The Greatest Knight That Ever Lived: William Marshal

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 25 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 2 тыс.

  • @DanDavisHistory
    @DanDavisHistory  Год назад +281

    Thanks for watching. Please do hit "like" on the video, it really helps me out.
    If you enjoyed this video please support the channel on Patreon: www.patreon.com/dandavisauthor
    William Marshal (and the Battle of Lincoln) appears in my novel Vampire Outlaw: amzn.to/3SwVetA

    • @michaelbehrens1660
      @michaelbehrens1660 Год назад +11

      Love your work! Can’t wait for your next books.

    • @funlucastimes
      @funlucastimes Год назад +6

      Hi Dan!! I dont know if he is the greatest knight in history, but you should read about Diego García de Paredes (Dont take it wrong). He is considered in Europe the best knight of all times, only see for everyone who he served. Thanks for all ☺️.

    • @bethbartlett5692
      @bethbartlett5692 Год назад

      Most worthy content sought:
      Was there ever a *"King of England" that was of original English (those that were post flood era and pre-Germanic influence, ie: Roman, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings, Normans, and later British, influence",* as defined by current DNA
      *(NOTE: DNA Studies confirm that less than 2% of original English Males exist in the current population of British.)*
      The identification of English becomes blurred as is not clear in any content I've found.
      It suggests that all English Males, at some point, were eradicated, (babies, children, adolescents, and adult males).
      The absence of this in the History of Britain is noticable, a people whom are known for record keeping and legends.
      It has an answer, what and where are the answers?
      My location limits access to the records, although they may only have crumbs of substantial value.
      I desire the facts on this subject, and note how obvious their absence are ...
      I will not Lower my ethics, logic, nor knowledge to accept the "Mainstream Academics/Archaeologists" and their "19th Century Theory based Paradigm and Linear Timeline".
      DNA has already established sufficient data that sets the Theory aside, more continues to surface, "Peer Reviewed " and "Journal Published".
      The "Standards of Science and Research" prohibits using a Theory as a Fact, Ethics and Dignity prohibit the Gaslighting behaviors that demonstrate the Lower Mind aka Ego Mind.
      *"Authentic Academics"* follow the Standards.
      I appreciate any value of content that reveals answers to this subject.
      Best Thoughts,
      Beth
      a Sociologist/Behavioralist
      and Historian
      Tennessee, USA
      (Irish American, lineage of County Kerry, Ireland)
      "Facts, Fortitude, and Fearless defines Freedom"
      - Carole Cole

    • @ballsack6547
      @ballsack6547 Год назад +1

      @@funlucastimes el cid ?

    • @hotstepper887
      @hotstepper887 Год назад +5

      The Roman's tried and failed to defeat the Cornish in the 1st century, upon the Roman's arrival they initially recorded the Dumnonii but later reported on the Cornovii of Dumnonii. The Romans colonized much of central and southern Britain, but Dumnonia was left unaffected by the conquest. Roman rule had no impact on the region of Cornwall, meaning it could flourish as a fully independent kingdom which evidence shows was sometimes under the dominion of the kings of the Britons, and sometimes to have been governed by its own Dumnonian monarchy, either by the title of duke or king. This kingdom shared strong linguistic, political and cultural links with Brittany.
      The Saxons also tried and failed to defeat the Cornish. When the Kingdom of Wessex were expanding their territory westwards towards Cornwall. The Cornish were frequently embattled with the West Saxons who used their Germanic word walha meaning "stranger" or "foreigner", to describe their opponents, later specifying them as Cornwalas (the Cornish). Conflict continued until King Athelstan of England determined that the River Tamar be the formal boundary between the West Saxons and the Cornish in the year 936, making Cornwall one of the very last retreats of the true Britons.

  • @manofgod1910
    @manofgod1910 Год назад +972

    Got married at 43; had 10 children; led armies out to battle at age 70: there’s still hope for me yet!

    • @Amar-rc4dc
      @Amar-rc4dc Год назад +21

      😂 indeed

    • @damienholland8103
      @damienholland8103 Год назад +49

      It ain't over 'till it's over.

    • @ArsenalFC-hp7xr
      @ArsenalFC-hp7xr 11 месяцев назад +17

      Give then hell me’lord

    • @2serveand2protect
      @2serveand2protect 11 месяцев назад +18

      You're damn right! PLUS! - that was in the 12th century when the average lifetime of any given human being was half the one we have today! 😂 ...just don't wait TOO long! 🤣

    • @zaphodtrillian5237
      @zaphodtrillian5237 11 месяцев назад

      all his kids had ADD, ADHD Developmental Delay Autism. His wife had to turn tricks and make medieval porn.

  • @rabidspatula1013
    @rabidspatula1013 Год назад +1524

    William Marshall has to be one of the most impressive individual physical combatants for the sheer volume of documented combats he prevailed in.

    • @theodoresmith5272
      @theodoresmith5272 Год назад +81

      Him and el Cid would have been a hell of a fight.

    • @mitchelllemieux3704
      @mitchelllemieux3704 Год назад +31

      ​@@theodoresmith5272 put miyamoto Musashi in there, make it a free for all. Lol.

    • @bakters
      @bakters Год назад +26

      @@mitchelllemieux3704 " *Musashi* "
      Was Musashi much of a rider? If not, he'd be utterly humiliated.

    • @AntonioPerez-wf2lf
      @AntonioPerez-wf2lf Год назад +41

      Almost being hanged at 5 would probably bring a crazy amount of self awareness, being in a position to inherit nothing, he probably would've wanted to excel at the one way available. War

    • @chrisbrown8640
      @chrisbrown8640 Год назад +21

      Oh ..What a Knight !

  • @mattstakeontheancients7594
    @mattstakeontheancients7594 Год назад +927

    How many men at age 70 can say they fought on the front lines of a country saving battle. This man saved the kingdom of England at 70 years old. The fact there isn’t a movie based on this almost mythological knight is a travesty. To say he’s the greatest knight in history isn’t a stretch at all. So many times he could have taken the easy way out but stuck to his principles even well past his prime.

    • @avatarion
      @avatarion Год назад +98

      A movie couldn't be long enough. It would need to be a mini-series.

    • @mattstakeontheancients7594
      @mattstakeontheancients7594 Год назад +62

      @@avatarion that’s a great idea a mini series chronicling his life.

    • @MrEpeeFencer
      @MrEpeeFencer Год назад +148

      If they made a movie about him Hollywood would make him black or secretly gay or some other bs.

    • @ProcyonAlpha
      @ProcyonAlpha Год назад +100

      ​@@avatarionPlease don't , William Marshall would probably be portrayed by Will Smith and Richard the Lionheart would be a trans woman.
      It's strictly a white European story, so it ain't happening.

    • @kurtlee3198
      @kurtlee3198 Год назад +16

      amazon should put a lot of money into a tv series that's actually good, with all the shit he did i bet they would get 3 or 4 seasons out of his life

  • @johncalabria1607
    @johncalabria1607 Год назад +187

    What a fantastic knight! The title doesn't exaggerate, he truly was the greatest knight that ever existed. While it is sad that his house died through the male line, it's important to me that through his daughter Isabel, he was the great-great-grandfather of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and is an ancestor to all the English Monarchy from King Henry VIII to the current King Charles III. What a legacy!

    • @clareryan3843
      @clareryan3843 Год назад +15

      The thing about the female line is you can be pretty certain the child is biologically related to the mother - not so certain on the male line ... patricarchy is a bloody funny idea when you think about it

    • @TheRealBatCave
      @TheRealBatCave Год назад

      That his a load of bs, wasn't this story forgotten until it was accidentally found in auction lol so how would his whole lineage b forgotten

    • @chase5298
      @chase5298 4 месяца назад +4

      @@TheRealBatCaveyou aren’t very good at critical thinking, are you?

    • @RsDv5
      @RsDv5 3 месяца назад

      @@clareryan3843without the patriarchy society falls into degeneracy. Just look around you right now.

  • @Russell_Huston
    @Russell_Huston Год назад +131

    I was watching the film "The Lion In Winter", a great film by the way, and in the first scene a knight rides up to King Henry and Henry tells him to get Queen Eleanor and his sons and bring them to Chinon for Christmas. He calls him "Captain Marshall", and I'm thinking "I'll bet that was a real person", so I looked him up, and WOW was he! What a colorful life he lived. A true soldier-statesman. Thanks for this presentation.

    • @jrhawk574
      @jrhawk574 Год назад +6

      Me too !!
      "The Lion In Winter" is one of the great docudramas... 👍

    • @Martin-jk2ng
      @Martin-jk2ng Год назад +5

      I love that film. Sir Anthony Hopkins' first! Also Tim Dalton. So good

    • @TheSec09
      @TheSec09 Год назад +4

      I just watched this week this movie and I didn't know it was based on a real person. Actually, not until youtube recommended me this video.
      Anyway, great movie.
      I recommend you to watch the movie "Beckett" in which Peter O'Toole portrays a younger Henry II and Richard Burton plays Archbishop Thomas Beckett.

    • @FredScuttle456
      @FredScuttle456 Месяц назад

      A brief appearance in Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood".

    • @FredScuttle456
      @FredScuttle456 Месяц назад

      @@jrhawk574 A great line which I can't find on RUclips.
      Henry, Eleanor and their sons are threatening to murder each other.
      Eleanor says, "What family doesn't have its ups and downs".
      I'm sure you'll remember this line.

  • @fidelogos7098
    @fidelogos7098 Год назад +792

    I read Thomas Asbridge's The Greatest Knight several years ago and it was good to be reminded again of William Marshall. He served four kings and led an English army into battle at the age of 70. Surely the epitome of knighthood.

    • @Irmarinen
      @Irmarinen Год назад +35

      On a shoestring budget, and still won.

    • @bakters
      @bakters Год назад +51

      " *led an English army into battle at the age of 70* "
      It may seem weird in our age, but it wasn't unheard of. For what it's worth, the oldest Winged Hussar at the battle of Vienna was 94. He was wounded, while two of his sons, with whom he served, died. The third son wrote the story I'm relating here.

    • @therightarmofthefreeworld4703
      @therightarmofthefreeworld4703 Год назад +46

      What really makes him the epitome of knighthood is that regardless of his personal allegiances or what it might cost him, or even what was right or wrong (we need to get away from the romanticised version of chivalry), Marshall didn’t betray any of the kings he served.
      In an age where many simply did what they needed to survive (and I don’t blame them), that’s what makes William Marshall truly remarkable in my opinion.

    • @Rob_Fordd
      @Rob_Fordd Год назад +16

      @@bakters That is quite an outlier. The vast majority of knights (and people in general) that managed to make it to 65+ in the premodern era (especially in settled societies) were usually burdened with the compounding effects of a lifetime of illnesses and wounds, and assorted health conditions of the lungs, joints, stomach, eyes, etc... that we can easily treat now but back then would often inevitably progress to the point of being chronic.

    • @bakters
      @bakters Год назад +5

      @@Rob_Fordd In ancient Greece you were expected to serve from 16 to 60, and that's much more physically demanding service.
      It seems that we overstate the effects of modern medicine. While it's definitely capable of extending our life a decade or so, it's much less effective at extending the period of *healthy* life.
      With that said, it's true that at 70, and especially past that, the vast majority of men were unfit for any kind of military service. Some were not, though.

  • @thomaszaccone3960
    @thomaszaccone3960 Год назад +753

    He WAS the greatest knight ever, not just skilled in arms, but also a man of honor and loyalty. Sad his line died out.

    • @Rob_Fordd
      @Rob_Fordd Год назад +273

      His male line died out, but his daughters lines more than made up for it. Through them he was the grandfather of none-other than Robert the Bruce, first king of Scotland. And 18 generations after that... GEORGE WASHINGTON.

    • @ballsack6547
      @ballsack6547 Год назад +58

      @@Rob_Fordd Robert de brus wasn't the first king of Scotland as there wasn't such a thing , it was king of scots , only the first king of the house of bruce ,the house of Dunkeld /alpin were centuries before de brus although the stewart line descended through his daughter Marjories marriage to Walter de steward. other wise your partly correct 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

    • @thomaszaccone3960
      @thomaszaccone3960 Год назад +3

      @@Rob_Fordd Really ?

    • @Rob_Fordd
      @Rob_Fordd Год назад +35

      @@thomaszaccone3960 yes, since it was a prominent noble family we have a complete family tree.

