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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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Caernarfon Castle is in Caernarfon [Map], Castles in Carnarfonshire.
The Welsh Castles and Towns of Edward I comprise a number of castles, some with associated planned towns, commissioned as a means of containing the Welsh. They included, from east to west, Flint Castle [Map], Rhuddlan [Map], Conwy Castle [Map], Beaumaris Castle [Map], Caernarfon Castle [Map], Harlech Castle [Map] and Aberystwyth Castle [Map]. Those not on the coast include Chirk Castle [Map], Denbigh Castle and Town Walls [Map] and Builth Castle [Map]. Arguably, Holt Castle [Map] and Criccieth Castle [Map] should be included.
On 25th April 1284 King Edward II of England was born to King Edward I of England (age 44) and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England (age 43) at Caernarfon Castle [Map]. He married 28th January 1308 his second cousin once removed Isabella of France Queen Consort England, daughter of King Philip IV of France and Joan Blois I Queen Navarre, and had issue.
Annals of Dunstable. In the same year a son was born to the lord king, on the feast of Saint Mark [25th April 1284], at Caernarfon [Map], and he was called Edward.
Eodem anno natus est domino regi filius, die Sancti Marci apud Kanarvan, et vocatus est Edwardus.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. In the same year, around the Feast of Saint Michael [29th September 1294], the Welsh began to rebel. For they had gathered and agreed among themselves that on that very day of Saint Michael they would all rise up together against the king and take his castles. And so they did: on that same day, almost without warning, they seized many castles, including the castle of Caernarfon [Map], which our king had previously constructed at great expense. They demolished its walls and slaughtered the king's officials; the English who were able fled, and many were cut down by the sword, for these events occurred suddenly. The leaders of this rebellion claimed to be descended, by name, from the blood of Prince Llywelyn, and therefore said they were bound to revive the name of prince.
Eodem anno circa festum sancti Michaelis Wallenses rebellare cœperunt. Convenerant enim et statuerant inter se quod in ipso die sancti Michaelis omnes unanimiter insurgerent contra regem, et castra ejus dirimerent, feceruntque sic, et eodem die quasi ex improviso ceperunt castella multa, ceperuntque castrum de Carnarvan quod rex noster dudum sumptuosissime construxerat, demolientes muros et ministros regis trucidantes, fugeruntque Anglici qui poterant, et multi absorpti sunt in ore gladii eo quod subito facta sunt hæc. Istius autem sediduo, nominatim de sanguine principis Leulini se descendisse dicebant, et ideo nomen principis suscitare debere.
Around 1775. Paul Sandby (age 44). "Caernarfon Castle [Map]".
Around 1775. Paul Sandby (age 44). "Caernarfon Castle [Map]".
Around 1780. Joseph Farington (age 32). Caernarfon Castle [Map].
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.
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12th July 1790. John Warwick Smith (age 40). "General view of the town & castle of Caernarvon [Map] from Tut Hill".
1795-1802. Thomas Girtin (age 19). Caernarfon Castle [Map].
1833. William James Müller (age 20). "Gateway of Caernarfon Castle [Map]".
1837. William James Müller (age 24). "Caernarfon Castle [Map]".
1872. William Pitt (age 54). Eagle Tower, Caernarfon Castle [Map].
In 1911 William Goscombe John (age 50) was knighted during the investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales (age 16) at Caernarfon Castle [Map].