Gilbert Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot (1276/77–1346) was an English nobleman. He was the first of his line to hold the title of Baron Talbot, and the lineal ancestor of the

Earls of Shrewsbury Earl of Shrewsbury () is a hereditary title of nobility created twice in the Peerage of England. The second earldom dates to 1442. The holder of the Earldom of Shrewsbury also holds the title of Earl of Waterford (1446) in the Peerage of Ireland ...

Family

Talbot was the son of Richard Talbot, the

feudal baron A feudal baron is a vassal holding a heritable fief called a ''barony'', comprising a specific portion of land, granted by an overlord in return for allegiance and service. Following the end of European feudalism, feudal baronies have largely be ...

of Eccleswall and

Sheriff of Gloucestershire This is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire, who should not be confused with the Sheriffs of the City of Gloucester. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown (in England and Wales the office previously kno ...

, and his wife Sarah Beauchamp, daughter of William de Beauchamp. Burke, John
"A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire
pg. 870 The Talbots were among the

Herefordshire Herefordshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England, bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh ...

gentry, having obtained grants of land there from King

Henry II Henry II may refer to: Kings * Saint Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor (972–1024), crowned King of Germany in 1002, of Italy in 1004 and Emperor in 1014 *Henry II of England (1133–89), reigned from 1154 *Henry II of Jerusalem and Cyprus (1271–1 ...

.Robinson, Charles John
"A History of the Castles of Herefordshire and Their Lords
pp. 52-3 They also had blood ties with the Welsh elite, through Richard Talbot's mother Gwenllian, a daughter of the Welsh prince

Rhys Mechyll Rhys Mechyll (died 1244) was a Welsh prince, Lord of Dinefwr, of the House of Dinefwr and Kingdom of Deheubarth in southern Wales from 1234 to 1244. He was a son of prince Rhys Gryg (died 1234) ("Rhys the Hoarse"), son of prince Rhys ap Gruffydd ...

, whose

arms Arms or ARMS may refer to: *Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons *Armaments or weapons **Fi ...

the Talbots assumed in place of their ancestral coat. Nicolas, Nicholas Harris
"A Synopsis of the Peerage of England"
pp. 633-4 The assumption about Gwenllian however was unfounded as Rhys Mechyll also had male heirsSiddons M P: 'The Development of Welsh Heraldry', Vol. 1, p. 289, NLW 1991. who acceded to the arms of the

House of Dinefwr The Royal House of Dinefwr, also known as the House of Deheubarth, was a cadet branch of the Royal House of Gwynedd, founded by King Cadell ap Rhodri (reign 872–909), son of Rhodri the Great.

. Gilbert Talbot succeeded to his father's estates in 1306, when he was said to be aged about twenty-nine. Charles Stourton, 24th Baron Mowbray
"History of the Noble House of Stourton"
pp. 913-4 Talbot married Anne Boteler, daughter of William Boteler.

Gaveston and Despenser

During the tumultuous reign of

Edward II Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...

, Talbot was aligned with the enemies of two of the king's favorites, Piers de Gaveston and Hugh Despenser. He was implicated for involvement in Gaveston's murder, but was pardoned. Despite his role in the death of the king's favorite, he was appointed to govern

Gloucester Castle Gloucester Castle was a Norman-era royal castle situated in the city of Gloucester in Gloucestershire, England. It was demolished in 1787 and replaced by Gloucester Prison. Early Norman motte and bailey castle It was probably constructe ...

in 1317. Fosbroke, Thomas Dudley
"History of Gloucestershire"
pp. 174-5 Talbot joined

Thomas of Lancaster Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster ( 1278 – 22 March 1322) was an English nobleman of the first House of Lancaster of the royal House of Plantagenet, Plantagenet Dynasty. He was Earl of Lancaster, Earl of Leicester, Leicester, and Earl of Derby, D ...

in the baronial revolt against Despenser, and was heavily fined when the revolt failed. He was also ordered to surrender the governorship of Gloucester to Despenser.

Career under Edward III

Fortunately for Talbot, the penalty against him for his role in the Despenser War was never levied. When

Edward III Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after t ...

took the throne, the fines against him were reversed. In 1328, he was appointed

Lord Chamberlain The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the most senior officer of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom, Royal Household of the United Kingdom, supervising the departments which support and provide advice to the Monarchy of the United Ki ...

. In 1330, he was appointed Justice of South Wales. He was first summoned to Parliament on 5 June 1331, and continued to be summoned through 20 April 1343. This established him as a baron by writ, the first Baron Talbot.

Death and succession

Talbot died in 1346. He was succeeded in his titles and estates by his son, Richard Talbot, 2nd Baron Talbot.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Talbot, Gilbert Talbot, 1st Baron 1270s births 1346 deaths 13th-century English nobility 14th-century English nobility Gilbert Barons Talbot Peers created by Edward III Year of birth uncertain