    • @thomasmills3934
      @thomasmills3934 Год назад +5

      @@Rob_Fordd ...not exactly.

  • @strafe155
    @strafe155 Год назад +257

    William Marshal was certainly the Greatest Knight in English history, and if it wasn't for him then Louis might've succeeded in taking control of England.
    The course of Human History would have been Drastically different if not for this one man, and that cannot be said of most historical figures.

  • @leecox7814
    @leecox7814 Год назад +50

    Thank you so much for this wonderful video. William Marshal is my 21st great grandfather and I am proud to share blood with such a noble man.

    • @bct1959
      @bct1959 10 месяцев назад +3

      My 23rd according to Geni.

    • @Nemo7The7Pirate7
      @Nemo7The7Pirate7 6 месяцев назад +1

      Mine too

    • @milkers7919
      @milkers7919 6 месяцев назад +2

      How did you find this out?

    • @mechadonia
      @mechadonia 3 месяца назад +2

      You got some badass genetics in u

  • @psforos
    @psforos Год назад +5

    One of those rare men that inspires belief in a better world if we are but better people.

  • @GoodGnewsGary
    @GoodGnewsGary Год назад +300

    Fantastic work Dan! It's truly astonishing that we know of his great deeds 800 years later. This is the first I've heard of him, keep up the great content!

    • @DanDavisHistory
      @DanDavisHistory  Год назад +17

      Thanks Gary, glad you enjoyed the story.

    • @leeowen6276
      @leeowen6276 Год назад +1

      I think his life's autobiography was found in a Sotheby's auction in the early 1900's he was forgotten about up until then if I remember write

    •  Месяц назад +1

      Look for The greatest Knight-Thomas Asbridge. The book tells of his extraordinary rise from last surviving son aged 8 during the Civil War to his death.

  • @RandallvanOosten-ln5wf
    @RandallvanOosten-ln5wf Год назад +57

    Wow!! What an inspirational story. To have saved the 9 year old king and also defeat Philip of France at the age of 70 is mind-boggling. However, his unwavering loyalty is what marks him as a legend.

  • @glenndavis4452
    @glenndavis4452 Год назад +59

    William Marshall is possibly the greatest combatant knight known.
    Glad you are telling people about him.

    • @The13thRonin
      @The13thRonin 5 месяцев назад

      Eh...
      I'm better.
      He's a comfortable second.

    • @MbisonBalrog
      @MbisonBalrog 3 месяца назад

      But tourneys are sparring.

    • @Thin_Mercury
      @Thin_Mercury 3 месяца назад +3

      @@MbisonBalrog Are you gonna ignore the countless sieges and battles he was also involved in?

    • @MbisonBalrog
      @MbisonBalrog 3 месяца назад

      @@Thin_Mercury like what?

    • @Thin_Mercury
      @Thin_Mercury 3 месяца назад +3

      @@MbisonBalrog Battle of Lincoln, Battle of Gisors, Siege of Nottingham Castle, Battle of Le Mans, Battle of Drincourt, saving the queen during an ambush. I could keep going but you get the idea, he was not just a tournament champion but a warrior and military commander. Did you even watch this video?

  • @armynurseshark
    @armynurseshark Год назад +17

    One of my favorite historical persons. I have always felt that he truly was the epitome of the Greatest Knight.

  • @TimUrban
    @TimUrban Год назад +1997

    We need Henry Cavill to play this man in a movie asap.

    • @brianhope
      @brianhope Год назад +123

      Sean Connery would have been a natural.

    • @ltlwlwl5057
      @ltlwlwl5057 Год назад +18

      Yes!

    • @adathomas8604
      @adathomas8604 Год назад

      @@ltlwlwl5057 Liam Neeson would be better

    • @ltlwlwl5057
      @ltlwlwl5057 Год назад +2

      @@adathomas8604😵

    • @mpojr
      @mpojr Год назад +11

      @@brianhope for sure

  • @oldhippiejon
    @oldhippiejon Год назад +22

    I had just started secondary school when I picked up a book on this man, my history teacher was in the library at the time and filled me in on the man emphasizing what we the people owed him. It kicked of my interest in those times something that stayed with me through 60 years and a bookshelf full of books.

  • @Shineon83
    @Shineon83 Год назад +6

    I’ve always felt that one of the greatest acts of loyalty & courage shown by William was in his agreeing to take the holy pilgrimage on behalf of his deceased master.
    In those days, the odds of dying (from disease, at the hands of bandits, or during a regular outbreak of war with the Muslims) were greater than surviving-and returning-from pilgrimage….

    •  Месяц назад

      It was also politic, as he'd been serving Young Henry, who had been plotting with Louis king of France against Henry the Second his father. So the Crusade also got him out of Europe for a while, when he returned he went into Henry's mesne.

  • @radio-su6lh
    @radio-su6lh Год назад +17

    Wow what a national hero. Ashamed to say (as an Englishman), I’d never heard of him. Thank for enlightening me 🤗

  • @michaelbatsford1028
    @michaelbatsford1028 Год назад +48

    As an Englishman this moved me I love our rich history so much. What a time to be alive! Thanks for the video

    • @SaucY213
      @SaucY213 Год назад +18

      Shame our culture and history is being erased.

    • @kevinjamesparr552
      @kevinjamesparr552 Год назад +1

      Sadly our history runs with English blood and others in war outside family life

    • @eadweardwoden7309
      @eadweardwoden7309 Год назад +1

      william wasn't even english, he was a norman. grew up in normandy.

    • @nickrad6966
      @nickrad6966 11 месяцев назад

      Anglo-Norman

    • @eadweardwoden7309
      @eadweardwoden7309 11 месяцев назад +1

      @@nickrad6966 no norman, his father as himself never married into any English nobility as there wasn;t many left after most died defending there land or kicked off there land by williams thug barons.

  • @raphaelandrews3617
    @raphaelandrews3617 Год назад +52

    Thank you for a excellent biography of William Marshal a figure who has been sadly overlooked by many historians.

