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: Carolingian
Maternal Family Tree: Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia
Before 930 Gilbert Reginarids I Duke Lorraine (age 39) and [her mother] Gerberga Queen Consort West Francia were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia (age 53) and [her grandmother] Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia. He the son of Reginar "Longneck" I Duke Lorraine.
In 939 [her father] Louis "Overseas" IV King West Francia (age 19) and [her mother] Gerberga Queen Consort West Francia were married. She by marriage Queen Consort West Francia. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia and [her grandmother] Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia. He the son of [her grandfather] Charles "Simple" III King West Francia and [her grandmother] Eadgifu Wessex Queen Consort West Francia.
In 943 Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy was born to [her father] Louis "Overseas" IV King West Francia (age 23) and [her mother] Gerberga Queen Consort West Francia.
On 10th September 954 [her father] Louis "Overseas" IV King West Francia (age 34) died. His son [her brother] Lothair (age 13) succeeded III King West Francia.
In 964 Conrad I King Burgundy (age 39) and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 21) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Burgundy. She the daughter of Louis "Overseas" IV King West Francia and Gerberga Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of Rudolph "Pious" II King Burgundy II King Italy and Bertha Swabia Queen Consort Italy. They were fourth cousin once removed.
In 964 [her daughter] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France was born to [her husband] Conrad I King Burgundy (age 39) and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 21). She married (1) 983 her sixth cousin Odo Blois I Count Blois, son of Theobald "Trickster" Blois I Count Blois and Luitgarde Vermandois Duchess Normandy, and had issue (2) 999 her second cousin Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks, son of Hugh I King of the Franks and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France.
In 965 [her daughter] Gerberga Welf was born to [her husband] Conrad I King Burgundy (age 40) and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 22).
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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In 969 [her daughter] Matilda Welf was born to [her husband] Conrad I King Burgundy (age 44) and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 26).
In 971 [her son] Rudolph "Idle" III King Burgundy was born to [her husband] Conrad I King Burgundy (age 46) and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 28).
In 977 [her brother] Charles Carolingian Duke Lower Lorraine (age 23) was appointed Duke Lower Lorraine.
After 7th September 978 [her half-sister] Gerberge Reginarids Countess Vermandois (deceased) died.
Around 983 [her son-in-law] Odo Blois I Count Blois (age 33) and [her daughter] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess Blois. She the daughter of [her husband] Conrad I King Burgundy (age 58) and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 40). He the son of Theobald "Trickster" Blois I Count Blois and Luitgarde Vermandois Duchess Normandy. They were sixth cousins.
On 2nd March 986 [her brother] Lothair III King West Francia (age 45) died. His son [her nephew] Louis (age 19) succeeded V King West Francia. Adelaide Blanche Ingelger Queen Consort West Francia (age 46) by marriage Queen Consort West Francia.
On 12th June 991 [her brother] Charles Carolingian Duke Lower Lorraine (age 38) died.
On 27th January 992 Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 49) died.
On 19th October 993 [her former husband] Conrad I King Burgundy (age 68) died. His son [her son] Rudolph (age 22) succeeded III King Burgundy.
Conrad I King Burgundy and Adelaide Bellay Queen Consort Burgundy were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Burgundy. He the son of Rudolph "Pious" II King Burgundy II King Italy and Bertha Swabia Queen Consort Italy.
Kings Wessex: Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Kings Franks: Great x 3 Grand Daughter of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandmother: Hildegard Vinzgouw Queen Franks Queen Lombardy Holy Roman Empress
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles "Bald" I King West Francia
Great x 4 Grandfather: Welf
Great x 3 Grandmother: Judith Welf Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks
Great x 4 Grandmother: Hedwig Saxony
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia
Great x 3 Grandfather: Odi Orléans 1st Count Orléans
Great x 2 Grandmother: Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia
GrandFather: Charles "Simple" III King West Francia
Great x 2 Grandfather: Adalard Count of Paris
Great x 1 Grandmother: Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia
Father: Louis "Overseas" IV King West Francia
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Egbert of Wessex
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Æthelwulf of Wessex
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 4 Grandfather: Oslac
Great x 3 Grandmother: Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex
Great x 1 Grandfather: King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 3 Grandfather: Æthelred Mucel Mercia Earldorman Gaini
Great x 2 Grandmother: Æalhswith of Mercia Queen Consort of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eadburh of Mercia
GrandMother: Eadgifu Wessex Queen Consort West Francia
Great x 2 Grandfather: Æthelhelm Earldorman Wiltshire
Great x 1 Grandmother: Aelfflaed Wiltshire Queen Anglo Saxons
Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy
GrandFather: Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia
Mother: Gerberga Queen Consort West Francia
GrandMother: Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia