Catherine Grandison, Countess of Salisbury ( 1304 – 23 November 1349) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

noblewoman, remembered for her relationship with King

Edward III of England Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring ...

and possibly the woman in whose honour the

Order of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, outranked in precedence only by the Victoria Cross and the Georg ...

was originated. She was the daughter of William de Grandison, 1st Baron Grandison, and Sibylla de Tregoz. Her mother was one of two daughters of John de Tregoz, Baron Tregoz (whose arms were blazoned ''Gules two bars gemels in chief a lion passant guardant or''), maternal granddaughter of Fulk IV,

Baron FitzWarin Baron FitzWarin (also written FitzWaryn, FitzWarine, and other spellings) was a title in the Peerage of England created by writ of summons for Fulk V FitzWarin in 1295. His family had been magnates for nearly a century, at least since 1205 when ...

). Catherine married William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury in about 1320. Their children were: *Elizabeth Montacute, b. before 1325, married Hugh le Despencer, Baron le Despencer before 27 April 1341. *

William Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, 4th Baron Montagu, King of Mann, KG (25 June 1328 – 3 June 1397) was an English nobleman and commander in the English army during King Edward III's French campaigns in the Hundred Years War. He was one ...

(1328–1397) *Sibyl Montacute, born 1329, died after 1371, married Sir Edmund FitzAlan, Knt. before 1347. * John de Montacute, 1st Baron Montacute, (1330–1390), father of

John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury John Montagu, 3rd Earl of Salisbury and 5th and 2nd Baron Montagu, KG (c. 1350 – 7 January 1400) was an English nobleman, one of the few who remained loyal to Richard II after Henry IV became king. Early life He was the son of Sir John de ...

. *Philippa Montagu, born 1332, died 1381, married Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March. *Agnes Montagu, contracted to marry John, eldest son of Roger Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Ruthyn. According to Jean Le Bel, King Edward III raped Catherine in 1341, according to the ''True Chronicles'' of Jean le Bel he "left her there unconscious, bleeding from her nose, mouth, and elsewhere", after having relieved a Scottish siege on Wark Castle, where she lived, while her husband was out of the country. An

Elizabethan The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The symbol of Britannia (a female personific ...

play, ''

Edward III Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring r ...

'', deals with this incident. In the play, the

Earl of Warwick Earl of Warwick is one of the most prestigious titles in the peerages of the United Kingdom. The title has been created four times in English history, and the name refers to Warwick Castle and the town of Warwick. Overview The first creation ...

is the unnamed countess's father. In around 1348, the Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III and it is recorded by

Jean Froissart Jean Froissart (Old and Middle French: ''Jehan'', – ) (also John Froissart) was a French-speaking medieval author and court historian from the Low Countries who wrote several works, including ''Chronicles'' and ''Meliador'', a long Arthurian ...

, ''Chronicles'' that he did so after an incident at a ball when the "Countess of Salisbury" dropped a garter and the king picked it up. It is assumed that Froissart is referring either to Catherine or to his daughter-in-law,

Joan of Kent Joan, Countess of Kent (29 September 1326/1327 – 7 August 1385), known as The Fair Maid of Kent, was the mother of King Richard II of England, her son by her third husband, Edward the Black Prince, son and heir apparent of King Edward III. ...

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Salisbury, Catherine Grandison, Countess of 1349 deaths Mistresses of English royalty 14th-century English people English countesses Daughters of barons Year of birth uncertain

Catherine Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christ ...

14th-century English women