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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Charles Wellesley 1808-1858

Paternal Family Tree: Colley

1809 Battle of Talavera

1812 Battle of Salamanca

On 10th April 1806 Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington [aged 36] and [his mother] Catherine "Kitty" Pakenham Duchess Wellington [aged 33] were married at Dublin [Map]. He the son of [his grandfather] Garrett Wellesley 1st Earl Mornington and [his grandmother] Anne Hill Countess Mornington [aged 63].

On 16th January 1808 Charles Wellesley was born to Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington [aged 38] and Catherine "Kitty" Pakenham Duchess Wellington [aged 35].

Battle of Talavera

                    Between 27th July 1809 and 28th July 1809 the Battle of Talavera, part of the Peninsular War, was fought between an Anglo Spanish army commanded by Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington [aged 40] against the French. The French army withdrew at night after several of its attacks had been repulsed. Following the battle Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington was created 1st Viscount Wellington of Talavera.
                
                    Hugh Gough 1st Viscount Gough [aged 29] commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot.
                
                    General Henry Fane [aged 30] commanded the 3rd Prince of Wales Dragoon Guards, 4th Queen's Own Dragoons.
                
                    Charles Henry Farrington 2nd Baronet [aged 14] fought.

Battle of Salamanca

On 22nd July 1812 the Battle of Salamanca was fought at which an Anglo-Portuguese army under the Earl of Wellington [aged 43] defeated Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces at Arapiles [Map].

Brother General Thomas Bradford [aged 34] and Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Hollis Bradford [aged 31] fought.

Major-General John Le Marchant [aged 46] was killed in action. Wellington is reported as saying to Le Marchant that he must take the first favourable opportunity to engage the enemy's infantry, "You must then charge at all hazards" was his final instruction. Following up the attack of the 5th Infantry Division Le Marchant led the 3rd and 4th Dragoons and the 5th Dragoon Guards in what was probably the most destructive charge made by a single brigade of cavalry in the whole Napoleonic period. The left wing of the French army were on the point of being defeated by the 3rd and 5th divisions of Anglo-Portuguese infantry when Le Marchant's dragoons charged in and destroyed battalion after battalion. Many of the French infantrymen sought the protection of the British infantry to escape the sabres of the dragoons. Le Marchant, knowing he had achieved a magnificent success, was leading a squadron against the last of the formed French infantry when he was shot and his spine broken. See Fletcher's "Galloping at Everything: The British Cavalry in the Peninsula and at Waterloo 1808-15". Spellmount, Staplehurst. ISBN 1-86227-016-3. 1999, pp. 185–188.

On 11th May 1814 Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington [aged 45] was created 1st Duke Wellington. [his mother] Catherine "Kitty" Pakenham Duchess Wellington [aged 41] by marriage Duchess Wellington.

Around 1818 Charles Wellesley [aged 9] educated at Eton College [Map].

On 29th June 1822 Henry Somerset 7th Duke Beaufort [aged 30] and Emily Frances Smith Duchess Beaufort [aged 22] were married. She being the younger half-sister of his first wife Georgiana Frederica Fitzroy both of whom's mother was [his aunt] Anne Wellesley [aged 54] sister of Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington [aged 53]. An example of a man marrying two sisters, albeit in this case half-sisters. He the son of Henry Charles Somerset 6th Duke Beaufort [aged 55] and Charlotte Sophia Leveson-Gower Duchess Beaufort [aged 51].

On 24th April 1831 [his mother] Catherine "Kitty" Pakenham Duchess Wellington [aged 58] died.

In 1839 Arthur Wellesley 2nd Duke Wellington [aged 31] and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Hay Duchess Wellington [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of George Hay 8th Marquess Tweedale [aged 51] and Susan Montagu Marchioness Tweddale [aged 38]. He the son of [his father] Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington [aged 69] and [his mother] Catherine "Kitty" Pakenham Duchess Wellington.

In 1842 Charles Wellesley [aged 33] was elected MP South Hampshire.

On 9th July 1844 Charles Wellesley [aged 36] and Augusta Sophia Anne Pierrepoint were married. He the son of Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington [aged 75] and Catherine "Kitty" Pakenham Duchess Wellington.

On 5th April 1846 [his son] Henry Wellesley 3rd Duke Wellington was born to Charles Wellesley [aged 38] and [his wife] Augusta Sophia Anne Pierrepoint at Apsley House, Hyde Park Corner. He married 7th March 1882 Evelyn Katrine Gwenfra Williams Duchess Wellington.

On 15th March 1849 [his son] Arthur Charles Wellesley 4th Duke Wellington was born to Charles Wellesley [aged 41] and [his wife] Augusta Sophia Anne Pierrepoint. He married 24th October 1872 Kathleen Emily Bulkeley Williams Duchess Wellington and had issue.

In 1852 Charles Wellesley [aged 43] was elected MP Windsor.

On 14th September 1852 Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Wellington [aged 83] died at Deal Castle [Map]. His son Arthur [aged 45] succeeded 2nd Duke Wellington, 2nd Viscount Wellington of Talavera. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Hay Duchess Wellington [aged 31] by marriage Duchess Wellington.

George Gammon Adams [aged 31] took the death mask of the Duke of Wellington, the marble bust he executed from it being highly regarded by the Duke's heirs.

On 9th October 1858 Charles Wellesley [aged 50] died.