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 28th July 1894 Winifred "Freda" May Birkin was born to [her father] Colonel Charles Wilfred Birkin (age 28).
On 9th July 1913 William Dudley Ward (age 35) and Winifred "Freda" May Birkin (age 18) were married.
On 4th August 1914 [her daughter] Penelope Dudley Ward was born to [her husband] William Dudley Ward (age 36) and Winifred "Freda" May Birkin (age 20).
On 25th May 1916 [her daughter] Claire Angela Dudley Ward was born to [her husband] William Dudley Ward (age 38) and Winifred "Freda" May Birkin (age 21).
From 1918 to around 1929 Winifred "Freda" May Birkin (age 23) was the mistress of King Edward VIII (age 23).
1919. Bassano Ltd. Photograph of Winifred "Freda" May Birkin (age 24)
1920. John Lavery (age 63). "The Lady in Black and Green" aka Portrait of Mrs Dudley Ward aka Winifred "Freda" May Birkin (age 25).
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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In 1931 William Dudley Ward (age 53) and Winifred "Freda" May Birkin (age 36) were divorced.
On 3rd April 1932 [her father] Colonel Charles Wilfred Birkin (age 66) died.
On 11th November 1946 [her former husband] William Dudley Ward (age 69) died at .
On 22nd January 1982 [her daughter] Penelope Dudley Ward (age 67) died.
On 16th March 1983 Winifred "Freda" May Birkin (age 88) died.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Birkin
GrandFather: Thomas Birkin 1st Baronet
Father: Colonel Charles Wilfred Birkin
GrandMother: Harriet Tebbutt