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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Paternal Family Tree: Lyttelton
On 8th May 1708 [his father] Thomas Lyttelton 4th Baronet (age 22) and [his mother] Christian Temple Lady Lyttelton (age 29) were married. They were half third cousins.
On 17th January 1709 George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton was born to [his father] Thomas Lyttelton 4th Baronet (age 23) and [his mother] Christian Temple Lady Lyttelton (age 30).
On 2nd May 1716 [his grandfather] Charles Lyttelton 3rd Baronet (age 88) died. His son [his father] Thomas (age 30) succeeded 4th Baronet Lyttelton of Frankley. [his mother] Christian Temple Lady Lyttelton (age 37) by marriage Lady Lyttelton of Frankley.
In 1727 [his father] Thomas Lyttelton 4th Baronet (age 41) was appointed Lord of the Admiralty in which post he served until 1741.
In 1735 George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 25) was elected MP Okehampton.
On 15th June 1742 George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 33) and Lucy Fortescue (age 24) were married.
In 1744 George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 34) was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
On 30th January 1744 [his son] Thomas Lyttelton 2nd Baron Lyttelton was born to George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 35) and [his wife] Lucy Fortescue (age 26).
On 5th July 1746 [his brother-in-law] Hugh Fortescue 1st Earl Clinton (age 50) was created 1st Earl Clinton, 1st Baron Fortescue of Castle Hill.
On 19th January 1747 [his wife] Lucy Fortescue (age 29) died.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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In 1748 [his mother] Christian Temple Lady Lyttelton (age 69) died.
On 10th August 1749 George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 40) and Elizabeth Rich Baroness Lyttelton were married.
On 14th September 1751 [his father] Thomas Lyttelton 4th Baronet (age 65) died. His son George (age 42) succeeded 5th Baronet Lyttelton of Frankley.
In 1756 George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 46) was created 1st Baron Lyttelton of Frankley in Worcester.
In 1760 [his brother] William Henry Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 35) was appointed Governor of Jamaica but he was recalled after he lost a standoff with the Jamaican House of the Assembly, and its leader, Nicholas Bourke, over who should stand costs for the island's defence.
On 2nd June 1761 [his brother] William Henry Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 36) and [his sister-in-law] Mary Macartney were married.
On 10th May 1767 [his son-in-law] Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris (age 22) and [his daughter] Lucy Lyttelton Baronet were married. She by marriage Baroness Altham. He the son of Richard Annesley 6th Earl Anglesey and Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey.
Before 1773. Unknown Painter. Portrait of George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 63).
On 22nd August 1773 George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton (age 64) died. His son Thomas (age 29) succeeded 2nd Baron Lyttelton of Frankley in Worcester, 6th Baronet Lyttelton of Frankley.
Letters of Horace Walpole. The Opposition set out this winter with trying to call for several negotiations during the war; but the great storm which has so much employed us of late, was stirred up by [his brother] Colonel Lyttelton; (5) who, having been ill-treated by the Duke, has been dealing with the Prince. He discovered to the House some innovations in the Mutiny-bill, of which, though he could not make much, the Opposition have, and fought the bill for a whole fortnight; during the course of which the world has got much light into many very arbitrary proceedings of the Commander-in-chief,(6) which have been the more believed too by the defection of my Lord Townshend's eldest son, who is one of his aide-de-camps. Though the ministry, by the weight of numbers, have carried their point in a great measure, yet you may be sure great heats have been raised; and those have been still more inflamed by a correspondent practice in a new Navy-bill, brought in by the direction of Lord Sandwich and Lord Anson, but vehemently opposed by half the fleet, headed by Sir Peter Warren, the conqueror of Cape Breton, richer than Anson, and absurd as Vernon. The bill has even been petitioned against, and the mutinous were likely to go great lengths, if' the admiralty had not bought off some by money, and others by relaxing in the material points.- We began upon it yesterday, and are still likely to have a long affair of it-so much for politics: and as for any thing else, I scarce know any thing else. My Lady Huntingdon,(8) the Queen of the Methodists, has got her daughter named for lady of the bedchamber to the Princesses; but it is all off again as she will not let her play at cards on Sundays. It is equally absurd on both sides, to refuse it, or to insist upon it.
(5) Richard, third son of [his father] Sir Thomas, and brother of Sir George Lyttelton: he married the Duchess-dowager of Bridgewater, and was afterwards made a knight of the Bath.
(6) William Duke of Cumberland. He was "Captain-general of the Forces," having been so created in 1745.-D.
(7) George Townshend, afterwards the first Marquis of that name and title.-D.
(8) Selina, daughter of Washington, Earl Ferrers, and widow of Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon.
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The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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[his daughter] Lucy Lyttelton Baronet was born to George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton and Lucy Fortescue. Her mother may have been her father's second wife Elizabeth Rich Baroness Lyttelton. She married 10th May 1767 Arthur Annesley 1st Earl Mountnorris, son of Richard Annesley 6th Earl Anglesey and Juliana Donovan Countess Anglesey, and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 17 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 21 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Lyttelton of Frankley 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gilbert Lyttelton 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bridget Packington
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Lyttelton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Coningsby
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Coningsbury
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Englefield
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Lyttelton 1st Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Bromley
Great x 2 Grandmother: Meriel Bromley
GrandFather: Charles Lyttelton 3rd Baronet 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Father: Thomas Lyttelton 4th Baronet 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Temple of Stowe
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Temple
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Temple of Frankton
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Temple of Frankton
GrandMother: Anne Temple Lady Lyttelton
George Lyttelton 1st Baron Lyttelton 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Temple of Stowe
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Temple
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Temple 1st Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: Peter Temple 2nd Baronet
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Sandes
Great x 3 Grandfather: Myles Sandes
Great x 2 Grandmother: Hester Sandes
GrandFather: Richard Temple 3rd Baronet
11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Leveson
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Leveson
Great x 4 Grandmother: Denise or Dionyse Bodley
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Leveson
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Gresham
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ursula Gresham
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Ipswell
Great x 1 Grandmother: Christian Leveson 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Mildmay
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Mildmay
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Read
Great x 2 Grandmother: Christian Mildmay
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Walsingham
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Walsingham 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joyce Denny
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Mother: Christian Temple Lady Lyttelton
12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Knapp
GrandMother: Mary Knapp Lady Temple