Knight, 1st Baron Monthermer, Earl of Hertford, Earl of Gloucester, Earl of Atholl. Keeper of Cardiff Castle, Guardian and Lieutenant in Scotland, Warden of the Royal Forests south of Trent. In right of his first wife, of Tonbridge, Kent. Unknown parentage.
Husband of Joan of Acre, married early 1297 in secret. They had two sons and one daughter, and one still born child:
* Sir Thomas, 2nd Lord Monthermer, slain at the Battle of Sluys
* Sir Edward, died as a young man of illness
* Mary, who married Duncan of Fife
Some records list another daughter, Joan, a nun at Amesbury Abbey.
There is some debate regarding a second wife. Please see notes and arguments here.
Per Douglas Richardson's Plantagenet Ancestry and Magna Carta Ancestry: Ralph married secondly before 20 Nov 1318 to Isabel le Despenser, daughter of Sir Hugh le Despenser, and Isabel de Beauchamp. She was the widow of Sir Gilbert de Clare who died in 1307 and Sir John Hastings who died in 1313.
Ralph was employed in the household of Sir Gilbert de Clare (1243-1295) and Joan of Acre. When Gilbert died, Ralph and Joan married, which enraged her father, King Edward I, who imprisoned Ralph in Bristol Castle, and Edward seized all of Joan's lands. As per the St Albans chronicler, she told her father, "No one sees anything wrong if a great earl marries a poor and lowly woman. Why should there be anything wrong if a countess marries a young and promising man?" Anthony Bec, the Bishop of Durham helped to end the feud, and her lands were restored to her on 31 July 1297. The king then became very attached to his new son-in-law.
Ralph was summoned to Parliament as the Earl of Gloucester and Hertford while his step son, Gilbert, was still a minor, to be returned to the boy upon Joan's death. He served with the King's overseas expeditions and against the Scots, fought at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, and was at the siege of Caerlaverock in 1300. He signed the Baron's letter to Pope Boniface in 1301.
In 1306, Ralph warned Robert de Brus who was then at the English courts that Edward had intentions to arrest Robert the following day. His warning was a twelve pence and a pair of spurs, sent as if to repay a loan. Robert understood the hint, he and his squire left for Scotland immediately.
Joan died in childbirth with their fourth, stillborn child 07 April 1307, buried with the babe in the Austin Friars at Clare, Suffolk.
Ralph was again summoned to Parliament in 1309 to 1324 as Raulpho de Monte Hermerii. In 1309, he was granted the manors of Stokenham, Oakford, Pyworthy and Sterte, Devon, and Hunton, Hampshire. He fought at Bannockburn in 1314, but taken prisoner, and released by Robert de Brus without ransom for Ralph's assistance in 1306, but not before entertaining Ralph at his table. Sir Marmaduke Tweng was also captured, entertained and released with Ralph.
In 1315 Ralph was given permission for a pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain.
Husband of Joan of Acre, married early 1297 in secret. They had two sons and one daughter, and one still born child:
* Sir Thomas, 2nd Lord Monthermer, slain at the Battle of Sluys
* Sir Edward, died as a young man of illness
* Mary, who married Duncan of Fife
Some records list another daughter, Joan, a nun at Amesbury Abbey.
There is some debate regarding a second wife. Please see notes and arguments here.
Per Douglas Richardson's Plantagenet Ancestry and Magna Carta Ancestry: Ralph married secondly before 20 Nov 1318 to Isabel le Despenser, daughter of Sir Hugh le Despenser, and Isabel de Beauchamp. She was the widow of Sir Gilbert de Clare who died in 1307 and Sir John Hastings who died in 1313.
Ralph was employed in the household of Sir Gilbert de Clare (1243-1295) and Joan of Acre. When Gilbert died, Ralph and Joan married, which enraged her father, King Edward I, who imprisoned Ralph in Bristol Castle, and Edward seized all of Joan's lands. As per the St Albans chronicler, she told her father, "No one sees anything wrong if a great earl marries a poor and lowly woman. Why should there be anything wrong if a countess marries a young and promising man?" Anthony Bec, the Bishop of Durham helped to end the feud, and her lands were restored to her on 31 July 1297. The king then became very attached to his new son-in-law.
Ralph was summoned to Parliament as the Earl of Gloucester and Hertford while his step son, Gilbert, was still a minor, to be returned to the boy upon Joan's death. He served with the King's overseas expeditions and against the Scots, fought at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, and was at the siege of Caerlaverock in 1300. He signed the Baron's letter to Pope Boniface in 1301.
In 1306, Ralph warned Robert de Brus who was then at the English courts that Edward had intentions to arrest Robert the following day. His warning was a twelve pence and a pair of spurs, sent as if to repay a loan. Robert understood the hint, he and his squire left for Scotland immediately.
Joan died in childbirth with their fourth, stillborn child 07 April 1307, buried with the babe in the Austin Friars at Clare, Suffolk.
Ralph was again summoned to Parliament in 1309 to 1324 as Raulpho de Monte Hermerii. In 1309, he was granted the manors of Stokenham, Oakford, Pyworthy and Sterte, Devon, and Hunton, Hampshire. He fought at Bannockburn in 1314, but taken prisoner, and released by Robert de Brus without ransom for Ralph's assistance in 1306, but not before entertaining Ralph at his table. Sir Marmaduke Tweng was also captured, entertained and released with Ralph.
In 1315 Ralph was given permission for a pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain.
