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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Half Fourth Cousin Once Removed

Half Fourth Cousin Once Removed is in Fourth Cousin.

1121 Marriage of King Henry I and Adeliza of Louvain

1536 Marriage of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour

Before 15th October 1097 Baldwin I King Jerusalem (age 39) and Godehilde Tosny were married. He the son of Eustace II Count Boulogne and Ida of Lorraine Countess Boulogne (age 57). They were half fourth cousin once removed.

In 1115 Amaury Montfort Count Évreux (age 44) and Richilde Flanders Countess Évreux (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Évreux. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of Baldwin II Count Hainaut and Ida Reginar Countess Hainaut. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Marriage of King Henry I and Adeliza of Louvain

Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. 29th January 1121. On the fourth of the calends of February the maiden (age 18) already mentioned as selected for queen was married to the king (age 53) by William, bishop of Winchester, at the command of Ralph, archbishop of Canterbury; and on the following day, the third of the calends of February (30th January), she was consecrated and crowned as queen by the archbishop in person.

Note. Some sources say 24th January 1121.

After 1141 Gilbert Gaunt 1st Earl Lincoln (age 15) and Rohese Clare Countess Lincoln were married. She the daughter of Richard de Clare and Alice Gernon. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

In 1172 Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford (age 19) and Amice Fitzrobert Countess Hertford were married. She by marriage Countess Hertford. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. He the son of Roger Clare 2nd Earl Hertford (age 56) and Maud St Hilary Countess Hertford. They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Around 1175 Nigel Mowbray 5th Baron Thirsk (age 29) and Mabel Clare Baroness Thirsk (age 19) were married. She by marriage Baroness Thirsk. She the daughter of Roger Clare 2nd Earl Hertford and Maud St Hilary Countess Hertford. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Before 1200 Guy Thouars (age 59) and Constance Penthièvre Duchess Brittany (age 38) were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of Conan "The Young" Penthièvre IV Duke Brittany and Margaret Dunkeld Duchess Brittany (age 54). They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

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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Before 1254 Roger Mowbray (age 44) and Maud Beauchamp were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Before 1263 William Beauchamp 9th Earl Warwick (age 25) and Maud Fitzjohn Countess Warwick (age 24) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

On 31st August 1281 Eric II King Norway (age 13) and Margaret Dunkeld Queen Consort Norway (age 20) were married at Bergen. She the daughter of King Alexander III of Scotland (age 39) and Margaret Queen of Scotland. He the son of King Magnus VI of Norway and Queen Ingeborg of Norway (age 37). They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

In 1307 Jean Fiennes (age 27) and Isabelle Dampierre were married. She the daughter of Guy Dampierre Count Flanders and Isabelle Luxemburg Countess Flanders. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.

Before 1343 John Grey 1st Baron Grey (age 42) and Avice Marmion Baroness Grey Rotherfield (age 33) were married. John Grey adopted Marmion as his surname. She by marriage Baroness Grey of Rotherfield. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King John of England.

Before 1373 Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh (age 37) and Elizabeth Burghesh 3rd Baron Burghesh (age 30) were married. She by marriage Baroness Despencer. He by marriage Baron Burghesh. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John of England.

In 1394 Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria (age 57) and Margaret La Marck Duchess Bavaria (age 19) were married. She by marriage Duchess Lower Bavaria. The difference in their ages was 38 years. She the daughter of Adolph de la Marck (age 60) and Margaret Jülich Countess Cleves and Mark (age 44). He the son of Louis Wittelsbach IV Holy Roman Emperor and Margaret Hainaut Holy Roman Empress. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 26th November 1405 Thomas Fitzalan 10th Earl of Surrey 5th or 12th Earl of Arundel (age 24) and Beatrice Aviz Duchess Exeter (age 23) were married. King Henry IV of England (age 38) and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England (age 35) were present at their wedding feast. She the illegitmate daughter of King John I of Portugal (age 53) and Ines Peres. He the son of Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl of Surrey 4th or 11th Earl of Arundel and Elizabeth Bohun Countess Arundel and Surrey. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward I of England.

The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

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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Before 6th May 1410 Michael de la Pole 3rd Earl Suffolk (age 16) and Elizabeth Mowbray Countess Suffolk (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk and Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk (age 44). He the son of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 49) and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 34). They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

On 25th June 1436 King Louis XI of France (age 12) and Margaret Stewart Dauphine of France (age 11) were married at Tours Castle. They had met the day before. She by marriage Dauphine . She the daughter of King James I of Scotland (age 41) and Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland (age 32). He the son of Charles "Victorious" VII King France (age 33) and Marie Valois Anjou Queen Consort France (age 31). They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 30th August 1442 Francis Montfort I Duke Brittany (age 28) and Isabella Stewart Duchess Brittany (age 16) were married. She by marriage Duchess Brittany. She the daughter of King James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland (age 38). He the son of John Montfort V Duke Brittany (deceased) and Joan Valois Duchess Brittany. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 1st November 1455 Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond (age 25) and Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond (age 12) were married at Bletsoe Castle [Map]. She by marriage Countess Richmond. She the daughter of John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 45). He the son of Owen Tudor (age 55) and Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Between 30th December 1460, when her first husband William Bonville 6th Baron Harington (age 18) was killed at the Battle of Wakefield, and 6th February 1462, a date provided by Cockayne William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 29) and Katherine Neville Baroness Bonville and Hastings (age 18) were married. She by marriage Baroness Hastings. She the daughter of Richard Neville Earl Salisbury (age 60) and Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury (age 53). They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 14th May 1468 Jean III Brosse and Louise of Laval (age 27) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

In 1476 Peter Gerard of Bryn Kings (age 15) and Margaret Stanley (age 12) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

On 25th November 1479 William Graham 1st Earl Montrose (age 15) and Annabella Dummond Countess Montrose (age 16) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Before 1510 John Hay 2nd Lord Hay of Yester and Elizabeth Crichton (age 39) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

On 26th April 1514 Marmaduke Constable (age 14) and Elizabeth Darcy (age 13) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

In or before 1534 Thomas Dawney (age 16) and Edith Darcy (age 12) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Marriage of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour

Before 1st February 1541 George Carew (age 37) and Mary Norreys (age 15) were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years. They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet

Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.

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Before 1542 John Delaval (age 19) and Anne Ogle (age 29) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Before 6th March 1545 Robert Ogle 5th Baron Ogle (age 32) and Jane Radclyffe Baroness Ogle (age 23) were married. She by marriage Baroness Ogle. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King Edward IV of England.

In 1556 Edward Sutton 4th Baron Dudley (age 31) and Katherine Brydges Baroness Dudley were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

In or before 1564 Robert Aske of Aughton in Yorkshire (age 38) and Elizabeth Dawnay were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 17th December 1564 Duke Adolph Oldenburg of Holstein-Gotorp (age 38) and Christine Hesse (age 21) were married. She the daughter of Landgrave Philip I of Hesse (age 60) and Christine of Saxony. He the son of King Frederick I of Denmark and Sophie of Pomerania Queen Consort of Denmark and Sweden (age 66). They were half fourth cousin once removed.

In or before 1568 John Danvers (age 27) and Elizabeth Neville (age 17) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Before 1573 Arthur Bassett (age 31) and Eleanor Chichester were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King Edward IV of England.

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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In January 1596 John Stewart of Traquair (age 46) and Margaret Stewart were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Around 1599 George Keith 5th Earl Marischal (age 46) and Margaret Ogilvy Countess Marischal were married. She by marriage Countess Marischal. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Before September 1610 John Wemyss 1st Earl of Wemyss (age 24) and Jane Gray Countess Wemyss were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 6th November 1639 James Drummond 3rd Earl Perth (age 24) and Anne Gordon were married. She the daughter of George Gordon 2nd Marquess Huntly (age 47) and Anna Campbell Marchioness Huntly. He the son of John Drummond 2nd Earl Perth (age 51) and Jean Ker Countess Perth. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

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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Before 17th January 1665 Willoughby Aston 2nd Baronet (age 24) and Mary Offley (age 15) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Around 15th February 1665 Edward Sebright 2nd Baronet (age 20) and Elizabeth Knightley Lady Sebright (age 15) were married. She by marriage Lady Sebright of Besford in Worcestershire. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Before 29th July 1682 Jenico Preston 7th Viscount Gormanston (age 52) and Frances Leke were married. She the daughter of Francis Leke 1st Earl Scarsdale and Anne Carey Lady Leke. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

On 8th May 1736 Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales (age 29) and Augusta Saxe Coburg Altenburg (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Frederick Saxe Coburg Altenburg II Duke Saxe Gotha Altenburg and Magdalena Augusta Anhalt-Zerbst Duchess Saxe Gotha Altenburg. He the son of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland (age 52) and Caroline Hohenzollern Queen Consort England (age 53). They were half fourth cousin once removed.

In May 1749 John Bellew 4th Baron Bellew (age 47) and Henrietta aka Harriet Lee Baroness Bellew (age 23) were married. She by marriage Baroness Bellew of Duleek. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of George Henry Lee 2nd Earl Lichfield and Frances Hales Countess Lichfield (age 52). He the son of Richard Bellew 3rd Baron Bellew and Frances Brudenell Countess Newburgh. They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 2nd August 1798 John Vaughan 3rd Earl Lisburne (age 29) and Lucy Courtenay Countess Lisburne (age 28) were married. She the daughter of William Courtenay 8th Earl Devon and Frances Clack Countess Devon. He the son of Wilmot Vaughan 1st Earl Lisburne (age 70) and Dorothy Shafto Countess Lisburne (age 65). They were half fourth cousin once removed.

On 20th May 1812 Robert Nassau Sutton (age 35) and Mary Georgiana Manners-Sutton (age 23) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

On 11th March 1820 Charles Augustus Fitzroy (age 23) and Mary Lennox (age 29) were married. She the daughter of Charles Lennox 4th Duke Richmond and Charlotte Gordon Duchess Richmond (age 51). They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 21st July 1829 Edward Robert Petre of Stapleton Park (age 34) and Laura Maria Stafford-Jerningham (age 18) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

In July 1830 Henry Fitzroy (age 23) and Jane Elizabeth Beauclerk (age 23) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

In 1886 Charles Mills 2nd Baron Hillingdon (age 30) and Alice Marion Harbord Baroness Hillingdon (age 28) were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Before 22nd August 1887 Augustus Frederick Phipps (age 78) and Mary Elizabeth Emily Fitzroy (age 70) were married. She the daughter of Henry Fitzroy 5th Duke Grafton and Mary Caroline Berkeley Duchess Grafton. He the son of Henry Phipps 1st Earl Mulgrave and Martha Sophia Thomson Maling Countess Mulgrave. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.

Joseph Seymour and Bridget Anderson were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Thomas Seymour and Anne Anderson were married. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Hugh Mortimer and Agatha Ferrers were married. She the daughter of William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby and Sibyl Marshal. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King John of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.