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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Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France by marriage as Queen Consort of France.
Around 1030 Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France was born to [her father] Yaroslav "The Wise" Rurik.
On 20th July 1031 Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks (age 59) died at Melun, Seine et Marne. His son [her future husband] Henry (age 23) succeeded I King France: Capet.
In 1034 [her future husband] Henry I King of the Franks (age 25) and Matilda Brunonids Queen Consort France were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Liudolf Brunonids Margrave Frisia (age 31). He the son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks and Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 48).
In 1047 King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 19), supported by [her future husband] Henry I King of the Franks (age 38), defeated a rebel army led by William's cousin Guy Ivrea (age 22) who opposed William's succession as Duke of Normandy at the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in Caen, Calvados, Basse Normandie.
Hamon Dentatus was killed.
On 19th May 1051 Henry I King of the Franks (age 43) and Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France (age 21) were married at Reims Cathedral, Reims. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks and Constance Arles Queen Consort France.
On 23rd May 1052 [her son] Philip I King of the Franks was born to [her husband] Henry I King of the Franks (age 44) and Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France (age 22). He married (1) 1072 his half fourth cousin twice removed Bertha Gerulfing Queen Consort France, daughter of Floris Gerulfing I Count Holland and Gertrude Billung Countess Holland, and had issue (2) 15th May 1092 his fourth cousin once removed Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France and had issue.
In 1054 [her daughter] Emma Capet was born to [her husband] Henry I King of the Franks (age 45) and Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France (age 24).
In 1055 [her son] Robert Capet was born to [her husband] Henry I King of the Franks (age 46) and Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France (age 25). He died aged five in 1060.
In 1057 [her son] Hugh "Great" Capet was born to [her husband] Henry I King of the Franks (age 48) and Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France (age 27). He married his half fourth cousin once removed Adelaide I Countess Vermandois, daughter of Herbert Vermandois IV Count Vermandois and Adela Valois Countess Blois and Vermandois, and had issue.
In 1060 [her son] Robert Capet (age 5) died.
Chronicle of the Abbey of Saint Pierre-le-Vif. In the year of the Lord 1060, Henry, king of France, died. He granted privileges to the monastery of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif, and he was buried at Saint-Denis. [her future husband] Count Ralph (age 35), cousin of the deceased king, took the queen (age 30) as his wife; for this reason he was excommunicated by Gregory VII. Baldwin, count of Flanders, took the young King Philip under his protection and governed France.
L'an du Seigneur 1060 mourut Henri, roi de France. Il accorda des privilèges au monastère de Saint-Pierre-le-Vif; il fut enseveli à Saint-Denis. Le comte Raoul, cousin du roi défunt, prit la reine pour épouse. C'est pourquoi il fat excommunié par Grégoire VII. Baudoin, comte de Flandre, prit sous sa garde le jeune roi Philippe, et gouverna la France.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy. Seeing the destruction of his men, the king withdrew from Normandy as quickly as he could, and did not attempt to return again. He sought the friendship of the duke, having considered his valour, and restored to him the castle of Tillières, which he had formerly taken. The said king was very warlike, and of great courage and piety. He had in marriage Matilda1, daughter of Yaroslav, king of the Rugians, by whom he had two sons, Philip and Hugh, and one daughter. After he had ruled the kingdom of the Franks for nearly twenty-five years, he, for the sake of bodily health, received a potion from John, most skilled of physicians. But, as the medicine brought on too great a thirst, he disregarded the strict instructions of the physician, and receiving a drink from a chamberlain while the doctor was absent, he drank before the purgation. Thereby becoming very ill, he died on the same day1, after receiving the Holy Eucharist. He appointed his son Philip as heir to the rule of the Franks, and commended him to the guardianship of Baldwin, Count of Flanders.
Videns autem rex suorum interitum, quantocius valuit a Northmannis recessit et ad eos ultra venire non apposuit. Amicitiam qnoque ducis, considerata ejus probitate, requisivit, et Tegulense castrum, quod dudum abstulerat, illi tradidit. Sæpedictus rex valde fuit militaris, magnæque fortitudinis et pietatis. Mathildem Juliusclodii regis Rugorum filiam in matrimonio habuit, ex qua duos filios, Philippum et Hugonem, unamque filiam genuit. Qui postquam regnum Galliæ fere 25 annis rexit, causa corporeæ salutis a Joanne medicorum peritissimo potionem accepit. Sed veneno nimiam sitim inferente jussum Archiatri sprevit et a cubiculario potum accipiens, dum medicus abesset, ante purgationem bibit. Unde nimis infirmatus, eodem die post perceptionem sacræ Eucharistiæ obiit. Philippum vero filium suum in regimine Francorum hæredem constituit et tutelæ Balduini Flandrensis strapæ commendavit.
Note 1. The author here is confused? King Henry I of France had two wives: Matilda of Frisia, daughter of Liudolf, Margrave of Frisia, and Anne of Kiev (age 30), daughter of Yaroslav, Prince of Kiev and Novgorod. Matilda of Frisia died giving birth to their only child who also died. Anne of Kiev was the mother of Philip and Hugh, and a daughter Emma. Following King Henry's death in 1060 Anne married, controversially, Ralph IV of Valois. Chronicle de l'abbaye de Saint-Pierre-le-Vif: "In the year of the Lord 1060, Henry, king of France, died. He granted privileges to the monastery of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif, and he was buried at Saint-Denis. Count Ralph, cousin of the deceased king, took the queen as his wife; for this reason he was excommunicated by Gregory VII. Baldwin, count of Flanders, took the young King Philip under his protection and governed France."
