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: Stanley
On 9th October 1907 Edward Stanley 6th Baron Stanley, 6th Baron Sheffield, 5th Baron Eddisbury was born to [his father] Arthur Stanley 5th Baron Stanley, 5th Baron Sheffield, 4th Baron Eddisbury (age 32).
On 18th March 1925 [his grandfather] Edward Lyulph Stanley 4th Baron Stanley 3rd Baron Eddisbury (age 85) died. His son [his father] Arthur (age 49) succeeded 5th Baron Stanley Alderley, 5th Baron Sheffield of Roscommon in Roscommon, 4th Baron Eddisbury of Winnington in Cheshire, 11th Baronet Stanley of Alderley in Cheshire.
On 3rd February 1927 Major Anthony Ashley-Cooper (age 26) and [his future wife] Sylvia Hawkes Baroness Stanley (age 22) were married. He the son of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 9th Earl of Shaftesbury (age 57) and Constance Grosvenor Countess of Shaftesbury (age 51).
On 22nd August 1931 [his father] Arthur Stanley 5th Baron Stanley, 5th Baron Sheffield, 4th Baron Eddisbury (age 55) died. His son Edward (age 23) succeeded 6th Baron Stanley Alderley, 6th Baron Sheffield of Roscommon in Roscommon, 5th Baron Eddisbury of Winnington in Cheshire, 12th Baronet Stanley of Alderley in Cheshire.
On 28th November 1934 Major Anthony Ashley-Cooper (age 34) and [his future wife] Sylvia Hawkes Baroness Stanley (age 30) were divorced after she began an affair with American actor Douglas Fairbanks, Sr, who was named as co-respondent in the petition for divorce.
Before 18th January 1944 Edward Stanley 6th Baron Stanley, 6th Baron Sheffield, 5th Baron Eddisbury (age 36) and Victoria Audrey Chetwynd-Talbot (age 33) were married.
On 18th January 1944 Edward Stanley 6th Baron Stanley, 6th Baron Sheffield, 5th Baron Eddisbury (age 36) and Sylvia Hawkes Baroness Stanley (age 39) were married. She by marriage Baroness Stanley Alderley.
In 1948 Edward Stanley 6th Baron Stanley, 6th Baron Sheffield, 5th Baron Eddisbury (age 40) and Sylvia Hawkes Baroness Stanley (age 43) were divorced.
Before 18th December 1952 [his brother-in-law] John Chetwynd-Talbot 21st Earl of Shrewsbury 6th Earl Talbot (age 38) and Nina Mortlock Countess Shrewsbury, Waterford and Talbot were married. She by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury, Countess Waterford, Countess Talbot.
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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On 3rd March 1971 Edward Stanley 6th Baron Stanley, 6th Baron Sheffield, 5th Baron Eddisbury (age 63) died. His brother [his brother] Lyulph (age 55) succeeded 7th Baron Stanley Alderley, 7th Baron Sheffield of Roscommon in Roscommon, 6th Baron Eddisbury of Winnington in Cheshire, 13th Baronet Stanley of Alderley in Cheshire.
On 29th June 1977 [his former wife] Sylvia Hawkes Baroness Stanley (age 73) died.
In 1994 [his former wife] Victoria Audrey Chetwynd-Talbot (age 83) died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 26 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 23 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 28 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 23 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 25 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Son of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 25 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 22 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Son of Henry IV King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 30 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Stanley 5th Baronet 
13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Thomas Stanley 6th Baronet 14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Stanley 1st Baron Stanley Alderley 15 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward John Stanley 2nd Baron Stanley and 1st Baron Eddisbury 16 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Baker Holroyd 1st Earl Sheffield
Great x 2 Grandmother: Maria Josepha Holroyd Baroness Stanley Alderley
Great x 4 Grandfather: Lewis Way
Great x 3 Grandmother: Abigail Way Countess Sheffield
GrandFather: Edward Lyulph Stanley 4th Baron Stanley 3rd Baron Eddisbury 5 x Great Grand Son of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Dillon 11th Viscount Dillon 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Dillon Lee 12th Viscount Dillon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Charlotte Lee Viscountess Dillon Great Grand Daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Augustus Dillon Lee 13th Viscount Dillon 3 x Great Grand Son of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Constantine Phipps 1st Baron Mulgrave Great Grand Son of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Henrietta Maria Phipps 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lepell Hervey Baroness Mulgrave 
11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Henrietta Maria Dillon Baroness Stanley Alderley and Eddisbury 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland
Father: Arthur Stanley 5th Baron Stanley, 5th Baron Sheffield, 4th Baron Eddisbury 6 x Great Grand Son of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland
Great x 1 Grandfather: Isaac Lowthian Bell 1st Baronet
GrandMother: Mary Catherine Bell Baroness Stanley
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh Lee Pattinson
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Pattinson
Great x 2 Grandmother: Phoebe Walton
Edward Stanley 6th Baron Stanley, 6th Baron Sheffield, 5th Baron Eddisbury 7 x Great Grand Son of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland