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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Baron Botreaux is in Baronies of England Alphabetically, Baronies of England Chronologically, Succeeded Baronesses of England, Abeyant Baronies of England.
Summary
24th February 1368. William Botreaux 1st Baron Botreaux [aged 30] created.
7th September 1391. Son William Botreaux 2nd Baron Botreaux [aged 24] succeeded.
25th May 1395. Son William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux [aged 6] succeeded.
16th May 1462. Daughter Margaret Botreaux 4th Baroness Botreaux Baroness Hungerford succeeded.
7th February 1478. Great Granddaughter Mary Hungerford Baroness Hastings, 4th Baroness Hungerford, 5th Baroness Botreaux and 2nd Baroness Moleyns [aged 12] succeeded.
1530. Son George Hastings 1st Earl Huntingdon [aged 43] succeeded.
24th March 1545. Son Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon [aged 31] succeeded.
20th June 1560. Son Henry Hastings 3rd Earl Huntingdon [aged 25] succeeded.
14th December 1595. Brother George Hastings 4th Earl Huntingdon [aged 55] succeeded.
30th December 1604. Grandson Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon [aged 18] succeeded.
14th November 1643. Son Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon [aged 35] succeeded.
13th February 1656. Son Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 5] succeeded.
30th May 1701. Son George Hastings 8th Earl Huntingdon [aged 24] succeeded.
1704. Half Brother Theophilus Hastings 9th Earl Huntingdon [aged 7] succeeded.
13th October 1746. Son Francis Hastings 10th Earl Huntingdon [aged 17] succeeded.
2nd October 1789. Sister Elizabeth Hastings Countess Moira [aged 58] succeeded.
11th April 1808. Son Francis Rawdon-Hastings 1st Marquess Hastings [aged 53] succeeded.
28th November 1826. Son George Augustus Francis Rawdon-Hastings 2nd Marquess Hastings [aged 18] succeeded.
13th January 1844. Son Paulyn Reginald Serlo Rawdon-Hastings 3rd Marquess Hastings [aged 11] succeeded.
17th January 1851. Brother Henry Weysford Charles Plantagenet Rawdon-Hastings 4th Marquess Hastings [aged 8] succeeded.
10th November 1868. Henry Weysford Charles Plantagenet Rawdon-Hastings 4th Marquess Hastings abeyant.
6th November 1871. Sister Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings 10th Countess Loudon [aged 37] abeyance terminated.
23rd January 1874. Son Charles Rawdon-Hastings 11th Earl Loudon [aged 19] succeeded.
17th May 1920. Charles Rawdon-Hastings 11th Earl Loudon abeyant.
7th March 1921. Niece Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings 12th Countess Loudon [aged 37] abeyance terminated.
24th February 1960. Peter Griffiths aka Abney-Hastings Earl Loudon [aged 35] abeyant.
On 24th February 1368 William Botreaux 1st Baron Botreaux [aged 30] was created 1st Baron Botreaux.
In February 1370 William Botreaux 1st Baron Botreaux [aged 32] and Elizabeth Daubeney Baroness Botreaux were married. She by marriage Baroness Botreaux.
Before 20th February 1389 William Botreaux 2nd Baron Botreaux [aged 22] and Elizabeth St Lo Baroness Botreaux [aged 25] were married. She by marriage Baroness Botreaux.
Before 7th September 1391 William Botreaux 1st Baron Botreaux [aged 54] died. His son William [aged 24] succeeded 2nd Baron Botreaux.
On 25th May 1395 William Botreaux 2nd Baron Botreaux [aged 28] died. His son William [aged 6] succeeded 3rd Baron Botreaux.
Before 1411 William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux [aged 21] and Elizabeth Beaumont Baroness Botreaux were married. She by marriage Baroness Botreaux.
Before 1458 William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux [aged 68] and Margaret Ros Baroness Botreaux Baroness Burgh [aged 27] were married. She by marriage Baroness Botreaux. The difference in their ages was 40 years. She the daughter of Thomas Ros 8th Baron Ros Helmsley and Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset [aged 49].
On 16th May 1462 William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux [aged 73] died. He was buried at Church of St Michael North Cadbury, Somerset. His daughter Margaret succeeded 4th Baroness Botreaux.
On 7th February 1478 Margaret Botreaux 4th Baroness Botreaux Baroness Hungerford died. Her great granddaughter Mary [aged 12] succeeded 5th Baroness Botreaux. Edward Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings Baron Botreaux, Hungerford and Moleyns [aged 11] by marriage Baron Botreaux.
