William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1423–1469)

For other people of the same name, see William Herbert (disambiguation).

William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke KG (c. 1423 – 27 July 1469), known as "Black William", was the son of William ap Thomas founder of Raglan Castle and Gwladys ferch Dafydd Gam, and grandson of Dafydd Gam, an adherent of King Henry V of England.

His father had been an ally of Richard of York, and Herbert supported the Yorkist cause in the Wars of the Roses. Herbert was rewarded by King Edward IV with the title Lord Herbert of Raglan in 1461, having assumed an English-style surname in place of the Welsh patronymic and invested as a Knight of the Garter. In 1468 he was promoted to Earl of Pembroke. He obtained custody of the young Henry, Earl of Richmond, whom he planned to marry to his own daughter. However, he soon fell out with his great rival, Warwick "the Kingmaker", who turned against the king. Herbert was executed by the Lancastrians, now led by Warwick, after the Battle of Edgecote Moor, near Banbury.

Herbert was succeeded by his legitimate son, William, but the earldom was surrendered in 1479. It was later revived for a grandson, another William Herbert, the son of Black William's illegitimate son, Sir Richard Herbert of Ewyas.

Marriage and children

He married Anne Devereux, daughter of Walter Devereux, Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Elizabeth Merbury. They had at least ten children:

• William Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (5 March 1451 – 16 July 1491).
• Sir Walter Herbert. (c. 1452 - d. 16 September 1507) Married Anne Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, sister to the Duke of Buckingham.
• Sir George Herbert of St. Julians.
• Philip Herbert of Lanyhangel.
• Cecilie Herbert.
• Maud Herbert, Countess of Northumberland. Married Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland.
• Katherine Herbert. Married George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent.
• Anne Herbert. Married John Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Powis, 9th Lord of Powys (died 1497).
• Isabel Herbert. Married Sir Thomas Cokesey.
• Margaret Herbert. Married first Thomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount Lisle and secondly Sir Henry Bodringham.

William had two illegitimate children but the identity of their mother or mothers are uncertain:

• Sir Richard Herbert of Ewyas. Father of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1551 creation). Probably son of Maud, daughter of Adam ap Howell Graunt (Gwynn).
• Sir George Herbert. Most likely the son of Frond Verch Hoesgyn. Married Sybil Croft.

External links

• A listing of his descendants

Peerage of England
Preceded by New Creation	Earl of Pembroke 1468–1469	Succeeded by William Herbert