III of England
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
. He was able to obtain mercy however and was allowed to return to Scotland to raise money for his ransom, which he did in 1350. Duncan died three years later. Mary would die eighteen years later (sometime after 1371); their daughter succeeded as Countess of Fife, but resigned the earldom to Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany the same year her mother died.