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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Paternal Family Tree: Estridsen
Before 1159 [his father] Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark [aged 27] and [his mother] Sophia of Minsk [aged 18] were married.
Around 1163 Canute VI King of Denmark was born to [his father] Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark [aged 31] and [his mother] Sophia of Minsk [aged 23].
On 12th May 1182 [his father] Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark [aged 51] died. His son Canute [aged 19] succeeded VI King of Denmark.
On 15th August 1193 [his brother-in-law] King Philip II of France [aged 27] and [his half-sister] Ingeborg Estridsen Queen Consort France [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of [his father] Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark. He the son of Louis VII King of the Franks and Adèle Queen of the Franks.
Around November 1193 [his brother-in-law] King Philip II of France [aged 28] and [his half-sister] Ingeborg Estridsen Queen Consort France [aged 19] marriage annulled on the spurious grounds of her consanguinity with his first wife Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France. She was kept, more or less, a prisoner for the remainder of her life being held in difference French castles.
On 5th May 1198 [his mother] Sophia of Minsk [aged 58] died.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Eric I King of Denmark
GrandFather: Canute Lavard
Mother: Sophia of Minsk