Mary, 4th Countess of Gloucester

## Mary of England

Countess of Gloucester

Constance of Lancaster

Mary of Lancaster

Elizabeth of Lancaster

Richard of Lancaster

**Mary of England** (C. 1143 - 1179) was the daughter of Henry the Young King and his wife Mary, 3rd Countess of Gloucester. She was born during the reign of her grand-father Henry II of England, and during the co-monarchy of her father King Henry. Mary was the heiress to the Kingdom of England and the Earldom of Gloucester, and the nobles swore an oath to Mary. But this ended in an Empress Matilda like way, after the death of her father in the Cambridge disaster, which her father was killed in battle, she was raised by her mother for a few weeks, before she moved to London, to marry the Earl of Lancaster, the Countess was distraught to leave young Mary behind, she was crowned Co-Queen, for 5 months, before she was deposed by her uncle Richard the Lionheart, who promised Mary the throne after his death, which Mary agreed. Mary was raised by her aunt Constance of England, who indeed treated Mary like her own daughter, even though Constance never liked Mary's mother. Constance betrothed Mary to the Earl of Lancaster who was a newly created peerage holder, Mary became Countess of Lancaster, and later Countess of Gloucester, but when Richard the Lionheart was murdered, King John usurped the throne. Mary led a civil war which most of the English Empire supported her, Mary ceased control of Normandy and set up an army there, the King of Scotland also supported the Countess and gave her an army, she died in 1179 of Yellow fever. Her son briefly made peace with John and co-ruled Normandy, until they once again turned against each other.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Mary of England was born in 1143, as the only child of Henry the Young King and Mary, 3rd Countess of Gloucester. Mary was born in the Duchy of Brittany, her mother was only 13 years old, and her father was only 14, she was moved from Brittany to Dover Castle, which was the main seat of her parents and aunt Constance of England. Mary of England was educated by her aunt Constance in Math, Spelling, Writing, History, Dance, Chess, Music, Horse-back-riding, Archery, and conversation, Constance was also quick to teach her about war and the crusades. But her mother hated Constance and after the lessons, her mother wisked Mary away.

### Will

Mary was set to inherit the following lands of: England, Ireland, Normandy, Aquitaine, Brittany, Anjou, Nantes, Angoulême, Poiters of her dads side, and on her mothers side Gloucester, and Tankerville from her mothers side. England had never had a ruling Queen that had not been disputed, Mary's great-grand-mother Empress Matilda had been an English Queen, but she was defeated by her cousin Stephan of Blois. But Mary was well prepared to become Queen, and she knew it. The will stated Mary should inherit the Earldom of Gloucester, even though Mary's cousin had better claim, Mary's 21 year old cousin had waited all his life to inherit Gloucester, only to be out-taken by Mary. He was not keen on the idea, so Mary's father Henry granted Mary's cousin, the Earldom of Winchester. He was still unhappy, but he had no strong army to invade Gloucester.

### Co-Queen of England

In 1148, her father declared a siege of Cambridge with Mary's aunt Constance. But 5 days into there siege the Cambridge disaster occoured, where her father was killed by Mary's grand-father whom had been long time enemies. Mary's mother rushed Mary all the way to London, to be crowned Queen of England. Mary for now on, would live peacefully in Normandy where she would be protected from her uncles who may wan't to kill her to claim her throne. Mary now heiress was a worthy bride, and her mother was keen on marrying her to a rich noble. The Count of Barcelona rushed to London to attempt to make his own heir Raymond of Barcelona Mary's king, if this marriage alliance did happen, Barcelona would have been apart of England, and England would have been the closest ally to the throne of Aragon, but Mary's mother found Raymond of Barcelona a more sutible bride for a few cousins of Mary, Raymond accepted this, and married a cousin of Mary to fu-fill his duty. Mary was then betrothed to the 17 year old, John, 1st Earl of Lancaster, who was granted the title Earl after her led siege to Ireland and invaded the eastern coast. Mary who was only 8, took her marriage vows and they were later married 5 days later, though child marriage was legal, John was not suppose to sleep with Mary, until she hit puberty, or reached the age of 12.

### Desposition and Compensation

Mary's uncle Prince Richard waited so long to become co-King, but Mary replaced him, Richard threatened Mary's mother death if she did not remove Mary in-line of succession, Mary's husband was very furious and put off a good fight against Richard to keep Mary in-line, but John lost, but was not imprisoned, because Richard was impressed with his skills and befriended John and made him his own knight, Mary was captured and brought tor Richard, Richard forced Mary to abdicate her role, but he felt bad leaving Mary with only Gloucester, and promised Mary the throne even if he had kids in Compensation, he granted Mary's husband a Baron title, and gave them a room in the royal palace. Her mother was still in Normandy recovering from a ship-wreck, that was most likely organized by Richard to keep Mary's mother away from Mary.

