Earl of Salisbury

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Margaret Pole,
8th Countess of Salisbury

Earl of Salisbury is a title in the that has been created several times in British history. It has a complex history, being first created for Patrick de Salisbury in the middle twelfth century. It was eventually inherited by Alice, wife of Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster. When the Earl of Lancaster lost his titles and was executed for treason in 1322, the Countess surrendered all of her titles to the King, and the titles lapsed.

The title was created for a second time in 1337 for William Montacute. It was inherited later by Richard Neville, upon whose death the title went into abeyance because multiple individuals were entitled to inherit it.

Then, in 1472, it was granted to George, Duke of Clarence. When the Duke of Clarence was executed in 1478 for treason (supposedly by being drowned in a vat of Malmsey wine), the title was forfeit. It was then granted to his nephew Edward of Middleham, who later became Prince of Wales. Upon Edward's death, the title became extinct.

In 1485, the abeyance of the second creation was terminated, and the title went to Edward Plantagenet, Richard Neville's grandson. Edward was executed for high treason in 1499; the title was, however, officially forfeit in 1504. Edward's sister, Margaret, regained the title in 1513, but she too forfeited the title in 1539.

In 1605 the title was given to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, a close advisor to James I. Cecil was a son of Queen Elizabeth I's chief advisor, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. For information on this creation, see the Marquess of Salisbury.