    • @suzuya4717
      @suzuya4717 Год назад

      no offense, but that is only the case with the more pop-culture historians. There actually exist quite a few long and thorough academic works on Marshal - no historian of the english or french middle ages has not at the very least heard of him. The newest and most nuanced of the relevant books is the third edition of David Crouchs excellent work, but if i remember correctly you can access the books of Sidney and Painter on Marshal for free online. And of course, as pointed out by a few others in this comment section, the Greatest Knight (by Thomas Asbridge) is a retelling of the main source on Marshal and a very pleasurable read. The central source also exists in a translated form (the original was french), the newest english translation is by Nigel Bryant (i think that book is even shown in the video towards the end) if i remember right, and with the exception of it being somewhat repetitive in regards to tournaments, it is great fun to work through. If youre particularly interested in Marshals early life, Matthew Stricklands phenomenal work on Henry the Young King may also be of interest to you.
      Just type in the name of any of the authors mentioned in addition to „Marshal“ and youll find their work :) Hope this could help. Im very glad more people are getting interested in Marshal, it truly is a crime that he is pretty unknown outside of academic circles.

  • @impudentdomain
    @impudentdomain Год назад +136

    The Marshall of England ! Amazing that more movies have not been made about this guy and his astounding life.

    • @dbarnes9808
      @dbarnes9808 Год назад +4

      the French have made at least one movie about Marshall that I know of.

    • @anonanon7497
      @anonanon7497 Год назад +14

      Hollywood are too busy making their gazillionth installment of some ridiculous superhero franchise.

    • @impudentdomain
      @impudentdomain Год назад +5

      @@anonanon7497 or Fast and Furious Number 86

    • @eddierodriguez3472
      @eddierodriguez3472 Год назад +6

      William Hurt played a good role of William Marshal in the movie Robin Hood featuring Russell

    • @ayriana22
      @ayriana22 Год назад +1

      He was in The Lion in Winter but other than the Russell Crow Robin Hood, William is sadly left out of many movies that deal with the Plantagenets. Though A Knight's Tale is loosely based on his life.

  • @bohdan3239
    @bohdan3239 Год назад +33

    The best documentary on William Marshall I have ever seen. Bravo !Why the HELL hasn't Hollywood made a Blockbuster out of this story. Considering the Garbage they usually pump out, this would in turn be Monumental !

    • @Apollo890
      @Apollo890 Год назад +13

      Thank God they have not because Hollywood would shit all over the actual history.

    • @joebowl8315
      @joebowl8315 Год назад

      He would have been played by a chick, and you bet she would have been gay and lame as frick

    • @FrederikEngelmand
      @FrederikEngelmand 4 месяца назад

      @@Apollo890 they used to make great movies, but i agree. a strong european knight? expect him to become a queer black woman LOL

    • @jimclaus1576
      @jimclaus1576 3 месяца назад +2

      Well… He was too white and heroic for Hollyweird. Let’s be honest. His story would OFFEND the usual suspects.

    • @cortain330
      @cortain330 Месяц назад

      Hollywood (America in general) generally does its best to disparage English history, it's a good thing those vermin haven't touched him thus far. Sir William is too good for film.

  • @ericb.4358
    @ericb.4358 Год назад +10

    As a history teacher I can say this video was not only well written but very well illustrated. Thank you Dan, for a job very well done.

  • @teukel1157
    @teukel1157 Год назад +6

    Very. very well done. An example of Western virtue, strength, and integrity.

  • @jrhawk574
    @jrhawk574 Год назад +25

    Thank you so much for your work as a historian, novelist, and storyteller.
    There is not much honor to be found on earth these days; so it is good to be reminded that it has existed in extraordinary cases through the ages.

  • @CommonSwindler
    @CommonSwindler Год назад +85

    Excellent video. Sometimes we forget just how much the English-speaking world owes this splendid knight for without him, England stood at the mercy of the Capetian monarchy in 1216-1218. Without Marshal, we should have had no lasting Magna Carta for it was he who ingeniously modified and reissued it-it was this charter and not the 1215 version which survives marrow-deep in the Anglophonic world.
    Also, I applaud the detailed inclusion of Marshal’s loyalty in the dying days of the incomparable and peerless Henry II. It’s deeply moving how the great king rewarded Marshal with a young heiress and the massive fortune that came with it, though tellingly Henry left Richard to confirm it-a sign of how the father wished to allow his son to ultimately gain legitimacy through the service of his own men. I sense more than a hint of Thomas Asbridge’s biography in this video and that’s superb.

    • @erikbostrom.9318
      @erikbostrom.9318 Год назад +1

      William Marshall.. Ridley Scott's 'Robin Hood'.

    • @timglasser2766
      @timglasser2766 Год назад +6

      He spoke French and was Norman . Nationalism did not exist as it does today. They were fighting about land and influence.

    • @odranodonnell8539
      @odranodonnell8539 Год назад +1

      @@timglasser2766 exactly, not a word of English was spoken hahaha

    • @prince-solomon
      @prince-solomon Год назад

      Anglophonic? As said before, he was a Norman.
      Maybe the world would be a better place if William failed? Who knows

    • @CommonSwindler
      @CommonSwindler Год назад +5

      @@prince-solomon Anglophonic meaning the English-speaking historical tradition. English is a very recent language but the English historical tradition is not and remains effectively the most influential on the planet. And no, the world would not be “a better place” since there would be no real, lasting Parliamentary democracy in the word, no Anglosphere and thus no “West” conceptually only a European continent marked by vicious cycles of despotism and revolution. Finally Globalism itself and all the connections that has brought is inseparable from the Pax Britannica and the subsequent but intrinsically related Pax Americana. With that in mind, as the Savior of an England under threat from a French monarchy sniffing at the first scents of eventual absolutism, William Marshal deserves the admiration heaped upon him.

  • @chpet1655
    @chpet1655 Год назад +20

    Incredible man and clearly the most honest and honourable of knights.

  • @timobrien2813
    @timobrien2813 Год назад +7

    Though I knew of William Marshal I had little detail. Thank you Mr. Davis for your work. This documentary confirms for me that those who serve morally and with courage are the greatest among us however humble, especially the humble. We really need more people like William Marshal. UKUK

  • @emilyturnbull-f6l
    @emilyturnbull-f6l 25 дней назад +1

    Thank you so much for making this. William Marshal is my grandfather x 28 generations! I am 51 and only now finding out all about him!

