William, 2nd Earl of Lancaster

## William of Lancaster

Earl of Lancaster and Gloucester

C. 1179 - 1223

(In Gloucester)

Mary, 4th Countess of Gloucester

(In Gloucester)

Edmund, 3rd Earl of Tankerville

(In Tankerville)

Edmund of Lancaster

Edward of Lancaster

Cecily of Lancaster

Lancaster

(Founder)

**William of Lancaster** (C. 1156 - 1223) was the eldest son and second child of John, 1st Earl of Lancaster and Mary, 4th Countess of Gloucester (Also known as Princess Mary of England.) Born in Aquitaine, France, he was heir to Lancashire, Tankerville, Glamorgan and Gloucester along with the rightful heir apparent to the English throne. He was born during the reign of his grand-uncle Richard the Lionheart who promised Mary and John the throne after him. When Richard was murdered by William's grand-aunt Constance of England, William's grand-uncle John of England usurped the throne with his wife Marie of Provence, his parents wen't to war and the 8 year old was put in the care of his paternal grand-parents. William was trained at a young age to be a fighter as was common for boys at the time, William was close to all of his siblings and while there parents were being held prisoners in the tower of London he promised them they would be out, when William turned 15 he married Joan de Aumale whom he met at a masked ball in Dover Castle which was given to him by his mother, his mother wanted him to marry a French noblewoman, but she did try to break the match. William fought alongside his parents in the English civil war for the throne, his mom had a claim through her father, his mom's father was Henry the Young King the eldest son and heir of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, his mother was the only child of Henry the Young and thus heir apparent. When William's father was killed in battle, he inherited Lancanshire and was named 2nd Earl of Lancaster. His mother died a few years later and he inherited everything except the Barondom of Culloden, which wen't to his younger brother Richard of Lancaster, whom William had a hard relationship because he did not inherit the Barondem. William was now a target for assassination, he briefly made peace with John, but then proceeded to attack Windsor Castle, John furious attempted to blow up William, his wife, and his young children by putting gun powder under his Palace in Dover. But while the knights were marching to Dover they were stabbed by William's spy's. William became greatly feared amougst the nobility for his recklessness, he always carried a sword and intiminated much of the nobility. William took part in a plot along with Henry of England, Ferdinand of Tuscany, and some other nobility to poison John. William for the most part made peace with Henry III of England and fought in crusades with his sons, he died in Angevin Castle while imprisoned by Simon de Montfort, who was also his second cousin.

## Early Life

### Childhood

William of Lancaster was born in Aquitaine, France as the eldest son and second child of John, 1st Earl of Lancaster, and Mary, 4th Countess of Gloucester. Born as heir to Lancanshire and Gloucester, he had an older sister, Margaret of Lancaster. Though a Lancaster he was actually born William Plantagenet, as his mother was a Plantagenet, and his father was made a Plantagenet. William paternal grand-parents were Sir John Lisley-Plantagenet and Lady Elizabeth Lisley-Plantagenet, and his maternal grand-parents were Henry the Young King and Mary, 3rd Countess of Gloucester. His mother was the rightful Queen of England, but his grand-uncle Richard the Lionheart usurped the throne, but promised Mary the throne back after him, William was a bright and handsome kid described by most historians and writers of his time. He was raised in Lancanshire Palace for most of his early life.

### Education

William was educated by his father in Math, Science, poetry, Reading, writing, war, Sports, Music, Latin, Greek, German, French, Gaelic, Cornish, and Flemish, when his father wen't to war, he was educated by Isabel de Clare who may have also been his father's mistress. William also enjoyed activities such as jousting, hunting, horse-back-riding, and Archery which he did with his many companions. William was uninterested in marriage, much to his parents infuriation.

