Maud Marshal facts for kids

Maud Marshal (born 1192, died 27 March 1248) was an important noblewoman in England. She was also known as Matilda Marshal. Maud was the oldest daughter of two very powerful people: William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Isabel de Clare, 4th Countess of Pembroke. Her parents were very rich, so Maud inherited a lot of land and money. She was married twice, first to Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk, and then to William de Warenne, 5th Earl of Surrey.

Who Was Maud Marshal's Family?

Maud was born around 1192. She was the first daughter of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Isabel de Clare, 4th Countess of Pembroke. Her mother, Isabel, was one of the wealthiest women in Wales and Ireland. This meant Maud belonged to the famous Marshal family.

Maud had five brothers and four younger sisters. Because her parents owned so much land, Maud and her siblings shared in this great wealth.

Her grandparents were also important figures. On her father's side, they were John FitzGilbert Marshal and Sybilla of Salisbury. On her mother's side, they were Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, who was called "Strongbow," and Aoife of Leinster.

Maud's Marriages and Children

Maud Marshal was married twice and had several children. Her marriages connected her to other powerful families.

First Marriage: Hugh Bigod

Before 1207, Maud married her first husband, Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk. This marriage was very important. It eventually led to the title of Earl Marshal of England being passed down to the Howard Dukes of Norfolk family much later.

Hugh Bigod was one of the twenty-five noblemen who promised to make sure King John followed the rules of the Magna Carta in 1215. When Hugh inherited his family's titles in 1221, Maud became the Countess of Norfolk.

Maud and Hugh had four children together:

• Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk (1209–1270). He did not have any children.
• Hugh Bigod (1212–1266). He became a top judge in England, known as a Justiciar. He married Joan de Stuteville and they had children.
• Isabel Bigod (around 1215–1250). She married twice and had children from both marriages.
• Ralph Bigod (born around 1218). He married Bertha de Furnival and they had one child.

Hugh Bigod passed away in 1225.

Second Marriage: William de Warenne

Maud married her second husband, William de Warenne, 5th Earl of Surrey, in the same year Hugh died, before October 13, 1225.

Maud and William had two children:

• Isabella de Warenne (around 1228 – before 1282). She married Hugh d'Aubigny, 5th Earl of Arundel but did not have children.
• John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey (August 1231 – around 1304). In 1247, he married Alice de Lusignan. Alice was a half-sister to King Henry III of England. John and Alice had three children.

Maud's second husband, William, died in 1240. Her youngest son, John, became the 6th Earl of Surrey. Since John was still a child, Peter of Savoy looked after his lands. Peter was the uncle of Queen consort Eleanor of Provence.

When Did Maud Marshal Die?

Maud Marshal died on March 27, 1248. She was about 56 years old. She was buried at Tintern Abbey. Her mother, and possibly her grandmother, were also buried there, along with two of her brothers.

Maud Marshal in Books

Maud Marshal is the main character in a novel by Elizabeth Chadwick called To Defy a King. In this book, she is called Mahelt instead of Maud. Maud and her first husband, Hugh Bigod, also appear as smaller characters in other books about her parents' lives. These books include The Time of Singing (also known as For the King's Favor), The Greatest Knight, and The Scarlet Lion.