Biography of William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke -1296

William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke was born to [his father] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.

Around April 1200 King John of England [aged 33] and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex [aged 27] marriage annulled due to consanuinity but more likely because John's new status as heir to the English throne mean't he had better prospects. He may have already decided to marry [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 12] who he married on 24th August 1200.

On 24th August 1200 King John of England [aged 33] and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 12] were married. She had been engaged to [his grandfather] Hugh IX of Lusignan IV Count of La Marche [aged 37] who subsequently appealed to King Philip II of France [aged 35], their feudal overlord, who used the position to justify a war against John. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême [aged 40] and Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême. He the son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England [aged 78]. They were fourth cousin once removed.

On 8th October 1200 [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 12] was crowned Queen Consort England at Westminster Abbey [Map].

On 5th November 1219 [his grandfather] Hugh IX of Lusignan IV Count of La Marche [aged 56] died. His son [his father] Hugh [aged 36] succeeded X Seigneur of Lusignan.

On 10th May 1220 [his father] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche [aged 37] and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 32] were married. She by marriage Seigneur of Lusignan, Countess La Marche. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême and [his grandmother] Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême.

On 22nd November 1220 [his future brother-in-law] Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor [aged 25] was crowned II Holy Roman Emperor. [his half-sister] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress [aged 6] by marriage Holy Roman Empress.

On 21st June 1221 [his brother-in-law] King Alexander II of Scotland [aged 22] and [his half-sister] Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland [aged 10] were married at York Minster [Map]. She by marriage Queen Consort Scotland. She the daughter of King John of England and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 33]. He the son of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland [aged 51]. They were half third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 23rd April 1224 [his brother-in-law] William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 34] and [his half-sister] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester [aged 9] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of King John of England and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 36]. He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke. They were fifth cousins.

In 1225 [his half-brother] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 15] was created 1st Earl Cornwall.

On 30th March 1231 [his half-brother] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 22] and [his sister-in-law] Isabel Marshal Countess Cornwall, Gloucester and Hertford [aged 30] were married at Fawley, Lambourn. She by marriage Countess Cornwall. She the daughter of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke. He the son of King John of England and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 43]. They were fifth cousins.

In April 1231 Hawise Gernon 2nd Countess Lincoln [aged 51] succeeded 2nd Countess Lincoln. Robert Quincy Earl Lincoln by marriage Earl Lincoln. She was gifted the title by her childless brother Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln [aged 61] by agreement with [his half-brother] King Henry III of England [aged 23].

Before 1235 [his brother] Hugh XI of Lusignan VI Count of La Marche II Count Angoulême [aged 13] and [his sister-in-law] Yolande Capet Countess Lusignan, La Marche and Angoulême [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of Peter of Dreux aka Mauclerc Duke Brittany [aged 47] and Alix Thouars Duchess of Brittany. He the son of [his father] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche [aged 51] and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 46]. They were third cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 20th July 1235 [his brother-in-law] Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor [aged 40] and [his half-sister] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress [aged 21] were married at Worms Cathedral [Map]. She the daughter of King John of England and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 47]. He the son of Henry Hohenstaufen VI Holy Roman Emperor. They were fourth cousin once removed.

In 1238 [his brother-in-law] Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester [aged 30] and [his half-sister] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester [aged 23] were married at Westminster Palace [Map]. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. She the daughter of King John of England and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 50]. He the son of Simon "Elder" Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester and Alix Montmorency. They were half third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 4th March 1238 [his half-sister] Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland [aged 27] died at Havering atte Bower, Essex [Map]. She was buried at Tarrant Abbey, Dorset [Map].

In 1240 [his brother] Bishop Aymer de Valence [aged 18] was appointed Bishop of Winchester.

