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1200-1216 Magna Carta is in 13th Century Events.
On 1st August 1202 King John of England (age 35) defeated the army of his nephew Arthur Plantagenet 3rd Duke Brittany (age 15) and Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 19) which was besieging John's mother Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 80) at Mirebeau Castle. King John of England took Arthur Plantagenet 3rd Duke Brittany 1187-1203's army by surprise capturing most. Arthur Plantagenet 3rd Duke Brittany and, probably, his sister Eleanor "Fair Maid of Britanny" 4th Countess of Richmond (age 18), both of whom arguably had better claims to the throne than King John of England were captured.
Arthur Plantagenet 3rd Duke Brittany was imprisoned by William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 58) at Falaise Castle [Map].
Flowers of History by Roger of Wendover 1202. Of a glorious victory gained by king John at Mirabeau.
The queen being placed in this predicament, sent messengers with orders to use all speed, to the king, who was then in Normandy, earnestly beseeching him by his filial affection to come to her assistance; on receipt of this intelligence, the king hastily set out with a strong force, and travelling night and day, he accomplished the long distance quicker than is to be believed, and arrived at Mirabeau. When the French and the people of Poictou learned that the king was on his way, they went out with a pompous array to meet him, and give him battle; but when they met each other in battle order, and had engaged, the king bravely withstood their turbulent attacks, and at length put them to flight, pursuing them so quickly with his cavalry, that he entered the castle at the same time as the fugitives. Then a most severe conflict took place [1st August 1202] inside the walls of the castle, but was soon determined by the laudable valour of the English; in the conflict there two hundred French knights were taken prisoners, and all the nobles in Poictou and Anjou, together with Arthur himself, so that not one out of the whole number escaped who could return and tell the misfortune to the rest of their countrymen. Having therefore, secured his prisoners in fetters and shackles, and placed them in cars, a new and unusual mode of conveyance, the king sent some of them to Normandy, and some to England, to be imprisoned in strong castles, whence there would be no fear of their escape; but Arthur was kept at Falaise under close custody.
Annals of Margam. 1st August 1202. King John (age 35) took his nephew Arthur (age 15) in chains at the castle of Mirabel on the feast of Saint Peter, and with Geoffrey de Lusignan1, Hugo the Brown2 and Andream de Chavenny, and Hugh III, viscount of Chastelleraud3, and Reymundnm de Troarde, and Savaricum de Maulyon, and Hugonem de Banchai, and all his other enemies of Poitou, who were around 200 soldiers and more. Of which 22 he killed the noblest and bravest men in arms by starvation in the castle of Corfe [Map]; so that not one of them escaped.
Rex Johannes apud castrum Mirabel cepit Arthurum nepotem suum in festum Sancti Petri ad vincula, et cum eo Galfridum de Lizanan1 et Hugonem de Brun2, et Andream de Chavenny, et vice-comitem de castro Haraldi3, et Reymundnm de Troarde, et Savaricum de Maulyon, et Hugonem de Banchai, et omnes alios inimicos suos Pictaviæ, qui ibi erant circiter cc. milites et plures. Ex quibus xxii. nobilissimos et strenuissimos in armis fame interfecit in castello de Corf [Map]; ita quod nec unus ex illis evasit.
Note 1. Geoffrey de Lusignan (age 52).
Note 2. Hugh de Lusignan (age 19), surnamed le Brun, count de la Marche.
Note 3. Hugh III, viscount of Chastelleraud.
A History of the Dukes of Normandy. [1st August 1202] As he came riding in, Hugh le Brun was struck down with his horse in the middle of the street. Then the king’s men entered on every side through the gates, and the king himself came in; and with the first blow he struck, he cut off the hand of a knight fully armed, with his sword. Great indeed was the battle all through the town. What more shall I tell you? All the Poitevins were utterly defeated, and Arthur was taken, and all the Poitevins with him, not one of the great men escaped. When the king had done his deed, he returned toward Rouen, taking with him all his prisoners, save only Andrew of Chauvigny, whom he let go on his word of honor. And when the King of France heard these tidings at the siege of Arques, where he then was, he abandoned the siege and drew back. King John, when he came to Rouen, put his nephew Arthur in prison in the tower, where he died.
Si porta en son venir Huon le Brun o son cheval à tierre en mi la rue. Lors entrèrent de toutes pars li roial ès portes , et li rois meismes i entra; et au premier cop que il feri, caupa-il le puing i chevalier tout armé de s'espée. Moult fu grans la mellée tout aval la ville. Que vous diroie-je plus? tout furent desconfi li Poitevin, et Artus fu pris et tout li Poitevin; onques uns seus des haus homes n'en eschapa. Quant li rois ot fait son fait, il s'en repaira vers Ruem; si enmena toz ses prisons, fors seulement Andriu de Chavegny: celui en lassa-il aler sour sa fiance. Et quant li rois de France sot ces novieles au siège d'Arches, ù il estolt, il lassa le siège, si se traist arrière. Li rois Jehans, quant il fu veims à Ruem, il mist Artu son neveu en prison en la tour, ù il moru.
Chronica Majora. 1st August 1202. The queen, being in dire straits, sent messengers with great haste to the king, who at that time was in Normandy, earnestly pleading and imploring him by the bond of filial piety to come to the aid of his desolate mother. Upon hearing this, the king hastened with a strong force, traveling day and night with such speed over a long distance that he arrived at the castle of Mirebeau sooner than could have been imagined. When the French and the Poitevins learned of his arrival, they came out pompously to meet the king in battle. But when the battle lines were drawn up on both sides and the armies clashed, the king, manfully resisting their haughty efforts, put them all to flight. He pursued them with such swiftness on horseback that he entered the castle together with the fleeing enemy. There followed a very fierce battle within the bounds of that same castle, but thanks to the praiseworthy strength of the English, it was soon brought to an end. For in that conflict two hundred knights from the kingdom of France were captured, and with Arthur himself, all the nobles of Poitou and Anjou, so that not a single foot soldier escaped to return and report the defeat to others. The captives were then bound in shackles and iron manacles, and placed in carts drawn by two horses, a new and unusual method of transport. The king sent some of them into Normandy, and others into England, so that they might be confined in stronger castles and held without fear of escape. Arthur himself remained under close watch at Falaise.
Regina vero in arcto posita nuncios ad regem, qui tunc temporis in Normannia erat, sub celeritate direxit, rogans obnixius et obtestans, ut pietatis optentu matri succurreret desolatæ. Quo audito, rex cum festinatione in manu potenti die noctuque spatium prætervolans itineris longioris, citius quam credi fas est ad Mirebellum castrum pervenit. Quod cum Francigenæ cum Pictavensibus cognovissent, exierunt obviam regi, pomposo congressu cum ipso pugnaturi. Sed cum dispositis aciebus hinc inde concurrissent, rex, superbis eorum conatibus viriliter resistens, omnes in fugam coegit, atque tam pernici equorum cursu fugientibus institit inimicis, ut una cum illis castellum intraret. Factus est autem infra præfati ambitum castri conflictus durissimus, sed virtute Anglorum laudabili in brevi finitus. Nam in illo conflictu capti sunt ducenti milites de regno Francorum, et cum ipso Arthuro omnes nobiles Pictavenses et Andegavenses, ita quod nec unus pes ex omnibus evasit, qui posset redire et casum aliis indicare. Ligatos! igitur captivos in compedibus et manicis ferreis, vehiculisque bigarnm impositos, novo genere equitandi et inusitato, rex partim transmisit in Normanniam, partim in Angliam, ut castris fortioribus detrusi absque metu evasionis servarentur. Arthurus vero apud Falesiam sub custodia vigilanti remansit.
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Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. Arthur, count of Brittany, having been armed with knightly weapons by King Philip (whose young daughter he had been betrothed to), now being sixteen years of age, at the urging of certain reckless advisors, rebelled against his uncle King John. Following unsound and hasty counsel, he set out with Hugh de Lusignan, Geoffrey de Lusignan, and two hundred and fifty knights, and laid siege to the castle of Mirabeau under an unlucky omen. There Queen Eleanor, Arthur's grandmother, was residing with her household. The queen, fearing capture, sent word to her son the king to bring swift aid to the besieged. The king at once marched with part of his army to that castle1. The enemy had already entered the town and blocked up all the gates save one, and in confidence of their great number of gallant knights and men-at-arms, they awaited the king's coming without fear. But King John, arriving, forced his way into the town after a fierce struggle, and by God's will at once took captive all his enemies who had gathered there. For he captured there his nephew Arthur, Count Hugh, Geoffrey de Lusignan, and two hundred and fifty valiant knights and fifty-two more, besides many other brave retainers. Thus he delivered his mother with her attendants from the siege. This triumph of valour he immediately took care to announce to the English barons by letters, of which the following is the text:
Arturus autem comes Britanniæ, militaribus armis a rege Philippo decoratus, cujus filiam parvulam affidaverat, ipse jam sexdecim annorum ætatem habens, ad quorumdam importunam suggestionem contra avunculum suum regem Johannem rebellavit, sinistroque et nimis concito usus consilio, profectus est cum Hugone Brun et Gaufrido de Lezinant, et cum ducentis militibus et quinquaginta, atque castellum de Mirabel sinistro omine obsederunt, in quo regina Alienor, avia Arturi, cum suis hospitabatur. Regina vero, capi metuens, mandavit regi filio suo ut opem ferret quantocius obsessis. Rex autem illico cum parte exercitus sui ad castellum illud profectus est. Hostes autem castrum intraverant, et omnes portas terrari fecerant, excepta una sola, et secure regis adventum præstolabantur, in multitudine probissimorum militum et servorum confidentes. Rex vero adveniens cum gravi pugnæ conflictu urbem intravit, et omnes inimicos suos qui ibidem confluxerant, Deo volente, statim comprehendit. Cepit enim ibi Arturum nepotem suum, et comitem Hugonem, et Galfridum de Lezinant, et ducentos strenuos milites et quinquaginta-duos, exceptis aliis probissimis servientibus; sicque matrem suam cum sibi adhærentibus ab obsidentibus liberavit. Hunc autem virtutis triumphum illico baronibus Anglicanis mandare per literas curavit, quarum iste tenor est.
Note 1. The Battle of Mirebeau was fought on 1st August 1202. Roger of Wendover: "The queen being placed in this predicament, sent messengers with orders to use all speed, to the king, who was then in Normandy, earnestly beseeching him by his filial affection to come to her assistance; on receipt of this intelligence, the king hastily set out with a strong force, and travelling night and day, he accomplished the long distance quicker than is to be believed, and arrived at Mirabeau. When the French and the people of Poictou learned that the king was on his way, they went out with a pompous array to meet him, and give him battle; but when they met each other in battle order, and had engaged, the king bravely withstood their turbulent attacks, and at length put them to flight, pursuing them so quickly with his cavalry, that he entered the castle at the same time as the fugitives. Then a most severe conflict took place inside the walls of the castle, but was soon determined by the laudable valour of the English; in the conflict there two hundred French knights were taken prisoners, and all the nobles in Poictou and Anjou, together with Arthur himself, so that not one out of the whole number escaped who could return and tell the misfortune to the rest of their countrymen. Having therefore, secured his prisoners in fetters and shackles, and placed them in cars, a new and unusual mode of conveyance, the king sent some of them to Normandy, and some to England, to be imprisoned in strong castles, whence there would be no fear of their escape; but Arthur was kept at Falaise under close custody. "
A History of the Dukes of Normandy: "Those who were keeping watch, when they saw them coming, began to cry out: 'To arms! To arms!' and the Poitevins ran to arm themselves. Geoffrey of Lusignan was sitting at table, he was a very valiant knight who had done many feats of arms both this side of the sea and beyond, and he was waiting for a dish of pigeons. When he heard the news that a great force was approaching, and there was fear it might be King John's men, he would have done well to rise from his meal and arm himself; but he swore by God's head that he would not rise before he had eaten his pigeons. Because of that delay, they took so long that the king's men entered the streets on every side. Hugh le Brun and Raoul of Issoudun, his brothers, who held the County of Eu through his wife, and Andrew of Chauvigny, who also held the lands of Châteauroux through his wife, and many great barons armed themselves and mounted their horses and ran to the gates. But William des Roches came so swiftly that he entered through the gate before the Poitevins could close it. As he came riding in, Hugh le Brun was struck down with his horse in the middle of the street. Then the king’s men entered on every side through the gates, and the king himself came in; and with the first blow he struck, he cut off the hand of a knight fully armed, with his sword. Great indeed was the battle all through the town. What more shall I tell you? All the Poitevins were utterly defeated, and Arthur was taken, and all the Poitevins with him, not one of the great men escaped. When the king had done his deed, he returned toward Rouen, taking with him all his prisoners, save only Andrew of Chauvigny, whom he let go on his word of honor. And when the King of France heard these tidings at the siege of Arques, where he then was, he abandoned the siege and drew back. King John, when he came to Rouen, put his nephew Arthur in prison in the tower, where he died."
