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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Paternal Family Tree: Capet
Maternal Family Tree: Margaret of Silesia Duchesa Lowwer Bavaria 1342-1386
1515 Louis XII King France succeeded by Francis I
1547 Death of King Francis I of France Accession of Henry II
On 16th February 1488 [her father] Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême [aged 29] and [her mother] Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême [aged 11] were married. She by marriage Countess Angoulême. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Philip "Landless" Savoy II Duke Savoy [aged 50] and [her grandmother] Margaret Bourbon. They were third cousin once removed.
On 11th April 1492 Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre was born to Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême [aged 33] and Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême [aged 15]. Coefficient of inbreeding 2.07%.
On 1st January 1496 [her father] Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême [aged 37] died.
On 18th May 1514 [her brother] King Francis I of France [aged 19] and [her sister-in-law] Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France [aged 14] were married. He by marriage Duke Brittany. She the daughter of Louis XII King France [aged 51] and Anne of Brittany Queen Consort France [aged 37]. He the son of [her father] Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême and [her mother] Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême [aged 37]. They were second cousins.
In 1515 Giuliano Medici Duke Nemours [aged 35] was created 1st Duke Nemours by [her brother] King Francis I of France [aged 20]. Giuliano had married into the Savoy family that had previously held the title.
On 1st January 1515 Louis XII King France [aged 52] died. His first cousin once removed [her brother] Francis [aged 20] succeeded I King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. [her sister-in-law] Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France [aged 15] by marriage Queen Consort of France. Brittany merged with the Crown of France.
On 12th February 1517 Catherine Grailly I Queen Navarre [aged 49] died. Her son [her future husband] Henry [aged 13] succeeded II King Navarre.
On 8th September 1524 [her niece] Charlotte Valois [aged 7] died of measles. She had been in the care of her aunt Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [aged 32] who was with her when she died.
In 1526 Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [aged 33] was crowned Queen Consort Navarre.
In 1526 King Henry II of Navarre [aged 22] and Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [aged 33] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Navarre. She the daughter of Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême and Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême [aged 49]. He the son of Jean III King Navarre and Catherine Grailly I Queen Navarre. They were third cousin once removed.
On 16th November 1528 [her daughter] Jeanne Albret III Queen Navarre was born to [her husband] King Henry II of Navarre [aged 25] and Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [aged 36]. She married 20th October 1548 her third cousin Antoine King Navarre, son of Charles Bourbon Duke Vendôme and Françoise Valois Countess Vendôme, and had issue.
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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Around 1530 Jean Clouet [aged 45]. Portrait of Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [aged 37].
On 4th July 1530 [her brother] King Francis I of France [aged 35] and [her sister-in-law] 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 father] Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême and [her mother] 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 7th July 1530 [her son] John Albret was born to [her husband] King Henry II of Navarre [aged 27] and Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [aged 38]. He died aged less than one years old.
On 25th December 1530 [her son] John Albret died.
On 22nd September 1531 [her mother] Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême [aged 55] died.
On 31st March 1547 [her brother] King Francis I of France [aged 52] died. His son [her nephew] Henry [aged 28] succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.
On 20th October 1548 [her son-in-law] Antoine King Navarre [aged 30] and Jeanne Albret III Queen Navarre [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Vendôme. She the daughter of King Henry II of Navarre [aged 45] and Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [aged 56]. He the son of Charles Bourbon Duke Vendôme and Françoise Valois Countess Vendôme [aged 58]. They were third cousins.
On 12th December 1549 Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [aged 57] died.
On 25th May 1555 [her former husband] King Henry II of Navarre [aged 52] died. His daughter Jeanne [aged 26] succeeded III Queen Navarre.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 20th January 1668. So to my Lord Crew's [aged 70] to dinner, where we hear all the good news of our making a league now with Holland against the French power coming over them, or us which is the first good act that hath been done a great while, and done secretly, and with great seeming wisdom; and is certainly good for us at this time, while we are in no condition to resist the French, if they should come over hither; and then a little time of peace will give us time to lay up something, which these Commissioners of the Treasury are doing; and the world do begin to see that they will do the King's work for him, if he will let them. Here dined Mr. Case, the minister, who, Lord! do talk just as I remember he used to preach, and did tell a pretty story of a religious lady, Queen of Navarre1 and my Lord also told a good story of Mr. Newman, the Minister in New England, who wrote the Concordance, of his foretelling his death and preaching a funeral sermon, and did at last bid the angels do their office, and died. It seems there is great presumption that there will be a Toleration granted: so that the Presbyterians do hold up their heads; but they will hardly trust the King [aged 37] or the Parliament what to yield them, though most of the sober party be for some kind of allowance to be given them.
