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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MP Salisbury is in Member Parliament.
On 6th May 1523 Robert Keilway (age 40) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1547 John Thynne (age 32) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1571 John Eyre (age 46) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1628 Roger Palmer (age 51) was elected MP Salisbury.
In November 1661 Stephen Fox (age 34) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1685 Stephen Fox (age 57) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1698 Charles Fox (age 37) was elected MP Salisbury. He was re-elected on 9th July 1701, in December 1701, 1702, 1705, 1708, 1710 and 31st August 1713 until his death on 21st September 1713.
In 1734 Henry Hoare "The Magnificient" (age 28) was elected MP Salisbury.
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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In 1741 Jacob Bouverie 1st Viscount Folkestone (age 46) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1747 Jacob Bouverie 1st Viscount Folkestone (age 52) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1802 William Pleydell-Bouverie 3rd Earl Radnor (age 22) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1828 Duncombe Pleydell-Bouverie (age 47) was elected MP Salisbury.
In 1833 Duncombe Pleydell-Bouverie (age 52) was elected MP Salisbury.
In January 1847 William James Chaplin (age 60) was elected MP Salisbury at a by-election which seat he held until 1857.
In 1857 Matthew Henry Marsh (age 46) was elected MP Salisbury.