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Les Grandes Chroniques de France. 1st August 1202. When Arthur, Count of Brittany, had parted from the king [King John], not many days passed before he entered too boldly and with too few men into King John's territory. Because of this, it happened that King John, who likely knew of his movements in advance, came upon him suddenly with a large number of armed men. He attacked him and defeated him. There Arthur, Count of Brittany, was captured, along with Hugh le Brun (age 19), Geoffrey de Lusignan (age 52),1 and many other knights.
Note 1. Geoffrey Lusignan. Geoffrey de Lusignan, lord of Vouvant and Mervent, son of Hugh VIII known as 'le Brun', lord of Lusignan. It was at Mirebeau (Vienne, district of Poitiers, chief town of the canton) that they were captured along with Arthur of Brittany, on August 1st, 1202 (see Matthew of Paris, Chronica Majora, vol. II, p. 478, and Ralph of Coggeshall, Chronicon Anglicanum, p. 137).
Quant Artus, li cuens de Bretaigne, se fu du roi partiz, poi passèrent de jors après que il entra trop hardiement et à trop poi de gent en la terre le roi Jehan, de quoi il avint que li rois Jehans, qui bien savoit par aventure tôt son errement, vint seur lui soudainement a grant multitude de gent armée; à lui se combat i et le descoiifi. Là fu pris li cuens Artus, Hues li Bruns, Giffroiz de Lesegniem et maint autre chevalier.
On 1st April 1204 Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 82) died at Fontevraud Abbey [Map] where she was buried. Her remains were destroyed during the French Revolution. Her effigy found by Charles Stothard as described in the Introduction to his work Monumental Effigies of Great Britain.
Effigy of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Eleanor of Aquitaine (deceased), or Guienne, was the eldest daughter and heiress of William V. Duke of Aquitaine, by Eleanor of Chastelleraut, his wife. She was first married to Louis VII. of France, but, owing to some dissension which arose between them, Louis applied to the papal see for a divorce: and it appearing that there was consanguinity between the parties, they were separated by authority of the Church in Easter 1151. Henry the Second, then Duke of Normandy, thought that a marriage with the Countess of Poitou and Aquitaine offered too large an accession of dominion and political power to his crown to be neglected, and so promptly took his measures that he espoused her the following Whitsuntide. She bore King Henry six sons and three daughters. Their eldest daughter Matilda married Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony; among the issue of which marriage was Otho the Fourth, Emperor of Germany (age 29), and William (age 19), progenitor of the Dukes of Brunswick, who assumed as his arms the two lions which his grandfather Henry bore, and which seem to have been the ensign of the early English Kings of the Norman race as Dukes of Normandy. Eleanor thwarting the amours of her husband, and taking part against him with their elder son Prince Henry (who had received the titular and aspired to the actual honours of King during his father's lifetime), incurred his deep displeasure, and, according to Matthew Paris, banished from his bed, passed sixteen years of her life in close confinement. On the death of Henry in 1189, and the accession of her third son Richard to the Crown, he invested her with sovereign authority during his absence in Normandy; and her first act was a very general release of malefactors from confinement. She accompanied Richard to the Holy Land, died in 1204, the sixth year of the reign of her son John (age 37), and was buried at Fontevraud [Map]. She lies, like the other effigies at that place, upon a bier, attired in her royal vestments, with a crown upon her head.
Annals of Margam. [May 1204] The King of the Franks captured the castle of Chinon, and later all the fortifications of Normandy, Anjou, and the city of Poitiers, along with other castles, towns, and cities that he wanted to possess. This happened because when King John had captured Arthur and had kept him alive in prison for some time, he eventually, drunk and possessed by demons, personally killed him in the tower of Rouen on the Thursday before Easter, after lunch. He tied a large stone to his body and threw him into the Seine; the body was found in a fishing net called "sagena" and brought to the shore. It was discovered and secretly buried in the priory of Bec, known as Saint Mary's of the Meadow, due to fear of the tyrant.
