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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Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle is in Baronetcies of England Alphabetically, Baronetcies of England Chronologically, Extant Baronetcies of England.
Summary
2nd November 1642. Thomas Liddell 1st Baronet [aged 64] created.
1652. Grandson Thomas Liddell 2nd Baronet succeeded.
1697. Son Henry Liddell 3rd Baronet [aged 53] succeeded.
1st September 1723. Grandson Henry Liddell 1st Baron Ravensworth [aged 15] succeeded.
30th January 1784. Nephew Henry George Liddell 5th Baronet [aged 34] succeeded.
26th November 1791. Son Thomas Liddell 1st Baron Ravensworth [aged 16] succeeded.
7th March 1855. Son Henry Thomas Liddell 1st Earl Ravensworth [aged 57] succeeded.
19th March 1878. Son Henry Liddell 2nd Earl of Ravensworth [aged 56] succeeded.
22nd July 1903. Brother Atholl Liddell 3rd Earl of Ravensworth [aged 69] succeeded.
7th February 1904. First Cousin Arthur Thomas Liddell 5th Baron Ravensworth [aged 66] succeeded.
12th November 1919. Son Gerald Wellesley Liddell 6th Baron Ravensworth [aged 50] succeeded.
15th June 1932. Son Robert Arthur Liddell 7th Baron Ravensworth [aged 30] succeeded.
4th August 1950. First Cousin Arthur Waller Liddell 8th Baron Ravensworth [aged 26] succeeded.
28th March 2004. Son Thomas Arthur Hamish Liddell 9th Baron Ravensworth [aged 49] succeeded.
On 2nd November 1642 Thomas Liddell 1st Baronet [aged 64] was created 1st Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
In 1652 Thomas Liddell 1st Baronet [aged 74] died. His grandson Thomas succeeded 2nd Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
In 1697 Thomas Liddell 2nd Baronet died. His son Henry [aged 53] succeeded 3rd Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
On 1st September 1723 Henry Liddell 3rd Baronet [aged 79] died. His grandson Henry [aged 15] succeeded 4th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
On 30th January 1784 Henry Liddell 1st Baron Ravensworth [aged 76] died without male issue. Baron Ravensworth extinct. His nephew Henry [aged 34] succeeded 5th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
On 26th November 1791 Henry George Liddell 5th Baronet [aged 42] died. His son Thomas [aged 16] succeeded 6th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
On 7th March 1855 Thomas Liddell 1st Baron Ravensworth [aged 80] died. His son Henry [aged 57] succeeded 2nd Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 7th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
On 19th March 1878 Henry Thomas Liddell 1st Earl Ravensworth [aged 81] died. His son Henry [aged 56] succeeded 2nd Earl Ravensworth, 3rd Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 8th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 22nd July 1903 Henry Liddell 2nd Earl of Ravensworth [aged 81] died. His brother Atholl [aged 69] succeeded 3rd Earl Ravensworth, 4th Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 9th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle. Caroline Cecelia Edgecumbe Countess Revensworth and Mount Edgecumbe [aged 64] by marriage Countess Ravensworth.
On 7th February 1904 Atholl Liddell 3rd Earl of Ravensworth [aged 70] died. Earl Ravensworth extinct. His first cousin Arthur [aged 66] succeeded 5th Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 10th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle. Sophia Harriett Waller Baroness Ravensworth by marriage Baroness Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham.
On 12th November 1919 Arthur Thomas Liddell 5th Baron Ravensworth [aged 82] died. His son Gerald [aged 50] succeeded 6th Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 11th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle. Isolda Blanche Prideaux-Brune Baroness Ravensworth [aged 54] by marriage Baroness Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham.
On 15th June 1932 Gerald Wellesley Liddell 6th Baron Ravensworth [aged 63] died. He was buried at St Bartholomew's Church, Whittingham [Map]. His son Robert [aged 30] succeeded 7th Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 12th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
Gerald Wellesley Liddell 6th Baron Ravensworth: On 21st March 1869 he was born to Arthur Thomas Liddell 5th Baron Ravensworth and Sophia Harriett Waller Baroness Ravensworth. On 11th October 1899 Gerald Wellesley Liddell 6th Baron Ravensworth and Isolda Blanche Prideaux-Brune Baroness Ravensworth were married. On 12th November 1919 Arthur Thomas Liddell 5th Baron Ravensworth died. His son Gerald succeeded 6th Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 11th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle. Isolda Blanche Prideaux-Brune Baroness Ravensworth by marriage Baroness Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham.
Robert Arthur Liddell 7th Baron Ravensworth: On 2nd June 1902 he was born to Gerald Wellesley Liddell 6th Baron Ravensworth and Isolda Blanche Prideaux-Brune Baroness Ravensworth. On 4th August 1950 Robert Arthur Liddell 7th Baron Ravensworth died. His first cousin Arthur succeeded 8th Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 13th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
On 4th August 1950 Robert Arthur Liddell 7th Baron Ravensworth [aged 48] died. His first cousin Arthur [aged 26] succeeded 8th Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 13th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
On 28th March 2004 Arthur Waller Liddell 8th Baron Ravensworth [aged 79] died. Memorial at St Bartholomew's Church, Whittingham [Map]. His son Thomas [aged 49] succeeded 9th Baron Ravensworth of Ravensworth Castle in County Durham, 14th Baronet Liddell of Ravensworth Castle.
Arthur Waller Liddell 8th Baron Ravensworth: On 25th July 1924 he was born to Cyril Arthur Liddell.
Thomas Arthur Hamish Liddell 9th Baron Ravensworth: On 27th October 1954 he was born to Arthur Waller Liddell 8th Baron Ravensworth.