Note 2. King Henry I of France died on 4th August 1060. He was interred in the Basilica of St Denis, north of Paris.
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On 4th August 1060 [her husband] Henry I King of the Franks (age 52) died. His son [her son] Philip (age 8) succeeded I King France: Capet.
Around 1061 Ralph IV Count of Valois (age 36) and Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France (age 31) were married. The marriage may have been bigamous, since he may have been still married to his second wife. He the son of Ralph III Count of Valois.
In 1072 [her son] Philip I King of the Franks (age 19) and [her daughter-in-law] Bertha Gerulfing Queen Consort France (age 17) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Floris Gerulfing I Count Holland and Gertrude Billung Countess Holland (age 42). He the son of [her former husband] Henry I King of the Franks and Anne of Kiev Queen Consort Francia (age 42). They were half fourth cousin twice removed.
In 1074 [her husband] Ralph IV Count of Valois (age 49) died.
In 1075 Anne of Kiev Queen Consort France (age 45) died.
Agnes de la Marck Queen Consort Navarre [6]
Philip I King of the Franks [1]
King Malcolm IV of Scotland [1]
King William I of Scotland [1]
Eleanor "Fair Maid of Britanny" 4th Countess of Richmond [1]
Marie Coucy [1]
King John Balliol I of Scotland [1]
Maria of Brabant Queen Consort France [1]
King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland [4]
Henry Luxemburg VII Holy Roman Emperor [1]
Elizabeth Burgh Queen Consort Scotland [1]
Margaret of Burgundy Queen Consort France [1]
Joan of Burgundy Queen Consort France [1]
Joan "Lame" Burgundy Queen Consort France [1]
Blanche of Burgundy Queen Consort France [1]
Philip "Noble" III King Navarre [3]
Joan Évreux Queen Consort France [3]
Margaret Hainaut Holy Roman Empress [2]
Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England [2]
King Robert II of Scotland [2]
Blanche Valois Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg [2]
Blanche Dampierre Queen Consort Norway and Sweden [4]
Joan Auvergne Queen Consort France [3]
Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France [5]
Blanche Bourbon Queen Consort Castile [5]
Martha Armagnac Queen Consort Aragon [1]
Philippa of Lancaster Queen Consort Portugal [6]
Yolande of Bar Queen Consort Aragon [7]
King Richard II of England [2]
Philippa Lancaster Queen Consort Denmark [14]
Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland [13]
Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford [7]
Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England [1]
Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland [6]
King Edward IV of England [47]
King Richard III of England [47]
Anne Neville Queen Consort England [79]
King Henry VII of England and Ireland [20]
Bianca Maria Sforza Holy Roman Empress [6]
Anne of Brittany Queen Consort France [5]
Philip "Handsome Fair" King Castile [16]
Germaine Foix Queen Consort Aragon [6]
Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [17]
Queen Anne Boleyn of England [80]
Queen Jane Seymour [100]
Catherine Parr Queen Consort England [96]
Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England [15]
Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland [49]
Antoine King Navarre [39]
Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [8]
Queen Catherine Howard of England [76]
Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [24]
Jane Grey I Queen England and Ireland [143]
Louise Lorraine Queen Consort France [26]
King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [23]
Maximilian "The Great" Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria I Elector Bavaria [56]
Maria Anna Wittelsbach Holy Roman Empress [56]
Marie de Medici Queen Consort France [24]
Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [14]
Ferdinand of Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [55]
George Wharton [849]
Margaret of Austria Queen Consort Spain [55]
Anna of Austria Holy Roman Empress [58]
John George Wettin Elector Saxony [39]
Frederick William "Great Elector" Hohenzollern Elector Brandenburg [39]
Eleonora Gonzaga Queen Consort Bohemia [78]
Maria Leopoldine Habsburg Spain Queen Consort Bohemia [55]
Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [60]
Charlotte Amalie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [39]
Victor Amadeus King Sardinia [70]
Louise of Mecklenburg Güstrow Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [39]
Maria Anna Neuburg Queen Consort Spain [78]
Frederick I King Sweden [117]
Joseph I Holy Roman Emperor [78]
Charles Habsburg Spain VI Holy Roman Emperor [78]
Francis I Holy Roman Emperor [25]
Adolph Frederick King Sweden [39]
Elisabeth Therese Lorraine Queen Consort Sardinia [25]
President George Washington [47]
King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [78]
William Elector of Hesse [117]
Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [39]
Caroline Matilda Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [78]
Marie Sophie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [117]
Caroline of Brunswick Queen Consort England [78]
Frederick William III King Prussia [39]
Frederica Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort Hanover [78]
Queen Fredrika Dorotea Vilhelmina [78]
King Christian I of Norway and VIII of Denmark [117]
Frederick William IV King Prussia [78]
Frederick VII King of Denmark [195]
Queen Louise Hesse-Kassel of Denmark [234]
King Christian IX of Denmark [117]
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom [156]
Queen Sophia of Sweden and Norway [195]
Victoria Empress Germany Queen Consort Prussia [429]
King Edward VII of the United Kingdom [429]
Maria Christina of Austria Queen Consort Spain [117]
Brigadier-General Charles Fitz-Clarence [3526]
Victoria Mary Teck Queen Consort England [234]
Frederick Charles I King Finland [234]
Constantine I King Greece [117]
Alexandrine Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark [312]
Victoria Eugénie Mountbatten Queen Consort Spain [546]
Louise Mountbatten Queen Consort Sweden [663]
Ingrid Bernadotte Queen Consort Denmark [507]
Philip Mountbatten Duke Edinburgh [780]
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom [14376]
Carl XVI King Sweden [1053]
Queen Consort Camilla Shand [4838]
Diana Spencer Princess Wales [43344]