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: Saxon Ottonian
Maternal Family Tree: Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia
On 23rd November 912 Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor was born to [his father] Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia (age 36) and [his mother] Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia.
On 30th November 912 [his father] Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia (age 36) succeeded I Duke Saxony.
On 24th May 919 [his father] Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia (age 43) was created I King East Francia.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 4th September 925. And [his future brother-in-law] Athelstan (age 31) was chosen king in Mercia, and consecrated at Kingston [Map]. He gave his [his future wife] sister to Otho (age 12), son of the [his father] king of the Old-Saxons (age 49). St. Dunstan (age 16) was now born; and Wulfhelm took to the archbishopric in Canterbury. This year King Athelstan and Sihtric king of the Northumbrians came together at Tamworth, Staffordshire [Map], the sixth day before the calends of February, and Athelstan gave away his sister to him.
In 929 Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 16) and Eadgyth Wessex Queen Consort Germany were married. She the daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons and Aelfflaed Wiltshire Queen Anglo Saxons (age 59). He the son of Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia (age 53) and Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia.
In 929 [his son] William Saxon Ottonian Archbishop of Mainz was born to Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 16).
Around 930 [his son] Liudolf Duke Swabia was born to Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 17) and [his wife] Eadgyth Wessex Queen Consort Germany. He married 948 Ida Swabia, daughter of Herman Swabia 1st Duke Swabia, and had issue.
In 931 [his daughter] Liutgarde Saxon Ottonian was born to Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 18) and [his wife] Eadgyth Wessex Queen Consort Germany. She married Conrad "Red" Saxony I Duke Lorraine.
Around 932 Æthelstan Half King (age 22) was appointed Earldorman East Anglia by [his brother-in-law] King Æthelstan I of England (age 38).
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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In 933 [his brother-in-law] Edwin the Ætheling was drowned at sea. The circumstances of his death are unclear. Some sources say a storm caused the ship to sink, some say his brother King Æthelstan I of England (age 39) sent him to sea in a leaky boat.
On 2nd July 936 [his father] Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia (age 60) died. His son Otto (age 23) succeeded I King Germany, I Duke Saxony. [his wife] Eadgyth Wessex Queen Consort Germany by marriage Queen Consort Germany.
In 937 [his brother-in-law] King Æthelstan I of England (age 43) and his son Edmund (age 16) defeated the Scottish, Irish Viking and Strathclyde army at the Battle of Brunanburh. Two of Æthelstan's cousins, Æthelwine Wessex and Aelfwine Wessex were killed.
Archbishop Oda was present although there are no contemporary records of Oda's appearance at the battle. He is said to have miraculously provided a sword to the king when the king's own sword slipped out of its scabbard.
On 27th October 939 [his brother-in-law] King Æthelstan I of England (age 45) died in Gloucester [Map]. His half brother Edmund (age 18) succeeded King of England.
In or before 943 [his brother-in-law] King Edmund I of England (age 21) and Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury Queen Consort England were married. She by marriage Queen Consort England. He the son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons and Eadgifu Kent Queen Anglo Saxons.
In or after 944 [his brother-in-law] King Edmund I of England (age 23) and Æthelflæd of Damerham Queen Consort of England were married. She by marriage Queen Consort England. He the son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons and Eadgifu Kent Queen Anglo Saxons.
On 26th January 946 [his wife] Eadgyth Wessex Queen Consort Germany died.
In 948 [his brother] Henry Saxon Ottonian I Duke Bavaria (age 28) was created I Duke Bavaria.
Around 948 Liudolf Duke Swabia (age 18) and Ida Swabia were married. She the daughter of Herman Swabia 1st Duke Swabia. He the son of Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 35) and Eadgyth Wessex Queen Consort Germany.
In 951 Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 38) and Adelaide Welf Holy Roman Empress (age 20) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Germany. She the daughter of Rudolph "Pious" II King Burgundy II King Italy and Bertha Swabia Queen Consort Italy. He the son of Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia and Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia.
In 953 [his brother] Bruno Saxon Ottonian Archbishop Cologne (age 27) was appointed Archbishop Cologne.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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On 18th November 953 [his daughter] Liutgarde Saxon Ottonian (age 22) died.
In 954 [his brother] Bruno Saxon Ottonian Archbishop Cologne (age 28) was appointed Duke Lorraine.
In 955 [his son] Otto "Red" II King Germany II Holy Roman Emperor II King Italy was born to Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 42) and [his wife] Adelaide Welf Holy Roman Empress (age 24). He married Theophanu Unknown Holy Roman Empress and had issue.
On 1st November 955 [his brother] Henry Saxon Ottonian I Duke Bavaria (age 35) died. His son [his nephew] Henry (age 4) succeeded II Duke Bavaria.
In December 955 [his daughter] Matilda Saxon Ottonian Abbess Quedlinburg was born to Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 43) and [his wife] Adelaide Welf Holy Roman Empress (age 24).
On 6th September 957 [his son] Liudolf Duke Swabia (age 27) died.
On 25th December 961 Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 49) was appointed I King Italy. [his wife] Adelaide Welf Holy Roman Empress (age 30) by marriage Queen Consort Italy.
On 2nd February 962 Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 49) was created Holy Roman Emperor. [his wife] Adelaide Welf Holy Roman Empress (age 31) by marriage Holy Roman Empress.
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.
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In 964 [his brother-in-law] Conrad I King Burgundy (age 39) and [his niece] 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.
On 11th October 965 [his brother] Bruno Saxon Ottonian Archbishop Cologne (age 40) died.
On 2nd March 968 [his son] William Saxon Ottonian Archbishop of Mainz (age 39) died.
On 7th May 973 Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 60) died. His son Otto (age 18) succeeded II King Germany.
On 16th December 999 [his former wife] Adelaide Welf Holy Roman Empress (age 68) died.
[his father] Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia and Hatheburg Unknown Queen Consort East Francia were married. She by marriage Queen Consort East Francia.
[his father] Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia and [his mother] Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia were married. She by marriage Queen Consort East Francia.