Ela of Salisbury, 3rd Countess of Salisbury

[citation needed] Ela married William Longespée, an illegitimate half-brother of kings Richard I and John, who thus became Earl of Salisbury, in 1196.

There is a story that immediately following her father's death she was imprisoned in a castle in Normandy by one of her paternal uncles who wished to take her title and enormous wealth for himself.

In 1196, the same year she became countess and inherited her father's numerous estates, Ela married William Longespée, an illegitimate son of King Henry II, by his mistress Ida de Tosny.

[Note 3] The couple had been betrothed earlier but Ela was the King's ward until she reached the age of majority.

The Continuator of Florence recorded that their marriage had been arranged by King Richard I, who was William's legitimate half-brother.

The inscription on her tombstone, written in Latin, reads: Below lie buried the bones of the venerable Ela, who gave this sacred house as a home for the nuns.