William Montagu, 1st Earl of Salisbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Salisbury
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William Montagu from the Salisbury Roll, c. 1463. He displays the Montagu arms (modern) Argent, three fusils conjoined in fess gules on his breastplate, whilst his maternal arms of de Montfort (Bendy of eight or and azure) are shown on a shield at left.
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| Born | 1301 Cassington, Oxfordshire
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| Died | 30 January 1344 |
| Cause of death | Injuries from a tournament |
| Resting place | Bisham Abbey, Berkshire |
| Other names | William Montacute |
| Years active | c. 1320–1344 |
| Known for | Service to Edward III |
| Title | Earl of Salisbury |
| Predecessor | New creation |
| Successor | William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Grandison |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) | William Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu, Elizabeth de Montfort |
William Montagu, also known as William de Montacute, was the 1st Earl of Salisbury and King of Man. He was born in 1301 and died on January 30, 1344. William Montagu was an English nobleman who was a very loyal friend and helper to King Edward III.
William was the son of William Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu. He joined the royal household when he was young. There, he became a close friend of the young Prince Edward. Their friendship continued even after Edward became king in 1327. This happened after his father, Edward II, was removed from the throne. In 1330, Montagu helped Edward III take control from Roger Mortimer. Mortimer had been acting as the king's protector.
After this, Montagu served the king in many ways, especially in the wars against Scotland. He was given many rewards, including control of the Isle of Man. In 1337, he was made Earl of Salisbury. This title came with a large yearly income. He also served in France during the early years of the Hundred Years' War. However, in 1340, the French captured him. To be set free, he had to promise never to fight in France again. William Montagu died in early 1344 from injuries he got in a tournament.
William and his wife, Catherine, had six children. Most of them married into noble families. Historians today describe William Montagu as King Edward's "closest personal friend." They also say he was the "main influence" on the king from 1330 until his death in 1344.
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William's Early Life and Family
William Montagu was born in Cassington, Oxfordshire, in 1301. He was the second son of William Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu. His mother was Elizabeth de Montfort. Her family had important connections.
The Montagu family came from the west of England. Their family history went back to the Norman conquest. They owned a lot of land in places like Somerset and Devon.
William's father, also named William Montagu, was a brave soldier. He fought well in the wars against Scotland during the time of King Edward I. He also worked as a steward, managing the household of King Edward II. Some nobles did not trust William's father. They thought he had too much influence on the king. Because of this, he was sent to Aquitaine, a region in France, where he died in 1319.
Starting His Service to the King
When his father died, William was still young. In 1320, he became a "ward" of the king. This meant the king was his guardian and looked after him. On February 21, 1323, William received his father's lands and title. He traveled to other countries for King Edward II in 1320 and 1325. In 1326, he became a knight.
After Edward II was removed from the throne in 1327, William continued to serve his son, Edward III. He helped the new king fight off a Scottish attack in 1327. In 1328, he was made a knight banneret, a special kind of knight.
William and Edward III became very close friends. In 1329, they went on a secret trip to France together. They pretended to be merchants so no one would recognize them. William also went on a special trip to the Pope in Avignon. The young king Edward was controlled by his mother, Isabella, and her lover, Roger Mortimer. They had been responsible for removing Edward's father from the throne. William explained the king's difficult situation to the Pope. The Pope agreed to help, but he needed a secret sign to know that messages were truly from the king. Only Edward, William, and one other trusted person knew this secret sign.
Taking Down Roger Mortimer
Roger Mortimer soon found out about the plan against him. William Montagu was questioned, along with the king, but he did not reveal anything. It is said that William then told Edward to act against Mortimer. He supposedly said, "It was better that they should eat the dog than that the dog should eat them."
On October 19, 1330, Mortimer and Isabella were staying at Nottingham Castle. The castle guard showed William Montagu a secret tunnel entrance. William, along with other loyal knights, entered the castle. They met the king inside. A short fight happened, and Mortimer was captured. The queen rushed in, shouting, "Good son, have pity on noble Mortimer!" But Edward did not listen to his mother. A few weeks later, Mortimer was executed in London for treason.
As a reward for his part in this important event, William Montagu received lands worth a lot of money. His family also benefited. His brother, Simon Montacute, became a bishop. Another brother, Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu, married into a powerful family.
