Richard Plantagenet 1st Earl of Cornwell

     Richard was born on Monday, 5 January 1209 in Winchester, Hampshire, England, at Winchester Castle. He was the son of King John I and Isabella Angouleme.¹ Richard married Isabel Marshall, daughter of William Marshall 4th Earl of Pembroke. and Isabel Fitz Gilbert de Clare, on 30 March 1231 in Fawley, Buckinghamshire, England, at St. Mary's Church.² This marriage took place only 5 months after the death of her first husband. For Isabel, a young widow of 30 years with 6 children, the proposal was opportune especially from a man of Richard's position. For Richard, Isabel had 6 healthy children, three of which were boys, making her an excellent choice for his bride. The marriage did prove to be successful inspite of King Henry's disapproval. After having been married to Richard for almost nine years, as she was dying, Isabel asked to be buried next to her first husband at Tewkesbury Abbey. In December of 1271 Richard had a stroke which left his right side paralyzed and he was unable to speak. Richard departed this life on Saturday, 2 April 1272 in Herefordshire, England, at Berkhamsted Castle.³ He was buried at Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, England, in Hailes Abbey. He was buried next to his second wife Sanchia of Provence and Henry of Almain, his son by his first wife, at Hailes Abbey, which he had founded.