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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Biography of Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester 1195-1264

Paternal Family Tree: Quincy

Maternal Family Tree: Petronilla Grandesmil Countess Leicester 1135-1212

In or before 1186 [his father] Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester [aged 15] and [his mother] Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Robert Beaumont 3rd Earl of Leicester and [his grandmother] Petronilla Grandesmil Countess Leicester [aged 50].

Around 1195 Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester was born to [his father] Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester [aged 25] and [his mother] Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester.

In 1207 [his father] Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester [aged 37] was created 1st Earl Winchester. [his mother] Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester by marriage Countess Winchester.

After 1208 Anselm Marshal 6th Earl Pembroke and [his future wife] Maud Bohun Countess Pembroke and Winchester were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] Humphrey Bohun 2nd Earl Hereford 1st Earl Essex [aged 4] and Matilda Lusignan Countess Hereford and Essex. He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke [aged 62] and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke [aged 36]. They were half third cousin once removed.

Before 1217 [his brother] Robert Quincy Earl Lincoln and [his sister-in-law] Hawise Gernon 2nd Countess Lincoln [aged 36] were married. She the daughter of Hugh de Kevelioc Gernon 5th Earl Chester and Bertrade Montfort Countess Chester. He the son of [his father] Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester [aged 46] and [his mother] Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester. They were half fourth cousin twice removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

In 1217 [his brother] Robert Quincy Earl Lincoln died.

On 3rd November 1219 [his father] Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester [aged 49] died at Damietta. His son Roger [aged 24] succeeded 2nd Earl Winchester.

In April 1231 [his former sister-in-law] Hawise Gernon 2nd Countess Lincoln [aged 51] succeeded 2nd Countess Lincoln. Robert Quincy Earl Lincoln by marriage Earl Lincoln. She was gifted the title by her childless brother Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln [aged 61] by agreement with King Henry III of England [aged 23].

1236 Battle of Galloway

Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris.

April 1236. About the same time, several nobles and powerful men from the various provinces of the West, namely from Galloway, the Isle of Man, and parts of Ireland, assembled at the instance of Hugh de Lacy [aged 60], whose daughter had been married to Alan of Galloway, lately deceased, and they all united together for the purpose of restoring Galloway to the illegitimate son of the aforesaid Alan, and of annulling by force the just disposition made by the king of Scots [aged 37], who had distributed the inheritance amongst the three daughters of Alan, to whom it belonged by hereditary right. In order, therefore, to revoke and annul his distribution, and to restore the territory to the aforesaid Thomas, or to the son of Thomas, Alan's brother, or at least to one of that family, these presumptuous chiefs flew to arms, and, bursting forth into insolence, endeavoured to free themselves from the authority of the king. And in order to bring their attempts to the desired result, they entered into a strange kind of treaty, by means of a certain mode of divination, yet according to an abominable custom of their ancestors. For all these barbarians and their chiefs and magistrates drew blood from a vein near the heart, and poured it into a large cup, they then stirred and mixed it up, and afterwards, drinking to one another, quaffed it off, as a token that they were from that time forth allied by an indissoluble and, as it were, kindred treaty, and indivisible both in prosperity and adversity, even at the risk of their heads. They therefore provoked the king and the kingdom to war, burning their own houses and those of their neighbours, that the king, when he arrived, might not find either shelter or food for his army, and indulged in rapine and incendiarism, heaping injury on injury. On hearing of this, the king of Scotland collected his forces from all quarters, and, marching to meet them, drew up his forces in order and engaged them in open battle; and the fortune of war turning against the Galwegians, they were put to flight, and the royal troops, pursuing them at the sword's point, slew many thousands of them, and those who were taken alive by the king and his soldiers were put to an ignominious death without any chance of ransoming themselves. Some threw themselves on the king's mercy, and were consigned to close imprisonment by him till he could consult as to what should be done with them, and all of them, together with their descendants, he, not without good reason, disinherited. Having gained this victory the king glorified God, the lord of armies, and listening to good counsel, he sent word to Roger de Quincy [aged 41], earl of Winchester, John Baliol [aged 28], and William, the son of the earl of Albemarle, that, as they had married the three sisters, the daughters of Alan of Galloway, they might now, as the disturbances were quelled, hold peaceable possession of the rights pertaining to them. This battle took place in the month of April, the fortune of war favouring the king of Scots.

In 1238 [his son-in-law] William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby [aged 45] and Margaret Quincy Countess Derby were married. She the daughter of Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester [aged 43] and Helen Galloway Countess Winchester. He the son of William Ferrers 4th Earl of Derby [aged 70] and Agnes Gernon Countess Derby. They were first cousin twice removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

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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In or before 1242 [his son-in-law] Alan Zouche [aged 38] and Helen or Ela Quincy were married. She the daughter of Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester [aged 46] and Helen Galloway Countess Winchester.