Note 1. Marguerite de Valois, Queen of Navarre, sister of Francis I of France. The "pretty story" was doubtless from her "Heptameron", a work imitating in title and matter the "Decameron" of Boccaccio. She is said to be the heroine of some of the adventures. It is fair to add that she wrote also the "Miroir dune Ame Pecheresse", translated into English by Queen Elizabeth, the title of whose book was "A Godly Medytacyon of the Christian Soules", published by John Bale in 1548. B.
Kings Wessex: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 12 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 11 Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 2 Grand Daughter of King Charles V of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France 
Grand Son of King Philip III of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France Son of King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan "Lame" Burgundy Queen Consort France Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Charles V of France Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John I of Bohemia 
6 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans Son of King Charles V of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon I Duke Bourbon Grand Son of King Louis IX of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon Great Grand Son of King Louis IX of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Hainaut Duchess Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France Great Grand Daughter of King Philip III of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Valois I Count Valois Son of King Philip III of France
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Valois Duchess Bourbon Grand Daughter of King Philip III of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mahaut Chatillon Countess Valois Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
GrandFather: John Valois Orléans Grand Son of King Charles V of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephano Visconti
Great x 3 Grandfather: Galeazzo II Visconti
Great x 4 Grandmother: Valentina Doria
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan 18 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandfather: Aymon "Peaceful" Savoy Count Savoy 16 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandmother: Bianca Savoy 17 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandmother: Yolande Palaeologina Countess Savoy
Great x 1 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France Grand Son of King Philip III of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France Son of King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan "Lame" Burgundy Queen Consort France Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John I of Bohemia 6 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Father: Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême Great Grand Son of King Charles V of France
GrandMother: Marguerite Rohan
Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles V of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Amadeus "Green Count" Savoy VI Count Savoy 17 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandfather: Amadeus "Red Count" Savoy VII Count Savoy 18 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bonne Bourbon Countess Savoy
Great x 2 Grandfather: Amadeus Savoy VIII Count Savoy Great Grand Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Valois 1st Duke Berry Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 3 Grandmother: Bonne Valois Countess Armagnac and Savoy Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanne Armagnac Duchess Berry 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis Savoy I Count Savoy Great Grand Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France Son of King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Valois Countess Savoy Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis of Male III Count Nevers II Count Flanders 
Grand Son of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy Great Grand Daughter of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret of Brabant Countess Nevers and Flanders Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
GrandFather: Philip "Landless" Savoy II Duke Savoy 2 x Great Grand Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 2 Grandfather: Janus of Cyprus
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Cyprus Countess Savoy
Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephano Visconti
Great x 3 Grandfather: Bernabò Visconti
Great x 4 Grandmother: Valentina Doria
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anglesia Visconti
Great x 4 Grandfather: Mastino II della Scala
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Regina della Scala
Great x 4 Grandmother: Taddea da Carrara
Mother: Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon Great Grand Son of King Louis IX of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon II Duke Bourbon Great Grand Son of King Philip III of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Valois Duchess Bourbon Grand Daughter of King Philip III of France
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Philip III of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Beraud II Auvergne
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Auvergne Duchess Bourbon
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Bourbon I Duke Bourbon Great Grand Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France Son of King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Valois 1st Duke Berry Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: John I Count Armagnac
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joanne Armagnac Duchess Berry 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Clermont Countess Armagnac Great Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
GrandMother: Margaret Bourbon 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France Son of King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy Son of King John "The Good" II of France
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: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy Grand Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis of Male III Count Nevers II Count Flanders Grand Son of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy Great Grand Daughter of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret of Brabant Countess Nevers and Flanders Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Agnes Valois Duchess Bourbon Great Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Wittelsbach IV Holy Roman Emperor 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria 2 x Great Grand Son of King Philip III of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Hainaut Holy Roman Empress Great Grand Daughter of King Philip III of France
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Philip III of France
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret of Silesia Duchesa Lowwer Bavaria