William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke

William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (French:Guillaume) (1190 – 6 April 1231) was a medieval English nobleman and was one of Magna Carta sureties. He fought during the First Barons' War and was present at the Battle of Lincoln (1217).

William was born in Normandy probably during the spring of 1190, the son of the famous William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1147-1219), Marshal of England. He commissioned a biography of his father to be written, called L'Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal.

He was taken as hostage by King John after his father in 1205 paid homage to the enemy of England, King Philip II of France, and lived from 1205 to 1212, between the ages of 15 to 22, at the court of King John as a guarantor of his father's loyal behaviour.

During the First Barons' War of 1215, William was on the side of the rebels supporting the claim of King Louis VIII of France while his father was fighting for the right of the English king. When King Louis captured Worcester Castle in 1216, the younger William was helpfully warned by his father to flee from the castle, which he did just before Ranulph de Blondeville, 4th Earl of Chester retook it. In March 1217, he was absolved from excommunication and rejoined the royal cause. At the Battle of Lincoln in 1217 he was fighting with his father.

Following his father's death in 1219 he succeeded him as both Earl of Pembroke and as Lord Marshal of England. These two powerful titles, combined with his father's legendary status, could not help but make William one of the most prominent and powerful nobles in England.

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