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 or before 4th March 1611, the date he was baptised at St Andrew's Church, Holborn [Map], William Dobson was born.
Around 1637. William Dobson [aged 25]. Self-Portrait.
Around 1637. William Dobson [aged 25]. Self-Portrait with Nicholas Lanier and Charles Cotterell [aged 21].
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of the Prince Rupert Palatinate Simmern 1st Duke Cumberland [aged 22], Colonel John Russell [aged 22] and Colonel William Murray.
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of the future King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 11].
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of Edward Dering 1st Baronet [aged 44].
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of Endymion Porter [aged 55].
Around 1642. William Dobson [aged 30]. Portrait of Richard Neville [aged 26].
Around 1643. William Dobson [aged 31]. Portrait of Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon [aged 33].
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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Around 1644. William Dobson [aged 32]. Portrait of James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton [aged 21].
Around 1644. William Dobson [aged 32]. Portrait of Richard Fanshawe 1st Baronet [aged 35].
Around 1644. William Dobson [aged 32]. Portrait of Inigo Jones [aged 70].
Around 1644. William Dobson [aged 32]. Portrait of Simon Fanshawe [aged 39].
Simon Fanshawe: On or before 23rd April 1604 he was born to Henry Fanshawe and Elizabeth Smythe. He was baptised 23 Apr 1604. On 11th April 1640 Simon Fanshawe was knighted. In 1679 Simon Fanshawe died.
Around 1645. William Dobson [aged 33]. Portrait of Richard Lovelace of Kingsdown.
Richard Lovelace of Kingsdown: he was born to William Lovelace of Woolwich. In 1658 he died.
Around 1646. William Dobson [aged 34]. Portrait of Thomas Aylesbury 1st Baronet [aged 70].
On or before 28th October 1646 William Dobson [aged 35] died. He was buried on 28th October 1646.
Before 1652. William Dobson. Portrait of John Byron 1st Baron Byron [aged 52].
John Evelyn's Diary. 24th January 1685. I din'd at Lord Newport's [aged 64], who has some excellent pictures, especialy that of Sr Tho. Hanmer, by Van Dyke, one of the best he ever painted; another of our English Dobson's painting; but above all, Christ in the Virgin's lap by Poussin, an admirable piece, with some thing of most other famous hands.