### Affair with Richard

It was clear according to the council, when Mary turned 12, Richard fell in-love with Mary and often stayed away from his own wife Berengaria of Navarre to sleep with Mary, the council recording in an illustrated manuelscript, that Mary would secretly allow Richard into her chambers when the Earl of Lancaster left for battle. Berengaria of Navarre hated Mary for this, and moved to Berwick, with her ladies to take a break from Richard's love-life. Mary would continue this affair until Richard's imprisonment and murder by her own aunt.

### First child

When Mary was 13, she gave birth to a daughter, Margaret of Lancaster, Margaret of Lancaster was most likely named after the Queen of Scotland, named Margaret of England, who was also Mary's aunt. There were rumors that Margaret was the child of Richard instead of John of Lancaster, but the rumor was cleared up after the child looked everything like John of Lancaster. Margaret of Lancaster was put in the care of Lady Mary Chester, John used Margaret as a pawn in dynastic ambition and quickly betrothed her to the son of the Earl of Pembroke, Mary was not happy about this arrangement, and wanted Margaret to marry the Count of Chartes. But Mary knew better then to agrue at her husband who usually laughed at Mary for agruing. The now King of England Richard also found the Count of Chartes to be a better match, and indeed the 15 year old Count agreed.

### Second Child

While Mary was attending the 8th Crusade along with her husband, she gave birth in Aquitaine, France to there long awaited son, William of Lancaster, who was heir to all, making William a powerful heir. William of Lancaster was indeed the favorite child of John of Lancaster who skipped the 8th Crusade just to be with him, but Mary wen't on Crusade anyway, which her brother Richard was captured by Isabella, Holy Roman Empress, who was also an aunt of Mary, Mary alerted Berengaria of Navarrre who was still in Berwick, that she was now regent. Berengaria was shocked, but she gladly took the roles of duty as regent of England, Mary begged John of Lancaster to leave William in the care of, Lady Mary Chester, and he would go on a crusade with her, but John was to busy celebrating the birth for about 7 months.

## Countess of Gloucester

Mary's mother contracted yellow fever while visiting the Iberian peninsula. Which struck the Iberian peninsula hard in the middle ages, Mary's mother wrote a will stating Mary would be Countess in her own right when she dies, and John could only be co-Earl, Mary's mother was sent to Durham to dictate her will. She died in 1163, leaving the vast Earldom to her daughter who was declared Countess of Gloucester, her husband had no real power, but he was given a genourous 7,000 pounds in compensation. Mary made William of Lancaster her heir, making William heir to both Lancaster and Gloucester.

## Feud over the Throne

Mary's uncle Richard was murdered by Mary's aunt Constance in 1164, the will dictated and stated clearly Mary would inherit the throne, and Mary indeed had support from the King of France, Scotland, and most of the Iberian kingdoms (Except Navarre.) But her uncle John of England wanted the throne as well, John was an unpopular man, because he married Marie of Provence, who was a unpopular noblewoman, but John had enough support from his niece Lord of Luneberg, who desprately needed an ally against the Duchy of Saxony. John successfully usurped the throne, and he was named King, but Mary was outraged, and declared war on John, most of England supported Mary and she and her husband led civil war to England, Mary gave birth to a daughter Constance of Lancaster in a military base, Mary wanted to turn the Earl of Surrey against John, so she betrothed Constance of Lancaster to the heir of the Earl of Surrey. John attempted to invade Gloucester, but the Barons there pledged loyalty to Mary and pushed John out of Gloucester. Mary gave birth a year later to Mary of Lancaster while in Gloucester preparing for a siege of Normandy, when Mary was 4 months old, she was betrothed to the heir to the Earl of Cambridge, who allied himself with Mary, Countess of Gloucester. After that, she and her husband led siege to the Duchy, Mary proclaimed herself co-ruler of Normandy, but she held all the power. A year later, she gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth of Lancaster. Mary despratley still wanted one of her daughters to marry either the Count of Vertus or Chartes, but John of Lancaster had promised the Count of Clermont, that if he had another daughter, the daughter could marry the future Count, so Mary had to suck it in, and let her daughter be betrothed to the Count of Clermont. Mary then attempted to strangle John's teenage Queen, but Mary's assasains were killled by the Queen's guards. Mary still soley believed she was Queen, and King Alexander I of Scotland, gave Mary troops to invade the rest of Normandy. Mary gave birth to her last child in London, who was Richard of Lancaster, he was styled, 1st Baron Culloden.

