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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Marshal_John FitzGilbert the Marshal was a minor
Anglo-Norman nobleman during the reign of
King Stephen, and fought in the 12th century
civil war on the side of the
Empress Matilda. Since at least 1130 and probably earlier, he had been the royal marshal to
King Henry I. When Henry died, John FitzGilbert swore for Stephen and was granted the castles of
Marlborough and
Ludgershall, Wiltshire during this time. Along with Hamstead Marshal, this gave him control of the valley of the
River Kennet in
Wiltshire. Around 1139, John changed sides and swore for the Empress Matilda. In September 1141, Matilda fled the siege of
Winchester and took refuge in the Marshal's castle at Ludgershall. While covering her retreat from Winchester, John Marshal was forced to take refuge at
Wherwell Abbey. The attackers set fire to the building, and John lost an eye to dripping lead from the melting roof.
In 1152, John had a legendary confrontation with King Stephen, who had besieged him at
Newbury Castle. After John had broken an agreement to surrender, Stephen threatened to kill his son, whom John had given as a hostage. John refused, saying he could make more sons, but Stephen apparently took pity on the young boy and did not kill him. The boy grew up to be
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, a legendary figure in
medieval lore, and one of the most powerful men in England.
The office of
Lord Marshal, which originally related to the keeping of the King's horses, and later, the head of his household troops, was won as a hereditary title by John, and was passed to his eldest son, and later claimed by William. John also had a daughter, Margaret Marshal, married
Ralph de Somery, son of John de Somery and Hawise de Paynell.
Family
John was the son of Gilbert Giffard . In 1141, John divorced his wife Aline Pipard to marry Sibyl of
Salisbury, the sister of
Patrick of Salisbury, who had been a local rival of his, and a supporter of King Stephen, up to that point. John had two sons by Aline - Gilbert and Walter. Walter predeceased his father and Gilbert died shortly after inheriting his father's lands.
John's eldest son by Sybilla of Salisbury, also called
John Marshal , inherited the title of Marshal, which he held until his death. The title was then granted by
King Richard the Lionheart to his second son by Sybilla, William, who made the name and title famous. Though he had started out as a younger son without inheritance, by the time he actually inherited the title his reputation as a
soldier and statesman was unmatched across Western Europe. John Marshal had four sons in total by his second wife. As well as John and William, there was Henry, who went on to become Bishop of
Exeter, and Ancel, who served as a knight in the household of his kinsman, Rotrou,
Count of Perche.