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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Earl Ashburham is in Earl.
On 14th May 1730 John Ashburnham 1st Earl Ashburnham [aged 43] was created 1st Earl Ashburham. Jemima Grey Countess Ashburham [aged 31] by marriage Countess Ashburham.
On 10th March 1737 John Ashburnham 1st Earl Ashburnham [aged 49] died. He was buried at St Peter's Church, Ashburnham [Map]. His son John [aged 12] succeeded 2nd Earl Ashburham, 4th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex
On 25th June 1756 John Ashburnham 2nd Earl Ashburnham [aged 31] and Elizabeth Crowley Countess Ashburham were married. She by marriage Countess Ashburham. He the son of John Ashburnham 1st Earl Ashburnham and Jemima Grey Countess Ashburham.
On 8th April 1812 John Ashburnham 2nd Earl Ashburnham [aged 87] died. His son George [aged 51] succeeded 3rd Earl Ashburham, 5th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex. Charlotte Percy Countess Ashburham [aged 36] by marriage Countess Ashburham.
On 27th October 1830 George Ashburnham 3rd Earl Ashburnham [aged 69] died. His son Bertram [aged 32] succeeded 4th Earl Ashburham, 6th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex.
In 1840 Bertram Ashburnham 4th Earl Ashburnham [aged 42] and Katherine Charlotte Baillie Countess Ashburnham [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Ashburham. They had four daughters and seven sons. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of George Ashburnham 3rd Earl Ashburnham and Charlotte Percy Countess Ashburham [aged 64].
On 22nd June 1878 Bertram Ashburnham 4th Earl Ashburnham [aged 80] died. His son Bertram [aged 37] succeeded 5th Earl Ashburham, 7th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex.
In 1888 Bertram Ashburnham 5th Earl Ashburnham [aged 47] and Emily Chapman Countess Asburnham were married. She by marriage Countess Ashburham. He the son of Bertram Ashburnham 4th Earl Ashburnham and Katherine Charlotte Baillie Countess Ashburnham [aged 68].
On 15th January 1913 Bertram Ashburnham 5th Earl Ashburnham [aged 72] died in Paris. His brother Thomas [aged 57] succeeded 6th Earl Ashburham, 8th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex.
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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On 12th May 1924 Thomas Ashburnham 6th Earl Ashburnham [aged 69] died. He was buried at St Peter's Church, Ashburnham [Map]. Earl Ashburham, Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex extinct.