Serving King Edward III
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In the years that followed, William Montagu was King Edward's closest companion. In April 1331, they went on another secret trip to France. In September of the same year, William held a tournament in London. There, he and the king dressed up as Tartars.
From 1333 onwards, William was very involved in the Scottish Wars. He showed great bravery at the Battle of Halidon Hill. After this battle, his right to control the Isle of Man was recognized. This right came from his grandfather. However, at that time, the island was still controlled by the Scots.
In 1334, William was sent to Edinburgh to demand that Edward Balliol, a Scottish claimant, show loyalty to King Edward. In the big military campaign of 1335, William provided the largest group of English soldiers. He was well rewarded for his help. After Edward Balliol gave up some Scottish lands, William was given control of Peeblesshire. He also bought the guardianship of Roger Mortimer's son, Roger, which turned out to be very profitable for him.
However, the English began to lose ground in Scotland. William fought in the north again in 1337. But the Siege of Dunbar in 1338, against Agnes, Countess of Dunbar, was not successful. After this attempt in Scotland, Edward III turned his attention to France.
The Hundred Years' War Begins
William Montagu was made Earl of Salisbury on March 16, 1337. This was one of six noble titles King Edward III created that day. He did this to prepare for what would become the Hundred Years' War. To help William support his new status, the king gave him land and money worth a large amount each year.
In April 1337, William was sent on a diplomatic mission to France. His job was to make alliances with Flanders and German princes. In July 1338, he went with the king on another mission to Europe. Again, he brought the most soldiers. In September of that year, he was made Marshal of England. This was an important position.
King Edward's plan to make alliances put him in great debt. When he left Europe to return to England in late 1338, William had to stay behind. He was held as a guarantee for the king's debts. William had worried about the expensive alliances, but he remained loyal to the king's plan.
While Edward was away, the French captured William at Lille in April 1340. He was imprisoned in Paris. It was said that King Philip VI of France wanted to execute William. However, another king convinced Philip that William could be useful for a prisoner exchange. William was released on a promise in September. But it was not until May 1342 that he was fully freed. He was exchanged for French prisoners, but only if he promised never to fight in France again.
William's Final Years
William Montagu had been frustrated that the English government was not providing enough money for the war. When he returned to England, he did not get involved much in a conflict between King Edward and his Chancellor, John de Stratford. In 1342–43, William fought in the Breton War of Succession. In 1343, he helped negotiate a truce in the Hundred Years' War. It was probably after this that he finally took control of the Isle of Man, by conquering it from the Scots.
His last international trip was in late 1343. He went on a diplomatic mission to Castile, a kingdom in Spain. In early 1344, he was back in England. He took part in a big tournament at Windsor. It was during this tournament that he received injuries that led to his death.
William Montagu died on January 30, 1344. He was buried at Bisham Priory in Berkshire, next to his home. He had founded this priory himself in 1337. King Edward never fully paid William back for all the money he was owed. At William's death, the king owed him a very large sum.
William's Family
Around 1327, William married Catherine, the daughter of William de Grandison, 1st Baron Grandison. There are two famous stories about Catherine Montagu. One story says she was the "Countess of Salisbury" whose dropped garter led King Edward III to name the Order of the Garter. However, neither of these stories is supported by facts from that time.
William and Catherine had six children. Most of them made very good marriages to other noble families. The 1st Earl of Salisbury greatly increased his family's wealth. When his father died, their lands were worth a small amount. By 1344, the yearly income from their lands was much, much higher.
William's oldest son, William, became the 2nd Earl of Salisbury after his father's death in 1349. The younger William was one of the first members of the Order of the Garter. However, he never had the same close relationship with the king as his father did.
The children of William and Catherine were:
- Elizabeth Montagu (died 1359)
- William Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury (born 1328, died 1397)
- Sibyl Montagu
- John de Montacute, 1st Baron Montagu (born 1330, died 1390)
- Philippa Montagu (born 1332, died 1381)
- Agnes Montagu
In Fiction
William Montagu is a character in Les Rois maudits (The Accursed Kings). This is a series of French historical novels by Maurice Druon. He was played by Serge Maillat in the 1972 French TV show based on the books.
