DE MERLAY, Lord Ralph
Abt 1118 - Bef 1157 (< 38 years)Set As Default Person
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Name DE MERLAY, Ralph [1] Title Lord Birth Abt 1118 Morpeth, Northumberland, England Gender Male Royalty & Nobility Lord of Morpeth Web Address https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpeth,_Northumberland Web Address https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newminster_Abbey Web Address https://homepages.rpi.edu/~holmes/Hobbies/Genealogy2/ps22/ps22_319.htm Web Address https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Merlay-3 Name Ranulph Religion 1137 Northumberland, England Founded Newminster Abbey (Cisterian) in Northumberland Death Bef 1157 Morpeth, Northumberland, England Person ID I17581 My Genealogy Last Modified 15 Jul 2024
Family DUNBAR, Juliana of, b. 1112 d. 1160 (Age 48 years) Children 1. DE MERLAY, Roger, b. 1140, Morpeth, Northumberland, England d. 1188, Morpeth, Northumberland, England (Age 48 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] Family ID F12903 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 15 Jul 2024
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Event Map = Link to Google Earth
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Photos Morpeth Castle Gatehouse
Albums Knights and Nobility (3)
Royals are/were the monarchs and their immediate family. See the following Wiki article re: royalty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_family
Nobles are/were the highest social class and generally held land or an office in exchange for allegiance and services to a monarch or higher-ranking nobleman. See the following Wiki article re: nobility: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobility
Nobility and Knights: Understanding Their Roles and Distinctions
Nobility is a broad social class that includes individuals holding titles, typically hereditary but sometimes granted by a monarch. Positioned immediately below royalty, this class encompasses ranks such as dukes, earls, and counts in the British system. While it's rare for commoners to ascend into nobility, history has seen such occurrences due to factors like wealth, military prowess, or royal favor.
Knights represent a distinct class within the nobility. They were essentially professional cavalrymen, often of high birth, who achieved their privileged military status after undergoing rigorous training as a page and squire. The journey to knighthood involved several stages:
As a Page: A young boy would start learning about horses, hunting, and weaponry.
Becoming a Squire: Around age 14, showing potential, he would assist a full knight, honing his skills with weapons and armor.
Knighthood: Between ages 18 and 21, he could be knighted by a lord or another knight, typically in an elaborate initiation ceremony.
Knights were renowned as the most-feared and best-protected warriors on medieval battlefields. They were expected to uphold the chivalric traditions of bravery, strength, skill in battle, respect for women, defense of the weak and poor, and generosity. Off the battlefield, knights were known for their chivalry, often wealthy and of high status. Their roles extended to guarding a baron and his castle, fighting in wars for their sovereign and the Church, and participating in medieval tournaments.
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Notes - The first written mention of the town of Morpeth is from 1080, when the de Merlay family was granted the barony of Morpeth. The meaning of the town's name is uncertain, but it may refer to its position on the road to Scotland and a murder which occurred on that road. The de Merlay family built two castles in the town in the late 11th century and the 13th century. The town was granted its coat of arms in 1552. By the mid-1700s it had become one of the main markets in England
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Sources - [S1747] Gary Boyd Roberts, The Royal Descents of 900 Immigrants, (Name: Genealogical Publishing Company; Location: Baltimore, Maryland; Date: 2018;), Volume II; pgs 857-858.
- [S1747] Gary Boyd Roberts, The Royal Descents of 900 Immigrants, (Name: Genealogical Publishing Company; Location: Baltimore, Maryland; Date: 2018;), Volume II; pgs 857-858.