  • @SuperIClaudius
    @SuperIClaudius Год назад +7

    Well done. Thank you. In my old age, I'm filling in the gaps in my knowledge of European history. This so helped.

  • @publicanimal
    @publicanimal Год назад +149

    It is truly incredible that so much history hinged on the life of this honorable fellow that is relatively unknown today. Even as an American I owe him a debt of gratitude due to his role in sealing and reissuing the Magna Carta, which has been so influential in shaping our own conception of Anglo-American law. You have done us all a huge favor in bringing his story to life here, thanks Dan.

    • @eveningstar1
      @eveningstar1 Год назад +4

      Not sure what you learnt, but the magna cartas (plural, there were many of them) weren't some great document of individual freedoms, but attempts by kings to variously subdue rebellions and win favour. Total myth that it was an ancient document of protection.

    • @joshsanders6891
      @joshsanders6891 Год назад +11

      ​@@eveningstar1 The king being forced to sign documents ensuring the property rights of other lords was the start of the political tradition of respecting property rights, and the cornerstone of the modern English traditions that were spread throughout the anglosphere. They're extremely historically relevant and it was a turning point in history from barbarian warlords taking what they want to the start of common law. It's only a myth if they try to say that it was some ancient English bill of rights, but op is right that if that didn't happen, we probably wouldn't of gotten the constitution of America, because who knows what would of happened.

    • @catherinelw9365
      @catherinelw9365 Год назад

      @@eveningstar1 You should demand a refund for your "education". Totally ignorant.

    • @SantomPh
      @SantomPh Год назад +2

      @@joshsanders6891 the perception of the Magna Carta differs greatly of what happened in real life. The American Constitution and the other articles which shaped it are more based on French Republican philosophy as well as Enlightenment thinking of the 1700-1800s. The Magna Carta actually brought along an even more authoritarian England in the decades that followed.

    • @joshsanders6891
      @joshsanders6891 Год назад +1

      @@SantomPh Yes, and the American constitution was written because it went against ours. Taxation without representation? The American tradition and the enlightenment values are mostly based on the Anglo tradition, and yes they took a lot from the French in building their nation... Because it started at war with the British... Parliamentary systems wouldn't exactly be popular. And calling a period of centralisation authoritarian is redundant when nobody has any rights except the nobility. The point is the magna carta led to what we eventually developed and was a hugely historically relevant document, and is linked to the traditions of both nations because political traditions are built over time, and change over time. You didn't refute anything I just said, you just said some people have skewed perceptions like the last person did?

  • @FineArtIsLife
    @FineArtIsLife Год назад +6

    Wonderful presentation, thorough and lucid. William is my 24th great-grandfather! He has set the standard quite high, and inspires thousands to this day.

  • @TheRealEmpowerMent
    @TheRealEmpowerMent Год назад +9

    William Marshal, a name that resonates through the ages, embodies the epitome of chivalry and valor. His life's tale, a tapestry of courage and honor, is a beacon of inspiration for generations. As we delve into the legacy of this remarkable knight, we uncover not only his personal achievements but also the timeless ideals of nobility and integrity that continue to captivate our hearts and minds. 🏰⚔🌟

  • @crsm5850
    @crsm5850 Год назад +113

    I'm a descendant of John Marshal and my mother and I have taken to calling William "Great Uncle Willie". It was so cool to learn more about his life from a RUclipsr I've followed for months now!!
    Of course not the direct line of inheritance, but the Marshal name carried through all the way to the 1700s, where Sarah Marshal was arrested and sent on the second fleet of convicts to Australia, where she married and subsequently changed her last name to what's now my mothers maiden name. So its interesting how a noble family related to the greatest knight to ever live eventually became a family of convicts.

    • @wayvicle
      @wayvicle Год назад +2

      'Straya!

    • @cwcsquared
      @cwcsquared Год назад +3

      But it’s said that his lineage ran out?

    • @carmaela2689
      @carmaela2689 Год назад +4

      @@cwcsquared he said he is a descedent of JOHN Marshal, not William Marshal.

    • @richardeasterlow6988
      @richardeasterlow6988 Год назад +16

      ​​@@cwcsquared his male line ran out but not that of his daughters. I am a direct descendant of his, via his daughter, Isabel, who married Gilbert de Clare

    • @Anglo_Saxon1
      @Anglo_Saxon1 Год назад +2

      @@187blackbladeThere were no English people in America in the 1500's.The first English people to settle in America was in the year 1607.

  • @GRIMWOODz
    @GRIMWOODz Год назад +17

    The life of this man needs to be made into a TV series

    • @villa_fan8882
      @villa_fan8882 7 месяцев назад +2

      It would be made woke, they would end up making him gay or portray Marshall as a bad guy who treated women poorly. They would also use a black person to play William Marshall.

    • @douglasgreen437
      @douglasgreen437 22 дня назад

      😂​@@villa_fan8882

  • @anerdwithglasses7429
    @anerdwithglasses7429 Год назад +23

    I remember studying William Marshal in highschool, he was the epitome of knighthood to me.
    I thought he was absolutely brilliant having that much courage to stand and face the fact he could die every time he faced the Kings he dutifully served.
    I admire him for that strength because I for sure definitely couldn't do it, any person who can stand and possibly face death being the result has such admirable strength and self control.
    Living for your convictions and standing for your beliefs is rough and not ever an easy thing to do.
    I wish I had half his strength.

    • @concept5631
      @concept5631 4 месяца назад

      Here here

    • @BanIslam-j6p
      @BanIslam-j6p 3 месяца назад

      You must have gone to a great school. We didn't even get taught about the world wars let medieval knights.

  • @levantos
    @levantos Год назад +18

    That was one of most entertaining RUclips video's I've ever seen. Mind, officially, blown. William Marshall. We need a proper film/TV Show on this guy.

  • @stormy3307
    @stormy3307 Год назад +12

    I'm so so blown away by this mans life, by his drive, by his fire. So extraordinary for any era, any place, any time. Wow, just wow. They don't make em like that anymore. What an exciting life.

    • @nialloneill5097
      @nialloneill5097 Год назад

      Teas a life of dedication and service; he sought not riches, nor power, he simply wished to serve truth and righteousness, even unto death.

  • @FutureMythology
    @FutureMythology 10 месяцев назад +4

    William Marshal, a true exemplar of chivalry and valor, left an indelible mark on history with his unwavering loyalty, martial prowess, and unyielding honor. His life's story is a testament to the enduring values of knighthood and the impact of one man's unwavering commitment to his principles.

  • @nathanmarshallmusic
    @nathanmarshallmusic Год назад +5

    I had never heard of this William Marshal. I'm proud to carry the name of such a virtuous man. The like of his character surely existed with my own grandfather, Bill Marshall.

  • @NashvilleDrumCoach
    @NashvilleDrumCoach Год назад +5

    I’m doing my genealogy, I discovered that among several notable people in Europe, im relayed this William Marshall. He’s my 30th great grandfather to be exact.

    • @Elletorryshred
      @Elletorryshred Месяц назад

      We might be very distantly related as I’ve found the same thing going through Robert the Bruce and back to William Marshall!

  • @GaryGillKeeper
    @GaryGillKeeper Год назад +5

    I love the fact that you you've timed the adverts properly, on every chapter, it makes the experience so much better

  • @markgannon7713
    @markgannon7713 Год назад +7

    A character in English history that not many know about. A fascinating story about an amazing man .. this very well done and enjoyable ..

  • @ayriana22
    @ayriana22 Год назад +42

    Elizabeth Chadwick has an amazing historical fiction series with William Marshal as the protagonist. The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion. A Place Beyond Courage covers his father's life as well. There are also novels about his daughter Matilda (Mahelt in the books). A note, William Marshal was John Marshal's 4th born son, 2nd born with his second wife Sibyl. (He had 2 sons Gilbert and Walter with his first wife Aline, but both predeceased John.)

    • @scottm7297
      @scottm7297 Год назад +1

      I am in the process of reading "A place beyond courage" right now without any prior knowledge of the other books, and I starting to watch this video I was like, waaaaaaaait a second :O. Looks like i'll have to come back to this video after I finish the book to avoid spoilers. I didn't realize it was loosely based on history.

  • @victoriatampling5049
    @victoriatampling5049 Год назад +5

    I live in Caversham, his manor, he is our local hero, I have seen his grave at the Temple church, London. We have all this as local history in Reading. Well done for raising his profile, enjoyed this 👏☮️🇬🇧

  • @AncientAmericas
    @AncientAmericas Год назад +11

    It's always a good day when Dan Davis drops a new video!

    • @DanDavisHistory
      @DanDavisHistory  Год назад +2

      Thanks so much 🙏

    • @AncientAmericas
      @AncientAmericas Год назад +2

      @@DanDavisHistory Just finished the video. You did a wonderful job on this. Much more interesting than I expected!

  • @firelock9080
    @firelock9080 Год назад +5

    Probably the thing that makes William Marshall such an astonishing figure today is that he didn't decide whether to grant his loyalty based on the worthiness of his lord to receive it, but rather on how it impacted his own chivalry to do so. Today we most often will first question how deserving someone is to receive our loyalty. However, a man like William Marshall valued his public integrity over all else. Few men live like this today, and most would claim it too risky or too expensive to place integrity above all else. In fact, those men may be right - we live in a different time with different values. However, you don't earn the moniker "greatest knight who ever lived" by following conventional wisdom, as William proved time after time with the difficult decisions in his life. I also liked how Dan touched on the concept that what we commonly think of as "chivalry" today, was not at all the same as the medieval concept of chivalry. For one thing, chivalry only applied to those of a particularly high social status - common peasants were not included. So, protecting a noble woman who lost her husband in war was chivalrous, but so was murdering all the peasant women and children of a village that surrendered to the French without fighting back hard enough. Chivalry back then bears little resemblance to how chivalry is thought of today, thanks to a lot of 19th century over-romanticizing of everything medieval. Although I think our modern world stands more to gain from our modern perception of chivalry, we need to know and acknowledge that the concept should not be applied equally to all time periods and places. This "not the same as today" concept is well applied to nearly EVERYTHING that exists in both time periods, from vocabulary to materials, and avoiding the misappropriation of modern sensibilities and reasoning applied to medieval life is a cornerstone of a historian's duties. At any rate, Thank You Dan for a most excellent depiction of the life of one of history's most underrated heroes.

    •  Месяц назад

      Dont underestimate the riches to be gained by throwing your lot in with a successful lord. Any office in a lord or knights household carried wealth, a horse could cost three years income for a young knight, to lose one in battle or tournament was devastating.

  • @Boadicea17
    @Boadicea17 Год назад +5

    Thank you🙏 I absolutely loved listening to this precious story of the magnificent William Marshall. I am a Londoner born and bred and yet have never been inside the Temple Church to see William's tomb, I shall endeavour to go and pay my respects to such a magical, unique and brave Knight of us all ❤

  • @wmr9019
    @wmr9019 8 месяцев назад +1

    My 26th paternal GGF, now i understand why my father was the toughest man i ever knew , afraid of no-one and a true warrior , RIP papa❤

  • @richardhortle3414
    @richardhortle3414 Год назад +2

    Some context: 60 yrs old, male, educated, Australian and a very early (and consistent) consumer of internet content and RUclips. However you could count my total number of comments with the digits of an old, clumsy butcher. Absolutely compelled to crap on in a laudatory manner on your behalf. So...
    Well played Dan! Brilliant storytelling structure, graphics and excellent narration. This is the first of your videos I've encountered but will not be the last. Like, comment and I will subscribe. Thank you.

    • @DanDavisHistory
      @DanDavisHistory  Год назад

      Thank you very much for watching, welcome to the channel. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and I hope you enjoy my other videos.

  • @jacquelinedeigan776
    @jacquelinedeigan776 Год назад +5

    William was an absolutely Amazing Knight.
    Everything a Knight should be..Brave.. Valiant and Loyal.

  • @ragael1024
    @ragael1024 Год назад +22

    what is a knight? a man of his word. a man forged into battle. a man of faith. William was all combined.

  • @klaunwelt4404
    @klaunwelt4404 Год назад +7

    Dan Davis returns with an hour of glorious narrative. Happy days! Thank you Dan.

  • @mdshohid5358
    @mdshohid5358 3 месяца назад +1

    Watching this ancient history documentary was a fantastic experience. Truly captivating!

  • @janbarstow
    @janbarstow Год назад +26

    WOW, so THAT’s where the Magna Carta came from. What honor! He truly changed the world.

    • @nialloneill5097
      @nialloneill5097 Год назад

      Freedom, through service to one's fellow men.

    •  Месяц назад

      The rights enshrined in the Magna Carta were predominantly to protect the landed aristocracy and their families. John the king had a habit of taking aristocrats children into his household, (Not uncommon in the time as the Kings largess would train them and develop them). However he frequently used these young people some still small children as hostages so that their parents towed his line. The famous and tragic story of Williams best friend De Breoase, tells of his wife valiantly refusing to surrender the castle to John, after which time he had her and her teenage son imprisoned. They were starved to death, their bodies were found and shown that the mother had gnawed at the face of her dead son. All europe was shocked at this un-gallant treatment by John, and this was a direct influence on the support for Magna Carta.

  • @normtrooper4392
    @normtrooper4392 Год назад +16

    Probably one of the greatest stories ever from history

  • @tselengbotlhole750
    @tselengbotlhole750 Год назад +7

    Very interesting documentary. I had never heard of William Marshall before...... A true legend

  • @gwgh
    @gwgh Год назад +10

    I watched this video not long after it was posted and was so surprised today to discover that I'm one of his descendants! I'm his daughter Joan's 26th great granddaughter! I was so giddy after reading his name when I was researching, I immediately thought of this video!

  • @trollthedicey
    @trollthedicey 3 месяца назад +2

    I went from never hearing of this man, to wanting to visit his grave.. great video!

  • @Paul_W_222
    @Paul_W_222 Год назад +9

    A true marshal renowned for his great martial ability.

  • @HamCubes
    @HamCubes Год назад +61

    Well done! I am over the Moon to see William Marshall receive some recognition!
    I have always suspected that GRRM was inspired by Sir William the Marshal when he was creating one of my favorite characters, Dunk/ Ser Duncan the Tall.

    • @coolfool64
      @coolfool64 Год назад +16

      I always saw William Marshall in Barristan Selmy. Selmy's rise as a renowned tournament fighter known for his daring, as well as his loss at the Trident but the respect, showed to him by King Robert Baratheon subsequently, is very reminiscent of Marshall and King Richard. Admittedly, Selmy has not proven himself to have the same political nous just yet in the story.

  • @ZenBiker
    @ZenBiker 2 месяца назад +3

    As an American retired military serviceman, I can’t for the life of me figure out why there hasn’t been a Series or Docudrama done on Sir William Marshall, there has really never been a warrior like him, being labeled the Greatest Knight in history is not a stretch at all, how many 70 year men lead Armies he’s the only one I know of.

  • @Boric78
    @Boric78 Год назад +12

    I knew the story, but this brought it to life excellently. Epic social climbing brought about by what must have been fearsome skills. Total loyalty - a dream subject if ever there was one. Great vid.

  • @Imaewok
    @Imaewok Год назад +4

    Great documentary! I love the history during that time period and didn’t realize how legendary William Marshall must have been. Thanks for enlightening me and paying homage to this man!

  • @Aaron_Beach
    @Aaron_Beach Год назад +4

    I loved this story! William Marshall is my new favorite historical figure.

  • @Rockstar-bq5fm
    @Rockstar-bq5fm Год назад +64

    Great subject, you tend to get a lot of El CId bio’s when it comes to famous knights. Great to see the Marshal get some more shine. He has a brilliant story

    • @DanDavisHistory
      @DanDavisHistory  Год назад +17

      Thank you. I am planning an El Cid video too.

    • @claudiaxander
      @claudiaxander Год назад

      Isn't he proven to be a moorish warrior?

    • @Rockstar-bq5fm
      @Rockstar-bq5fm Год назад +4

      @@DanDavisHistory: looking forward to it!

    • @DanDavisHistory
      @DanDavisHistory  Год назад +9

      No.

    • @Rockstar-bq5fm
      @Rockstar-bq5fm Год назад +10

      @@claudiaxander: no he was Castilian, but he fought for both Catholics and Moores in Spain

  • @deeppurple883
    @deeppurple883 Год назад +49

    I'm Irish and all thay it entails and I give credit where it's due. Churchill and Marshall are two I give this credit to. Loyalty and tenacity are two qualities I admire. ✌️☘️

    • @Votebritish
      @Votebritish Год назад

      Now both Ireland and Britain are being brazen invaded by consent of both treacherous parliaments
      What are you going to do to demonstrate similar qualities in defence of your people?

    • @anerdwithglasses7429
      @anerdwithglasses7429 Год назад

      Churchill starved people to death in places like India while hoarding resources that didn't belong to England for English people.
      Even after ww2 he didn't give back what he took, he's not exactly the epitome of anything except greed maybe.

    • @m.forrestal5893
      @m.forrestal5893 Год назад +1

      So am I! The life of William Marshal is not unknown to me, given that I grew up near New Ross, Co. Wexford! 🙂

    • @lordsofafan372
      @lordsofafan372 Год назад

      Winston Churchill was a horrible warmonger . What the fat fk did to the Welsh men, women and children in tonypandy was disgusting. Him and thatcher fkd wales over many times . Scumbags the pair of them .

    • @alanhay-i5d
      @alanhay-i5d 7 месяцев назад +1

      also ernest shackleton

  • @TheRukisama
    @TheRukisama Год назад +20

    What a story, and what a knight! My personal knightly hero is Pierre Terrail (I'd love a video about him, though he's more in the Early Modern Period), but William Marshal is now definitely high on the list.

  • @invidatauro8922
    @invidatauro8922 Год назад +3

    What's amazing about this story is it shows that an honorable, loyal, and stalwart man could indeed survive and achieve great things.

  • @wildfood1
    @wildfood1 Год назад +1

    William Marshall, Thomas Cochrane, and Julie d'Aubigny are my favorite historical characters. Thanks for a great documentary.

  • @2persons
    @2persons Год назад +8

    An amazing story of an amazing life of this man Sir William Marshal a Templar Knight by an amazing ending. Well told.

  • @OffRampTourist
    @OffRampTourist Год назад +4

    Love how this connected bits and pieces from other lives to make a great man's story.

