The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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Paternal Family Tree: Astor
In On 3rd May 1906 [his father] Waldorf Astor 2nd Viscount Astor (age 26) and [his mother] Nancy Witcher Langhorne Viscountess Astor (age 26) were married. The groom's father gave the couple the family estate of Cliveden, Buckinghamshire [Map]. They had met on an Atlantic voyage returning to Britain
On 13th August 1907 William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor was born to [his father] Waldorf Astor 2nd Viscount Astor (age 28) and [his mother] Nancy Witcher Langhorne Viscountess Astor (age 28).
On 18th October 1919 [his grandfather] William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor (age 71) died. His son [his father] Waldorf (age 40) succeeded 2nd Viscount Astor, 2nd Baron Astor.
On 27th July 1933 [his brother-in-law] Gilbert James Heathcote-Willoughby-Drummond 3rd Earl Ancaster (age 25) and [his sister] Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor Countess Astor (age 24) were married. He the son of Gilbert Heathcote-Willoughby-Drummond 2nd Earl Ancaster (age 65) and Eloise Lawrence Breese Countess Ancaster (age 51).
On 14th June 1945 William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor (age 37) and Sarah Norton Viscountess Astor (age 25) were married. They had met one month before at a VE Day cocktail party given by her aunt Katherine "Kitty" Kinloch Baroness Brownlow (age 39) having become engaged five days later.
On 19th September 1951 Gilbert Heathcote-Willoughby-Drummond 2nd Earl Ancaster (age 84) died. His son [his brother-in-law] Gilbert (age 43) succeeded 3rd Earl Ancaster in Lincolnshire, 27th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, 4th Baron Aveland, 8th Baronet Heathcote of London. [his sister] Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor Countess Astor (age 42) by marriage Countess Ancaster in Lincolnshire.
On 27th December 1951 [his son] William Astor 4th Viscount Astor was born to William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor (age 44) and [his wife] Sarah Norton Viscountess Astor (age 31).
On 30th September 1952 [his father] Waldorf Astor 2nd Viscount Astor (age 73) died. His son William (age 45) succeeded 3rd Viscount Astor, 3rd Baron Astor. [his wife] Sarah Norton Viscountess Astor (age 32) by marriage Viscountess Astor.
In 1953 William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor (age 45) and Sarah Norton Viscountess Astor (age 32) were divorced.
On 17th April 1953 Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Michael Baring (age 25) and [his former wife] Sarah Norton (age 33) were married.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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On 26th April 1955 William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor (age 47) and Phillipa Victoria Hunloke Viscountess Astor (age 24) were married. She by marriage Viscountess Astor. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of Henry Philip Hunloke (age 48) and Anne Cavendish Countess Sandwich (age 45).
On 3rd June 1960 William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor (age 52) and Phillipa Victoria Hunloke Viscountess Astor (age 29) were divorced.
On 14th October 1960 William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor (age 53) and Janet Bronwen Alun-Pugh Viscountess Astor (age 30) were married. She by marriage Viscountess Astor. The difference in their ages was 22 years.
The second photograph J Wilds/Getty Images.
Janet Bronwen Alun-Pugh Viscountess Astor: On 6th June 1930 she was born. On 28th December 2017 she died.
On 1st December 1961 [his daughter] Janet Elizabeth Astor Duchess of Richmond and Gordon was born to William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor (age 54) and [his wife] Janet Bronwen Alun-Pugh Viscountess Astor (age 31). She married 30th November 1991 Charles Gordon-Lennox 11th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 6th Duke of Gordon, son of Charles Gordon-Lennox 10th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 5th Duke of Gordon.
On 2nd May 1964 [his mother] Nancy Witcher Langhorne Viscountess Astor (age 84) died.
In 1965 Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Michael Baring (age 37) and [his former wife] Sarah Norton (age 44) were divorced.
On 7th March 1966 William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor (age 58) died. His son William (age 14) succeeded 4th Viscount Astor, 4th Baron Astor.
On 20th July 2005 [his former wife] Phillipa Victoria Hunloke Viscountess Astor (age 74) died.
On 4th February 2013 [his former wife] Sarah Norton Viscountess Astor (age 93) died.
On 28th December 2017 [his former wife] Janet Bronwen Alun-Pugh Viscountess Astor (age 87) died.
GrandFather: William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor
Father: Waldorf Astor 2nd Viscount Astor
GrandMother: Mary Dahlgren Paul
William Waldorf Astor 3rd Viscount Astor
Mother: Nancy Witcher Langhorne Viscountess Astor