Mary de Monthermer facts for kids

Mary de Monthermer (born October 1297 – died around 1371) was an important English noblewoman. She became the Countess of Fife. Her parents were Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer and Joan of Acre. Some records say she was born in 1298.

Mary's Family and Early Life

Mary's mother, Joan of Acre, was a daughter of Edward I of England. In 1297, Joan secretly married Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer. Ralph was a squire in her household. King Edward I was not happy about this marriage. He had wanted Joan to marry Amadeus V, Count of Savoy.

Ralph was briefly held at Bristol Castle. Joan reportedly told her father that if a powerful earl could marry a poor woman, a countess could marry a capable young man. Ralph was then set free. Their family lands were returned. Ralph was also given the titles of Earl of Gloucester and Hertford.

Mary's parents had two sons and two daughters. Mary de Monthermer was their oldest child. Her mother, Joan, passed away on April 23, 1307. Mary and her siblings likely lived in Windsor Castle and Marlborough Castle.

Mary also had four older half-siblings. They were from her mother's first marriage. These included Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford and Eleanor de Clare. After Joan's death, Ralph was no longer called Earl of Gloucester. That title went to Joan's son from her first marriage. In 1318, Mary's father married Isabel le Despenser.

Mary's Marriage and Family

In 1307, Mary's grandfather, Edward I of England, and her uncle, Edward II of England, arranged her marriage. She was to marry Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife (1289–1353). A special permission from the Pope was given on November 4, 1307. Mary was only nine years old when she married. Duncan had grown up in England.

Mary and Duncan had one daughter who survived. She was born fourteen years after their marriage. Their daughter later inherited Duncan's lands.

• Isabella, Countess of Fife (1320–1389); she married four times.

Around November 6, 1314, Duncan was able to leave England and return to Scotland. Mary did not join him until January 1320. In 1332, Mary and her daughter were captured. This happened in Perth, Scotland, by supporters of King David II of Scotland. Isabella was sent to Northumberland. There, she married her guardian, Sir William Felton. He was called "Lord of Fife" because of his wife.

In 1346, Mary's husband, Duncan, faced serious charges. Edward III of England sentenced him to death. However, Duncan was shown mercy. He was allowed to return to Scotland to gather money for his freedom. He did this in 1350. Duncan passed away three years later. Mary died sometime after 1371. Their daughter, Isabella, became Countess of Fife. She later gave up the earldom to Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany.