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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Biography of Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton 1544-1589

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.

Trial of Mary Queen of Scots

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.

Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton 1544-1589 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

Royal Ancestors of Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton 1544-1589

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

Royal Descendants of Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton 1544-1589
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Diana Spencer Princess Wales [3]

Ancestors of Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton 1544-1589

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

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