Earl of Pembroke
King Stephen of England created the title Earl of Pembroke in 1138. This act followed a severe defeat of Norman forces by Welsh troops two years prior. The region became a county palatine with Pembrokeshire as its center. Gilbert de Clare received the earldom as a reward for building Pembroke Castle. He was already Lord of Striguil, now known as Chepstow. His wife Isabel de Beaumont had been Henry I's former mistress. Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, inherited the family lands but faced suspicion from King Henry II. In 1168, he led an expedition to Ireland supporting Diarmait Mac Murchada. He took Waterford and Dublin in 1170 before Henry II invaded himself. Strongbow died in 1176 after bitter struggles with Irish magnates. His son Gilbert died young in 1185 without formal investment. Isabel de Clare became Countess of Pembroke in her own right until 1220.
William Marshal married Isabel de Clare in August 1189 at age forty-three. King John created him the first Earl of Pembroke in 1199. Marshal served loyally against French rebels during the First Barons' War. He signed Magna Carta in 1215 and became Regent of the kingdom upon King John's death that same year. The seventy-year-old Marshal defeated rebels and reissued Magna Carta to secure peace. He fell ill early in 1219 and died on the 14th of May at his manor of Caversham near Reading. His eldest son William Marshal died in 1231 after years of warfare in Wales and Ireland. Richard Marshal, the third earl, became leader of the baronial party opposing Henry III. He refused to visit the king at Gloucester in August 1233 fearing treachery. Henry declared him a traitor and he crossed to Ireland where Peter des Roches instigated attacks. Richard was overpowered and wounded in April 1234, dying as a prisoner. Gilbert Marshal died in 1241 leaving no male heirs. Anselm Marshal, the sixth earl, died in December 1245 ending the direct line.
Sir Jasper Tudor held the title Earl of Pembroke from 1452 until 1461 when it was forfeited for twenty-four years during Yorkist dominance. He was half-brother to King Henry VI and a Lancastrian supporter. Following Jasper's attainder, Sir William Herbert became Baron Herbert by Edward IV in 1468. Herbert took Jasper Tudor prisoner during the civil war and received the Earldom of Pembroke that same year. The second earl surrendered his title to Edward IV ten years after acceding. He received the Earldom of Huntingdon instead. In 1551, the grandson of William Herbert, first earl, was newly created Earl of Pembroke. Anne Boleyn received the Marquessate of Pembroke on the 1st of September 1532 before her marriage to Henry VIII. She was found guilty of treason and executed in May 1536. The title became either forfeit or extinct at her death without male children. Wilton House near Salisbury remained the residence of the Earls of Pembroke after monastic lands were granted to Herbert.
William Herbert, third earl, served as Lord Chamberlain from 1615 to 1625 and Lord Steward from 1626 until 1630. Thomas Tesdale and Richard Wightwick refounded Broadgates Hall in 1624 naming it Pembroke College in his honor. He died in London on the 10th of April 1630 leaving no sons. His brother Philip Herbert became fourth earl and chief favorite of James I due to his comely person and passion for hunting. King James created him Earl of Montgomery and Baron Herbert of Shurland in 1605. Since 1630 when he succeeded to the Earldom of Pembroke, the family head carried both titles. Philip worked to bring peace between the king and Scots in 1639 and 1640. When parliament renewed quarrels with Charles I in 1648, he deserted the king who deprived him of chamberlain office. He was elected member for Berkshire in 1649 despite being a peer. The first Folio of Shakespeare is inscribed to him and his brother as incomparable pair of brethren. Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, lived at Wilton House where she hosted Queen Elizabeth in 1599.
Pembroke College Cambridge established in 1347 bears the name of its founder Marie de St Pol. She was wife of Aymer de Valence second earl of the third creation. Pembroke College Oxford founded in 1624 honors William Herbert third earl of the tenth creation. He served as Chancellor of the University at that time. Pembroke Hall dormitory on Belmont University campus in Nashville Tennessee derives from Pembroke Somerset character in Thaddeus of Warsaw novel published 1803. Pembroke Parish Bermuda named for William Herbert third earl of the tenth creation. Pembroke Malta authorized in 1859 by Sidney Herbert first Baron Herbert of Lea. Robert Henry twelfth earl died in France without issue buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery Paris in 1862. George Augustus eleventh earl served as ambassador extraordinary to Vienna in 1807. Henry ninth earl known as architect Earl largely responsible for Westminster Bridge construction.
William Alexander Sidney Herbert became eighteenth Earl of Pembroke and fifteenth Earl of Montgomery upon his father's death in 2003. His son Reginald Henry Michael Herbert born in 2012 serves as heir apparent. The family seat remains Wilton House in Wiltshire for four hundred years. Philip seventh earl notorious for bouts of homicidal mania died in 1683. Thomas eighth earl served as Lord Privy Seal until 1699. He was plenipotentiary at congress of Ryswick in 1697. Henry tenth earl wrote The Method of Breaking Horses in 1762. Sidney Charles sixteenth earl spent time serving Duke of Kent and served trustee of National Gallery. Henry seventeenth earl had significant career as documentarian and film director before succeeding in 1969. All subsidiary titles include Baron Herbert of Cardiff created 1551, Baron Herbert of Shurland created 1605, and Baron Herbert of Lea created 1861. Only Barony of Herbert of Lea belongs to Peerage of United Kingdom while others remain English peerages.
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Common questions
When was the title Earl of Pembroke first created and by whom?
King Stephen of England created the title Earl of Pembroke in 1138. This act followed a severe defeat of Norman forces by Welsh troops two years prior.
Who was the first Earl of Pembroke to be created after William Marshal married Isabel de Clare?
King John created William Marshal the first Earl of Pembroke in 1199. Marshal served loyally against French rebels during the First Barons' War and signed Magna Carta in 1215.
What happened to Anne Boleyn's Marquessate of Pembroke on the 1st of September 1532?
Anne Boleyn received the Marquessate of Pembroke on the 1st of September 1532 before her marriage to Henry VIII. She was found guilty of treason and executed in May 1536, causing the title to become either forfeit or extinct at her death without male children.
Which university college named after William Herbert third earl was founded in 1624?
Pembroke College Oxford founded in 1624 honors William Herbert third earl of the tenth creation. He served as Chancellor of the University at that time.
When did Robert Henry twelfth earl die and where is he buried?
Robert Henry twelfth earl died in France without issue and is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery Paris in 1862.
Who currently holds the title Earl of Pembroke following the death of his father in 2003?
William Alexander Sidney Herbert became eighteenth Earl of Pembroke and fifteenth Earl of Montgomery upon his father's death in 2003. His son Reginald Henry Michael Herbert born in 2012 serves as heir apparent.