Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke

By calculating back from the date of his coming of age, Gilbert must have been the child with which his mother was pregnant during the insurrection against the Marshals in Leinster in 1207, and so was born in Ireland at the beginning of his father's political exile there.Gilbert took the opportunity to settle scores with the rival Welsh lord of Caerleon, which led to an intervention by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth of Gwynedd and a subsequent climbdown.Gilbert was bound in honour to punish those responsible, especially as he had to establish his credentials as a knight and the head of the powerful Marshal affinity in England, Wales and Ireland.This brought the full weight of the whole Marshal clan and their powerful relatives and vassals against Fitz Gerald until he undertook to make restitution for Earl Richard's death.Even so, the notorious antagonism between the aristocratic groups had so disturbed the political community and court that when Earl Gilbert died violently on the tournament field of Ware on 27 June 1241 it was commonly believed that agents of the Fitz Geralds had a hand in the affair.There was some truth in it, as his inability to manage the magnificent but wild Spanish stallion he had selected for the day's sport led to his being thrown from his horse and dragged for some distance on the ground.