Walter of , Sheriff of Wiltshire SALISBURY

                   Earldom of Salisbury: The first creation of this title took place sometime between June 1142 and 1147, when the Empress Maud, Henry I'sdaughter made Patrick de Salisbury an Earl.  He is sometimes referred toas Earl of Wiltshire and sometimes as Earl of Salisbury, usually thelatter.  At this time an earldom was an official position rather thantitle of honour, but was often held by successive members of the samefamily, though not necessarily by right.  Patrick was descended from aline of men who had been Sheriffs of Wiltshire from shortly after theNorman Conquest and who may even have been of English rather than Normanorigin.  Patrick's son succeeded him as Earl but died leaving an onlychild, a daughter called Ela or Isabel.  Richard I arranged her marriageto William Longespee ("Long Sword"), his illegitimate half-brother byHenry II out of either Rosamund/Rosamond Clifford (the "Fair Rosamond" oftradition) or a woman of obscure antecedents called Hikenai or Ykenai.(Longespee may, however have been born of some other woman altogether).[Burke's Peerage]