The Flower of Chivalry

1144 - Though there are no actual birth records, this is generally accepted as the year of William's birth and possibly the time around which John Marshal switched allegiance from Stephen to Matilda. Between now and 1152, William is given to Stephen as a hostage for his father's loyalty.

1152 - The Siege at Newbury Castle: This is the battle that led to the peace treaty between Stephen and Matilda. At one point, Stephen was prepared to hang young William because John Marshal switched allegiance to Matilda. John's response to the threat was, "I have the hammers and the anvils to forge still an even finer son". Angry, Stephen permitted his generals to take the boy out to the noose. As they were about to hang him, Stephen personally carried the young William to safety, not having the heart to hang the boy.

1153 - The treaty of Wallingford, whereby Matilda's son Henry of Anjou is declared Stephen's heir, is signed.

1154 - Stephen dies, and William is returned to his parents. Henry II accedes to the throne.

1156 - William is sent to Normandy to be educated as a knight by his politically powerful cousin William of Tancerville, Chamberlain to the Duke of Normandy.

1164 - William was knighted. The ceremony took place during an episode in the war between Henry II of England and Louis VII of France. At Drincourt (now Neufchatel-en-Bray), northeast of Rouen, the Lord of Tancerville decided to knight William in anticipation of the battle. William broke his lance and lost his horse, but fought to free the village. Nearly alone, he cut his way through the French army that blocked the street. His cousin wept tears of pride as he saw his young cousin; saying, "Look! Look at William! He fights to deliver the town rather than to take prisoners!" Another argued, "He takes no ransom, my lord. He will have nothing." The older William cut the other off, "He is the only knight in battle this day."

1165/1166 - William won his first tournament, but when the heralds sought him out, they found him at the blacksmith's shop, having his helmet removed. It had been hit so many times and beaten so tightly onto his head that it threatened to kill him. After this, he remained undefeated in battle and showed other knights and nobles the true meaning of chivalry.

1167 - William returned to England where his father and stepbrothers Walter and Gilbert had all died. William's only brother, John, held the family office of Marshal for the King. William, not wanting to stay, returned to the Continent to suppress a revolt in Poitou. In an ambush near Lusignan, William's uncle, the Earl of Salisbury, was killed. Severely wounded himself, William was taken prisoner. Queen Eleanor paid the ransom for his freedom. Though the battle was lost, William was revered now, and recognized as a gallant knight even by King Henry.

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