Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall

The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Sherborne, Dorset, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Sherborne, Dorset is in Dorset.

See: Bradford Abbas, Dorset [Map], Sherborne Abbey [Map], Sherborne Castle [Map], Sherborne Railway Station [Map], St Augustine's Hospital, Sherborn, Thornford, Dorset [Map].

In March 1253 Humphrey Beauchamp was born to Robert V Beauchamp [aged 36] and Alice Mohun [aged 25] at Sherborne, Dorset [Map].

On 25th October 1265 Robert V Beauchamp [aged 48] died at Sherborne, Dorset [Map].

In 1576 Thomas Winniffe was born in Sherborne, Dorset [Map].

On 27th November 1752 William Digby 5th Baron Digby [aged 91] died at Sherborne, Dorset [Map]. His grandson Edward [aged 22] succeeded 6th Baron Digby of Geashill in County Offaly.

Bradford Abbas, Dorset, Sherborne, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Sherborne Castle, Dorset, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Sherborne Castle is also in Castles in Dorset.

In 1297 John Moels 1st Baron Moels [aged 28] lived the Sheriff of Dorset having been ordered by the King to provide housing at Sherborne Castle [Map].

In 1645 John Melbury Sampford Strangeways [aged 59] was captured for supprting the King's cause during the Civil War at Sherborne Castle [Map].

On 18th September 1698 William Digby 5th Baron Digby [aged 37] inherited Sherborne Castle [Map].

Sherborne Lake, Sherborne Castle, Dorset, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Sherborne Railway Station, Dorset, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

St Augustine's Hospital, Sherborn, Sherborne, Dorset, South-West England, British Isles

1803. John Buckler [aged 32]. St Augustine's Hospital, Sherborn.

Thornford, Dorset, Sherborne, South-West England, British Isles [Map]