First Advisor

John Ott

Date of Publication

1-1-2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.) in History

Department

History

Language

English

Subjects

William Marshal (Earl of Pembroke) (1144?-1219) -- History, Great Britain -- History -- Angevin period (1154-1216)

DOI

10.15760/etd.330

Physical Description

1 online resource (iv, 104 p.)

Abstract

In the mid-1220s, William Marshal, second earl of Pembroke, commissioned the History of William Marshal, a verse history which recounts the life of his father, the first earl of Pembroke. The History has been utilized as a source of information about its titular subject by modern historians, but none have examined the causes behind its commissioning and the significance of the document within the context of the second earl's political career in depth. This thesis seeks to increase understanding of the History by placing it within this context and examining the second earl's influence on its contents. Primary sources, including contemporary letters and court records contained within the Curia Regis Rolls, help reconstruct the political career of the second earl and reveal the reasons why he may have found it expedient to commission the History. An analysis of the History itself indicates that the document reflects the second earl's concerns. The introduction and first chapter of this thesis provide historiographical background for the History, both within its contemporary setting and as a type of work analyzed by modern historians. They indicate the importance of understanding the political and social function of the History and argue that the modern label of biography should not be applied to it. In the second chapter, primary sources and detailed studies of the minority and reign of Henry III are utilized to illustrate the second earl's political career and his conflicts with fellow barons and the crown over property and his unconventional marriage into the royal family. The third chapter offers an interpretation of the History with reference to the earl's career. This thesis concludes that the second earl commissioned the History in response to the objections raised to his marriage.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/8113

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