EC
Ela Countess of Salisbury
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About
Ela of Salisbury, countess in her own right, was married at nine, laid a foundation stone of Salisbury Cathedral in her own name beside her husband's, served as sheriff of Wiltshire, founded Lacock Abbey, entered it as a nun and ruled it as abbess, and outlived her world by thirty years.
Research notes
✓ CP 'Salisbury'; standard: ELA (1187-1261), suo jure Countess of Salisbury, SHERIFF OF WILTSHIRE, foundress and abbess of LACOCK; dau. of William FitzPatrick 2nd Earl by Eleanor de Vitre; m. 1198 William Longespee; mother of William II (our line). ◈-box candidate. Added 14 Sep 2026.