Marie de St Pol, Countess of Pembroke (c. 1303 – 1377) was the second wife of Franco-English nobleman Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, and is best known as the founder of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Family and early life Marie was born into the powerful French house of Châtillon, Counts of Saint Pol. During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the Châtillons married more often into the royal line than any other noble family, and they were renowned for holding prominent positions as Cardinals and Constables of France. Marie herself was cousin to Charles, Duke of Brittany. She was the fourth daughter of Guy, Count of St Pol and Marie of Brittany. She had four sisters and two brothers, but nothing is known about her childhood. She was also the great-granddaughter of Henry III of England through her mother. Marriage to the Earl of Pembroke Marie and Pembroke were married in Paris in 1321. Both Philippe V of France and Edward II of England were involved in the negotiations for her marriage. Marie was only seventeen when she married, whilst her husband was already fifty. It was his second marriage after the death of his first wife Béatrice de Clermont in 1320. Almost nothing is known of their three years of marriage except the occasion of his death in France on 23 June 1324. They had no children. Legend has it that she was maiden, wife, and widow all in the space of a single day when her husband was killed in front of her in a friendly jousting match, arranged to celebrate their marriage in 1324. However, other writers indicate he was murdered or died of apoplexy. After Aymer's death, Marie was free to use her considerable wealth for religious and charitable ends. Temple Newsam, Leeds In 1327, Marie de St Pol was granted the estate at Temple Newsam, Leeds by Edward III in exchange for estates in Hertford, Haverford, Higham Ferrers, Monmouth and Hodenak. The deed stated that it was for Edward's "dear kinswoman" and that the estate was worth £70 per annum. She was also granted the estate at Temple Hirst, now in North Yorkshire, which was worth £30 per annum. Marie held the manor at Temple Newsam for 50 years. It is not known whether she lived there and built a house on the site, but it is likely. Denny Abbey In 1336, Marie was granted