William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (died 1469)
William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke KG, known as "Black William", was a Welsh nobleman, soldier, politician, and courtier. He 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. In 1461 Herbert was rewarded by King Edward IV with the title Baron Herbert of Raglan, and was invested as a Knight of the Garter.
Soon after the decisive Yorkist victory at the Battle of Towton in 1461, Herbert replaced Jasper Tudor as Earl of Pembroke which gave him control of Pembroke Castle. However, he fell out with Lord Warwick "the Kingmaker" in 1469, when Warwick turned against the King. Herbert was denounced by Warwick and the Duke of Clarence as one of the king's "evil advisers". William and his brother Richard were executed by the Lancastrians, now led by Warwick, after the Battle of Edgecote Moor, near Banbury.
Herbert was succeeded by his 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 had three illegitimate sons but the identities of their mothers are unconfirmed:
- Sir Richard Herbert of Ewyas. Father of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke. Probably son of Maud, daughter of Adam ap Howell Graunt.
- Sir George Herbert. The son of Frond verch Hoesgyn. Married Sybil Croft.
- Sir William Herbert of Troye. Son of Frond verch Hoesgyn. Married, second, Blanche Whitney see Blanche Milborne. They had two sons.
