William Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury
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Sir William II Montague, alias de Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, 4th Baron Montacute, King of Mann, KG
(25 June 1328 - 3 June 1397) was an English
nobleman and commander in the English army during King Edward III
's French
campaigns in the Hundred Years War.
He was born in Donyatt
in Somerset
, the eldest son of William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury
and Catherine Grandison, and succeeded his father as earl in 1344. Montacute was contracted to marry Joan of Kent
, and did so without knowing that she had already secretly married Thomas Holland
. After several years of living together, her contract with Montacute was annulled by the Pope in 1349.
In 1348, Montacute helped found the Order of the Garter
and became the sixth Knight of the Garter. He was a commander of the English forces in France
in many of the following years, serving as commander of the rear guard
of the army of Edward the Black Prince's army in 1355, and again at the Battle of Poitiers
in 1356, and further serving in 1357, 1359 and 1360. Later in 1360 he was one of the commissioners who negotiated the Treaty of Brétigny
.
During the quieter years that followed the treaty, Montacute served on the king's council. But in 1369 he returned the field, serving in John of Gaunt's expedition to northern France, and then in other raids and expeditions, and on some commissions that attempted to negotiate truces with the French. Montacute helped Richard II
put down the rebellion of Wat Tyler
. In 1385 he accompanied Richard on his Scottish expedition.
In 1392/3, he sold the Lordship of the Isle of Man
to William le Scrope
of Bolton
. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John de Mohun, 9th Lord de Mohun of Dunster
. The two lived at Bisham Manor
in Berkshire
and had a son and two daughters. The son, Sir William Montacute, married Lady Elizabeth FitzAlan
, daughter of Richard Fitzalan, 11th Earl of Arundel
, but was killed in a tournament in 1383, leaving no children. When the elder William Montacute died in 1397, the earldom was inherited by his nephew John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury
. One of the elder William's sisters, Philippa (d. January 5, 1382), married Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(25 June 1328 - 3 June 1397) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
nobleman and commander in the English army during King Edward III
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...
's French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
campaigns in the Hundred Years War.
He was born in Donyatt
Donyatt
Donyatt is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at the source of the River Isle north of Chard in the South Somerset district...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, the eldest son of William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury
William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury
William I Montagu, alias de Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury, 3rd Baron Montacute, King of Mann was an English nobleman and loyal servant of King Edward III....
and Catherine Grandison, and succeeded his father as earl in 1344. Montacute was contracted to marry Joan of Kent
Joan of Kent
Joan, Countess of Kent , known to history as The Fair Maid of Kent, was the first English Princess of Wales...
, and did so without knowing that she had already secretly married Thomas Holland
Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent
Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent, 2nd Baron Holand, KG was an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War.-Early Life:...
. After several years of living together, her contract with Montacute was annulled by the Pope in 1349.
In 1348, Montacute helped found the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
and became the sixth Knight of the Garter. He was a commander of the English forces in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in many of the following years, serving as commander of the rear guard
Rear guard
A rear guard or rearguard is that part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal...
of the army of Edward the Black Prince's army in 1355, and again at the Battle of Poitiers
Battle of Poitiers (1356)
The Battle of Poitiers was fought between the Kingdoms of England and France on 19 September 1356 near Poitiers, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years' War: Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt....
in 1356, and further serving in 1357, 1359 and 1360. Later in 1360 he was one of the commissioners who negotiated the Treaty of Brétigny
Treaty of Brétigny
The Treaty of Brétigny was a treaty signed on May 9, 1360, between King Edward III of England and King John II of France. In retrospect it is seen as having marked the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War —as well as the height of English hegemony on the Continent.It was signed...
.
During the quieter years that followed the treaty, Montacute served on the king's council. But in 1369 he returned the field, serving in John of Gaunt's expedition to northern France, and then in other raids and expeditions, and on some commissions that attempted to negotiate truces with the French. Montacute helped Richard II
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
put down the rebellion of Wat Tyler
Wat Tyler
Walter "Wat" Tyler was a leader of the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381.-Early life:Knowledge of Tyler's early life is very limited, and derives mostly through the records of his enemies. Historians believe he was born in Essex, but are not sure why he crossed the Thames Estuary to Kent...
. In 1385 he accompanied Richard on his Scottish expedition.
In 1392/3, he sold the Lordship of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
to William le Scrope
William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire
Sir William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, King of Mann KG was a close supporter of King Richard II of England. He was a second son of Richard le Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton.-Life:...
of Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John de Mohun, 9th Lord de Mohun of Dunster
Dunster
Dunster is a village and civil parish in west Somerset, England, situated on the Bristol Channel coast south-southeast of Minehead and northwest of Taunton. The village has a population of 862 .The village has numerous restaurants and three pubs...
. The two lived at Bisham Manor
Bisham Abbey
Bisham Abbey is a Grade I listed manor house at Bisham in the English county of Berkshire. The name is taken from the now lost monastery which once stood alongside. Bisham Abbey was previously named Bisham Priory, and was the traditional resting place of many Earls of Salisbury...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and had a son and two daughters. The son, Sir William Montacute, married Lady Elizabeth FitzAlan
Lady Elizabeth FitzAlan
Lady Elizabeth Fitzalan, Duchess of Norfolk was an English noblewoman and the wife of Thomas Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk. Through her eldest daughter, Margaret, she was an ancestress of Queens consort Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, and the Howard Dukes of Norfolk.-Marriages and children:Lady...
, daughter of Richard Fitzalan, 11th Earl of Arundel
Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel
Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel and 9th Earl of Surrey KG was an English medieval nobleman and military commander.-Lineage:...
, but was killed in a tournament in 1383, leaving no children. When the elder William Montacute died in 1397, the earldom was inherited by his nephew John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury
John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury
`John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury and 5th and 2nd Baron Montacute, KG was an English nobleman, one of the few who remained loyal to Richard II after Henry IV became king.-Early life:...
. One of the elder William's sisters, Philippa (d. January 5, 1382), married Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March.
External links
See also
- Joan of KentJoan of KentJoan, Countess of Kent , known to history as The Fair Maid of Kent, was the first English Princess of Wales...