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 1st May 1509 Richard Sacheverell Baron Hungerford, Botreaux and Moleyns [aged 42] and Mary Hungerford Baroness Hastings, 4th Baroness Hungerford, 5th Baroness Botreaux and 2nd Baroness Moleyns [aged 43] were married. He by marriage Baron Botreaux, Baron Hungerford, Baron Moleyns.
Around 1530 Mary Hungerford Baroness Hastings, 4th Baroness Hungerford, 5th Baroness Botreaux and 2nd Baroness Moleyns [aged 64] died at Leicester, Leicestershire [Map]. Her son George [aged 43] succeeded 5th Baron Hungerford, 3rd Baron Moleyns, 6th Baron Botreaux.
On 24th March 1545 George Hastings 1st Earl Huntingdon [aged 58] died. His son Francis [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Earl Huntingdon, 7th Baron Botreaux, 6th Baron Hungerford, 4th Baron Moleyns and 4th Baron Hastings. Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon [aged 34] by marriage Countess Huntingdon.
On 20th June 1560 Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon [aged 46] died. He was buried at the Hasting's Chapel, St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch [Map]. His son Henry [aged 25] succeeded 3rd Earl Huntingdon, 8th Baron Botreaux, 7th Baron Hungerford, 5th Baron Moleyns and 5th Baron Hastings. Katherine Dudley Countess Huntingdon [aged 22] by marriage Countess Huntingdon. See Monument [Map].
On 14th December 1595 Henry Hastings 3rd Earl Huntingdon [aged 60] died at York [Map]. On 26th April 1596 Henry Hastings 3rd Earl Huntingdon was buried at Hasting's Chapel, St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch [Map]. His brother George [aged 55] succeeded 4th Earl Huntingdon, 9th Baron Botreaux, 8th Baron Hungerford, 6th Baron Moleyns and 6th Baron Hastings. Dorothy Port Countess Huntingdon by marriage Countess Huntingdon.
On 30th December 1604 George Hastings 4th Earl Huntingdon [aged 64] died. His grandson Henry [aged 18] succeeded 5th Earl Huntingdon, 10th Baron Botreaux, 9th Baron Hungerford, 7th Baron Moleyns and 7th Baron Hastings. Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon [aged 16] by marriage Countess Huntingdon.
On 14th November 1643 Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon [aged 57] died. His son Ferdinando [aged 35] succeeded 6th Earl Huntingdon, 11th Baron Botreaux, 10th Baron Hungerford, 8th Baron Moleyns and 8th Baron Hastings. Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon [aged 30] by marriage Countess Huntingdon.
On 13th February 1656 Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon [aged 48] died. His son Theophilus [aged 5] succeeded 7th Earl Huntingdon, 12th Baron Botreaux, 11th Baron Hungerford, 9th Baron Moleyns and 9th Baron Hastings.
On 30th May 1701 Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 50] died. His son George [aged 24] succeeded 8th Earl Huntingdon, 13th Baron Botreaux, 12th Baron Hungerford, 10th Baron Moleyns and 10th Baron Hastings. Elizabeth "Lady Betty" Hastings [aged 19] received, after a legal dispute, in 1703, Ledston Hall and £3000 per year.
In 1704 George Hastings 8th Earl Huntingdon [aged 27] died. His half brother Theophilus [aged 7] succeeded 9th Earl Huntingdon, 14th Baron Botreaux, 13th Baron Hungerford, 11th Baron Moleyns and 11th Baron Hastings. His sister Elizabeth "Lady Betty" Hastings [aged 21] inherited the his share of her grandfather John Lewis 1st Baronet's estates.
On 13th October 1746 Theophilus Hastings 9th Earl Huntingdon [aged 49] died. His son Francis [aged 17] succeeded 10th Earl Huntingdon, 15th Baron Botreaux, 14th Baron Hungerford, 12th Baron Moleyns and 12th Baron Hastings.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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On 2nd October 1789 Francis Hastings 10th Earl Huntingdon [aged 60] died unmarried at the home of his nephew Francis Rawdon-Hastings 1st Marquess Hastings [aged 34]. His fifth cousin once removed Theophilus [aged 60] de jure 11th Earl Huntingdon although he wasn't aware of the fact. His sister Elizabeth [aged 58] succeeded 16th Baroness Botreaux, 15th Baroness Hungerford, 13th Baroness Moleyns and 13th Baroness Hastings
On 11th April 1808 Elizabeth Hastings Countess Moira [aged 77] died. Her son Francis [aged 53] succeeded 17th Baron Botreaux, 16th Baron Hungerford, 14th Baron Moleyns and 14th Baron Hastings.
On 28th November 1826 Francis Rawdon-Hastings 1st Marquess Hastings [aged 71] died. His son George [aged 18] succeeded 2nd Marquess Hastings, 3rd Earl Moira, 18th Baron Botreaux, 17th Baron Hungerford, 15th Baron Moleyns and 15th Baron Hastings. Barbara Yelverton Marchioness Hastings [aged 16] by marriage Marchioness Hastings.
On 13th January 1844 George Augustus Francis Rawdon-Hastings 2nd Marquess Hastings [aged 35] died. His son Paulyn [aged 11] succeeded 3rd Marquess Hastings, 8th Earl Loudon, 4th Earl Moira, 19th Baron Botreaux, 18th Baron Hungerford, 16th Baron Moleyns and 16th Baron Hastings.
On 17th January 1851 Paulyn Reginald Serlo Rawdon-Hastings 3rd Marquess Hastings [aged 18] died. His brother Henry [aged 8] succeeded 4th Marquess Hastings, 9th Earl Loudon, 5th Earl Moira, 21st Baron Grey of Ruthyn, 20th Baron Botreaux, 19th Baron Hungerford, 17th Baron Moleyns and 17th Baron Hastings. Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 8] by marriage Marchioness Hastings.
On 10th November 1868 Henry Weysford Charles Plantagenet Rawdon-Hastings 4th Marquess Hastings [aged 26] died. Marquess Hastings and Earl Moira extinct. Baron Botreaux, Baron Hungerford, Baron Hastings, Baron Moleyns and Baron Grey of Ruthyn abeyant. His sister Edith [aged 34] succeeded 10th Countess Loudon.
On 6th November 1871 Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings 10th Countess Loudon [aged 37] abeyance terminated 21st Baroness Botreaux, 20th Baroness Hungerford, 18th Baroness Hastings, 18th Baroness Moleyns.
On 23rd January 1874 Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings 10th Countess Loudon [aged 40] died. Her son Charles [aged 19] succeeded 11th Earl Loudon, 22nd Baron Botreaux, 21st Baron Hungerford, 19th Baron Moleyns and 19th Baron Hastings. Alice Elizabeth Fitzalan Howard Countess Loudon by marriage Countess Loudon.
On 17th May 1920 Charles Rawdon-Hastings 11th Earl Loudon [aged 65] died. Baron Botreaux, Baron Hungerford, Baron Moleyns and Baron Hastings abeyant. His niece Edith [aged 37] succeeded 12th Countess Loudon. His brother Gilbert [aged 60] succeeded 3rd Baron Donington of Dongington Park in Leicestershire.
The London Gazette 32250. Whitehall, March 7, 1921.
The King has been pleased, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date the 7th instant, to declare that Edith Maud, Countess of Loudoun, is and shall be Baroness Botreaux and Baroness Hastings; and to give, grant and confirm the Baronies of Botreaux and Hastings which fell into abeyance on the death of Charles Edward Hastings, Earl of Loudoun, on the 17th day of May, 1920, to the said Edith Maud [aged 37], Countess of Loudoun: To have and to hold the said Baronies, together with all the rights, privileges, pre-eminences, immunities and advantages, and the place and precedence due and (belonging thereto to her and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten and to be begotten in as full and ample a manner as the said Charles Edward Hastings; Earl of Loudoun, or any of his ancestors held and enjoyed the same.
And also to declare that the said Edith Maud, Countess of Loudoun, is and shall be Baroness Stanley; and: to give, grant and confirm, the Barony of Stanley which, fell into abeyance on the death of Ferdinando, 5th Earl of Derby, in the year 1594, to the said Edith Maud, Countess of Loudoun: To have and to hold the said Barony, together with, all the rights, privileges, pre-eminences, immunities and advantages, and the place and precedence due and belonging thereto to her and to the heirs of her body lawfully (begotten and to be begotten in as full and ample a manner as the said Ferdinando, 5th Earl of Derby, or any of ihis ancestors held and enjoyed the same.
Note. Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings 12th Countess Loudon abeyance terminated 23rd Baroness Botreaux, 7th Baroness Stanley and 20th Baroness Hastings. She and her sister Elizabeth Frances Abney-Hastings Viscountess St Davids [aged 36] had petitioned the Committee for Privileges for six titles Baron Strange Knockin, Baron Botreaux, Baron Hungerford, Baron Moleyns, Baron Stanley and Baron Hastings. The titles were shared three each between them.
After 24th February 1960 Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings 12th Countess Loudon [deceased] died. Her daughter Barbara [aged 40] succeeded 13th Countess Loudon. Peter Griffiths aka Abney-Hastings Earl Loudon [aged 35] by marriage Earl Loudon. Baron Botreaux, Baron Stanley and Baron Hastings abeyant between her five daughters and their descendants.