William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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King Leon is in Kingdom of Leon.
On 20th December 910 Alfonso "Great" III King Asturias [aged 62] died. His son García [aged 39] succeeded I King Leon. His son Fruela [aged 35] succeeded II King Asturias. His son Ordoño [aged 37] succeeded II King Galicia.
On 19th January 914 García I King Leon [aged 43] died. His brother Ordoño [aged 41] succeeded II King Leon.
In June 924 Ordoño II King Galicia II King Leon [aged 51] died. His brother Fruela [aged 49] succeeded II King Leon, King Galicia.
In July 925 Fruela II King Asturias II King Leon King Galicia [aged 50] died. His son Alfonso succeeded King Galicia. His nephew Alfonso [aged 35] succeeded IV King Leon.
In 933 King Alfonso IV of Leon and IV of Galicia [aged 43] died. His brother Ramiro [aged 33] succeeded II King Leon.
On 1st January 951 Ramiro II King Leon [aged 51] died. His son Ordoño [aged 25] succeeded III King Leon.
In 956 King Ordoño III of Leon [aged 30] died. His brother Sancho [aged 24] succeeded I King Leon. Teresa Fernández Queen Consort Leon by marriage Queen Consort Leon.
In 958 King Ordoño IV of Leon succeeded IV King Leon.
On 19th December 966 Sancho "Fat" I King Leon [aged 34] died from poisoning. His son Ramiro [aged 5] succeeded III King Leon.
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 26th June 985 Ramiro III King Leon [aged 24] died. His first cousin Bermudo [aged 32] succeeded II King Leon.
In September 999 Bermudo "Gouty" II King Galicia II King Leon [aged 46] died. His son Alfonso [aged 5] succeeded V King Leon.
On 7th August 1028 Alfonso "Noble" V King Leon [aged 34] died. His son Bermudo [aged 13] succeeded III King Leon. Jimena Sánchez Jiménez Queen Consort Leon by marriage Queen Consort Leon.
In 1037 Bermudo III King Leon [aged 22] died. His half second cousin Ferdinand [aged 22] succeeded I King Leon.
On 12th January 1072 Sancho "Strong" II King Leon II King Castile [aged 35] was crowned II King Leon. He reigned for only nine months.
On 1st July 1109 Alfonso "Brave" VI King Leon VI King Castile [aged 68] died. His daughter Urracca [aged 30] succeeded Queen Leon, Queen Castile and Queen Galicia.
In 1126 Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 20] succeeded VII King Castile, VII King Leon.
On 21st August 1157 Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 52] died. His son Sancho [aged 23] succeeded III King Castile. His son Ferdinand [aged 20] succeeded II King Leon.
On 22nd January 1188 Ferdinand II King Leon [aged 51] died. His son Alfonso [aged 16] succeeded IX King Leon.
On 24th September 1230 Alfonso IX King Leon [aged 59] died. His son Ferdinand [aged 31] succeeded III King Leon.
On 30th May 1252 Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon [aged 53] died. His son Alfonso [aged 30] succeeded X King Castile, X King Leon. Violante Barcelona Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon by marriage Queen Consort Castile, Queen Consort Leon.
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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On 2nd April 1284 Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon [aged 62] died. His son Sancho [aged 25] succeeded IV King Castile, IV King Leon. Maria Molina Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon by marriage Queen Consort Castile, Queen Consort Leon.
On 25th April 1295 Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon [aged 36] died. His son Ferdinand [aged 9] succeeded IV King Castile, IV King Leon.