### Succession Crisis of 1164

When William was 8, his grand-uncle Richard the Lionheart was murdered by William's grand-aunt Constance of England. And William's mother Mary and father John were the rightful successors, but William's grand-uncle Prince John of England ceased the throne upon the murder of King Richard with faster army deplomcy. William's parents were furious and declared war on King John, his parents could not take care of William while they were at warfare, so William's paternal grand-parents took care of him, William was told by his grand-parents that he was rightfully heir apparent to the English throne, and encouraged to train for war. When William was 12, he was considered old enough to fight in battle, William immediately grabbed a horse, and headed for London with his 14 year old sister, but without an army which was a very dangerous move. He was easily captured by the forces, he saved his sister by giving her his horse, but was captured at 12 years old, and imprisoned in the Tower of London, his mother was horrified and aggresivley killed the guards and freed her son, but she did not allow him to fight for another 3 years until he was fully trained.

### Marriage

When William was 15, his Father and Mother called him back to battle in hopes he was more skilled, before he left for battle, he held a masked ball at Dover Castle, which was a seat given to him by his mother, he met Joan de Aumale at the party whom he danced with until she removed her mask and they hanged out all night, by the next morning he proposed to the 23 year old Joan de Aumale and married her in private in Dover Castle, he allowed Joan to run Dover Castle while he attended the English Civil war for the crown. On battle-field he described "Her face was in my head the entire time, It is like I shall not do anything but think of the lady!" The woman he was describing was his new wife. When he told his father and mother about the marriage, they disaproved and even attempted to convince him to annul the marriage, but William said "I shall not indeed marry anyone but Jeanne de Aumale!" They also disaproved that William was 15, and his bride was 23, it was more common for a man to marry a younger woman, but William did not care about the age difference and refused to divorce her. After being on the battle-field for 2 years, he returned home and got his wife pregnant with his first child: Richard of Lancaster. William though was not able to raise he beloved child, he had to go back on the battle-field and promised his wife he would see her in 1 year, he reportedly gave his wife a pocket knife that belonged to him, and his son a Flower. He once again left for battle, but the battle was inturupted with a crusade which it was considered a sin if you did not participate in a Crusade, (Even though some people like the King of Norway and Sweden got away not going on Crusade.)

### 11th Crusade

William had been on previous crusades on tour, but not exactly to fight. He promised his wife he would only spend 1 year on crusade, but a lot of people thought this crusade would last at least 6 years. Before he crossed the English channel on his way to Jerusalem, he visited his wife who was indeed in tears, she would later give birth to Constance of Lancaster. William after his 16th birthday, he led an army through France and Venice, into Jerusalem, he tried his best not to bump into his enemy King John, or else there could be another war during another and more important war. William during his s 17th birthday celebrated his birthday with his knights friends, and apparently he invited a cow the stumbled into the underground party, William got so drunk at the party, the commanders had to bar him from leading non-inxoicated troops to battle until he got better. William eventually was able to lead troops to Antioch and Armenia. After only 2 years, a 20 year old William sailed home to find out his father died in battle over 2 years ago, his mother had acted as regent in Lancanshire, William was named 2nd Earl of Lancaster and picked his wife up from Dover to Lancanshire House, his mother and wife had a terrible relationship and fought constantly.

## Gloucester Inheritance

When William was 24, his mother fell ill with Yellow fever, (Although in the Book of Hours, Mike S. Jeansborug suggested Mary may have been poisoned by Joan de Aumale.) Her will stated William should inherit Gloucester, Tankerville, Glamorgan, William was devastated when Mary died and he was named Earl of Gloucester and Tankerville, and Lord of Glamorgan, upon his accession, he did not wan't to be a Plantagenet anymore, his enemy John was a Plantagenet thus saying, William and John were apart on the same house, he started a new house called "The House of Lancaster" (Though his full name was still William Francis Henry Plantagenet.) His wife soon gave birth to twins, Edmund and Edward of Lancaster. His wife though was unpleased with a new house transation, she was a very conservative woman, and liked being apart of the Plantagenet family. But Joan de Aumale still had no say in the matter.

## War of 1183

William did take a break from war, but he felt he was not working hard enough for his throne. William in 1182 was going to go back on to battle-field, but his wife did not wan't William to leave again and rumors have it that as William got on his horse, his wife grabbed his hand and pulled him back into Lancanshire House. His wife insisted William stay for at-least another year before he leave for war. After 1 year, his wife was in tears when he pulled his horse off to London, William even wrote himself he felt terrible leaving Lancanshire and often shed tears while marching his men. He had made peace with John after his mother's death, but he knew John had usurped the crown, and that he was going to re-take it. He got tired of walking and tried to take a safe carriage to London, but his commanders warned William it would be a very dangerous move as John could call a quick army to attack William. William instead wen't west to Berkshire and attacked Windsor Castle, where the Irish ambassador to England was staying with his wife Ida Walsh and friend Robert O'Donald. John did not hear about the attack until a week after the incident while he was in Brittany, he stormed back to Berkshire which had been destroyed by William's powerful forces, John furious, ordered an army to attack William who was in East Berkshire, William luckily had his army organized, but he had a problem, though he had a good army, he had no camps avalible nor did he have any food for his troops, William did not wan't his troops to die, so he told them to go to Lancanshire while he suffered defeat, many troops refused to leave the compassionate Earl until William further begged them to go home, William surrendered and was arrested by King John, his wife weeped for 2 weeks until she decided she was going to get her husband back, John knew Joan de Aumale was going to do so, so he sentenced William to death by hanging for 5 weeks in the future, Joan gathered her husband's army and marched to the Tower of London. The siege was successful and she freed her husband, but scolded him for not being careful. Joan later gave birth to there last child, Cecily of Lancaster.

## Murder of King John

In 1206, William was 48, William had been fighting for his lost throne for about 20 years, but then King John's son Henry of England and Henry's wife Eleanor of Provence offered William a chance to poison the King with them, in return William would have to stop attacking royal palaces, but he would get a large sum of money and a lot more power, William agreed and arranged the plot to happen in Buckingham Castle. John was then poisoned by Henry who crowned himself Henry III of England, William was there at the coronation with Henry's daughter Joan of England. The 2 got along quite well and became close friends, (Though William did not particularly like his wife Eleanor.) William's youngest daughter Cecily of England became a lady-in-waiting to Eleanor of Provence, and was invested with the Barondom of De La Warr.

## Court Life

William and Joan de Aumale moved to the English court where there adult children also joined. Though seen as a kind man to the royal family, he was a rude, dangerous, and low tempered men to the other nobles which frighted them. He was often nicknamed "The Mad Rudy" by many nobles and people secretly made fun of William for once getting so angry at the German Ambassador, he took of his clothes and broke a table, he had to be stopped by his embarresed wife. Whenever someone was caught making fun of William or one of his children, William would either throw a table at them, or in worse case scenarios, throw them out of windows which he did to the Earl of Hampshire who died after being thrown out of a window, and landing on his head, even the King was afraid of William and once he had to be forecd into a Castle for 2 years before he could leave to calm down. William had his mother's easy fury, but his father's charm to get out of problems like being arrested. William once also, during a fight with the Earl of Berwick, William grabbed a pocket knife, and cut his head off, he then served the decapitated head to the Earl of Derby who screamed once he saw the head. William was sent to a detention for 3 years this time, and another year was added once he killed a guard, William developed more severe anger issues and once he got out, he threatened to kill the king's wife and then attempted to stab her, the King no longer trusted William in court and imprisoned him in Gloucester House under supervision, but William was let out after he paid a sum of money to be freed.

## Imprisonment and Death

Even after the war against John, William still had many enemies, one of them was his own second cousin, Simon de Montfort. At first, Simon had no interest in hurting William, and even attempted to gather William's support to murder Henry, but William refused and feared if he was caught he and de Montfort would be executed. Simon did not give up and even paid William a considerible amount of money to join his side, but William refused and told Simon if he did not stop sending him letters, he would burn down his house with him in it. Simon was not threatened by William and sent him another letter, William ignored it and Simon continued to send William letters asking for support. Meanwhile the Queen of England who was also bothered by Simon's attempts to overthrow the Royal family, Eleanor sent an army to slaughter Simon's family and him, Simon survived but his children, friends, wife, and advisors were killed, and there bodies were dragged threw the streets, Simon was furious and accused both the ruling family and William of doing so, even though William probably did not take part in the slaughter, de Montfort still blamed and Simon led a successful revolt against the family, which in his eyes included William. William and his wife and children were captured and brought to Angevin Castle where the King was also imprisoned, William would later die of a stroke at age 67. His family would be freed a few years after his death.