Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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Paternal Family Tree: Orange
Maternal Family Tree: Antoinette Polignac 1460
On 6th July 1551 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 18] and Anna Egmond Princess Orange were married. She by marriage Princess Orange.
On 25th August 1561 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 28] and [her step-mother] Anna of Saxony [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Princess Orange. They had two sons, one of which died in infancy, and three daughters.
On 24th June 1575 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 42] and [her mother] Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Princess Orange.
On 31st March 1576 Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine was born to William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 42] and Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange [aged 29].
On 5th May 1582 [her mother] Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange [aged 35] died.
On 24th April 1583 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 50] and Louise Coligny Princess Orange were married. She by marriage Princess Orange.
On 22nd October 1583 Louis VI Elector Palatine [aged 44] died. His son [her future husband] Frederick [aged 9] succeeded IV Elector Palatine Rhine.
On 10th July 1584 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 51] died. His son [her half-brother] Philip [aged 29] succeeded William I Prince Orange.
Before 16th July 1594 Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 20] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Electress Palatine Rhine. He the son of Louis VI Elector Palatine.
On 16th July 1594 [her daughter] Luise Juliane Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 20] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 18].
On 10th June 1595 [her daughter] Katharina Sofie Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 21] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 19].
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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On 26th August 1596 [her son] Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 22] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 20]. He married 14th February 1613 his fourth cousin once removed Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia, daughter of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland, and had issue.
After 1597 [her brother-in-law] Claude de La Tremoille 2nd Duke Thouars [aged 31] and [her sister] Charlotte Flandrina Orange Nassau [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Duchess Thouars. He the son of Louis III de La Tremoille 1st Duke Thouars and Jeanne Montmorency.
On 19th November 1597 [her daughter] Elisabeth Charlotte Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 23] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 21]. She married 1616 George William Hohenzollern and had issue.
On 4th January 1599 [her daughter] Anna Eleonore Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 24] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 22]. She died aged one in 1600.
On 5th August 1600 [her son] Louis William Palatinate Simmern VI Elector Palatine Rhine was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 26] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 24]. He died aged less than one years old.
On 10th October 1600 [her son] Louis William Palatinate Simmern VI Elector Palatine Rhine died.
On 10th October 1600 [her daughter] Anna Eleonore Palatinate Simmern [aged 1] died .
On 18th September 1601 [her son] Maurice Christian Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 27] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 25]. He died aged three in 1605.
On 23rd November 1602 [her son] Louis Philip Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 28] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 26].
On 28th March 1605 [her son] Maurice Christian Palatinate Simmern [aged 3] died.
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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On 19th September 1610 [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 36] died.
On 14th February 1613 Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine [aged 16] and Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia [aged 16] were married at Chapel Royal, Whitehall Palace. She the daughter of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 46] and Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland [aged 38]. He the son of Frederick IV Elector Palatine and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 36]. They were fourth cousin once removed.
A grand occasion that saw more royalty than ever visit the court of England. The marriage was an enormously popular match and was the occasion for an outpouring of public affection with the ceremony described as "a wonder of ceremonial and magnificence even for that extravagant age".
It was celebrated with lavish and sophisticated festivities both in London and Heidelberg, including mass feasts and lavish furnishings that cost nearly £50,000, and nearly bankrupted King James. Among many celebratory writings of the events was John Donne's [aged 41] "Epithalamion, Or Marriage Song on the Lady Elizabeth, and Count Palatine being married on St Valentine's Day".
In 1616 [her son-in-law] George William Hohenzollern [aged 20] and Elisabeth Charlotte Palatinate Simmern [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of Frederick IV Elector Palatine and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 39].
On 28th June 1626 [her daughter] Katharina Sofie Palatinate Simmern [aged 31] died.
On 29th November 1632 [her son] Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine [aged 36] died.
On 16th April 1640 [her sister] Charlotte Flandrina Orange Nassau [aged 60] died.
On 28th April 1640 [her daughter] Luise Juliane Palatinate Simmern [aged 45] died.
On 15th March 1644 Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 67] died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of King Charles V of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine [1]
Frederick William "Great Elector" Hohenzollern Elector Brandenburg [1]
Charlotte Amalie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [1]
Marie Sophie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [2]
Queen Louise Hesse-Kassel of Denmark [2]
King Christian IX of Denmark [2]
Queen Sophia of Sweden and Norway [2]
Maria Christina of Austria Queen Consort Spain [2]
Victoria Mary Teck Queen Consort England [4]
GrandFather: William "The Rich" I Count of Nassau Dillenburg
Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles V of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche 
2 x Great Grand Son of King Louis IX of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon 1st Count Vendôme 1st Count Castres 3 x Great Grand Son of King Louis IX of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Vendome
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Bourbon VIII Count Vendôme 4 x Great Grand Son of King Louis IX of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy Montfort Baron Laval
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jeanne Laval Countess Vendôme and Castres 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne 13th de Laval Baroness Laval 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon Prince of La Roche sur Yon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Louis IX of France
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabelle Beauvau Countess Vendôme
GrandFather: Louis Duke of Montpensier 4 x Great Grand Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Philip III of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon Great Grand Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gilbert Bourbon Count of Monpensier 2 x Great Grand Son of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bertrand V of La Tour
Great x 3 Grandmother: Gabrielle La Tour
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jacquette du Peschin Dame de Banassat
Great x 1 Grandmother: Louise Bourbon Duchess of Monpensier 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ludovico III Marquis of Mantua
Great x 3 Grandfather: Frederico Gonzaga Marquess Mantua
Great x 4 Grandmother: Barbara of Brandenburg Marquise of Mantua
Great x 2 Grandmother: Clara Gonzaga 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Louis VIII of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albert Wittelsbach III Duke Bavaria 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Louis VIII of France
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Louis VIII of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anna Brunswick Grubenhagen Duchess Bavaria 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Louis VIII of France
Mother: Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles V of France
Great x 1 Grandfather: Jean IV de Longwy Seigneur de Givry
GrandMother: Jacqueline de Longwy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles V of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans Son of King Charles V of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Valois Orléans Grand Son of King Charles V of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans Grand Daughter of King John "The Good" II of France
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême Great Grand Son of King Charles V of France
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marguerite Rohan
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jeanne Valois 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Charles V of France
Great x 2 Grandmother: Antoinette Polignac