Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Paternal Family Tree: Capet
Maternal Family Tree: Gersenda II Sabran Countess Provence 1180-1242
1547 Death of King Francis I of France Accession of Henry II
1559 Henry II of France Dies Francis and Mary "Queen of Scots" Succeeds
On 18th May 1514 [her father] King Francis I of France [aged 19] and [her mother] Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France [aged 14] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Louis XII King France [aged 51] and [her grandmother] Anne of Brittany Queen Consort France [aged 37]. He the son of Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême and Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême [aged 37]. They were second cousins.
On 5th June 1523 Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy was born to King Francis I of France [aged 28] and Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France [aged 23]. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.52%.
On 20th July 1524 [her mother] Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France [aged 24] died.
On 4th July 1530 [her father] King Francis I of France [aged 35] and [her step-mother] Eleanor of Austria Queen Consort France Queen Consort Portugal [aged 31] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Philip "Handsome Fair" King Castile and Joanna "The Mad" Trastámara Queen Castile [aged 51]. He the son of [her grandfather] Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême and [her grandmother] Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême [aged 53]. They were second cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
On 28th October 1533 [her brother] King Henry II of France [aged 14] and [her sister-in-law] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 14] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. He the son of [her father] King Francis I of France [aged 39] and [her mother] Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France. They were sixth cousins.
In August 1538 Philip Hoby [aged 33] and Hans Holbein The Younger [aged 41] travelled to Joinville to procure a portrait of Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy [aged 15].
On 31st March 1547 [her father] King Francis I of France [aged 52] died. His son [her brother] Henry [aged 28] succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.
On 29th April 1550 Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy [aged 26] was created Duchess Berry.
On 17th August 1553 Charles 3rd Duke Savoy [aged 66] died. His son [her future husband] Emmanuel [aged 25] succeeded Duke Savoy.
In 1559 Emmanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy [aged 30] and Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy [aged 35] were married. She by marriage Duchess Savoy. He by marriage Duke Berry. She the daughter of King Francis I of France and Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France. He the son of Charles 3rd Duke Savoy and Beatrice Aviz Duchess Savoy. They were half first cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 10th July 1559 [her brother] King Henry II of France [aged 40] was killed whilst jousting in celebration of his [her niece] daughter's [aged 14] marriage to Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain [aged 32]. His son [her nephew] Francis [aged 15] succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. Mary Queen of Scots [aged 16] by marriage Queen Consort France. They would reign for eighteen months only with Francis dying in Dec 1560. Francis and Mary would have no issue.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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On 12th January 1562 [her son] Charles Emmanuel Savoy I Duke Savoy was born to [her husband] Emmanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy [aged 33] and Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy [aged 38]. Coefficient of inbreeding 2.29%. He married 1584 his first cousin once removed Catherine Habsburg Spain Duchess Savoy, daughter of Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain and Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain, and had issue.
Before 22nd December 1572 François Clouet [aged 62]. Portrait of Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy [aged 49].
On 15th September 1574 Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy [aged 51] died.
On 30th August 1580 [her former husband] Emmanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy [aged 52] died. His son Charles [aged 18] succeeded I Duke Savoy.
Kings Wessex: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Grand Daughter of Louis XII King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Charles V of France 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Valois Duchess Bourbon 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Valois Orléans 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Galeazzo II Visconti
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bianca Savoy
Great x 2 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
GrandFather: Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Marguerite Rohan
Father: King Francis I of France 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Amadeus "Red Count" Savoy VII Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Amadeus Savoy VIII Count Savoy 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bonne Valois Countess Armagnac and Savoy 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis Savoy I Count Savoy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Valois Countess Savoy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Philip "Landless" Savoy II Duke Savoy 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Janus of Cyprus
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Cyprus Countess Savoy
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bernabò Visconti
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anglesia Visconti
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Regina della Scala
GrandMother: Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon II Duke Bourbon 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Auvergne Duchess Bourbon
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Valois 1st Duke Berry 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanne Armagnac Duchess Berry 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Bourbon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Agnes Valois Duchess Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret of Silesia Duchesa Lowwer Bavaria
Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Charles V of France 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Valois Duchess Bourbon 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Valois Duke Orléans 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Galeazzo II Visconti
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bianca Savoy
Great x 2 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
GrandFather: Louis XII King France 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Adolph II Count de la Marck
Great x 3 Grandfather: Adolph de la Marck 6 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Cleves Countess de la Marck 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Adolph de la Marck I Duke Cleves 7 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gerhard Jülich VI Count Berg and Ravensberg 5 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Jülich Countess Cleves and Mark 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary de la Marck Duchess Orléans 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marie Valois Duchess Cleves 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret of Silesia Duchesa Lowwer Bavaria
Mother: Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Montfort IV Duke Brittany Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Montfort V Duke Brittany 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna of Flanders Duchess Brittany 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Montfort 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles "Bad" II King Navarre 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Montfort II Duke Brittany 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles V of France 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan
Great x 3 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandMother: Anne of Brittany Queen Consort France 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Archambaud Grailly Count Foix
Great x 3 Grandfather: John I Count Foix
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Countess Foix
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gaston IV Count Foix
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Albret
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jeanne Albret Countess Foix
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie d Louis and Isabel Craon Sully
Great x 1 Grandmother: Marguerite Foix Duchess Brittany 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand I King Aragon 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John II King Aragon 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor of Alberquerque Queen Consort Aragon 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Trastámara Queen Consort Navarre 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles III King Navarre 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Blanche Évreux Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England