WILLIAM MARSHAL, 1ST EARL OF PEMBROKE

THE ‘BEST KNIGHT’ OF ENGLISH KINGS WHO DIED AS A TEMPLAR C.1146 – 1219 ENGLAND

An Anglo-norman nobleman, William Marshal was one of the most famous soldiers of his age and was described by his contemporary Cardinal Stephen Langton as the “best knight who ever lived”. Although he was a prisoner of King Stephen of England as a boy, Marshal went on to become a knight and a successful tournament competitor. He ultimately served five English kings (Henry II, Henry the Young King, Richard the Lionheart, John I and Henry III) as a loyal captain. During 1183-85, he went on Crusade to Palestine to fulfil the dying wish of Henry the Young

King and became associated with the Templars. Years later, Marshal was appointed as protector of the boy-king Henry III in 1216. He served as regent of England and was largely responsible for ensuring that the kingdom was not conquered by Prince Louis of France. When he died he fulfilled a vow made years earlier on Crusade when he was received into the Knights Templar on his deathbed.

William Marshal was buried in Temple Church, London, which was the English headquarters of the Templars