Knight, 1st Baron Monthermer, Earl of Hertford, Earl of Gloucester, Earl of Atholl. Keeper of Cardiff Castle, Guardian and Lieutenant in Scotland, Warden of the Royal Forests south of Trent. In right of his first wife, of Tonbridge, Kent. Unknown parentage.
Husband of Joan of Acre, married early 1297 in secret. They had two sons and one daughter, and one still born child:
* Sir Thomas, 2nd Lord Monthermer, slain at the Battle of Sluys
* Sir Edward, died as a young man of illness
* Mary, who married Duncan of Fife
Some records list another daughter, Joan, a nun at Amesbury Abbey.
There is some debate regarding a second wife. Please see notes and arguments here.
Per Douglas Richardson's Plantagenet Ancestry and Magna Carta Ancestry: Ralph married secondly before 20 Nov 1318 to Isabel le Despenser, daughter of Sir Hugh le Despenser, and Isabel de Beauchamp. She was the widow of Sir Gilbert de Clare who died in 1307 and Sir John Hastings who died in 1313.
Ralph was employed in the household of Sir Gilbert de Clare (1243-1295) and Joan of Acre. When Gilbert died, Ralph and Joan married, which enraged her father, King Edward I, who imprisoned Ralph in Bristol Castle, and Edward seized all of Joan's lands. As per the St Albans chronicler, she told her father, "No one sees anything wrong if a great earl marries a poor and lowly woman. Why should there be anything wrong if a countess marries a young and promising man?" Anthony Bec, the Bishop of Durham helped to end the feud, and her lands were restored to her on 31 July 1297. The king then became very attached to his new son-in-law.
Ralph was summoned to Parliament as the Earl of Gloucester and Hertford while his step son, Gilbert, was still a minor, to be returned to the boy upon Joan's death. He served with the King's overseas expeditions and against the Scots, fought at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, and was at the siege of Caerlaverock in 1300. He signed the Baron's letter to Pope Boniface in 1301.
In 1306, Ralph warned Robert de Brus who was then at the English courts that Edward had intentions to arrest Robert the following day. His warning was a twelve pence and a pair of spurs, sent as if to repay a loan. Robert understood the hint, he and his squire left for Scotland immediately.
Joan died in childbirth with their fourth, stillborn child 07 April 1307, buried with the babe in the Austin Friars at Clare, Suffolk.
Ralph was again summoned to Parliament in 1309 to 1324 as Raulpho de Monte Hermerii. In 1309, he was granted the manors of Stokenham, Oakford, Pyworthy and Sterte, Devon, and Hunton, Hampshire. He fought at Bannockburn in 1314, but taken prisoner, and released by Robert de Brus without ransom for Ralph's assistance in 1306, but not before entertaining Ralph at his table. Sir Marmaduke Tweng was also captured, entertained and released with Ralph.
In 1315 Ralph was given permission for a pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain.
Husband of Joan of Acre, married early 1297 in secret. They had two sons and one daughter, and one still born child:
* Sir Thomas, 2nd Lord Monthermer, slain at the Battle of Sluys
* Sir Edward, died as a young man of illness
* Mary, who married Duncan of Fife
Some records list another daughter, Joan, a nun at Amesbury Abbey.
There is some debate regarding a second wife. Please see notes and arguments here.
Per Douglas Richardson's Plantagenet Ancestry and Magna Carta Ancestry: Ralph married secondly before 20 Nov 1318 to Isabel le Despenser, daughter of Sir Hugh le Despenser, and Isabel de Beauchamp. She was the widow of Sir Gilbert de Clare who died in 1307 and Sir John Hastings who died in 1313.
Ralph was employed in the household of Sir Gilbert de Clare (1243-1295) and Joan of Acre. When Gilbert died, Ralph and Joan married, which enraged her father, King Edward I, who imprisoned Ralph in Bristol Castle, and Edward seized all of Joan's lands. As per the St Albans chronicler, she told her father, "No one sees anything wrong if a great earl marries a poor and lowly woman. Why should there be anything wrong if a countess marries a young and promising man?" Anthony Bec, the Bishop of Durham helped to end the feud, and her lands were restored to her on 31 July 1297. The king then became very attached to his new son-in-law.
Ralph was summoned to Parliament as the Earl of Gloucester and Hertford while his step son, Gilbert, was still a minor, to be returned to the boy upon Joan's death. He served with the King's overseas expeditions and against the Scots, fought at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, and was at the siege of Caerlaverock in 1300. He signed the Baron's letter to Pope Boniface in 1301.
In 1306, Ralph warned Robert de Brus who was then at the English courts that Edward had intentions to arrest Robert the following day. His warning was a twelve pence and a pair of spurs, sent as if to repay a loan. Robert understood the hint, he and his squire left for Scotland immediately.
Joan died in childbirth with their fourth, stillborn child 07 April 1307, buried with the babe in the Austin Friars at Clare, Suffolk.
Ralph was again summoned to Parliament in 1309 to 1324 as Raulpho de Monte Hermerii. In 1309, he was granted the manors of Stokenham, Oakford, Pyworthy and Sterte, Devon, and Hunton, Hampshire. He fought at Bannockburn in 1314, but taken prisoner, and released by Robert de Brus without ransom for Ralph's assistance in 1306, but not before entertaining Ralph at his table. Sir Marmaduke Tweng was also captured, entertained and released with Ralph.
In 1315 Ralph was given permission for a pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain.
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