William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1423-1469)
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William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (c. 1423 – 1469), known as "Black William", was the grandson of Dafydd Gam, an adherent of King Henry V of England.

Herbert supported the Yorkist faction during the Wars of the Roses, as had his father, William ap Thomas. 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. 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.
• 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, 2nd Lord of Powis.
• 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).
• Sir George Herbert of Swansea. Married Elizabeth Berkeley,

External links

• A listing of his descedants