Children of John the Marshal (d. 1164/5)

Full references for this lineage are available in My Lineage from the Roots Up, vol. 1.

John Fitz Gilbert was also known as John the Marshal. He was the son of Gilbert, Marshal of the Royal Household under Henry I of England (Master of the King’s Marshalsea). He died in 1164/5.

He married (1st) the heiress of Walter Pipard and had two sons:

1. Gilbert who died in 1165.

2. Walter who died before 1164.

After the death of Henry I, John first aided King Stephen, and then fought for Empress Matilda. He lost an eye when enemies set fire to Wherwell Abbey. He retreated but continued fighting, mostly against Patrick de Salisbury, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. They compromised, with John setting aside his first wife to marry (2nd) Patrick’s sister Sybil (d. 1165) about 1142.

They had two daughters and four sons, including:

1. John, his heir, who became Marshal of the Royal Household.

2. William, who became Marshal of England (see previous post)

John the Marshal was considered a ruthless man. When King Stephen sieged John’s castle in Newbury in 1252, Stephen held John’s 5-year-old son William hostage to ensure cooperation during a truce. John broke the truce and, when called out on it and reminded that his son’s life was at stake, he is quoted as having said that he “had the anvils and the hammer to forge still better sons.”