On 27th June 1241 Gilbert Marshal 4th Earl Pembroke [aged 44] was killed in a tournament at Ware, Hertfordshire [Map]. He was buried at Temple Church, London [Map] next to his father. His brother Walter [aged 42] succeeded 5th Earl Pembroke; he had also attended the tournament. The King [his half-brother] King Henry III of England [aged 33] had expressly forbidden the tournament leading to anger at his disobeying the King's orders.

In 1243 [his brother-in-law] Raymond Rouerge VII Count Toulouse [aged 45] and [his sister] Margaret Lusignan Countess Toulouse [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Countess Toulouse. The difference in their ages was 28 years. She the daughter of [his father] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche [aged 60] and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 55]. He the son of Raymond Count of Toulouse and Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily. They were second cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 23rd November 1243 [his half-brother] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 34] and [his sister-in-law] Sanchia Provence Queen Consort Germany [aged 15] were married at Westminster Abbey [Map]. She by marriage Countess Cornwall. She the daughter of Raymond IV Count Provence [aged 45] and Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence [aged 45]. He the son of King John of England and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 55]. They were fourth cousins.

On 4th June 1246 [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 58] died at Fontevraud Abbey [Map]. Her son [his brother] Hugh [aged 25] succeeded II Count Angoulême. [his sister-in-law] Yolande Capet Countess Lusignan, La Marche and Angoulême [aged 27] by marriage Countess Angoulême.

In 1247 William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke [aged 17] were married. He the son of Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche [aged 64] and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.

In 1247 William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke was created 1st Earl Pembroke. [his wife] Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke [aged 17] by marriage Countess Pembroke.

In 1247 [his brother-in-law] John Warenne 6th Earl of Surrey [aged 16] and [his sister] Alice Lusignan Countess of Surrey [aged 23] were married. She by marriage Countess Surrey. She the daughter of [his father] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche [aged 64] and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England. He the son of William Warenne 5th Earl of Surrey and Maud Marshal Countess Norfolk and Surrey [aged 53]. They were fifth cousins.

On 5th June 1249 [his father] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche [aged 66] died. His son [his brother] Hugh [aged 28] succeeded XI Seigneur of Lusignan, VI Count La Marche. [his sister-in-law] Yolande Capet Countess Lusignan, La Marche and Angoulême [aged 30] by marriage Seigneur of Lusignan, Countess La Marche.

In 1250 [his daughter] Agnes Valence died.

On 6th April 1250 [his brother] Hugh XI of Lusignan VI Count of La Marche II Count Angoulême [aged 29] died. His son [his nephew] Hugh [aged 15] succeeded XII Seigneur of Lusignan, VII Count La Marche, III Count Angoulême.

On 5th December 1250 [his brother] Bishop Aymer de Valence [aged 28] died at Paris [Map].

On 9th February 1256 [his sister] Alice Lusignan Countess of Surrey [aged 32] died.

On 16th June 1269 [his half-brother] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 60] and [his sister-in-law] Beatrice Falkenburg Countess Cornwall were married at Kaiserslautern [Map]. She by marriage Countess Cornwall. He the son of King John of England and [his mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.

On 3rd August 1271 John Plantagenet [aged 5] died at Wallingford, Oxfordshire [Map] whilst in the care of his great uncle [his half-brother] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 62]. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].

On 2nd April 1272 [his half-brother] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 63] died at Berkhamsted Castle, Hertfordshire [Map]. He was buried at Hailes Abbey [Map]. His son [his nephew] Edmund [aged 22] succeeded 2nd Earl Cornwall.

Around 1275 [his son] Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke was born to William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and [his wife] Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke [aged 45]. He married (1) before 1295 his fourth cousin once removed Béatrix de Clermont (2) 1321 his half first cousin twice removed Marie Chatillon Countess Pembroke, daughter of Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol and Marie Capet.

On 13th April 1275 [his half-sister] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester [aged 60] died at Montargis Abbey.

In January 1277 [his son] John Valence died.

