Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer facts for kids
Ralph de Monthermer (born around 1270, died 1325) was an important English nobleman. He became famous for secretly marrying Joan of Acre, who was the daughter of King Edward I of England. This marriage made the King very angry at first. But King Edward I soon forgave Ralph. Ralph also became an Earl of Gloucester, Hertford, and Atholl.
Ralph's Early Life and Secret Marriage
Ralph de Monthermer was born in Wales around 1270. We don't know much about his parents. Before 1296, he worked as a squire (a knight's assistant) for Gilbert de Clare. Gilbert was the Earl of Gloucester and Hertford. His wife was Joan of Acre, King Edward I's daughter.
After Earl Gilbert died in 1295, Joan became a widow. She fell in love with Ralph. She convinced her father, the King, to make Ralph a knight. Then, in January 1297, Joan and Ralph secretly got married.
When the King found out in April, he was furious! He had Ralph put in prison in Bristol. Joan bravely spoke to her father. She said, "No one thinks it's wrong if a great earl marries a poor woman. So why is it wrong if a countess marries a young and promising man?"
With help from Anthony Beck, a bishop, King Edward I calmed down. He released Ralph from prison in August 1297. Ralph then promised his loyalty to the King. He was officially recognized as Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, a title he held because of his wife.
Fighting in Scotland
In September 1297, Ralph de Monthermer was called to a meeting about the army. He played a big part in the Wars of Scottish Independence. These were wars where England fought against Scotland.
Ralph fought in the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. Later that year, he received money to buy 100 horses for the war.
In 1300, Ralph fought alongside his father-in-law, King Edward I. They were at the siege of Caerlaverock. A poem from that time described him:
He was well supported,
And brought love to success,
After many doubts and fears.
Until God pleased he should be relieved,
For the Countess of Gloucester,
For whom he suffered greatly.
He had a banner of fine gold with three red chevrons;
Yet he looked good,
When he wore his own arms,
Which were yellow with a green eagle.
His name was Ralph de Monthermer.
In February 1301, Ralph went to a special meeting in Lincoln. This meeting was to write the Barons' Letter of 1301. This letter told Pope Boniface VIII that the English nobles rejected his claim to be in charge of Scotland.
Ralph was called to fight in Scotland again in 1301, 1303, 1304, and 1306. In October 1306, King Edward gave him lands in Annandale, Scotland. He also received the earldom of Atholl. He later gave up the earldom to David Strathbogie for a large sum of money. During the winter, Ralph was one of the King's three leaders in Scotland. He was surrounded by enemies at Ayr Castle.
In 1305, Ralph warned Robert the Bruce about King Edward. Robert the Bruce was at the English court. During a friendly evening, King Edward mentioned he planned to arrest Bruce the next morning. Ralph warned Bruce by sending him twelve pence and a pair of spurs. Bruce understood the hint. He and his assistant quickly left the English court for Scotland.
After the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Ralph was captured. Robert the Bruce, now the victorious King of Scots, let Ralph go without needing a payment. He even invited Ralph to dinner first. Another captured lord, Marmaduke Lord Thweng, was also released without payment.
Later Years
Ralph's wife, Joan, died in 1307 at the age of 35. She likely died during childbirth. After her death, Ralph lost his earldoms. These titles belonged to him only because he was married to Joan. The earldoms went to Gilbert de Clare, Joan's son from her first marriage.
However, in 1309, King Edward II called Ralph to parliament as a baron. He was now known as Lord Monthermer. In 1308, Ralph won a legal case. He claimed that a man named Richard de Beresford was illegally holding most of the Irish property that should have gone to Ralph after Joan's death.
In 1307, Ralph was put in charge of Cardiff Castle and other castles in Wales. From 1311 to 1312, he again served as a leader in Scotland. He was paid 300 marks for this work. In 1315, he became the warden (person in charge) of the royal forests south of the Trent. He held this job until 1320. In December 1315, he went on a special journey for religious reasons to the Way of St James. He appointed someone else to do his duties in England while he was away.
Ralph married a second time around 1313. His new wife was Isabel le Despencer. She was the widow of Lord Hastings. She was also the daughter of the Earl of Winchester. This marriage was also a secret! Ralph was not forgiven for this until 1319.
Ralph Lord Monthermer died in or before 1325, when he was about 55 years old. His widow, Isabel, died in 1336.
Children
Ralph and his first wife, Joan, likely had two sons and two daughters:
- Mary de Monthermer (born October 1297, died around 1371). She married Duncan, Earl of Fife.
- Joan de Monthermer (born 1299, death unknown). She became a nun.
- Thomas, 2nd Lord Monthermer (1301–1340).
- Edward de Monthermer (1304–1340). He fought in the Scottish campaign in 1335. He spent much of his life working for his half-sister Elizabeth. She took care of him when he was sick and buried him next to their mother.
