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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Paternal Family Tree: Wittelsbach
Maternal Family Tree: Charlotte Hesse-Kassel 1627-1686
On 22nd February 1650 [his father] Charles Louis Palatinate Simmern [aged 32] and [his mother] Charlotte Hesse-Kassel [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Landgrave William V of Hesse-Kassel. He the son of Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine and Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia [aged 53].
On 31st March 1651 Charles Palatinate Simmern II Elector Palatine Rhine was born to [his father] Charles Louis Palatinate Simmern [aged 33] and [his mother] Charlotte Hesse-Kassel [aged 23] at Heidelburg. He a great grandson of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland.
On 14th April 1657 [his father] Charles Louis Palatinate Simmern [aged 39] and [his mother] Charlotte Hesse-Kassel [aged 29] were divorced.
On 6th January 1658 [his father] Charles Louis Palatinate Simmern [aged 40] and [his step-mother] Maria Susanne Luise von Degenfeld [aged 23] were married morganatically. She had previously been his mistress. As a result of the marriage being morganatic their children were excluded from the succession. He the son of [his grandfather] Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine and [his grandmother] Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia [aged 61].
On 16th November 1671 [his brother-in-law] Philip Bourbon I Duke Orléans [aged 31] and [his sister] Elizabeth Charlotte Palatinate Simmern Duchess Orléans [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Orléans. He the son of Louis XIII King France and Anne of Austria Spain Queen Consort France. They were half fourth cousin twice removed. She a great granddaughter of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland.
In 1680 Charles Palatinate Simmern II Elector Palatine Rhine [aged 28] was appointed 484th Knight of the Garter by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 49].
On 28th August 1680 [his father] Charles Louis Palatinate Simmern [aged 62] died. His son Charles [aged 29] succeeded II Elector Palatine Rhine.
On 26th May 1685 Charles Palatinate Simmern II Elector Palatine Rhine [aged 34] died at Heidelburg.
Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great Grand Son of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland
Kings Scotland: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 24 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 8 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 22 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John II Count Palatinate Simmern 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Frederick III Elector Palatine 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis VI Elector Palatine 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Frederick IV Elector Palatine 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
GrandFather: Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William "The Rich" I Count of Nassau Dillenburg
Great x 2 Grandfather: William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange
Great x 1 Grandmother: Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon Prince of La Roche sur Yon 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Duke of Montpensier 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Louise Bourbon Duchess of Monpensier 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Jean IV de Longwy Seigneur de Givry
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jacqueline de Longwy 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jeanne Valois 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Father: Charles Louis Palatinate Simmern Grand Son of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus 
10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland 
Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 1 Grandfather: King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: King James IV of Scotland 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King James V of Scotland Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Queen of Scots Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Claude Lorraine 1st Duke Guise 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Antoinette Bourbon Duchess of Guise 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia 
Daughter of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Frederick I of Denmark 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Christian III King of Denmark 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anna of Brandenburg 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Frederick II King of Denmark 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothea of Saxe Lauenburg Queen Consort Denmark and Norway
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albrecht VII Duke Mecklenburg
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ulrich Mecklenburg-Schwerin 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anna Hohenzollern Duchess Mecklenburg 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Sophie Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Charles Palatinate Simmern II Elector Palatine Rhine Great Grand Son of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William II Landgrave of Hesse 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Landgrave Philip I of Hesse 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William IV Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Duke of Saxony 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Christine of Saxony 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Barbara Jagiellon 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Landgrave Maurice of Hesse-Kassel 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandFather: Landgrave William V of Hesse-Kassel 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Mother: Charlotte Hesse-Kassel 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England