Before 1282 [his son-in-law] John Hastings 13th Baron Abergavenny 1st Baron Hastings [aged 19] and Isabel Valence Baroness Bergavenny Baroness Hastings were married. She by marriage Baroness Abergavenny Feudal Creation. She the daughter of William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke [aged 51]. They were sixth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

In 1288 [his sister] Margaret Lusignan Countess Toulouse [aged 62] died.

Before 1295 Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 19] and Béatrix de Clermont were married. He the son of William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke [aged 64]. They were fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 13th June 1296 William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke died or was killed at Bayonne [Map]. He was buried at the west side of the door to Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey [Map] where there is an altar-tomb of stone, surmounted by a broken sarcophagus, on which is a recumbent effigy of the earl. The figure is of wood, and was originally covered with copper-gilt, as was the chest on which it lies. An indulgence of one hundred days was granted to all devout people who should offer up prayers for his soul.

Effigy of William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke. WILLIAM DE VALENCE, son of [his father] Hugh de Brun, Earl of March, and half-brother by his mother, Isabel d'Angouleme, to Henry III, in 1247, came to England. Soon after his arrival he was with great state and solemnity knighted by the king at Westminster, who continuing to lavish favours on him and his brothers, and also giving himself too much to their counsels, the indignation and hatred of the barons was raised against them. In consequence William de Valence was obliged to quit the kingdom, but returning three or four years after, commanded in the king's army at the battle of Lewes, 1264. On seeing the day lost he fled to Pevensey, and from thence to France; but it appears he did not remain there any time, being at the battle of Evesham, 1265, which restored to Henry III. his regal authority. William de Valence, 10th of Edward I, 1283, was in the expedition against the Welsh, and in 1296 being at Bayonne, was there slain by the French.

His monument is composed of an altar tomb of stone, on which is raised a superstructure of oak, bearing the effigy of the deceased, formed of the same material: the whole of this wood-work was once covered with plates of copper enamelled and gilt; but of these splendid decorations, there is scarcely any thing left but what is to be found on the figure, which has also suffered in parts. The human form is rudely expressed, a costly display of materials and workmanship appears to have been the principal object of the artist who executed it; and it indeed gives a very high idea of the goldsmith's art at that early period. William de Valence is represented entirely in mail. On his head is a rich circle, once adorned with stones or glass, but the empty collets now only remain. The surcoat has been powdered with a number of little escutcheons bearing the arms of De Valence, only three of these are left; the situation and number of those gone may be easily traced. The rich lacing about the surcoat and arms, appears to have been used for the purpose of concealing the unsightly joinings of the plates which cover the figure. In the spurs it is remarkable that they have been fastened on with cloth, in form of straps of an extraordinary thickness; of these, as might be expected, but a small portion remains. The table of the tomb has been covered with a fret of the arms of England and De Valence; it is possible that on the raised border which surrounded it, was the inscription, perfect in Weever's time, who says, "about the verge or side of his monument these verses are inlayed with brasse."

On 20th September 1307 [his former wife] Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke [aged 77] died. Her son Aymer [aged 32] succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke.

[his son] William "The Younger" Valence was born to William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke.

[his son] John Valence was born to William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke.

[his daughter] Joan Valence Lady Baddenoch was born to William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke. She married John Comyn 3rd Lord Baddenoch and had issue.

[his daughter] Isabel Valence Baroness Bergavenny Baroness Hastings was born to William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke. She married before 1282 her sixth cousin John Hastings 13th Baron Abergavenny 1st Baron Hastings and had issue.

[his daughter] Agnes Valence was born to William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke. She married (1) her fourth cousin John Avesnes, son of Bouchard Avesnes and Margaret II Countess Flanders (2) her sixth cousin Hugh Balliol.

John Hastings 2nd Earl Pembroke 1347 1375 Arms. Quartered 1&4 Hastings Arms 2&3 Valence Arms. Valence for his birthplace Sutton Valence Castle [Map], and was a great great grandson of William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke. Source.

[his daughter] Margaret Valence was born to William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke.