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: Flanders
Maternal Family Tree: Matilda Chateau Du Loir Countess Maine 1055 1109
In April 1170 Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France was born to Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut [aged 20] and Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders at Valciennes.
On 28th April 1180 King Philip II of France [aged 14] and Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France [aged 10] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut [aged 30] and Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders. He the son of Louis VII King of the Franks [aged 60] and Adèle Queen of the Franks. They were half third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
On 18th September 1180 [her father-in-law] Louis VII King of the Franks [aged 60] died in Paris [Map]. His son [her husband] Philip [aged 15] succeeded II King France: Capet.
On 5th September 1187 [her son] King Louis VIII of France was born to [her husband] King Philip II of France [aged 22] and Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France [aged 17]. He a great x 3 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England. He married 23rd May 1200 his third cousin Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France, daughter of Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile, and had issue.
On 14th March 1190 twin boys Robert Capet and Philip Capet were born to [her husband] King Philip II of France [aged 24] and Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France [aged 19]. The eldest Robert died the same day, the youngest Philip died three days later. Their mother Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France died from childbirth the day after the birth.
On 15th August 1193 [her former husband] King Philip II of France [aged 27] and [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark. He the son of [her former father-in-law] Louis VII King of the Franks and Adèle Queen of the Franks.
Around November 1193 [her former husband] King Philip II of France [aged 28] and [aged 19] marriage annulled on the spurious grounds of her consanguinity with his first wife Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France. She was kept, more or less, a prisoner for the remainder of her life being held in difference French castles.
On 7th May 1196 [her former husband] King Philip II of France [aged 30] and were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Berthold Andechs Duke Merania and Agnes Rochlitz. He the son of [her former father-in-law] Louis VII King of the Franks and Adèle Queen of the Franks.
On 14th July 1223 [her former husband] King Philip II of France [aged 57] died. His son Louis [aged 35] succeeded VIII King France: Capet. Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France [aged 35] by marriage Queen Consort of France.
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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[her father] Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut and [her mother] Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Thierry Count Flanders and [her grandmother] Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex. He the son of Baldwin Flanders IV Count Hainaut and Alice Namur Countess Hainault. They were third cousins.
Gesta Regis Henrici by Benedict of Peterborough. In the same year, Queen Isabella of France, daughter of the [her father] Count of Hainaut, died before the King of France embarked on his journey to Jerusalem.
Eodem anno obiit Isabel regina Franciæ, filia comitis de Enou, antequam rex Franciæ iter Jerosolimitanum arripuisset.
Ralph Capet II Count Vermandois and [her mother] Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Thierry Count Flanders and [her grandmother] Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex. He the son of Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois and Petronilla Poitiers. They were half third cousin once removed.
Kings Wessex: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Kings France: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Baldwin "The Good" V Count Flanders 4 x Great Grand Son of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 3 Grandfather: Baldwin VI Count Flanders I Count Hainaut Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandmother: Adela Capet Duchess Normandy 
Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 2 Grandfather: Baldwin II Count Hainaut 2 x Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 3 Grandmother: Richilde Countess Flanders and Hainault
Great x 1 Grandfather: Baldwin Flanders III Count Hainaut 3 x Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandfather: Lambert Reginar II Count Louvain 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Reginar II Count Louvain 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 4 Grandmother: Oda Ardennes Countess Louvain 8 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 2 Grandmother: Ida Reginar Countess Hainaut 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adela Thuringa Countess Louvain
GrandFather: Baldwin Flanders IV Count Hainaut 4 x Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gerald I Count Guelders
Great x 1 Grandmother: Yolande Guelders Countess Hainaut
Father: Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut 5 x Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albert Namur I Count Namur
Great x 3 Grandfather: Albert Namur II Count Namur 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ermengarde Carolingian Countess Namur 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 2 Grandfather: Albert Namur III Count Namur 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gothelo Ardennes Duke Lower Lorraine Duke Upper Lorraine 6 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandmother: Regilinda Ardennes Countess Namur 7 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 1 Grandfather: Godfrey Namur I Count Namur 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bernard I Duke of Saxony
Great x 3 Grandfather: Bernard II Duke of Saxony
Great x 2 Grandmother: Ida Billung Countess Namur
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Schweinfurt
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eilika Schweinfurt Duchess Saxony
GrandMother: Alice Namur Countess Hainault 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 2 Grandfather: Conrad Luxemburg Count Luxemburg 
Great x 1 Grandmother: Ermesinde Luxemburg Countess Namur 6 x Great Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: William "Great" V Duke Aquitaine 3 x Great Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 3 Grandfather: William VII Duke Aquitaine 4 x Great Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Ivrea Duchess Aquitaine 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Clementia Aquitaine Countess Luxemburg 5 x Great Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
5 x Great Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gerard Metz I Duke Lorraine
Great x 1 Grandfather: Theodoric "Valiant" Metz II Duke Lorraine 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albert Namur I Count Namur
Great x 3 Grandfather: Albert Namur II Count Namur 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ermengarde Carolingian Countess Namur 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 2 Grandmother: Hedwige Namur Duchess Lorraine 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gothelo Ardennes Duke Lower Lorraine Duke Upper Lorraine 6 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandmother: Regilinda Ardennes Countess Namur 7 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
GrandFather: Thierry Count Flanders 3 x Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandfather: Baldwin "Bearded" IV Count Flanders 3 x Great Grand Son of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 3 Grandfather: Baldwin "The Good" V Count Flanders 4 x Great Grand Son of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert "The Frisian" I Count Flanders Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adela Capet Duchess Normandy Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 1 Grandmother: Gertrude Flanders Duchess Lorraine 2 x Great Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bernard I Duke of Saxony
Great x 3 Grandfather: Bernard II Duke of Saxony
Great x 2 Grandmother: Gertrude Billung Countess Holland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Schweinfurt
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eilika Schweinfurt Duchess Saxony
Mother: Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders 4 x Great Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh de Perche Count Gâtinais 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Geoffrey "Ferréol" Anjou 2nd Count Gâtinais
Great x 4 Grandmother: Béatrice de Mâcon Countess Gâtinais
Great x 2 Grandfather: Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou 8 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandfather: Fulk "Black" Ingelger III Count Anjou 6 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ermengarde Blanche Ingelger Duchess Burgundy 7 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandmother: Hildegarde Sundgau Countess Anjou
Great x 1 Grandfather: Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem 9 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandfather: Aumary Reginarids
Great x 3 Grandfather: Simon Montfort
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bertrade Unknown
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Normandy 2nd Count Évreux 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnès of Normandy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Adelaide aka Godehildis Ramon
GrandMother: Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex 9 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandfather: Jean de la Flèche de Baugency
Great x 2 Grandfather: Elias I Count Maine 7 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandfather: Herbert "Wakedog" Maine I Count Maine 5 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandmother: Paula Maine 6 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 1 Grandmother: Ermengarde of Maine Countess of Anjou 8 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gervais II Lord Chateau Du Loir
Great x 2 Grandmother: Matilda Chateau Du Loir Countess Maine