William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William de Ferrers
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|---|---|
| Earl of Derby | |
| Died | 1190 Acre (present-day Israel) |
| Residence | Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire |
| Spouse(s) | Sybil de Braose |
| Issue | William de Ferrers, 4th Earl of Derby |
| Father | Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby |
| Mother | Margaret Peverel |
William I de Ferrers (died December 31, 1189) was an important English nobleman in the 1100s. He held the title of 3rd Earl of Derby. An Earl was a powerful leader who owned a lot of land.
William lived at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire. His family controlled a large area in Derbyshire called Duffield Frith. He was also a Knight Templar, which was a special group of Christian knights.
William was the son of Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby, and his wife, Margaret Peverel. He became the Earl of Derby in 1162 after his father. He was married to Sybil, whose parents were William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber, and Bertha of Hereford.
William's Life
William de Ferrers joined a big rebellion against King Henry II of England. This happened during the Revolt of 1173–1174. The king's own son, Henry the Younger, led this uprising. During the revolt, William's forces attacked the town of Nottingham.
William had reasons to be upset with King Henry II. His father had supported a different king, Stephen of England, in the past. Even though Henry II later accepted William's father, he did not fully recognize their title as Earls of Derby.
William also felt he should have inherited lands from Peveril Castle through his mother. However, King Henry had taken these lands in 1155. This happened when William Peverel, his mother's relative, lost the king's favor.
Capture and Release
The rebellion did not succeed. William de Ferrers was captured by King Henry II on July 31, 1174, in Northampton. Other important leaders, like the King of Scots and other Earls, were also captured. William was held prisoner in a place called Caen.
After his capture, William lost his castles at Tutbury and Duffield. These castles were made unusable by the king. William also had to pay a large fine to help cover the costs of the war.
Joining the Crusade
Later, William seemed to regain the trust of King Henry II. He then showed his loyalty to the next king, King Richard I. William joined King Richard on a journey to the Holy Land. He took part in the Third Crusade.
Sadly, William died during the Siege of Acre in 1190. His son, William de Ferrers, 4th Earl of Derby, took over his title.
