sons sovereignty over certain fiefs in France (and the kingdom of England), over which Henry II had control. The central dispute was between Prince Henry and Henry II, who had prematurely proclaimed Price Henry something like a co-king. Young Henry wanted to raise an army against his father Henry II but had not yet been formally knighted. William Marshal, who had credentials and some reputation as a knight-errant (i.e., professional soldier in training of the period), was young Henry's military tutor, appointed by Henry II himself. In theory, Marshal had an obligation of loyalty both to his patron Henry II and to his client Prince Henry. In fact, Marshal not only stood behind the client in this minor civil war but rose in social and professional stature after the dispute was settled; that is, Henry II bore him no apparent or at least permanent grudge.
What is crucial about this episode, and others like it, is that Marshal seems to have found some moral justification for his decision. As Painter notes,
Although William was undoubtedly a subjec
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