Montagu

The Montagus, also written Montacute and Latinised de Monte Acuto meaning from the sharp mountain, were founded in Somerset after the Norman Conquest of 1066 by Drogo de Montagud.

The family reached the front rank under William Montagu, the closest companion of Edward III: he helped seize Roger Mortimer in 1330, received the Isle of Man, and was created Earl of Salisbury in 1337.

William died of tournament wounds in 1344. His successors sold the Isle of Man in 1392, and John, the third earl, was executed in 1400 for his part in the Epiphany Rising. Thomas Montagu, fourth earl, died of wounds at the siege of Orleans; his daughter Alice married Richard Neville, who took the Salisbury earldom, and their son was Warwick the Kingmaker. The old male line ended in the Neville inheritance.