  • @Rob_Fordd
    @Rob_Fordd Год назад +83

    Also he took the oath of a Templar on his deathbed because of a promise he made on his trip to the Holy Land. He had to keep this single secret from his wife, as a templar once sworn cannot be married. She died of sadness just two years later.

    • @garynew9637
      @garynew9637 Год назад +2

      Strange, I thought the Templers would be involved some where

    • @hahayessir400
      @hahayessir400 Год назад +2

      @@garynew9637 they took his remains. Buried it in secret

    • @forickgrimaldus8301
      @forickgrimaldus8301 Год назад +6

      Correction
      His wife died about 10 years after he died due to an illness.

    • @forickgrimaldus8301
      @forickgrimaldus8301 Год назад +9

      @@garynew9637 its actually not that unheard of, Knights typically did join Catholic Military Orders to ensure a proper burial.

    • @bruhmcchaddeus413
      @bruhmcchaddeus413 Год назад +2

      @@forickgrimaldus8301 knights typically joined templar to ensure proper burial ? lol wot? Most templars died in fights, joining just for "proper burial" sacrificing ALOT when there was very high chance of their death being in combat? No, majority of templars joined only to fight for their cause..not for proper burial

  • @valerieprice1745
    @valerieprice1745 Год назад +1

    A truly great man. Loyalty, courage, fidelity. A man of honor. We need leaders who are brave enough to fight in the wars they start, and loyal to their own countries, instead of being loyal to the central bank global government. William Marshall is an example of the standards we should hold our leaders to.

  • @nancyhammons3594
    @nancyhammons3594 11 месяцев назад +1

    Like many people, I descend from William and Isabel through their daughters. When asked what person from history I would like to meet it would have to be William Marshal, my 25th Great Grandfather. Thank you for this video.

  • @kimberlypatton205
    @kimberlypatton205 Год назад +5

    What a magnificent knight! I’d never heard of him before this video, but he is indeed an inspiration for his fine qualities and resolve! Thanks! I enjoyed this SO much!

  • @NCCorruption
    @NCCorruption Год назад +26

    The Marshal sword is in the Edinburgh castle collection. It is a diamond shaped board sword suggesting a skilled swordsman who fought in the German style on the point.

  • @jamessadler5073
    @jamessadler5073 Год назад +4

    Great job for putting it on YT for us all to see for free.
    Thank you good sir!

  • @janegrey4374
    @janegrey4374 Год назад +2

    I love medieval history and have read at least three, possibly four books on William Marshal, with each author having their own take and I have enjoyed each read. I'm so glad to have found this video on such a fascinating historical figure.

  • @davidowens4145
    @davidowens4145 Год назад +3

    RUclips has its moments. I was racking my brains today trying to remember this great knight's name.

  • @sheilahorn8913
    @sheilahorn8913 Год назад +7

    Been waiting for a great documentary on The Marshal! Thank you!

  • @nicholassteel5529
    @nicholassteel5529 Год назад +15

    Marvellous story! The reprieve of the boy’s execution got me🙏❤️😢

  • @blanconievesbarbanegra
    @blanconievesbarbanegra Год назад +7

    That was inspiring... These real tales of honor make my blood flow faster

  • @margaretkerr7920
    @margaretkerr7920 Год назад +7

    Brilliant well researched video! William Marshaall's story is truly inspiring❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻⭐️

  • @illbrizzil
    @illbrizzil Год назад +3

    We need a 3 hour movie about this guy.

  • @petrapetrakoliou8979
    @petrapetrakoliou8979 Год назад +12

    Too bad he wasn't there at Bouvines! There is a good book on him by the renown French medievist Georges Duby: "Guillaume le Maréchal ou le meilleur chevalier du monde". Pembroke castle is still standing in quite a remarkable state of preservation, the great tower dating to the time of William Marshall. Some of the castles shown there are rather from the 14th century like Warkworth which is not how a castle would look like in the time of Stephen and Mathilda's wars, although not extremely far, and the gear of reenacters is sometimes from the 15th. Thank you for this fascinating story!

  • @DavidSmith-mt7tb
    @DavidSmith-mt7tb Год назад +4

    What an absolute bloody legend. Dude needs a series to do his exploits justice. Maybe get the team behind the Last Kingdom to do it.

  • @nuperaa6617
    @nuperaa6617 Год назад +9

    We really need a tv show for this man

  • @SuperAnnaspanna
    @SuperAnnaspanna 3 месяца назад

    I’ve read William Marshall’s life history. I loved hearing you talk about him, what a man, what a knight.

  • @milliebanks7209
    @milliebanks7209 Год назад

    Thank you for bringing a truly noble man too life! They don't come often but when they do, get out of their way! This is the first I have heard of William Marshall. I agree with the gentleman that a movie should be made of this knight! Again, thank you.

  • @erisu69
    @erisu69 Год назад +13

    Amazing work on this video. By following a single life from beginning to end, it gives such an illuminating look into the social forces that shaped these people's lives. Thanks for the work that went into producing this.

  • @Meloncholymadness
    @Meloncholymadness Год назад +10

    It was a different time, but damn, he really accomplished a lot!

  • @ForestGirlTeresa
    @ForestGirlTeresa Год назад +4

    Thank you for this video presenting the life of a truly amazing man. It is his personal code of honour, as well as his prowess, that shines through.

  • @alanhay-i5d
    @alanhay-i5d 7 месяцев назад +1

    for the last 30 years since i first read about this amazing man of courage and honour i have been waiting for the blockbuster film, sigh

  • @Vivimord
    @Vivimord Год назад +2

    What a fantastic vid. Thanks!

  • @overworlder
    @overworlder Год назад +20

    Up there with the Chevalier de Bayard, "the knight without fear and beyond reproach".

  • @greyetch
    @greyetch Год назад +10

    WOW what a life this guy lived. When he faces off with Richard the Lionheart - that could be the climax of a movie or something. Great work telling the story.

  • @fenistereinc.5797
    @fenistereinc.5797 Год назад +15

    The Cid was also amazing. I think he is in the top of the best knights with Marshal

    • @DD_11111
      @DD_11111 5 месяцев назад

      My 32nd Great grandfather and I'm very proud of him

  • @LarsLiveLaughLove
    @LarsLiveLaughLove Год назад +2

    the key remains that his performance at those mighty (and well-attended) tournaments was excellent