Rex Francorum cepit castrum de Chynun, et postea omnes munitiones Normanniæ, Andegaviæ, et civitatem Pictavis, cum aliis castellis, oppidis, et civitatibus quas voluit habere, et hac ratione; cum rex Johannes cepisset Arthurum, eumque aliquamdiu in carcere vivum tenuisset, in turre tandem Rothomagensi, feria quinta ante Pascha, post prandium, ebrius et dæmonio plenus, propria manu interfecit, et grandi lapide ad corpus ejus alligato, projecit in Secanam; quod reti piscatorio, id est, sagena, inventum est, et ad littus tractum, cognitum; et in prioratu Becci, qui dicitur Sanctæ Mariæ de Prato, occulte sepultum, propter metum tyranni.
Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. [May 1204] In this year, after the middle of Lent, King John, having taken counsel, sent envoys to the King of France, namely the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of Norwich and Ely, as well as Count William Marshal and the Earl of Leicester, in order to sound out the king's intentions and to discuss with him some form of peace settlement. But King Philip, elated because everything was turning to his advantage, was altogether unwilling to agree to any peace unless Arthur were delivered to him alive. If Arthur was already removed from the scene, then he demanded Arthur's sister in marriage, together with all the land beyond the sea. And when the form of peace was debated in various ways, King Philip, unwilling for peace, since he was confident he would soon gain all of King John's territory, always proposed some unacceptable or impossible condition in the terms, something that would both cause shame and diminish the dignity of the English crown, and detract from royal majesty. He raged most fiercely over the murder of Arthur, whom he had heard had been drowned in the Seine; and it is said that he swore never in all his life to cease harassing King John until he had stripped him of his whole kingdom. Soon after, at the following Easter, King Philip assembled his army, besieged Falaise, and quickly captured it with no resistance. Then, coming to Caen, he was at once peacefully received by the townsfolk, since they had no one who could defend them. After this he seized the whole of that province as far as Barfleur, Cherbourg, and Domfront.
Hoc anno, post mediam Quadragesimam, rex Johannes, concilio habito, nuncios direxit ad regem Galliæ, Cantuariensem scilicet archiepiscopum, Norwicensem episcopum atque Elyensem, necnon et comitem Willelmum Marescallum, cum comite Leircestriæ, ut explorarent animum regis, ac de aliqua pacis formula cum eo tractarent. Sed rex Philippus nimis efferatus, quia omnia ei pro voto succedebant, nequaquam aliquam pacis concordiam componere volebat, nisi Arturus ei vivus traderetur. Quod si ille de medio jam sublatus esset, sororem ejus in matrimonium expetebat, cum tota terra transmarina. Cumque diversis modis de formula pacis tractaretur, rex Philippus pacem nolens, qui in brevi totam terram regis se adepturum confidebat, semper aliquod inconveniens, aut aliquod impossibile, in forma pacis componenda proponebat, quod et pudorem et principatus minorationem regi Anglorum incuteret, et regiæ majestati derogaret. Sæviebat autem permaxime pro nece Arturi, quem in Sequana submersum fuisse audierat; unde et jurasse fertur quod nullo tempore totius vitæ suæ ab infestatione regis Johannis desisteret, donec eum toto regno suo privasset. Mox autem, Pascha subsequenti, coadunato exercitu, rex Galliæ obsedit Falesiam et in brevi cepit, nullo ei resistente; deinde, Cadomis veniens, a Cadomensibus pacifice statim receptus est, cum neminem haberent qui eos defendere valeret. Post hæc cepit totam illam provinciam usque Barbefleot, et Chereburch, et Danfrunt.
Note 1. Annals of Margam: "The King of the Franks captured the castle of Chinon, and later all the fortifications of Normandy, Anjou, and the city of Poitiers, along with other castles, towns, and cities that he wanted to possess. This happened because when King John had captured Arthur and had kept him alive in prison for some time, he eventually, drunk and possessed by demons, personally killed him in the tower of Rouen on the Thursday before Easter, after lunch. He tied a large stone to his body and threw him into the Seine; the body was found in a fishing net called 'sagena' and brought to the shore. It was discovered and secretly buried in the priory of Bec, known as Saint Mary's of the Meadow, due to fear of the tyrant."
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On 30th May 1213 William "Longsword" Longespee Earl Salisbury (age 37) accidentally encountered a large French fleet. The French crews were mostly ashore. The English captured around 300 ships at anchor, burning a further 100 ships. The battle resulted in a period of peace in England with France being unable to invade, as well as generating significant wealth for England.
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
The Battle of Muret, the last major battle of the Albigensian Crusade, was fought on 12th September 1213 between the armies of Peter II King Aragon (age 35) and Simon "Elder" Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester (age 38). The Argonese forces were heavily defeated. Peter II King Aragon was killed. His son James (age 5) succeeded I King Aragon.
Les Grandes Chroniques de France. [12th September 1213]. After the barons and prelates had returned to France, the King of Aragon (age 35), the Count of Saint-Gilles (age 56), the Count of Foix, and many other barons of the land laid siege to the count in the castle of Muriaus. They had gathered a great host and inflicted wrongs, as they were of the country, and the count had only sixty knights, mounted sergeants, and pilgrims on foot, all unarmed, around him. After the count [Simon "Elder" Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester (age 38)] and his people had devoutly heard mass, confessed their sins, and invoked the grace of the Holy Spirit, they came out of the castle, bold as lions, as those armed with faith and belief, and valiantly fought against their enemies. They killed the King of Aragon and about 18,000 of his people. After they had won the battle and their enemies were all killed or driven away, they found that they had only lost eight pilgrims from all their company. Never had such a victory been heard of in this world, nor such a marvelous battle where so great a miracle should be noted. This Count Simon was called in the land the 'strong count,' for his marvelous strength. For, although he was very noble in arms, he was so devout that he heard mass and his canonical hours every day; always armed, always in danger. He had entirely left and renounced his country, in service to Our Lord, on this pilgrimage, to earn God's love and the joy of Paradise.
Après ce que li baron et li prelat s'en furent retorné en France, li rois d'Arragon, li cuens de Saint Gyle, li cuens de Fois, et maint autre baron du païs assistrent le conte ou chastel de Muriaus. Grant ost et tort avoient assemblé, come cil qui du pais estoient, et li cuens n'avoit que ce et lx chevaliers, d serjanz à cheval, et pèlerins à piè, toz desarmez, entor vif. Après ce que li cuens et sa gent orent la messe oie par L;rant dévotion, et il orent leur péchiez confessez et apelée la grâce du Saint Esperit, il issirent du chastel hardi comme lyon, come cil qui estoient armé de foi et de créance, et se combatirent à leur anemis vertueusement. Le roi d'Arragon occistrent et bien xviii de sa gent. Après ce que il orent la bataille vaincue et toz leur anemis occis et chaciez, il troverent que il n'orent perdu de tote leur gent que viii pèlerins tant seulement. Si ne fu ainques oie tel victoire en cest siècle ne si merveilleuse, ne bataille où l'on deust noter si grant miracle. Icil cuens Symons estoit apelez ou pais cuens forz, pour sa mervelleuse force. Car com il fust très nobles en armes, il estoit si preuzdons que il ooit chascun jor sa messe et ses houres kanoniaus; toz jors armez, toz jors en péril. Si avoit du tôt guerpi et adossé son pais, pour le servise Nostre Seigneur, en ceste voie de pérégrination, pour deservir l'amor de Dieu et la joie de Paradis.
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On 27th July 1214 the last battle of the Anglo-French War of 1213-1214. Philip Augustus II King France 1165-1223's army defeated the combined forces of England, Flanders and the Holy Roman Empire. Thomas St Valery (age 59) fought at Bouvines during the Battle of Bouvines.
On 15th June 1215 King John of England (age 48) met with his Baron's at Runnymede [Map] where he agreed to the terms of the Magna Carta which attempted to reduce the King's authority through political reform. Those who signed as surety included:
Roger Bigod 2nd Earl Norfolk (age 71)
his son Hugh Bigod 3rd Earl Norfolk (age 33)
Henry Bohun 1st Earl Hereford (age 39)
Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford (age 62)
his son Gilbert Clare 5th Earl Gloucester 4th Earl Hertford (age 35)
William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 25)
William Mowbray 6th Baron Thirsk (age 42)
Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester (age 45)
Robert Ros (age 43), Richard Percy 5th Baron Percy Topcliffe (age 45)
Robert de Vere 3rd Earl of Oxford (age 50)
Eustace Vesci (age 46)
John Fitzrobert 3rd Baron Warkworth (age 25)
John Lacy Earl Lincoln (age 23).
William D'Aubigny (age 64), Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex (age 24)
William Forz 3rd Earl Albemarle
William Hardell
William Huntingfield
William Llanvallei
William Malet 1st Baron Curry Mallet
Roger Montbegon, Richard Montfichet
Geoffrey Saye (age 60) signed as surety the Magna Carta.
Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln (age 45) witnessed.
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