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: Chatillon
Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy 1180-1252
Before 1295 [her future husband] Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 19] and Béatrix de Clermont were married. He the son of William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke [aged 64]. They were fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
Around 1303 Marie Chatillon Countess Pembroke was born to [her father] Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol [aged 49] and [her mother] Marie Capet [aged 35]. She a great granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 20th September 1307 Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke [aged 77] died. Her son [her future husband] Aymer [aged 32] succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke.
In 1308 [her brother-in-law] Charles Valois I Count Valois [aged 37] and [her sister] Mahaut Chatillon Countess Valois [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Countess Valois. The difference in their ages was 22 years. She the daughter of [her father] Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol [aged 54] and [her mother] Marie Capet [aged 40]. He the son of King Philip III of France and Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 6th April 1317 [her father] Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol [aged 63] died. His son [her brother] Jean [aged 25] succeeded Count Saint Pol.
In 1321 Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 46] and Marie Chatillon Countess Pembroke [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. The difference in their ages was 28 years. She the daughter of Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol and Marie Capet [aged 53]. He the son of William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke and Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke. They were half first cousin twice removed. She a great granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 23rd June 1324 [her husband] Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 49] died. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map] where his tomb effigy can still be seen as a splendid example of late gothic architecture. Earl Pembroke extinct.
In 1339 [her mother] Marie Capet [aged 71] died.
In 1344 [her brother] Jean Chatillon Count Saint Pol [aged 52] died.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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In 1347 Marie Chatillon Countess Pembroke [aged 44] founded Pembroke College, Cambridge University; it was originally known as he Hall of Valence-Mary.
In 1355 and 1366, Marie Chatillon Countess Pembroke [aged 52] acquired papal bulls to allow the Pembroke College, Cambridge University its own chapel, which was the first college chapel to be built in Cambridge.
In 1358 [her sister] Mahaut Chatillon Countess Valois [aged 65] died.
On 20th February 1377 Marie Chatillon Countess Pembroke [aged 74] drew up her will at Braxted Park, Essex.
On 16 or 17th March 1377 Marie Chatillon Countess Pembroke [aged 74] died.
Archaeologia Volume 22 Section XVI. Of the death of the Countesse of Pembrooke, & of her godly deedes.
[17th April 1377] The sevententh day of Aprill, dyed the Lady Mary of St. Paule [deceased], Countesse of Pembrooke, a woman of singular example, for yet lyvynge, so to the honour of God & glorye of her howse, so in releavynge poore men's necessytyes she spent her goods, that unto the dukes themselves, she showered examples of good workes, & dyeynge, she gave all her substance ether to her servaunts that wayted on her, or to dyvers churches, or to poore folcke; for unto the churche of St. Albans she gave a certein image of silver and gilded with golde of St. Vincent, which holdeth in yts handes a certein showe, where in ys conteined one bone of the same blessed martyr, & singuler reliques of all the martyrs & confessours (to whose honour they were mayde) where she had obteyned the benyfyte of her prayer.
[her father] Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol and [her mother] Marie Capet were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] John II Duke Brittany and [her grandmother] Beatrice Plantagenet. He the son of Guy Chatillon III Count Saint Pol and Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
Kings Wessex: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings England: Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 3 Grandfather: Guy II Chatillon
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter III Chatillon
Great x 1 Grandfather: Hugh Chatillon I Count Blois V Count Saint Pol
GrandFather: Guy Chatillon III Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Avesnes
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Avesnes
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bouchard Guise
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adela Guise
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Avesnes 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Theobald Blois II Count Champagne IV Count Blois 
Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Theobald "Good" Blois V Count Blois Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Matilda Carinthia Countess Champagne and Blois
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Blois 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis VII King of the Franks 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alix Capet Countess Blois
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England
Father: Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol 3 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Godfrey Reginar VII Duke Lower Lorraine
Great x 3 Grandfather: Godfrey Reginar VIII Duke Lower Lorraine
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lutgardis Sulzbach Duchess Lower Lorraine
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Reginar VIII Duke Lower Lorraine I Duke Brabant
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Luxemburg II Duke Limburg 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Luxemburg Duchess Lower Lorraine
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mathilda Saffenburg Duchess Limburg
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Reginar II Duke Brabant Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thierry Count Flanders
Great x 3 Grandfather: Matthew Metz Count Boulogne
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud Metz Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Stephen I England Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Matilda Flanders
GrandMother: Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip Swabia
Great x 1 Grandmother: Marie Swabia Duchess Brabant
Marie Chatillon Countess Pembroke Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert "Great" Capet I Count Dreux
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Capet II Count Dreux
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Baudemont Countess Dreux
Great x 2 Grandfather: Peter of Dreux aka Mauclerc Duke Brittany
Great x 4 Grandfather: Raoul Coucy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Yolande Coucy Countess Dreux
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Flanders
Great x 1 Grandfather: John "The Red" Capet I Duke Brittany 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Thouars IV Viscount Thouars
Great x 3 Grandfather: Guy Thouars
Great x 4 Grandmother: Aenor Lusignan Viscountess Thouars 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Alix Thouars Duchess of Brittany 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Conan "The Young" Penthièvre IV Duke Brittany Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Constance Penthièvre Duchess Brittany 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Dunkeld Duchess Brittany 
GrandFather: John II Duke Brittany 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Blois I Count Champagne Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Theobald Blois III Count Champagne 2 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Capet Countess Champagne
Great x 2 Grandfather: Theobald IV King Navarre 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Sancho "Wise" King Navarre
Great x 3 Grandmother: Blanche Ramirez
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sancha Ivrea 
Great x 1 Grandmother: Blanche "Navarre" Blois Duchess Brittany 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Guichard IV of Beaujeu
Great x 2 Grandmother: Agnes of Beaujeu Countess Savoy
Mother: Marie Capet Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Empress Matilda 
Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: King John of England Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William "Saint" Poitiers X Duke Aquitaine
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Aenor Chatellerault Duchess Aquitaine
Great x 1 Grandfather: King Henry III of England Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William "Taillefer" Angoulême VI Count Angoulême
Great x 3 Grandfather: Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Courtenay
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Courtenay 
GrandMother: Beatrice Plantagenet Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso II King Aragon 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso Barcelona II Count Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sancha Ivrea Queen Consort Aragon
Great x 2 Grandfather: Raymond IV Count Provence
Great x 4 Grandfather: Rainou of Sabran
Great x 3 Grandmother: Gersenda II Sabran Countess Provence
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humbert Savoy III Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Savoy I Count Savoy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Macon Countess Savoy
Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Great x 4 Grandfather: William I Count Geneva
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy