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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Earl Banbury is in Earldoms of England Alphabetically, Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
1626. William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury (age 82) created.
25th May 1632. Son Edward Knollys 2nd Earl Banbury (age 5) de jure.
June 1645. Brother Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury (age 14) succeeded.
1674. Son Charles Knollys 4th Earl Banbury (age 11) de jure.
26th August 1740. Son Charles Knollys 5th Earl Banbury (age 37) de jure.
13th March 1771. Son William Knollys 6th Earl Banbury (age 44) de jure.
1776. Brother Thomas Woods Knollys 7th Earl Banbury (age 48) de jure.
18th March 1793. Son William Knollys 8th Earl Banbury (age 30) de jure.
1813. William Knollys 8th Earl Banbury extinct.
20th March 1834. William Knollys 8th Earl Banbury extinct.
In 1626 William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury (age 82) was created 1st Earl Banbury. Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury (age 43) by marriage Countess Banbury.
On 25th May 1632 William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury (age 88) died. His son Edward (age 5) de jure 2nd Earl Banbury, 2nd Viscount Wallingford, 2nd Baron Knollys. Parliament disallowed the succession on the basis that Edward had been born when William was some eighty-two years old and Edward was, in fact, the son of Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden (age 43) whom Edward's mother (age 49) subsequently married around a month after William's death.
Before June 1645 Edward Knollys 2nd Earl Banbury (age 18) was killed in a duel. His brother Nicholas (age 14) succeeded 3rd Earl Banbury, 3rd Viscount Wallingford, 3rd Baron Knollys although was never summoned to Parliament as a consequence of questions over his father's paternity.
In 1674 Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury (age 43) died. His son Charles (age 11) de jure 4th Earl Banbury, 4th Viscount Wallingford, 4th Baron Knollys.
On 10th June 1685 Charles Knollys 4th Earl Banbury (age 23) unsuccessfully petitioned the House of Lords to become Earl Banbury.
On 16th May 1689 Charles Knollys 4th Earl Banbury (age 26) and Elizabeth Lister Countess of Banbury (age 25) were married. She by marriage Countess Banbury. Said to be at the Nag's Head Coffee-House James Street although this may have been the location of the reception. He the son of Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury and Anne or Abigail Sherard.
On 26th August 1740 Charles Knollys 4th Earl Banbury (age 78) died at Dunkirk. His son Charles (age 37) de jure 5th Earl Banbury, 5th Viscount Wallingford, 5th Baron Knollys.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 13th March 1771 Charles Knollys 5th Earl Banbury (age 67) died. He was buried on 19th March 1771 at St John the Baptist Church, Burford. His son William (age 44) de jure 6th Earl Banbury, 6th Viscount Wallingford, 6th Baron Knollys.
In 1776 William Knollys 6th Earl Banbury (age 49) died. His brother Thomas (age 48) de jure 7th Earl Banbury.
On 18th March 1793 Thomas Woods Knollys 7th Earl Banbury (age 65) died. He was buried at Winchester Cathedral [Map]. His son William (age 30) de jure 8th Earl Banbury, 7th Viscount Wallingford, 7th Baron Knollys.
In 1813 William Knollys' (age 49) claim to the Earldom of Banbury and Baron Knollys was rejected. Earl Banbury, Baron Knollys extinct.
On 20th March 1834 William Knollys 8th Earl Banbury (age 71) died. The House of Lords passed a resolution rejecting his claim to the Earldom and as a consequence Earl Banbury, Viscount Wallingford and Baron Knollys extinct.