Text this colour links to Pages. Text this colour links to Family Trees. Text this colour are links that disabled for Guests.
Place the mouse over images to see a larger image. Click on paintings to see the painter's Biography Page.
Mouse over links for a preview. Move the mouse off the painting or link to close the popup.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Before 1066 [his father] Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 34) and [his mother] Matilda or Maud Montgomery were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and [his grandmother] Mabel de Bellême (age 30).
Before 1084 William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall was born to [his father] Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 52) and [his mother] Matilda or Maud Montgomery.
Around 1085 [his mother] Matilda or Maud Montgomery died.
In 1090 [his father] Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 59) died. His son William (age 6) succeeded Count Mortain Mortagne, 2nd Earl Cornwall.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1104. This year also William, Earl of Moreton (age 20)134 went from this land into Normandy; but after he was gone he acted against the king (age 36); because the king stripped and deprived him of all that he had here in this land. It is not easy to describe the misery of this land, which it was suffering through various and manifold wrongs and impositions, that never failed nor ceased; and wheresoever the king went, there was full licence given to his company to harrow and oppress his wretched people; and in the midst thereof happened oftentimes burnings and manslaughter. All this was done to the displeasure of God, and to the vexation of this unhappy people.
Note 134. A title taken from a town in Normandy, now generally written Moretaine, or Moretagne; de Moreteon, de Moritonio, Flor.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1105. In this year, on the Nativity, held the King Henry (age 37) his court at Windsor Castle [Map]; and afterwards in Lent he went over sea into Normandy against his brother Earl Robert (age 54). And whilst he remained there he won of his brother Caen [Map] and Baieux; and almost all the castles and the chief men in that land were subdued. And afterwards by harvest he returned hither again; and that which he had won in Normandy remained afterwards in peace and subjection to him; except that which was anywhere near the Earl William of Moretaine (age 21). This he often demanded as strongly as he could for the loss of his land in this country.
Before 1106 William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall (age 22) forfeit 2nd Earl Cornwall for having attacked the Normandy castles of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 37).
On 28th September 1106 King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 38) defeated his older brother Robert Curthose III Duke Normandy (age 55) at the Battle of Tinchebray at Tinchebray, Orne.
William Warenne 2nd Earl of Surrey and Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan (age 66). Elias I Count Maine commanded the reserve. The following fought for Henry:
Alan Canhiart IV Duke Brittany (age 43).
Raoul Tosny (age 26).
William "Pincerna aka Butler" D'Aubigny (age 42).
Robert Grandesmil (age 28), and.
William Normandy I Count Évreux.
Robert Curthose III Duke Normandy was captured and spent the next twenty-eight years in prison; never released.
William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall (age 22) was also captured. He spent the next thirty or more years in prison before becoming a monk. Earl Cornwall forfeit.
King Edgar Ætheling II of England (age 55) was captured and subsequently released; Henry had married to Edgar's niece Edith aka Matilda Dunkeld Queen Consort England (age 26) in 1100.
[his uncle] Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 50) escaped.
Robert Stuteville was captured.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1106. After this, and before August, went the king (age 38) over sea into Normandy; and almost all that were in that land submitted to his will, except [his uncle] Robert de Belesme (age 50) and the Earl of Moretaine (age 22), and a few others of the principal persons who yet held with the Earl of Normandy (age 55). For this reason the king afterwards advanced with an army, and beset a castle of the Earl of Moretaine, called Tenerchebrai.136 Whilst the king beset the castle, came the Earl Robert of Normandy on Michaelmas eve against the king with his army, and with him Robert of Belesme, and William, Earl of Moretaine, and all that would be with them; but the strength and the victory were the king's. There was the Earl of Normandy taken, and the Earl of Moretaine, and Robert of Stutteville, and afterwards sent to England, and put into custody. Robert of Belesme was there put to flight, and William Crispin was taken, and many others forthwith. Edgar Etheling (age 55), who a little before had gone over from the king to the earl, was also there taken, whom the king afterwards let go unpunished. Then went the king over all that was in Normandy, and settled it according to his will and discretion.
Note 136. Now Tinchebrai.
Around 1106 William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall (age 22) was imprisoned at Tower of London [Map].
After 1140 William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall (deceased) died.
[his daughter] Eremburga Mortain was born to William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall. She married 1077 Roger I Count of Sicily 1031-1101.
GrandFather: Herluin de Conteville
Father: Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall
Great x 1 Grandfather: Father of Beatrix and Herleva
GrandMother: Herleva of Falaise
William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall
Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Montgomery
GrandFather: Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
Mother: Matilda or Maud Montgomery
Great x 3 Grandfather: Yves Belleme
Great x 2 Grandfather: William "Princeps" Belleme
Great x 3 Grandmother: Godeheut Unknown
Great x 1 Grandfather: William "Talvas" Belleme
Great x 3 Grandfather: Arnulf de Ganelon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mathilde Condé Sur Noireau
GrandMother: Mabel de Bellême
Great x 2 Grandfather: Arnulf
Great x 1 Grandmother: Hildeburg