English history overflows with legendary swordsmen, from the mythic round‑table heroes to the notorious Hotspur and the Black Prince. Yet, tucked away in dusty chronicles are ten remarkable warriors whose stories remain largely untold. In this roundup of 10 awesome medieval champions, we bring those hidden legends back into the spotlight, revealing their bravery, intrigue, and occasional missteps.
10 Gilbert De Clare
Why These 10 Awesome Medieval Knights Matter
Gilbert de Clare embodied the classic English noble‑knight. A direct descendant of William the Conqueror and kin to both the English monarch and, through marriage, to Scotland’s Robert the Bruce, he commanded the influential de Clare lineage. By the age of twenty‑three, he already boasted several years of Scottish campaign experience.
His reputation naturally placed him among Edward II’s senior commanders during the ill‑fated 1314 Scottish invasion that culminated at Bannockburn. After a preliminary skirmish, de Clare urged the king to adopt a more cautious stance. Edward, offended, branded him a coward. Determined to silence the accusation, Gilbert spearheaded the next day’s charge, only to be isolated from the main force and slain.
His death resonated on both sides of the battlefield: he became the first English earl to fall in combat in half a century. In a remarkable gesture, Robert the Bruce kept vigil over his corpse before allowing the remains to be returned to England. De Clare’s demise underscored the chivalric code’s demand for valor in the face of danger and set off a chain of consequences that saw his estates fall into the hands of the despised Despenser family.
Whether viewed as a heroic martyr or a rash impulsive figure, Gilbert’s unwavering commitment to the knightly ideals of courage and loyalty left an indelible mark on the tumultuous politics of Edward II’s reign.
9 Thomas Of Lancaster
Deeply troubled by King Edward II’s pliability and susceptibility to flattering courtiers, Thomas of Lancaster emerged as a leading architect of the 1311 Ordinances, which sought to curb the monarch’s unchecked power. He also played a pivotal role in the 1312 execution of Edward’s close confidant, Piers Gaveston, viewing the latter’s influence as a direct threat to the realm’s stability.
In 1321, Lancaster rallied opposition against the Despenser family, whom many suspected of manipulating the king behind the scenes. His rebellion culminated in defeat at the Battle of Boroughbridge. During the ensuing trial—overseen by the Despensers and the king—Lancaster was denied the chance to defend himself and was subsequently beheaded at his own Pontefract castle.
His popularity among the common folk, rooted in his advocacy for the Ordinances, sparked a posthumous cult. People began treating him as a saintly figure, prompting Edward II to station armed guards at the church housing his remains to deter pilgrimages. Nevertheless, devotion persisted, and a riot erupted outside his tomb in 1323, illustrating the lasting resonance of his reformist legacy.
8 Henry Of Grosmont
Among the ten, Henry of Grosmont stands out for the vivid glimpse his own writings give us into the daily life of a 14th‑century noble. His treatise, Livre de Seyntz Medicines, offers a rare window into his personal habits, preferences, and self‑perception.
As the nephew of Thomas of Lancaster, Henry inherited a bold temperament. An avid jouster, he once celebrated Christmas 1341 by entering a joust without armor—a reckless spectacle that ended in two fatalities and a severe injury, yet he emerged unscathed. Later, his military successes in Gascony, particularly at Bergerac and Auberoche, earned him ransoms surpassing the king’s annual revenue, making him one of England’s wealthiest men.
Beyond the battlefield, Henry’s personality shines through: he proudly proclaimed himself a braggart, boasted about his dancing prowess, adored the scent of blossoms, enjoyed wine, and confessed to reading “trivial” books only after learning to read later in life. Perhaps most relatable is his chronic difficulty waking up early, a habit that endeared him to contemporaries as much as his martial feats.
His blend of flamboyant bravado, literary curiosity, and genuine human quirks makes Henry of Grosmont a uniquely relatable figure among medieval chivalry’s elite.
7 Andrew Harclay
Andrew Harclay was a knight whose compass always pointed toward principle. Much of his career unfolded along England’s volatile northern border, where, after being appointed sheriff of Cumberland in 1311, he repeatedly repelled Scottish incursions. Notably, he thwarted Robert the Bruce’s advance in 1315, safeguarding Carlisle and earning Edward II’s generous patronage.
Although he maintained a cordial rapport with the king, Harclay previously allied with Thomas of Lancaster. When Lancaster rebelled in 1321, Harclay declined to join, instead confronting the rebel forces at Boroughbridge in 1322. Before the clash, Lancaster appealed for Harclay’s support; Harclay’s refusal led to his capture of the rebel leader and Lancaster’s subsequent trial and execution.
Rewarded with the earldom of Carlisle for his loyalty, Harclay’s fortunes shifted when he concluded that the endless Scottish war was futile. Acting independently, he negotiated a peace with Robert the Bruce in 1323, omitting royal consent. Edward II, enraged, ordered Harclay’s spurs sawed off, shattered his sword, and sentenced him to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. Even at his trial, Harclay defended his actions as being in the best interest of his people.
Ironically, three months after his execution, Edward II signed a thirteen‑year truce with Scotland, a testament to the soundness of Harclay’s controversial peace efforts.
6 William De Warenne
William de Warenne began his career with a swagger that bordered on arrogance. Empowered by his father’s stature, he frequently dismissed courtly duties and even mocked King Henry I—derisively calling him “Stagfoot” for his obsessive hunting. This hubris led to his involvement in a failed rebellion, resulting in his 1101 banishment and confiscation of lands.
Intervention from his friend, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, restored his estates, and over time, William transformed from a scoffing noble into a trusted royal confidant. By 1110, he stood among the king’s closest advisers, accompanying the monarch on numerous campaigns. In 1119, during a French war, he famously declared his unwavering loyalty, refusing any temptations toward treason and pledging steadfast support to the English crown.
His dedication earned tangible rewards, including a substantial tax exemption—ranking as the kingdom’s third‑largest. Perhaps the most poignant moment of his loyalty arrived in 1135, when he was one of only five men to escort King Henry I’s body to Rouen for burial, underscoring the deep bond forged after his earlier missteps.
5 Aymer De Valence
When Edward II ascended the throne, Aymer de Valence already enjoyed a reputation as a seasoned and respected courtier, having served as one of the king’s closest advisors. The turbulent dispute over the king’s favourite, Piers Gaveston, split the court, and Aymer found himself straddling a delicate middle ground between loyalty to the monarch and criticism of his misgovernance.
As tensions escalated, calls grew louder for Gaveston’s banishment—or even harsher fates. Recognizing Aymer’s standing with both factions, Edward tasked him with escorting Gaveston to York for trial. However, en route, Aymer paused near his wife’s residence and left Gaveston unattended for a night, trusting that his protection would be respected.
That trust proved misplaced; rebels seized Gaveston, stripped him of clothing, forced him to march ahead of the knights, and ultimately impaled and beheaded him in the wilderness. The brutal betrayal shocked Aymer, prompting him to become an unwavering champion of Edward’s cause. He remained a steadfast advisor throughout the Despenser era, even acting as Edward’s personal protector, escorting the monarch away from the disastrous Bannockburn battlefield.
In an age where violence frequently replaced diplomacy, Aymer’s steadfast adherence to knightly honor and his moral compass positioned him as a stabilizing rock amid the kingdom’s chaos.
4 Roger De Mortimer
The Baronial War (1264‑1267) tore England apart, fueled by anti‑Jewish sentiment, famine, and widespread dissatisfaction with King Henry III. Roger de Mortimer emerged as a prominent baronial supporter, initially driven by his own inheritance delays and the king’s sluggish legal processes.
