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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Paternal Family Tree: Compton
In or before 1544 [his father] Peter Compton [aged 20] and [his mother] Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Walden [aged 52].
In 1544 [his father] Peter Compton [aged 21] died.
On 14th July 1544 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton was born to [his father] Peter Compton and [his mother] Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke [aged 21].
After 20th February 1552 [his step-father] William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke [aged 51] and [his mother] Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. The difference in their ages was 22 years. She the daughter of [his grandfather] George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Walden [aged 61].
On 15th August 1560 Thomas Stanley 2nd Baron Monteagle [aged 53] died at Hornby. His son William [aged 32] succeeded 3rd Baron Monteagle. [his future wife] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset by marriage Baroness Monteagle.
In 1563 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 18] was elected MP Old Sarum.
In 1571 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 26] was appointed High Sheriff of Warwickshire.
In 1572 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 27] was created 1st Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire.
Before 1574 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 29] and Frances Hastings Baroness Compton [aged 40] were married. She by marriage Baroness Compton of Compton in Warwickshire. She the daughter of Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon and Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon [aged 62]. He the son of Peter Compton and Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke [aged 50]. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
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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In 1574 [his wife] Frances Hastings Baroness Compton [aged 41] died.
After 10th November 1581 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 37] and Anne Spencer Countess Dorset were married. She by marriage Baroness Compton of Compton in Warwickshire. He the son of Peter Compton and Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke [aged 58].
Around 1584 [his son] Henry Compton was born to Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 39] and [his wife] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset. He married his fifth cousin once removed Cecily Sackville, daughter of Robert Sackville 2nd Earl Dorset and Margaret Howard, and had issue.
On 14th October 1586 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 42], Lewis Mordaunt 3rd Baron Mordaunt [aged 48], Henry Wentworth 3rd Baron Wentworth [aged 28], Christopher Wray [aged 62], John Stourton 9th Baron Stourton [aged 33] and Edward Zouche 11th Baron Zouche Harringworth [aged 30] sat in judgement on Mary Queen of Scots [aged 43] in the Presence Chamber of Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].
Anthony Browne 1st Viscount Montagu [aged 57], George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland [aged 28], Henry Clinton 2nd Earl Lincoln [aged 45], Henry Grey 6th Earl Kent [aged 45], Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland [aged 37], Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby [aged 55], Ambrose Dudley 3rd Earl Warwick [aged 56], George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 58], Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford [aged 36], William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester [aged 60], William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley [aged 66], Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 48] and Thomas Bromley [aged 56] were present on the side of the Presence Chamber of Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].
John St John 2nd Baron St John [aged 51] was present on the left side of the Presence Chamber of Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].
John Stourton 9th Baron Stourton was a juror.
Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland was a commissioner.
On 18th July 1588 [his mother] Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke [aged 65] died.
On 10th December 1589 Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 45] died. His son William succeeded 2nd Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire.
After 1591 William Stanley 3rd Baron Monteagle and [his former wife] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset were married.
On 4th December 1592 Robert Sackville 2nd Earl Dorset [aged 31] and [his former wife] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset were married. He the son of Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset [aged 56] and Cicely Baker Countess Dorset [aged 57].
On 22nd September 1618 [his former wife] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset died.
[his daughter] Margaret Compton Baroness Mordaunt was born to Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton and Anne Spencer Countess Dorset. She married before 1608 Henry Mordaunt 4th Baron Mordaunt, son of Lewis Mordaunt 3rd Baron Mordaunt, and had issue.
[his son] William Compton 1st Earl of Northampton was born to Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton and Frances Hastings Baroness Compton. He married 1599 Elizabeth Spencer Countess Northampton, daughter of John Spencer, and had issue.
[his son] Thomas Compton was born to Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton and Anne Spencer Countess Dorset. He married after 1606 his half fifth cousin once removed Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 21 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 16 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edmund Compton
GrandFather: William Compton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Aylworth
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Aylworth
Father: Peter Compton
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Brereton
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Brereton
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Brereton 10th Lord Brereton
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Brereton
GrandMother: Werburga Brereton
Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Talbot 7th Baron Strange Blackmere 4th Baron Talbot
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John "Old Talbot" Talbot 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ankaret Strange 7th Baroness Strange Blackmere, Baroness Talbot
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Talbot 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Neville Baron Furnivall
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Neville 6th Baroness Furnivall
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Furnival 5th Baroness Furnivall
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Butler 3rd Earl Ormonde
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James "White Earl" Butler 4th Earl Ormonde
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Welles Countess Ormonde
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Butler Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Beauchamp 1st Baron Abergavenny
5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beauchamp Countess Ormonde
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Fitzalan Baroness Bergavenny
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
GrandFather: George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham
Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester
Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford
Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Stafford Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Neville of Raby
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Percy Baroness Neville Raby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Neville Duchess Buckingham
Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland
Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster
Mother: Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Walden
GrandMother: Elizabeth Walden