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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King Street Covent Garden is in Covent Garden [Map].
On 24th June 1604 Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford [aged 54] died at his home in King Street Covent Garden. His son Henry [aged 11] succeeded 18th Earl of Oxford.
John Evelyn's Diary. 27th February 1695. The Marquis of Normanby [aged 46] told me King Charles had a design to buy all King Street, and build it nobly, it being the street leading to Westminster. This might have been done for the expense of the Queen's funeral, which was £50,000, against her desire.
From 1637 to 1643 William Paget 5th Baron Paget Beaudasert [aged 27] lived at 43 King Street.
From 1645 to 1647 Henry Vane "The Younger" [aged 31] lived at 43 King Street.
From 1662 to 1665 Kenelm Digby [aged 59] lived at 43 King Street.
From 1666 to 1680 Denzil Holles 1st Baron Holles [aged 66] lived at 43 King Street.
From 1681 to 1688 Bishop Nathaniel Crew 3rd Baron Crew [aged 47] lived at 43 King Street.
From 1690 to 1727 Edward Russell 1st Earl Orford [aged 37] lived at 43 King Street.
After November 1691 Edward Russell 1st Earl Orford [aged 38] lived at 43 King Street.
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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On 26th November 1727 Edward Russell 1st Earl Orford [aged 74] died at 43 King Street. He was buried at Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. Earl Orford extinct.