Patrick of Salisbury, 1st Earl of Salisbury ( 1122 – 1168) was an Anglo-Norman

nobleman Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

, and the uncle of the famous

William Marshal William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1146 or 1147 – 14 May 1219), also called William the Marshal (Norman French: ', French: '), was an Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman during High Medieval England who served five English kings: Henry ...

. His parents were Walter of Salisbury and Sibyl de Chaworth. Before 1141, Patrick was constable of

Salisbury Salisbury ( , ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers River Avon, Hampshire, Avon, River Nadder, Nadder and River Bourne, Wi ...

, a powerful local official but not a nobleman. That year, Patrick married his sister, Sibyl, to John fitzGilbert the Marshal, who had been a local rival of his, and transferred his allegiance from King

Stephen Stephen or Steven is an English given name, first name. It is particularly significant to Christianity, Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is w ...

to the

Empress Matilda Empress Matilda (10 September 1167), also known as Empress Maud, was one of the claimants to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. The daughter and heir of Henry I, king of England and ruler of Normandy, she went to ...

. This political move gained him his earldom, and the friendship of John the Marshal. Patrick's nephew, William Marshal, would go on to become regent of England during the minority of Henry III. For a time William served as a household knight with Patrick during the latter's time as governor of

Poitou Poitou ( , , ; ; Poitevin: ''Poetou'') was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. Both Poitou and Poitiers are named after the Pictones Gallic tribe. Geography The main historical cities are Poitiers (historical ...

. The Earl of Salisbury minted his own coins, struck in the county town of Salisbury during the so-called "baronial issues" of 1135–1153. Only four examples have survived, three of which are in the Conte collection. Patrick married twice, his second wife being Ela, daughter of William III Talvas, Duke of

Alençon Alençon (, , ; ) is a commune in Normandy, France, and the capital of the Orne department. It is situated between Paris and Rennes (about west of Paris) and a little over north of Le Mans. Alençon belongs to the intercommunality of Alen� ...

and

Ponthieu Ponthieu (; ; ) was one of six feudal counties that eventually merged to become part of the Province of Picardy, in northern France.Dunbabin.France in the Making. Ch.4. The Principalities 888-987 Its chief town is Abbeville. History Ponthieu p ...

, whom he married in 1149. Ela was widow of William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey. Patrick and Ela had a son,

William William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...

, and three others, including Walter and Philip. He was killed at

Poitiers Poitiers is a city on the river Clain in west-central France. It is a commune in France, commune, the capital of the Vienne (department), Vienne department and the historical center of Poitou, Poitou Province. In 2021, it had a population of 9 ...

, France on 27 March 1168 in an ambush by forces of

Guy of Lusignan Guy of Lusignan ( 1150 – 18 July 1194) was King of Jerusalem, first as husband and co-ruler of Queen Sibylla from 1186 to 1190 then as disputed ruler from 1190 to 1192. He was also Lord of Cyprus from 1192 to 1194. A French Poitevin kni ...

References

* Barlow, Frank. ''The Feudal Kingdom of England 1042–1216'' London: Longman Group Limited, 1961. {{DEFAULTSORT:Salisbury Salisbury, Patrick, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Patrick, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Patrick, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Patrick, 1st Earl of 1 High sheriffs of Wiltshire Salisbury, Patrick, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Patrick, 1st Earl of Year of birth uncertain People of The Anarchy Peers created by Empress Matilda Patrick