Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer
Encyclopedia
Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer, Earl of Hertford, Earl of Gloucester, Earl of Atholl (c. 1270 - 5 April 1325)
, daughter of King Edward I of England
. After the death of Joan's husband Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford in 1295, Ralph and Joan fell in love. They were secretly married in January 1297. King Edward was enraged by his daughter's marriage to a commoner. He had Monthermer thrown in prison, and Joan had to plead for the release of her husband. According to the St. Albans chronicler, she told her father, "No one sees anything wrong if a great earl marries a poor and lowly woman. Why should there be anything wrong if a countess marries a young and promising man?" With the intervention of Antony Bek
, Bishop of Durham, the King relented, and released Monthermer from prison in August 1297. The king even allowed Monthermer to hold the titles of Earl of Gloucester
and Earl of Hertford, during Joan's lifetime. The titles had been taken from Joan's six year old son Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
, and were returned to the boy upon Joan's death (1307).
Ralph then held no title, for two years, until he was summoned to parliament
and made 1st Baron Monthermer
(1309).
In 1306 Ralph warned Robert the Bruce
, then at the English court, of the danger posed by King Edward. During a convivial evening Edward had let slip that he intended to arrest Robert the next morning. Ralph warned Robert by sending him the sum of twelve pence and a pair of spurs. Robert took the hint and he and his squire quickly departed the English court for Scotland
. After the Battle of Bannockburn
(1314), at which Ralph fought and was captured, Robert, now the victorious King of Scots, discharged the debt by releasing Ralph without ransom, but not before first entertaining him at table. Sir Marmaduke Tweng
, also captured, joined them and was also then released without ransom.
, on 7 April 1307. She and the child were buried together, on 23 April 1307, at the manor house of Clare in Suffolk
, England
.
Ralph and Joan had four children;
Biography
Ralph was a knight in the household of Joan of AcreJoan of Acre
Joan of Acre was an English princess, a daughter of the King Edward I of England and queen Eleanor of Castile...
, daughter of King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. After the death of Joan's husband Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford in 1295, Ralph and Joan fell in love. They were secretly married in January 1297. King Edward was enraged by his daughter's marriage to a commoner. He had Monthermer thrown in prison, and Joan had to plead for the release of her husband. According to the St. Albans chronicler, she told her father, "No one sees anything wrong if a great earl marries a poor and lowly woman. Why should there be anything wrong if a countess marries a young and promising man?" With the intervention of Antony Bek
Antony Bek
Antony Bek was a medieval Prince Bishop of Durham.-Early life:Bek and his elder brother Thomas Bek were members of a family of knights. Their father was Walter Bek, who held lands at Ersby in Lincolnshire. Another brother was John Beke, who held the family lands in Ersby...
, Bishop of Durham, the King relented, and released Monthermer from prison in August 1297. The king even allowed Monthermer to hold the titles of Earl of Gloucester
Earl of Gloucester
The title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear. See also Duke of Gloucester.-Earls of Gloucester, 1st Creation :...
and Earl of Hertford, during Joan's lifetime. The titles had been taken from Joan's six year old son Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford, 7th Earl of Gloucester was a powerful English noble. Also known as "Red" Gilbert de Clare, probably because of his hair colour.- Lineage :...
, and were returned to the boy upon Joan's death (1307).
Ralph then held no title, for two years, until he was summoned to parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
and made 1st Baron Monthermer
Baron Monthermer
The title Baron Monthermer was created twice in the Peerage of England.The first creation was for Ralph de Monthermer who was summoned to parliament on 4 March 1309. After the death of the second baron, his heiress Margaret inherited the barony...
(1309).
In 1306 Ralph warned Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
, then at the English court, of the danger posed by King Edward. During a convivial evening Edward had let slip that he intended to arrest Robert the next morning. Ralph warned Robert by sending him the sum of twelve pence and a pair of spurs. Robert took the hint and he and his squire quickly departed the English court for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. After the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
(1314), at which Ralph fought and was captured, Robert, now the victorious King of Scots, discharged the debt by releasing Ralph without ransom, but not before first entertaining him at table. Sir Marmaduke Tweng
Marmaduke Tweng
Sir Marmaduke Tweng was an English knight from Yorkshire who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence.He fought on the English side at the Battle of Stirling Bridge and the Battle of Bannockburn. He achieved some fame at Stirling Bridge by a heroic escape...
, also captured, joined them and was also then released without ransom.
Issue
Joan died in childbirth with their fourth child, who was stillbornStillbirth
A stillbirth occurs when a fetus has died in the uterus. The Australian definition specifies that fetal death is termed a stillbirth after 20 weeks gestation or the fetus weighs more than . Once the fetus has died the mother still has contractions and remains undelivered. The term is often used in...
, on 7 April 1307. She and the child were buried together, on 23 April 1307, at the manor house of Clare in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Ralph and Joan had four children;
- Mary de MonthermerMary de MonthermerMary de Monthermer, Countess of Fife was an English noblewoman. She was a daughter of Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer and his wife Joan of Acre. Other sources have her being born in 1298.-Family and early life:...
, (October 1297 - about 1371). In 1306 her grandfather King Edward I of EnglandEdward I of EnglandEdward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
arranged for her to wed Duncan Macduff, 8th Earl of Fife. - Thomas de Monthermer, 2nd Baron Monthermer, (1301–1340).
- Edward de Monthermer, (1304–1340). He fought in the Scottish campaign in 1335, but spent much of his life in service to his half-sister ElizabethElizabeth de ClareElizabeth de Clare was the heiress to the lordships of Clare, Suffolk in England and Usk in Wales. She was the youngest of the three daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and Joan of Acre, and sister of Gilbert de Clare, who later succeeded as the 7th Earl...
, who provided for him during his last illness and buried him next to their mother. - Stillborn child (7 April 1307).
Titles
- Earl of GloucesterEarl of GloucesterThe title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear. See also Duke of Gloucester.-Earls of Gloucester, 1st Creation :...
(2 August 1297 - 7 April 1307) - Earl of Hertford (2 August 1297 - 7 April 1307)
- Earl of AthollEarl of AthollThe Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from...
(12 October 1306 - bet. 21 August 1307 and 20 May 1308); abdicated, for the price of 5,000 marks, in favour of David II Strathbogie, Earl of AthollDavid II Strathbogie, Earl of AthollSir David II Strathbogie was Earl of Atholl, Constable of Scotland, and Chief Warden of Northumberland.The eldest son and heir of John Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl by his wife Marjory daughter of Donald, 10th Earl of Mar, Sir David was a prisoner in England in 1300... - 1st Baron MonthermerBaron MonthermerThe title Baron Monthermer was created twice in the Peerage of England.The first creation was for Ralph de Monthermer who was summoned to parliament on 4 March 1309. After the death of the second baron, his heiress Margaret inherited the barony...
(4 March 1309 - 5 April 1325); succeeded by his son Thomas de Monthermer, 2nd Baron Monthermer