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 1517 Antonis Mor was born in Utrecht.
Around 1549 Antonis Mor [aged 32]. Portrait of Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle [aged 31].
Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle: On 20th August 1517 he was born. On 21st September 1586 he died.
1551. Antonis Mor [aged 34]. Portrait of Maria of Spain Holy Roman Empress [aged 22].
Around 1552 Antonis Mor [aged 35]. Portrait of Catherine of Austria Queen Consort Portugal [aged 44].
Around 1552 Antonis Mor [aged 35]. Portrait of Maria of Portugal Duchess Viseu [aged 30].
Maria of Portugal Duchess Viseu: On 18th June 1521 she was born to Manuel "Fortunate" I King Portugal and Eleanor of Austria Queen Consort France Queen Consort Portugal. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 7.55%. On 10th October 1577 Maria of Portugal Duchess Viseu died.
Around 1552 Antonis Mor [aged 35]. Portrait of John Manuel Aviz Prince Portugal [aged 14].
John Manuel Aviz Prince Portugal: On 3rd June 1537 he was born to John III King Portugal and Catherine of Austria Queen Consort Portugal. Coefficient of inbreeding 11.30%. In 1552 John Manuel Aviz Prince Portugal and Joanna of Austria Princess Portugal were married. She the daughter of Charles V Holy Roman Emperor and Isabel Aviz Queen Consort Spain. He the son of John III King Portugal and Catherine of Austria Queen Consort Portugal. They were double first cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. On 2nd January 1554 John Manuel Aviz Prince Portugal died.
Around 1554 Antonis Mor [aged 37]. Portrait of Queen Mary I of England and Ireland [aged 37].
Around 1558 Antonis Mor [aged 41]. Portrait of (probably) Jane Dormer Duchess Feria [aged 19].
Around 1560 Antonis Mor [aged 43]. Portrait of Anne Ferneley.
Anne Ferneley: she was born to William Ferneley of West Creeting in Suffolk. In 1544 Thomas Gresham and she were married. In 1596 she died.
Around 1560 Antonis Mor [aged 43]. Portrait of Thomas Gresham [aged 41].
Around 1560 Antonis Mor [aged 43]. Portrait of Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain [aged 32].
Around 1560 Antonis Mor [aged 43]. Portrait of Simon Renard [aged 47].
Simon Renard: In 1513 he was born. Before 8th August 1573 he and Jeanne Lullier were married. On 8th August 1573 he died.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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Around 1562 Antonis Mor [aged 45]. Portrait of Margaret Habsburg Spain [aged 39].
Margaret Habsburg Spain: On 5th July 1522 she was born illegitimately to Charles V Holy Roman Emperor and Johanna Maria van der Gheynst. On 18th January 1586 Margaret Habsburg Spain died.
Around 1562 Antonis Mor [aged 45]. Portrait of Henry Lee of Ditchley [aged 28].
1564. Antonis Mor [aged 47]. Portrait of Steven Cornelisz van Herwijck [aged 34].
Steven Cornelisz van Herwijck: Around 1530 he was born at Utrecht. In 1567 he died.
In 1577 Antonis Mor [aged 60] died.