The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.
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Paternal Family Tree: Blois
In 1222 [his father] Theobald IV King Navarre (age 20) and Agnes of Beaujeu Countess Savoy were married. She by marriage Countess Champagne.
After 11th July 1231 [his father] Theobald IV King Navarre (age 30) and [his mother] Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre (age 14) were married. She by marriage Countess Champagne.
Around 1244 Henry I King Navarre was born to [his father] Theobald IV King Navarre (age 42) and [his mother] Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre (age 27). He a great x 4 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
On 8th July 1253 [his father] Theobald IV King Navarre (age 52) died. His son [his brother] Theobald (age 13) succeeded V Count Champagne, II King Navarre.
On 6th April 1255 [his brother] Theobald "Young" II King Navarre (age 15) and [his sister-in-law] Isabella Capet (age 14) were married. She the daughter of King Louis IX of France (age 40) and Margaret Provence Queen Consort France 1221-1295 (age 34). He the son of [his father] Theobald IV King Navarre and [his mother] Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre (age 38). They were half third cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 12th April 1256 [his mother] Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre (age 39) died.
Around 1258 [his brother-in-law] Hugh IV Duke Burgundy (age 44) and [his sister] Beatrix Blois Duchess Burgundy (age 16) were married. She by marriage Duchess Burgundy. The difference in their ages was 28 years. She the daughter of [his father] Theobald IV King Navarre and [his mother] Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre. He the son of Odo III Duke Burgundy and Alice Vergy Duchess Burgundy. They were third cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
In 1269 Henry I King Navarre (age 25) and Blanche Capet Queen Navarre (age 21) were married. She the daughter of Robert Capet Count of Artois and Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol (age 45). He the son of Theobald IV King Navarre and Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre. They were half third cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 04 or 5th December 1270 [his brother] Theobald "Young" II King Navarre (age 30) died at Trapani returning from the Eighth Crusade. His brother Henry (age 26) succeeded I King Navarre, III Count Champagne. [his wife] Blanche Capet Queen Navarre (age 22) by marriage Queen Navarre, Countess Champagne.
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 14th January 1273 [his daughter] Joan Blois I Queen Navarre was born to Henry I King Navarre (age 29) and [his wife] Blanche Capet Queen Navarre (age 25). She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She married 16th August 1284 her second cousin King Philip IV of France, son of King Philip III of France and Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France, and had issue.
On 22nd July 1274 Henry I King Navarre (age 30) died. His daughter [his daughter] Joan (age 1) succeeded I Queen Navarre.
On 3rd February 1276 Edmund "Crouchback" Plantagenet 1st Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Lancaster (age 31) and [his former wife] Blanche Capet Queen Navarre (age 28) were married. She by marriage Countess Lancaster. She the daughter of Robert Capet Count of Artois and [his former mother-in-law] Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol (age 52). He the son of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England (age 53). They were second cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 2nd May 1302 [his former wife] Blanche Capet Queen Navarre (age 54) died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Kings England: Great x 4 Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Kings Franks: Great x 12 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 11 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Theobald Blois III Count Blois 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Stephen Blois II Count Blois and Chartres
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gersenda Maine Countess Blois
Great x 2 Grandfather: Theobald Blois II Count Champagne IV Count Blois Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King William "Conqueror" I of England 
-2 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adela Normandy Countess Blois Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Matilda Flanders Queen Consort England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Blois I Count Champagne Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Engelbert II Duke of Carinthia
Great x 2 Grandmother: Matilda Carinthia Countess Champagne and Blois
GrandFather: Theobald Blois III Count Champagne 2 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip I King of the Franks 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis VI King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bertha Gerulfing Queen Consort France 1055-1094 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis VII King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humbert "Fat" Savoy II Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adelaide Savoy Queen Consort France -1154
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gisela Ivrea Countess Savoy 
Great x 1 Grandmother: Marie Capet Countess Champagne
Great x 4 Grandfather: William "Troubadour" Poitiers IX Duke Aquitaine
Great x 3 Grandfather: William "Saint" Poitiers X Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Rouerge Duchess Aquitaine
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Aimery Chatellerault Viscount Châtellerault
Great x 3 Grandmother: Aenor Chatellerault Duchess Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dangereuse Ile Bouchard Viscountess Chatellerault
Father: Theobald IV King Navarre 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Sancho Jiménez
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ramiro Jiménez
Great x 4 Grandmother: Constanza Unknown
Great x 2 Grandfather: García "Restorer" IV King Navarre
Great x 4 Grandfather: Rodrigo Díaz Vivar
Great x 3 Grandmother: Cristina Rodríguez Vivar
Great x 1 Grandfather: Sancho "Wise" King Navarre
Great x 4 Grandfather: Engenulphe Aigle
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gilbert Aigle Lord Aigle
Great x 4 Grandmother: Richvaride Unknown
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marguerite Aigle Queen Consort Navarre
Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche
Great x 3 Grandmother: Juliette du Perche Chateaudun
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche
GrandMother: Blanche Ramirez
Great x 4 Grandfather: William I Count Burgundy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Raymond Ivrea
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ettiennette Countess Burgundy
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso "Brave" VI King Leon VI King Castile
Great x 3 Grandmother: Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona
Great x 4 Grandmother: Constance Burgundy Queen Consort Castile and Leon
Great x 1 Grandmother: Sancha Ivrea
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ramon Berenguer "Towhead" Barcelona II Count Barcelona
Great x 3 Grandfather: Raymond III Count Barcelona
Great x 2 Grandmother: Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gilbert Gevaudan
Great x 3 Grandmother: Douce Gevaudan Countess Barcelona
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gerberga Arles
Henry I King Navarre 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thibaut Dampierre 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Guy Dampierre
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Montlhéry
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Dampierre
Great x 4 Grandfather: Andre Baudémont
Great x 3 Grandmother: Helvide Baudémont
Great x 1 Grandfather: Guy Dampierre
GrandFather: Archambaud "Great" Dampierre
Great x 2 Grandfather: Archambaud Bouron
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mathilde Bouron
Mother: Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre
GrandMother: Alix Forez