Roger’s allegiance wavered throughout the conflict. After losing a castle entrusted to him by fellow rebels, he switched sides, eventually commanding a royal contingent at the decisive Battle of Evesham, where he is believed to have slain rebel leader Simon de Montfort. From that point onward, he firmly aligned with the crown, pursuing aggressive land seizures against former allies, including clashes with Gilbert de Clare.
Later in life, Roger appeared to regret the devastation wrought by the civil war. He was among three trusted figures governing England while Edward returned from crusading. During this peaceful interlude, he and Gilbert de Clare reconciled, embarking on a year‑long tour of southern England to rebuild bridges and restore infrastructure damaged during the strife.
Roger’s evolution from opportunistic warlord to conciliatory statesman illustrates the complex motivations that shaped England’s medieval power dynamics.
3 Henry Percy
The Percy dynasty earned a reputation for fierce independence and recurrent rebellion, epitomized by the infamous Hotspur. Yet Henry Percy, the third Lord Percy, charted a markedly different course—displaying loyalty, modest ambition, and a steadfast sense of duty.
At twenty‑five, Henry fought at the pivotal Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years’ War, later remaining in France until his father’s death in 1352. He then assumed the role of warden of the March, tasked with defending England’s volatile Scottish border—a responsibility his forebears had also shouldered.
Unlike his more aggressive relatives, Henry showed little appetite for expanding English holdings at Scotland’s expense. During the 1356 Scottish invasion, his most notable achievement was securing the Treaty of Berwick, which concluded the protracted border war in England’s favor. By 1355, he had risen to marshal of the English army in France, participating in Edward III’s campaign to capture Reims in 1360.
Contemporary chroniclers praised his humility: “Content with the lordship left him by his father, he wished to obtain the lands or possessions of no one.” By 1362, Edward III’s esteem for Percy was such that the king authorized his son—another Henry Percy—to negotiate directly with Scottish officials on his behalf, cementing the family’s reputation for reliable service.
2 Thomas De Beauchamp
Thomas de Beauchamp earned a place among England’s most celebrated warriors as a founding member of the Order of the Garter, the pinnacle of chivalric honor. Renowned for his tactical brilliance, he proved indispensable during the Hundred Years’ War.
On the battlefield at Crécy, Beauchamp commanded the English centre and was entrusted with safeguarding the Black Prince himself. In recognition of his valor, Edward III granted him a thousand marks on the condition that he remain ever‑ready to serve the crown in war.
Defying the typical retirement of older knights, Beauchamp continued to relish combat, joining the Black Prince at Poitiers in 1356 despite being over forty. Contemporary accounts describe him and William Montagu battling like lions, each striving to spill more French blood than the other.
By 1369, his reputation had become so fearsome that the Duke of Burgundy, hearing rumors of “the devil Warwick” in the English ranks, withdrew under cover of night to avoid confrontation. That same year, Beauchamp succumbed to the Black Death, ending a distinguished career that blended martial prowess with unwavering royal loyalty.
1 Jean III De Grailly
Jean III de Grailly, though French by birth, fought valiantly for the English cause, notably at the Battle of Poitiers where he led the cavalry. Seizing an opening, he orchestrated a flank attack that resulted in the capture of the French king and numerous nobles—a stunning feat given his own heritage.
Captured by the French in 1364, his captors initially refused to ransom him, later offering him lands and titles to switch allegiance. While he briefly accepted these honors, he soon reaffirmed his oath to Edward III, abandoning the French grants.
Returning to English campaigns, Jean faced capture again in 1372. Once more, the French king dangled titles and estates to lure him, but Grailly steadfastly refused, unwilling to betray his sworn loyalty. His reputation grew to such an extent that the French kept him under tight confinement in Paris, fearing his influence.
He remained a prisoner until 1376, when, upon learning of the Black Prince’s death, Jean reportedly fasted himself to death, refusing sustenance and passing away a few days later—a dramatic end befitting a knight of his unwavering dedication.