Barons and castellans · Kingdom of England · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Marshwood

The Marshwood Vale in the far west of Dorset, inland from Bridport and Lyme, is the Mandevilles' country.

Their castle is not yet built: John will raise William de Mandeville to the barony of Marshwood in 1205 and the castle follows between 1205 and 1215.

Who he is

Name
The Mandeville family of Marshwood (holder on 1 January 1200 not pinned)
Title
Lord of Marshwood
Since
Not pinned
Family
A Mandeville line distinct from the earls of Essex; William de Mandeville is made baron of Marshwood by John in 1205
Confidence
low

The castle was built only after 1205 (first recorded as built in 1215).

Overlord

King John

What it holds

  • Marshwood and the manors of the Marshwood Vale (extent not pinned)

Allies and rivals

Neighbours: the royal borough of Bridport, the manors of Sherborne Abbey around Lyme.

How things stand that morning

Held by the Mandevilles; no castle yet.

Wealth

Clay vale dairy and cattle country. No figures.

Military

No castle in 1200.

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. 1205John makes William de Mandeville baron of Marshwood; the castle is built 1205-15.Depends on: Royal favour Stopped by: Outside 1200

Places of note

  • Marshwood: Manor; castle site of 1205-15

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Only the 1205 elevation and the castle's dates are recorded in the source checked.

On the map: Extent not known; drawn as the vale's centre.

Primary sources for England

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

  • Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond, Jocelin of Brakelond (about 1198 to 1203). An inside account of Bury St Edmunds under Abbot Samson, written while the events were fresh. Read online
  • Chronicle of Melrose, Anonymous (monks of Melrose abbey) (about 1173 to 1270, in many hands; the 1200 entries are near contemporary). The main Scottish annal for the year, kept at a Cistercian house on the Tweed. Read online
  • Chronicle of Roger of Howden, Roger of Howden (about 1192 to 1201). The fullest single narrative for the year. Read online
  • Chronicle of the Princes, Anonymous (Welsh translation of a lost Latin chronicle kept at Strata Florida) (Latin original to about 1282, compiled from contemporary annals; Welsh versions about 1300 and later). The native Welsh record of the year. Read online
  • Chronicle; Deeds of the Kings, Gervase of Canterbury (Chronica about 1188 to 1199; Gesta Regum about 1199 to 1210). The Chronica stops in 1199, so for 1200 the witness is the briefer Gesta Regum, which notes John's peace with Philip, the coronation of Isabella at Westminster on 8 October 1200, and matters touching Canterbury: the archbishop Hubert Walter as chancellor, the cathedral priory's quarrel with him, and the Lambeth college dispute lately settled by the pope. Read online
  • English Chronicle of Ralph of Coggeshall, Ralph of Coggeshall (about 1200 to 1224, in stages). Short but independent entries for 1200 from a Cistercian house in Essex: John's levy on the Cistercians and the carucage, the peace with Philip, the king's new marriage and the queen's coronation, and the death of Hugh of Lincoln. Read online
  • Flowers of History, Roger of Wendover (about 1220 to 1235 at St Albans). For 1200 Wendover is mostly Howden rewritten, so he is a second witness only where he adds St Albans material: a long account of Hugh of Lincoln's last months, death and funeral, and anecdotes about John's conduct toward the Cistercians and his new queen. Read online
  • Images of History, Ralph de Diceto (about 1188 to 1202). A London view of the year from the dean of St Paul's, who knew the justiciar and the bishops personally. Read online

22 more in the sources library for The British Isles.

Sources and studies

  1. Marshwood Castle (Wikipedia)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.