## Defeat and imprisonment and escape

After Mary defeated the Norman lords that were loyal to John, Mary was even more power-hungry, and with the Lord of Doune's help, Mary made it to Poiters, where she attempted to gain support, but Poiters had always supported John through all the wars, even when he killed an Arch-Bishop. Mary was easily defeated, she was arrested and brought to London where the King ordered Mary be burned at the stake, the night before Mary's supposed execution, Mary was passionate about her escape, she shed no tears and her husband John of Lancaster along with the other local lords secured Mary's release. The fire she was suppose to be burned in had to be taken down as she fled back to Gloucester. John was furious and Mary was kidnapped again while abducted in Oxford, Mary was charged of treason and escaping punishment, and her execution method would be be hanged drawing and courdering. Mary escaped again and put herself in the safety of the King of France. Mary's cheif-minister was boiled alive in a pot.

## Second Civil War

Mary was still looking for her lost throne, after a decade of bloody civil war, and Mary was 31, she knew she was not done fighting. But as she was about to lead siege to London, the 11th Crusade happened. Mary was indeed under pressure by the Pope to join the Crusade, Mary and her 15 year old son made way to Athens. The 11th Crusade in a-way saved John for 3 years, after the crusade, William of Lancaster, John of Lancaster and Mary decided to raid Brittany, that place she was born. John of Lancaster stole a lot of money from John, and then deposed him, but a week after John was deposed, with the help of a few monks and the Lord of Luneberg, he was able to reclaim the throne, but he still was in trouble, he still needed to reclaim Normandy, so he wen't to Poiters where everyone supported him and gave the knights there powerful positions in return for protection, meanwhile Mary and her son William of Lancaster led a raid with the common people of London, John and his new Queen Isabella of Auvergne where forced into hiding in Windsor Castle, Mary let Isabella out, because she was pregnant, Mary's son William of Lancaster was taken prisoner, but he escaped within a day after tricking the guard with blood on the walls, William of Lancaster was known as a masterminded thief and trickster by most historians and people of the time. William of Lancaster had been thirsty for revenge after his mother was imprisoned twice, so William ripped John's best knight into peaces in fury, many knights who were ordered to stop and arrest William where to afraid to get near the reckless William. Mary was no different for her son's lust, she wanted revenge for her lost throne, she wen't to the Queen of France, now Queen Ingeborg of Denmark, and begged Ingeborg for support, Mary used to go to the former Queen, Joan I of Navarre who had been Queen of France, but she died and Louis VIII of France remarried the haughty Ingeborg of Denmark, Ingeborg hated the English for petty reasons and gave Mary her golden cloth instead and wen't back to her castle, Mary then seeked help from the new Queen, Marie de Coucy, Marie was very keen on helping her enemies enemy, and gave Mary a lot of money, and Mary reportdly left her golden cloth Ingeborg gave her on Marie de Coucy's table. Marie turned it into a wrist bracelet. Mary sent an army to Aquitaine, and the fight ended up in a tie, Mary's husband John of Lancaster was killed in battle, and William of Lancaster became 2nd Earl of Lancaster, and 3rd Lord of Glamorgan. Now 34 years old, Mary thought she was to old to fight because of constant cramps on her legs, but she decided to keep fighting for the throne, all 4 of her daughters where already married and had children, only her 15 year old son Richard of Lancaster remained who desprately wanted to leave like his siblings.

## Death

Mary understanding her son wanted to be indepdenent, she sent him to a military camp for crusaders, where a lot of sons of nobles and monarchs were trained. Richard became good friends with the eldest son of the Count Palatine of Burgundy. Mary however was still fighting even though she was still very sick and in pain from cramps, William of Lancaster convinced Mary she could die if she continued to fight, at last Mary retired to Norfolk where her cousin Mary Stewart, Countess of Norfolk was living as the wife of Edmund, 3rd Earl of Norfolk, William and her other children except Richard visited her a lot, Richard of Lancaster rushed to Norfolk for the will, but he only got 500 pounds, but William of Lancaster inherited Gloucester and Tankerville, he made peace with John for only 11 months, before he decided to fight against him again, and take part in a plot to murder King John. Today the current Queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II can trace her ancestors back to Mary, 4th Countess of Gloucester.