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.
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François Gérard is in Painters.
On 4th May 1770 François Gérard was born in Rome, Italy [Map]. His father was the Frewnch Ambassador to Italy, his mother Italian.
1798. François Gérard (age 27). "Cupid and Psyche".
Around 1802. François Gérard (age 31). Portrait of Maria-Letizia Ramolino (age 51).
Maria-Letizia Ramolino: On 24th August 1750, or 1749, she was born. In 1764 Charles-Marie Bonaparte and she were married. On 2nd February 1836 she died.
1802. François Gérard (age 31). "Flora Caressed by Zephyr".
Between 1802 and 1805. François Gérard (age 31). Portrait of Juliette Récamier (age 24).
Juliette Récamier: On 3rd December 1777 he was born. On 11th May 1849 he died.
1803. François Gérard (age 32). Portrait of Maria-Letizia Ramolino (age 52).
Around 1804. François Gérard (age 33). Portrait of Mary Nisbet Countess Elgin (age 25).
Mary Nisbet Countess Elgin: On 18th April 1778 she was born to William Hamilton Nisbet and Mary Manners. On 11th March 1799 Thomas Bruce 11th Earl Kincardine 7th Earl Elgin and she were married. She by marriage Countess Elgin. They had two sons and three daughters. They divorced before 20th April 1808 she having been accused of having an affair with Robert Ferguson of Raith whom she subsequently married. The Earl sued Ferguson in both England and Scotland and won £10,000. He the son of Charles Bruce 9th Earl Kincardine 5th Earl Elgin. On 20th April 1808 Robert Ferguson of Raith and she were married. On 9th July 1855 she died.
1808. François Gérard (age 37). Portrait of Joseph Bonaparte (age 39).
Joseph Bonaparte: On 7th January 1768 he was born to Charles-Marie Bonaparte and Maria-Letizia Ramolino. On 28th July 1808 he died.
1811. François Gérard (age 40). Portrait of Jérôme Bonaparte (age 26).
Jérôme Bonaparte: On 15th November 1784 he was born to Charles-Marie Bonaparte and Maria-Letizia Ramolino. On 22nd August 1807 he and Princess Katharina Friederike Württemberg were married. On 24th June 1860 he died.
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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1814. François Gérard (age 43). Portrait of Louis XVIII King France (age 58).
1815. François Gérard (age 44). Portrait of King Charles X of France (age 57).
1815. François Gérard (age 44). Portrait of Henry Seymour (age 38) in historical costume.
Henry Seymour: On 10th November 1776 he was born to Henry Seymour and Anne Louise Thérèse Comtesse de Panthou. On 12th January 1817 Henry Seymour and Jane Hopkinson were married. On 27th November 1849 Henry Seymour died.
1827. François Gérard (age 56). "Teresa of Ávila".
1829. François Gérard (age 58). Portrait of Juliette Récamier (age 51). Crayon noir.
On 11th January 1837 François Gérard (age 66) died.