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: Capet
In 1633 [his father] John IV King Portugal [aged 28] and [his mother] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Braganza.
On 26th April 1649 Peter II King Portugal was born to [his father] John IV King Portugal [aged 45] and [his mother] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal [aged 35].
On 6th November 1656 [his father] John IV King Portugal [aged 52] died. His son [his brother] Alfonso [aged 13] succeeded King Portuagal.
On 21st May 1662 [his brother-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 31] and [his sister] Catherine of Braganza Queen Consort England [aged 23] were married at Portsmouth, Hampshire [Map]. She by marriage Queen Consort England. She the daughter of [his father] John IV King Portugal and [his mother] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal [aged 48]. He the son of King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England [aged 52].
On 27th February 1666 [his mother] Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal [aged 52] died.
On 2nd August 1666 Alfonso VI King Portugal [aged 22] and Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 20] were married. She had arrived in Portugal on the same day. The marriage was not consummated. She subsequently married her brother-in-law Peter II King Portugal [aged 17] when he took control of the Portuguese throne; an example of Married to Two Siblings. She by marriage Queen Consort Portugal. She the daughter of Charles Amadeus Duke of Nemours and Élisabeth Bourbon Vendôme. He the son of John IV King Portugal and Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal.
In November 1667 Peter II King Portugal [aged 18] forced his brother to effectively abdicate King Portugal and took control.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th December 1667. By and by comes out my cozen Roger [aged 50] to me, he being not willing to be in the House at the business of my Lord Keeling [aged 60], lest he should be called upon to complain against him for his abusing him at Cambridge, very wrongfully and shamefully, but not to his reproach, but to the Chief justice's in the end, when all the world cried shame upon him for it. So he with me home, and Creed, whom I took up by the way, going thither, and they to dine with me, and pretty merry, and among other pieces of news, it is now fresh that the King of Portugall [aged 24] is deposed, and his brother [aged 18] made King; and that my Lord Sandwich [aged 42] is gone from Madrid with great honour to Lisbon, to make up, at this juncture, a peace to the advantage, as the Spaniard would have it, of Spain. I wish it may be for my Lord's honour, if it be so; but it seems my Lord is in mighty estimation in Spain.
On 2nd April 1668 Peter II King Portugal [aged 18] and Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 21] were married. She had, two years before, married his older brother Alfonso VI King Portugal [aged 24] who he, Peter, had deposed; an example of Married to Two Siblings. She the daughter of Charles Amadeus Duke of Nemours and Élisabeth Bourbon Vendôme. He the son of John IV King Portugal and Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal.
On 6th January 1669 [his daughter] Infanta Isabel Luísa of Portugal was born to Peter II King Portugal [aged 19] and [his wife] Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 22].
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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John Evelyn's Diary. 8th February 1678. Supping at my Lord Chamberlain's [aged 60] I had a long discourse with the Count de Castel Mellor, lately Prime Minister in Portugal, who, taking part with his master, King Alphonso [aged 34], was banished by his brother, Don Pedro [aged 28], now Regent; but had behaved himself so uncorruptly in all his ministry that, though he was acquitted, and his estate restored, yet would they not suffer him to return. He is a very intelligent and worthy gentleman.
In 12th September 1683 Alfonso VI King Portugal [aged 40] died. His brother Peter [aged 34] succeeded King Portugal. Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 37] by marriage Queen Consort Portugal for a second time albeit for three months only.
On 27th December 1683 [his wife] Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [aged 37] died.
John Evelyn's Diary. 10th July 1685. The Count of Castel Mellor [aged 49], that greate favourite and prime minister of [his brother] Alphonso, late King of Portugal, after several yeares banishment, being now receiv'd to grace and call'd home by Don Pedro the present King [aged 36], as having ben found a person of the greatest integrity after all his sufferings, desir'd me to spend part of this day with him, and assist him in a collection of books and other curiosities, which he would carry with him into Portugal. Mr. Hussey [deceased], a young gentleman who made love to my late deare child, but whom she could not bring herselfe to answer in affection, died now of the same cruel disease, for wch I was extreamly sorry, because he never enjoy'd himselfe after my daughter's decease, nor was I averse to the match, could she have overcome her disinclination.
In 1687 Peter II King Portugal [aged 37] and Maria Sophia of Neuburg Queen Consort Portugal [aged 20] were married. He the son of John IV King Portugal and Luisa de Guzman Queen Consort Portugal.
On 22nd October 1689 [his son] John V King Portugal was born to Peter II King Portugal [aged 40] and [his wife] Maria Sophia of Neuburg Queen Consort Portugal [aged 23].
On 21st October 1690 [his daughter] Infanta Isabel Luísa of Portugal [aged 21] died of smallpox.
On 4th August 1699 [his wife] Maria Sophia of Neuburg Queen Consort Portugal [aged 32] died.
On 31st December 1705 [his sister] Catherine of Braganza Queen Consort England [aged 67] died at the Bemposta Palace some twenty years after the death of her husband [his former brother-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She was buried at Monastery of São Vicente de Fora.
On 9th December 1706 Peter II King Portugal [aged 57] died. His son John [aged 17] succeeded King Portugal.
Kings Wessex: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 23 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 25 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 23 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Godwinson: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 25 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 23 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Fernando II Duke of Braganza 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Jaime I Duke of Braganza 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Aviz 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Teodosio I Duke of Braganza 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Joao I Duke of Braganza 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Fernando II Duke of Braganza 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Dinis of Graganza Count of Lemos 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Aviz 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel de Lencastre 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Teodosio II Duke of Braganza 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Father: John IV King Portugal 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Juan Fernández de Velasco y Tovar 5th Duke of Frías
GrandMother: Ana de Velasco y Téllez Girón Duchess Braganza
Great x 2 Grandfather: Pedro Téllez Girón y de la Cueva 1st Duke of Osuna
Great x 1 Grandmother: María Tellez Girón
Peter II King Portugal 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Manuel Perez de Guzman y Silva 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia