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: Carolingian
Before 863 [his father] Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia (age 16) and [his step-mother] Ansgarde Burgundy Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort West Francia were married in secret. She by marriage Queen Consort Aquitaine, Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of [his grandfather] Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 39) and [his grandmother] Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
In February 875 [his father] Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia (age 28) and [his mother] Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia (age 25) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aquitaine, Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of [his grandfather] Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 51) and [his grandmother] Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
On 10th April 879 [his father] Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia (age 32) died. His son [his half-brother] Louis (age 16) succeeded III King West Francia. His son [his half-brother] Carloman (age 13) succeeded King West Francia. Engelberge Bivinids Queen Consort West Francia by marriage Queen Consort West Francia.
On 17th September 879 Charles "Simple" III was born to [his father] Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia and [his mother] Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia (age 29).
On 5th August 882 [his half-brother] Louis III King West Francia (age 19) died.
On 12th December 884 [his half-brother] Carloman II King West Francia (age 18) died. His half first cousin once removed Charles (age 45) succeeded III King West Francia, King Aquitaine.
On 1st January 898 Odo I King West Franks (age 41) died. Charles "Simple" III (age 18) succeeded III King West Francia.
On 10th November 901 [his mother] Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia (age 51) died.
In May 907 Charles "Simple" III (age 27) and Frederuna von Ringelheim Queen Consort West Francia (age 22) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia and Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia.
On 10th February 917 [his wife] Frederuna von Ringelheim Queen Consort West Francia (age 32) died.
On 7th October 919 Charles "Simple" III (age 40) and Eadgifu Wessex Queen Consort West Francia were married. She by marriage Queen Consort West Francia. She the daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons (age 45) and Aelfflaed Wiltshire Queen Anglo Saxons (age 49). He the son of Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia and Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Around 920 [his son] Louis "Overseas" IV King West Francia was born to Charles "Simple" III (age 40) and [his wife] Eadgifu Wessex Queen Consort West Francia. He married 939 Gerberga Queen Consort West Francia, daughter of Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia and Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia, and had issue.
On 17th July 924 [his father-in-law] King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons (age 50) died. He was buried in St Oswald's Priory [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] Æthelstan (age 30) succeeded King Anglo Saxons. His son Æthelstan succeeded I King Anglo Saxons.
On 4th September 925 [his brother-in-law] King Æthelstan I of England (age 31) was crowned I King Anglo Saxons by Archbishop Athelm, possibly at a site now known as the Coronation Stone, Kingston upon Thames [Map], or possibly in front of St Mary's chapel, which stood at the south-east of All Saint's Church, Kingston upon Thames [Map]. It was the first coronation in which the King wore a Crown rather than a helmet.
In 929 Otto I King Germany I King Italy Holy Roman Emperor (age 16) and [his sister-in-law] Eadgyth Wessex Queen Consort Germany were married. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons and Aelfflaed Wiltshire Queen Anglo Saxons (age 59). He the son of Henry "Fowler" I King East Francia (age 53) and Matilda Ringelheim Queen Consort East Francia.
On 7th October 929 Charles "Simple" III (age 50) died.
In 951 Herbert "Old" Vermandois III Count Troyes and Meaux (age 41) and [his former wife] Eadgifu Wessex Queen Consort West Francia were married. She by marriage Countess Troyes and Meaux. She the daughter of [his former father-in-law] King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons and Aelfflaed Wiltshire Queen Anglo Saxons (age 81). He the son of Herbert II Count Vermandois, Soissons and Meaux and Adela Capet Countess Vermandois, Soissons and Meaux.
In 951 [his former wife] Eadgifu Wessex Queen Consort West Francia died.
[his daughter] Gisela Carolingian was born to Charles "Simple" III and Frederuna von Ringelheim Queen Consort West Francia.
[his daughter] Rotrude Carolingian was born to Charles "Simple" III and Frederuna von Ringelheim Queen Consort West Francia.
[his daughter] Hildegarde Carolingian was born to Charles "Simple" III and Frederuna von Ringelheim Queen Consort West Francia.
[his daughter] Adelaide Carolingian was born to Charles "Simple" III and Frederuna von Ringelheim Queen Consort West Francia.
[his daughter] Frederuna Carolingian was born to Charles "Simple" III and Frederuna von Ringelheim Queen Consort West Francia.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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[his daughter] Ermentrude Carolingian was born to Charles "Simple" III and Frederuna von Ringelheim Queen Consort West Francia.
Kings Franks: Great Grand Son of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks
Great x 2 Grandmother: Hildegard Vinzgouw Queen Franks Queen Lombardy Holy Roman Empress
GrandFather: Charles "Bald" I King West Francia
Great x 2 Grandfather: Welf
Great x 1 Grandmother: Judith Welf Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks
Great x 3 Grandfather: Isambart "The Saxon" Saxony
Great x 2 Grandmother: Hedwig Saxony
Father: Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia
Great x 1 Grandfather: Odi Orléans 1st Count Orléans
GrandMother: Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia
Charles "Simple" III King West Francia
GrandFather: Adalard Count of Paris
Mother: Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia