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.
Gentlemen of the Bedchamber is in Gentlemen.
Before 1599 Henry Carey 1st Viscount Falkland (age 23) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber.
In 1603 James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 23) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King James IV of Scotland.
After January 1649 Henry Wilmot 1st Earl Rochester (age 36) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 18).
In 1652 William Crofts 1st Baron Crofts (age 41) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to the exiled King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 21).
In 1679 James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 20) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 48).
In 1689 Richard, Baron Lumley (age 39) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber.
In 1689 Emanual Scrope Howe (age 26) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber.
In 1695 Arnold Keppel 1st Earl Albermarle (age 24) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber and Master of the Robes.
In 1718 Edward Rich 7th Earl Warwick 4th Earl Holland (age 19) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to George, Prince of Wales (age 34).
In 1719 Peregrine Bertie 2nd Duke Ancaster and Kesteven (age 32) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King George I (age 58).
On 19th May 1719 Edward Rich 7th Earl Warwick 4th Earl Holland (age 21) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King George I (age 58).
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.
In 1760 William Douglas 4th Duke Queensberry (age 35) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 21).
In 1782 George Legge 3rd Earl Dartmouth (age 26) was appointed Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales (age 19).
In 1830 William Feilding 6th Earl Desmond 7th Earl Denbigh (age 33) was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland (age 67).
Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland.
Charles Beauclerk 2nd Duke St Albans was appointed Gentlemen of the Bedchamber.