Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Alonso Sánchez Coello is in Painters.
In 1531 Alonso Sánchez Coello was born.
Around 1557 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 26). Portrait of Joanna of Austria Princess Portugal (age 21).
Joanna of Austria Princess Portugal: On 26th June 1535 she was born to Charles V Holy Roman Emperor and Isabel Aviz Queen Consort Spain. Coefficient of inbreeding 10.98%. In 1552 John Manuel Aviz Prince Portugal and she 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 7th September 1573 Joanna of Austria Princess Portugal died.
Around 1563 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 32). Portrait of Jane Dormer Duchess Feria (age 24).
Around 1564 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 33). Portrait of Carlos Habsburg Spain (age 18).
Carlos Habsburg Spain: On 8th July 1545 he was born to Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain and Maria Aviz. Coefficient of inbreeding 20.02%. On 12th August 1545 Maria Aviz died from childbirth one month after giving birth to her son Carlos Habsburg Spain. On 24th July 1568 Carlos Habsburg Spain died.
Around 1564 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 33). Portrait of Carlos Habsburg Spain (age 18).
Around 1567 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 36). Portrait of Joanna of Austria Princess Portugal (age 31).
Around 1567 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 36). Portrait of Rudolf II Holy Roman Emperor (age 14).
Around 1570 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 39). Self-Portrait.
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 1570 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 39). Portrait of Anna of Austria Queen Consort Spain (age 20).
Around 1571 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 40). Portrait of Anna of Austria Queen Consort Spain (age 21).
Around 1577 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 46). Portrait of Albert Habsburg Spain VII Archduke Austria (age 17).
Around 1584 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 53). Portrait of Unknown Lady.
On 8th August 1588 Alonso Sánchez Coello (age 57) died.
Between 1683 and 1693. Alonso Sánchez Coello. Portrait of Mariana of Austria Queen Consort Spain (age 48).