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: Estridsen
Before 1159 [his father] Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark [aged 27] and [his mother] Sophia of Minsk [aged 18] were married.
On 9th May 1170 King Valdemar II of Denmark was born to [his father] Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark [aged 39] and [his mother] Sophia of Minsk [aged 30].
On 12th May 1182 [his father] Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark [aged 51] died. His son [his brother] Canute [aged 19] succeeded VI King of Denmark.
On 15th August 1193 [his brother-in-law] King Philip II of France [aged 27] and [his half-sister] Ingeborg Estridsen Queen Consort France [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of [his father] Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark. He the son of Louis VII King of the Franks and Adèle Queen of the Franks.
Around November 1193 [his brother-in-law] King Philip II of France [aged 28] and [his half-sister] Ingeborg Estridsen Queen Consort France [aged 19] marriage annulled on the spurious grounds of her consanguinity with his first wife Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France. She was kept, more or less, a prisoner for the remainder of her life being held in difference French castles.
On 5th May 1198 [his mother] Sophia of Minsk [aged 58] died.
On 12th November 1202 Canute VI King of Denmark [aged 39] died. In 1202 His brother Valdemar [aged 32] succeeded I King of Denmark.
In 1205 King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 34] and Dagmar of Bohemia [aged 19] were married. He the son of Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark and Sophia of Minsk.
Around 1209 [his son] Valdemar the Young King of Denmark was born to King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 38] and [his wife] Dagmar of Bohemia [aged 23]. He married 24th June 1229 Eleanor of Portugal Queen Consort Denmark, daughter of Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal and Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal.
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 24th May 1212 [his wife] Dagmar of Bohemia [aged 26] died.
In 1214 King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 43] and Berengaria Burgundy Queen Consort Denmark [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Denmark. The difference in their ages was 27 years. She the daughter of Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal and Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal. He the son of Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark and Sophia of Minsk.
In 1215 Henry I King Castile [aged 10] and [his sister-in-law] Mafalda Burgundy Queen Consort Castile [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal and Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal. He the son of Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. They were second cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
Around 1216 [his son] King Eric IV of Denmark was born to King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 45] and [his wife] Berengaria Burgundy Queen Consort Denmark [aged 18]. He married 17th November 1239 Jutta of Saxony and had issue.
In 1218 [his son] King Abel of Denmark was born to King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 47] and [his wife] Berengaria Burgundy Queen Consort Denmark [aged 20].
In 1219 [his son] King Christopher I of Denmark was born to King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 48] and [his wife] Berengaria Burgundy Queen Consort Denmark [aged 21].
On 27th March 1221 [his wife] Berengaria Burgundy Queen Consort Denmark [aged 23] died.
On 24th June 1229 Valdemar the Young King of Denmark [aged 20] and Eleanor of Portugal Queen Consort Denmark [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal and Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal. He the son of King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 59] and Dagmar of Bohemia.
On 28th November 1231 [his son] Valdemar the Young King of Denmark [aged 22] died in a hunting accident at Refsnæs, near Kalundborg.
On 29th July 1237 [his half-sister] Ingeborg Estridsen Queen Consort France [aged 63] 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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On 17th November 1239 King Eric IV of Denmark [aged 23] and Jutta of Saxony [aged 16] were married. He the son of King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 69] and Berengaria Burgundy Queen Consort Denmark.
On 28th March 1241 King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 70] died.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Eric I King of Denmark
GrandFather: Canute Lavard
Mother: Sophia of Minsk