Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 16th May 1867 [his father] Christopher Furness 1st Baron Furness [aged 15] and [his mother] Jane Annette Suggitt Baroness Furness were married.
On 29th October 1883 Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness was born to Christopher Furness 1st Baron Furness [aged 31] and Jane Annette Suggitt Baroness Furness.
On 17th May 1912 [his son] Lieutenant Christopher Furness was born to Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness [aged 28] and [his future wife] Ada "Daisy" Hogg Viscountess Furness.
On 10th November 1912 [his father] Christopher Furness 1st Baron Furness [aged 60] died. His son Marmaduke [aged 29] succeeded 2nd Baron Furness of Grantley in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
In 1918 Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness [aged 34] was created 1st Viscount Furness of Grantley in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Before 28th February 1921 Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness [aged 37] and Ada "Daisy" Hogg Viscountess Furness were married. She by marriage Viscountess Furness of Grantley in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
On 28th February 1921 [his wife] Ada "Daisy" Hogg Viscountess Furness died aboard the Furness yacht Sapphire off the coast of Portugal, while recovering from an operation. She was buried at sea.
On 27th June 1926 Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness [aged 42] and Thelma Morgan Viscountess Furness [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Viscountess Furness of Grantley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The difference in their ages was 20 years.
On 31st March 1929 [his son] William Anthony Furness 2nd Viscount Furness was born to Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness [aged 45] and [his wife] Thelma Morgan Viscountess Furness [aged 24].
In 1933 Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness [aged 49] and Thelma Morgan Viscountess Furness [aged 28] were divorced.
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 24th May 1940 [his son] Lieutenant Christopher Furness [aged 28] was killed in action.
On 6th October 1940 Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness [aged 56] died. His son William [aged 11] succeeded 2nd Viscount Furness of Grantley in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 3rd Baron Furness of Grantley in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
On 29th January 1970 [his former wife] Thelma Morgan Viscountess Furness [aged 65] died.
GrandFather: John Furness of West Hartlepool
Father: Christopher Furness 1st Baron Furness
GrandMother: Averill Eastor Wilson
Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness
Mother: Jane Annette Suggitt Baroness Furness