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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Angers is in Anjou.
See: , Angers Cathedral [Map], .
Around 1068 Ermengarde Anjou Duchess Brittany and Aquitaine was born to Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou (age 25) and Hildegarde Beaugency Countess Anjou (age 24) at Angers [Map]. She married (1) 1088 her half first cousin William "Troubadour" Poitiers IX Duke Aquitaine, son of Guy William Poitiers VIII Duke Aquitaine and Hildegarde Burgundy Duchess Aquitaine (2) 1093 her third cousin once removed Alan Canhiart IV Duke Brittany and had issue.
Around 1089 Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem was born to Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou (age 46) and Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France (age 19) at Angers [Map]. He married (1) 1110 his third cousin twice removed Ermengarde of Maine Countess of Anjou, daughter of Elias I Count Maine and Matilda Chateau Du Loir Countess Maine, and had issue (2) 2nd June 1129 Melisende Queen of Jerusalem and had issue.
On 22nd July 1136 William Longsword was born to Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 22) and Empress Matilda (age 34) at Argentan or Angers [Map]. He a grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
In 1252 Richard Tosny (age 60) died at Angers [Map].
On 19th May 1432 Joan Valois (age 22) died at Angers [Map].
On 2nd May 1451 René Lorraine II Duke Lorraine Duke of Bar was born to Frederick Lorraine Count Vaudémont (age 23) and Yolande Valois Anjou (age 22) at Angers [Map]. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.75%. He married 1485 his fourth cousin Philippa Egmont Duchess of Bar Duchess Lorraine, daughter of Adolf Egmont 2nd Duke Guelders and Catherine Bourbon Duchess Guelders, and had issue.
On 3rd July 1183 Archbishop Walter de Coutances was consecrated Bishop of Lincoln at Angers Cathedral [Map] by Archbishop Richard de Dover.
On 29th April 1417 King Louis of Naples (age 39) died. His son Louis (age 13) succeeded Louis III Duke Anjou. He was buried at Angers Cathedral [Map].
Louis Valois Anjou III Duke Anjou: On 25th September 1403 he was born to King Louis of Naples and Yolande Barcelona Queen Consort Naples. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.78%. On 12th November 1434 Louis Valois Anjou III Duke Anjou died. His brother René succeeded I Duke Anjou. Isabella Metz Duchess Anjou I Duchess Lorraine by marriage Duchess Anjou.
On 14th November 1442 Yolande Barcelona Queen Consort Naples (age 61) died. She was buried at Angers Cathedral [Map].
Yolande Barcelona Queen Consort Naples: On 11th August 1381 she was born to King John I of Aragon and Yolande of Bar Queen Consort Aragon. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England. In 1400 King Louis of Naples and she were married at Arles. She by marriage Queen Consort Naples. She the daughter of King John I of Aragon and Yolande of Bar Queen Consort Aragon. He the son of Louis Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou and Marie Chatillon Duchess Anjou. They were first cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 22nd July 1470 Warwick the Kingmaker (age 41), King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 48) and Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England (age 40) signed the Angers Agreement at Angers Cathedral [Map]. The agreement had been brokered by King Louis XI of France (age 47). Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales (age 16) and Anne Neville Queen Consort England (age 14) were betrothed as part of the Agreement.
On 13th December 1470 Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales (age 17) and Anne Neville Queen Consort England (age 14) were married at Angers Cathedral [Map]. She by marriage Princess of Wales. She the daughter of Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 42) and Anne Beauchamp 16th Countess Warwick (age 44). He the son of King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 49) and Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England (age 40). They were half third cousins. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
On 10th July 1480 René Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou (age 71) died at Aix en Provence. His nephew Charles (age 34) succeeded IV Duke Anjou. He was buried at Angers Cathedral [Map].
René Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou: On 16th January 1409 he was born to King Louis of Naples and Yolande Barcelona Queen Consort Naples. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.78%. On 24th October 1420 René Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou and Isabella Metz Duchess Anjou I Duchess Lorraine were married. She the daughter of Charles Metz II Duke Lorraine. He the son of King Louis of Naples and Yolande Barcelona Queen Consort Naples. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England. On 10th September 1454 René Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou and Jeanne Laval Duchess Anjou were married at Abbey St Nicholas, Angers. She by marriage Duchess Anjou. The difference in their ages was 24 years. He the son of King Louis of Naples and Yolande Barcelona Queen Consort Naples. They were second cousin twice removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
Charles Valois Anjou IV Duke Anjou: In 1446 he was born to Charles Valois Anjou Count Maine and Isabelle Luxemburg Countess Maine. In 1474 Charles Valois Anjou IV Duke Anjou and Joan Lorraine were married. She the daughter of Frederick Lorraine Count Vaudémont and Yolande Valois Anjou. He the son of Charles Valois Anjou Count Maine and Isabelle Luxemburg Countess Maine. They were first cousin once removed. On 10th December 1481 Charles Valois Anjou IV Duke Anjou died without issue. His first cousin Louis succeeded Duke Anjou.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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On 25th August 1482 Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England (age 52) died at Chateau Dampierre-sur-Loire, Dampierre-sur-Loire, Saumur. She was buried at Angers Cathedral [Map].