Marie de St Pol
Encyclopedia
Marie de St Pol was the wife of Aymer de Valence
, the Earl of Pembroke
, and is best known as the foundress of Pembroke College, Cambridge
.
The daughter of Guy III of Châtillon, legend has it that she was maiden, wife, and widow all in the space of a single day when her husband Aymer de Valence was killed in front of her in a friendly jousting
match, on their wedding day. However, this is apocryphal as documentation indicates he died of apoplexy
after three years of marriage. Marie was only seventeen when she married, whilst her husband was already fifty.
In 1347, Marie obtained licence from Edward III
to establish an educational establishment in the still-young university town of Cambridge
. The resulting college was known as the Hall of Marie Valence, and is known today as Pembroke College
, home to over 700 students and dons. The first statutes of the college gave preference to students born in France who had already studied elsewhere in England.
Marie de St Pol died in 1377 and was buried in Denny Abbey
, to the north of Cambridge on the road to Ely. The precise location of her grave is now lost.
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke was a Franco-English nobleman. Though primarily active in England, he also had strong connections with the French royal house. One of the wealthiest and most powerful men of his age, he was a central player in the conflicts between Edward II of England and...
, the Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Pembroke is a title created ten times, all in the Peerage of England. It was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title is associated with Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, which is the site of Earldom's original seat Pembroke Castle...
, and is best known as the foundress of Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
.
The daughter of Guy III of Châtillon, legend has it that she was maiden, wife, and widow all in the space of a single day when her husband Aymer de Valence was killed in front of her in a friendly jousting
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
match, on their wedding day. However, this is apocryphal as documentation indicates he died of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
after three years of marriage. Marie was only seventeen when she married, whilst her husband was already fifty.
In 1347, Marie obtained licence from Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
to establish an educational establishment in the still-young university town of Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. The resulting college was known as the Hall of Marie Valence, and is known today as Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
, home to over 700 students and dons. The first statutes of the college gave preference to students born in France who had already studied elsewhere in England.
Marie de St Pol died in 1377 and was buried in Denny Abbey
Denny Abbey
Denny Abbey is a former abbey near Waterbeach, six miles north of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England which was inhabited by a succession of three different religious orders during its history serving as a monastery....
, to the north of Cambridge on the road to Ely. The precise location of her grave is now lost.