Before 1250 Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester [aged 54] and Helen Galloway Countess Winchester were married. She by marriage Countess Winchester. He the son of Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester and Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester. They were half third cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

In 1250 William Vaux [aged 35] and [his future wife] Eleanor Ferrers Countess Winchester [aged 14] were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of [his son-in-law] William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby [aged 57] and [his future mother-in-law] Sibyl Marshal [aged 49].

In or after 1250 Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester [aged 55] and Maud Bohun Countess Pembroke and Winchester were married. She by marriage Countess Winchester. She the daughter of Humphrey Bohun 2nd Earl Hereford 1st Earl Essex [aged 46] and Matilda Lusignan Countess Hereford and Essex. He the son of Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester and Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester. They were half third cousin once removed.

In or before 1252 [his wife] Maud Bohun Countess Pembroke and Winchester died.

In 1252 Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester [aged 57] and Eleanor Ferrers Countess Winchester [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Countess Winchester. The difference in their ages was 41 years. She the daughter of William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby [aged 59] and Sibyl Marshal [aged 51]. He the son of Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester and Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester. They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 25th April 1264 Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester [aged 69] died. Earl Winchester extinct.

Before 8th September 1267 Roger Leybourne [aged 52] and [his former wife] Eleanor Ferrers Countess Winchester [aged 31] were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of [his former son-in-law] William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby and [his former mother-in-law] Sibyl Marshal [aged 66].

On 16th October 1274 [his former wife] Eleanor Ferrers Countess Winchester [aged 38] died.

[his daughter] Helen or Ela Quincy was born to Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester and Helen Galloway Countess Winchester. She married in or before 1242 Alan Zouche and had issue.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Quincy Countess Buchan was born to Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester and Helen Galloway Countess Winchester. She married Alexander Comyn 2nd Earl Buchan, son of William Comyn Earl Buchan and Margaret Buchan Countess Buchan, and had issue.

[his daughter] Margaret Quincy Countess Derby was born to Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester and Helen Galloway Countess Winchester. She married 1238 her first cousin twice removed William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby, son of William Ferrers 4th Earl of Derby and Agnes Gernon Countess Derby, and had issue.

Royal Ancestors of Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester 1195-1264

Kings Wessex: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons

Kings Franks: Great x 13 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Kings France: Great x 6 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 10 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Royal Descendants of Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester 1195-1264
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Philippa of Lancaster Queen Consort Portugal [1]

King Henry IV of England [1]

Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland [1]

King Edward IV of England [2]

King Richard III of England [2]

Anne Neville Queen Consort England [4]

King Henry VII of England and Ireland [2]

Queen Anne Boleyn of England [1]

Queen Jane Seymour [3]

Catherine Parr Queen Consort England [4]

Queen Catherine Howard of England [3]

Jane Grey I Queen England and Ireland [5]

King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [3]

George Wharton [34]

President George Washington [1]

Brigadier-General Charles Fitz-Clarence [135]

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom [563]

Queen Consort Camilla Shand [185]

Diana Spencer Princess Wales [1789]

Catherine Middleton Princess of Wales [6]

Ancestors of Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester 1195-1264

Great x 1 Grandfather: Saer Quincy

GrandFather: Robert Quincy

Great x 1 Grandmother: Maud Senlis

Great x 4 Grandfather: Siward "Stout" Earl of Northumbria

Great x 3 Grandfather: Waltheof Northumbria 1st Earl of Northampton 1st Earl Huntingdon

Great x 4 Grandmother: Aelfflaed Northumbria

Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud Queen Consort Scotland

Father: Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester

Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester

Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey "Vielles" Beaumont

Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger "Bearded" Beaumont

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan

Great x 4 Grandfather: Waleran I Count of Meulan

Great x 3 Grandmother: Adeline of Meulan

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Beaumont 2nd Earl of Leicester

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry I King of the Franks

Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh "Great" Capet

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne of Kiev Queen Consort Francia

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Capet Countess Leicester, Meulan and Surrey

GrandFather: Robert Beaumont 3rd Earl of Leicester

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph "Staller" Gael 1st Earl East Anglia

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph de Gael 2nd Earl East Anglia

Great x 2 Grandfather: Raoul Gael

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Fitzosbern 1st Earl Hereford

Great x 3 Grandmother: Emma Fitzosbern Countess East Anglia

Great x 4 Grandmother: Adelise Tosny Countess Hereford

Great x 1 Grandmother: Amice Gael Countess Leicester

Mother: Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Grandesmil

Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Grandesmil

Great x 4 Grandmother: Hawisa Échauffour

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Grandesmil

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ivo Beaumont Oise Count Beaumont sur l'Oise

Great x 3 Grandmother: Adelize Beaumont Oise

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Grandesmil

GrandMother: Petronilla Grandesmil Countess Leicester