Great Knights of the Real Middle Ages William Marshall William Marshal rose from obscure birth to become the regent of England. Throughout his biography, written by his friend Henry of Huntington, William is praised for his loyalty, strategy, and chivalry which is well demonstrated in numerous tales. In one story William is travelling to a tournament. Weary, William stopped to rest by the road only to be awoken by the passing clatter of horses. Curious William rides off followed by his squire. Upon reaching them William finds a well-dressed couple riding fine horses. Without as much as a how do you do, William rode up, seized the man by his sleeve and inquired about his name, origin and destination. When the man broke from William’s grasp with a unsatisfactory reply. William rose to the challenge and declaring, “So you want a fight Squire my sword.” At this belligerent response the couple took off in flight but William caught the man’s cap and pulled it off revealing the tonsure of a monk. William was very curious about this so he rounded up the couple for an interrogation. The couple explained that they were in love so had eloped and planned to live off the interest from a 48 pound investment. The mention of usury was too much for William who seized the money and left the couple by the side of the road. Reginald De Chattelon Reginald was a younger son of a French noble who went to the Middle East to find his fortune in the Holy Land. Using his good looks he seduced the widow of the Count of Tripolis, married her without permission, and bribed the King of Jerusalem to accept him as count. Once established Reginald set out to pay the bribe by raiding caravans. This infuriated the Moslems and was not profitable enough for the new count so he sacked the Christian Island of Crete. Having infuriated all powers around him, Reginald was trapped, captured, and imprisoned in Mosul for 15 years. The story should end here but, unfortunately for the Christians, they ransomed Reginald. Freed he immediately seized the desert fortress of Karak and returned to his caravan raiding ways despite a truce which had gained him his freedom. Immune in his fortress from sieges by both Moslems and Christians Reginald captured a caravan of lumber. While many would have seen this as a loss Reginald saw an opportunity and captured a port on the Red Sea, built ships, raided the pilgrimage routes before finally being forced back a mere 60 miles from the holy city of Mecca. Returning to Karak Reginald consoles himself by capturing Saladin’s Sister and refusing to return her. Finally Saladin could take no more of Reginald’s reign of terror and so he declared a Jihad on the Christians. As an enemy of the enemy Reginald reconciled himself with the King of Jerusalem and convinces the Christians to march trough the least hospitable desert in the whole area to surprise Saladin who was camped at the only water nearby. In the blood bath that follows the Kingdom of Jerusalem is conquered and the crusading states virtually wiped out never to be reestablished all over the actions of a single knight called the best strategist and most Chivalrous opponent of the infidels.