William Martel
Encyclopedia
William Martel was a steward of the royal households of King Henry I
and King Stephen
of England
. He was castellan
of Sherborne Castle
until 1143.
William Martel was of Norman
descent. His grandfather and his uncle were sheriffs of Dorset
in Norman England. Martel was a steward of King Henry I's royal household from at least 1130. He attested to charters in both England and Normandy
which indicates that Martel regularly accompanied the king on both sides of the English Channel
.
Martel was in Normandy with Henry's royal court throughout 1134 and 1135. After Henry's death, he was present at King Stephen's coronation in London
on 22 December 1135. Henry I's daughter Matilda
was the designated heir to the throne (Crouch, p.25; Poole, p.131), but when Henry died in December 1135 his nephew Stephen acted quickly to claim the throne (Davis, p.16). David Crouch suggested William Martel as a possible informant for Stephen about Henry's serious illness in late November 1135, allowing Stephen time to prepare his speedy actions on the king's death (Crouch, p.31-32 and 32n).
Martel was one of Stephen's most dependable supporters throughout the civil war of 1136–1153, known as The Anarchy
. He witnessed 181 charters for Stephen, demonstrating his frequent attendance in the king's entourage, although he received neither an earldom nor any significant estates from Stephen. He was, however, castellan of Sherborne Castle from at least 1141, and may have been castellan from as early as 1139 when the castle was surrendered to King Stephen. Between 1141 and 1143, Martel was Stephen's regional military governor in north Dorset and Wiltshire
, exercising authority on the king's behalf from Sherborne.
Martel continued to be active on Stephen's behalf after the king was captured at the Battle of Lincoln
on 2 February 1141. At the council of Winchester
, 7–9 April 1141, Martel was one of a delegation of Stephen's supporters that petitioned for the king's release from prison. The delegation was dismissed and Martel was excommunicated by the Bishop of Winchester
. The Bishop of Winchester was Henry of Blois, younger brother of King Stephen (Crouch, p.36; Davis, p.16). At this council of Winchester, the English Church recognised Matilda's claim to the throne (Crouch, p.173).
At the Battle of Wilton
on 1 July 1143, when King Stephen's forces were dispersed by those of Robert Earl of Gloucester
, William Martel led a determined rearguard action that allowed the king to escape. Martel was eventually surrounded and captured, and to secure his release King Stephen surrendered Sherborne Castle to Robert of Gloucester.
After the loss of Sherborne Castle, Martel continued to be a dominant character at King Stephen's court.
In 1147, the abbot of Abingdon
sought ecclesiastical sanctions against Martel for attacks that he carried out against the monastery's estates.
In 1150, a joint meeting of the county courts of Norfolk
and Suffolk
, at Norwich
, was presided over by William Martel as king's justice.
In August 1153, William Martel and other supporters of King Stephen laid waste to the area around Wallingford Castle
in an attempt to isolate the army of Henry Plantagenet
, who was challenging the king for the throne.Henry Plantagenet was Matilda's son (Davis, p.104; Crouch, p.134; Poole, p.129). Martel's forces were ambushed and routed by Henry's army as it attempted to break out from the blockade.
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
and King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Sherborne Castle
Sherborne Castle
Sherborne Castle is a 16th-century Tudor mansion southeast of Sherborne in Dorset, England. The park formed only a small part of the Digby estate.-Old castle:Sherborne Old Castle is the ruin of a 12th-century castle in the grounds of the mansion...
until 1143.
William Martel was of Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
descent. His grandfather and his uncle were sheriffs of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
in Norman England. Martel was a steward of King Henry I's royal household from at least 1130. He attested to charters in both England and Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
which indicates that Martel regularly accompanied the king on both sides of the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
.
Martel was in Normandy with Henry's royal court throughout 1134 and 1135. After Henry's death, he was present at King Stephen's coronation in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 22 December 1135. Henry I's daughter Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
was the designated heir to the throne (Crouch, p.25; Poole, p.131), but when Henry died in December 1135 his nephew Stephen acted quickly to claim the throne (Davis, p.16). David Crouch suggested William Martel as a possible informant for Stephen about Henry's serious illness in late November 1135, allowing Stephen time to prepare his speedy actions on the king's death (Crouch, p.31-32 and 32n).
Martel was one of Stephen's most dependable supporters throughout the civil war of 1136–1153, known as The Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
. He witnessed 181 charters for Stephen, demonstrating his frequent attendance in the king's entourage, although he received neither an earldom nor any significant estates from Stephen. He was, however, castellan of Sherborne Castle from at least 1141, and may have been castellan from as early as 1139 when the castle was surrendered to King Stephen. Between 1141 and 1143, Martel was Stephen's regional military governor in north Dorset and Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, exercising authority on the king's behalf from Sherborne.
Martel continued to be active on Stephen's behalf after the king was captured at the Battle of Lincoln
Battle of Lincoln (1141)
The Battle of Lincoln or First Battle of Lincoln occurred on 2 February 1141. In it Stephen of England was captured, imprisoned and effectively deposed while Empress Matilda ruled for a short time.-Account:...
on 2 February 1141. At the council of Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, 7–9 April 1141, Martel was one of a delegation of Stephen's supporters that petitioned for the king's release from prison. The delegation was dismissed and Martel was excommunicated by the Bishop of Winchester
Henry of Blois
Henry of Blois , often known as Henry of Winchester, was Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey from 1126, and Bishop of Winchester from 1129 to his death.-Early life and education:...
. The Bishop of Winchester was Henry of Blois, younger brother of King Stephen (Crouch, p.36; Davis, p.16). At this council of Winchester, the English Church recognised Matilda's claim to the throne (Crouch, p.173).
At the Battle of Wilton
Battle of Wilton (1143)
The Battle of Wilton was a battle of the civil war in England known as The Anarchy. It was fought on 1 July 1143 The date is from Gervase of Canterbury , but Gervase only began writing his chronicle around 1188...
on 1 July 1143, when King Stephen's forces were dispersed by those of Robert Earl of Gloucester
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert Fitzroy, 1st Earl of Gloucester was an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England. He was called "Rufus" and occasionally "de Caen", he is also known as Robert "the Consul"...
, William Martel led a determined rearguard action that allowed the king to escape. Martel was eventually surrounded and captured, and to secure his release King Stephen surrendered Sherborne Castle to Robert of Gloucester.
After the loss of Sherborne Castle, Martel continued to be a dominant character at King Stephen's court.
In 1147, the abbot of Abingdon
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
sought ecclesiastical sanctions against Martel for attacks that he carried out against the monastery's estates.
In 1150, a joint meeting of the county courts of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, at Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, was presided over by William Martel as king's justice.
In August 1153, William Martel and other supporters of King Stephen laid waste to the area around Wallingford Castle
Wallingford Castle
Wallingford Castle was a major medieval castle situated in Wallingford in the English county of Oxfordshire , adjacent to the River Thames...
in an attempt to isolate the army of Henry Plantagenet
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
, who was challenging the king for the throne.Henry Plantagenet was Matilda's son (Davis, p.104; Crouch, p.134; Poole, p.129). Martel's forces were ambushed and routed by Henry's army as it attempted to break out from the blockade.