Home > William Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury

He was the eldest son of William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Catherine Grandison, and succeeded his father as earl in 1344.

Montacute was contracted to marry Joan of Kent, and did so without knowing that she had already secretly married Thomas Holland. After several years of living together, her contract with Montacute was annulled by the Pope in 1349.

In 1350 he was one of the first Knights of the Garter. He was a commander of the English forces in France in many of the following years, serving as commander of the rear guard of the army of Edward the Black Prince's army in 1355, and again at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356, and further serving in 1357, 1359, and 1360. Later in 1360 he was one of the commissioners that negotiated the Treaty of Brétigny.

During the quieter years that followed the treaty, Montacute served on the king's council. But in 1369 he returned the field, serving in John of Gaunt's expedition to northern France, and then in other raids and expeditions, and on some commissions that attempted to negotiate truces with the French.

Montacute helped Richard II put down the rebellion of Wat Tyler. In 1385 he accompanied Richard on his Scottish expedition.

In 1392/3 he sold the Lordship of the Isle of Man to William le Scope of Bolton.

He married Elizabeth, daughter of John de Mohun, 9th Lord de Mohun of Dunster, by who he had a son and two daughters. The son, Sir William Montacute, married Elizabeth D'Arundelle FitzalanElizabeth D'Arundelle Fitzalan (b. about 1366 in Derbyshire, England, d. July 8, 1425 in Heveringham, England. The daughter of Richard Fitzalan, 11th Earl of Arundel, Elizabeth had four husbands and at least five children: William Montacute (before 1378), daughter of Richard Fitzalan, 11th Earl of ArundelRichard Fitzalan, 11th Earl of Arundel and 10th Earl of Surrey ( 1346 September 21, 1397, beheaded) was an English nobleman and military commander. He was the son of Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel and Eleanor of Lancaster. In 1377 he was Admiral o, but was killed in a tournament in 1383, leaving no children. When the elder William Montacute died in 1397 the earldom was inherited by his nephew John Montacute, 3rd Earl of SalisburyJohn Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury (c. 1350- January 5, 1400) was an English nobleman, one of the few who remained loyal to Richard II to the very end. He was the son of Sir John Montacute and Margaret de Monthermer. His father was the younger brother.

One of his sisters, Philippa (d. January 5, 1382), married Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of MarchRoger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March (1328 February 26, 1360) was an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years War. He was the son of Edmund Mortimer, who was the son of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March. His mother was Elizabeth Badle.