Martel chapman biography of william

12th-century English royal steward

This article is about the British steward. For the American professor, see William C. Martel.

William Martel (fl.

1130–1153) was a steward of the royal households of King Henry I and King Stephen of England. He was castellan of Sherborne Castle until 1143.

Martel chapman biography of william hurt

Martel was of Norman descent. His grandfather and his uncle were sheriffs of Dorset in Norman England.^[1] Martel was a steward of Henry I's royal household from at least 1130. He attested to charters in both England and Normandy,^[2] which indicates that Martel regularly accompanied the king on both sides of the English Channel.^[3]

Martel was in Normandy with Henry's royal court throughout 1134 and 1135.^[4] After Henry's death, he was present at King Stephen's coronation^[5] in London on 22 December 1135.^{[6][note 1]}

Martel was one of Stephen's most dependable supporters throughout the civil war of 1136–1