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: Manners
Before 1718 [his father] John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 21) and [his mother] Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland (age 18) were married. He the son of [his grandfather] John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland (age 41) and [his grandmother] Catherine Russell Duchess Rutland.
On 2nd January 1721 John Manners Marquess of Granby was born to [his father] John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 24) and [his mother] Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland (age 21).
On 22nd February 1721 [his grandfather] John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland (age 44) died. His son [his father] John (age 24) succeeded 3rd Duke Rutland, 3rd Marquess Grandby, 11th Earl of Rutland, 3rd Baron Manners of Haddon in Derbyshire. [his mother] Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland (age 21) by marriage Duchess Rutland.
In 1722 [his father] John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 25) was appointed 540th Knight of the Garter by King George I (age 61).
In 1727 [his father] John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 30) was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
In 1734 [his mother] Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland (age 34) died.
Around 1746 [his illegitimate son] George Manners was born illegitimately to John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 24).
On 3rd September 1750 John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 29) and Frances Seymour (age 22) were married. She the daughter of Charles Seymour 6th Duke of Somerset and Charlotte Finch Duchess Somerset (age 57). He the son of John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 53) and Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland. They were fifth cousins.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Before 29th August 1751 [his illegitimate daughter] Anne Manners was born illegitimately to John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 30).
On 29th August 1751 [his son] John Manners was born to John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 30) and [his wife] Frances Seymour (age 23). He died aged eight in 1760.
On 24th March 1753 [his daughter] Frances Manners Countess Tyrconnel was born to John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 32) and [his wife] Frances Seymour (age 24). She married 9th July 1772 George Carpenter 2nd Earl Tyrconnel, son of George Carpenter 1st Earl Tyrconnel and Frances Clifton Countess Tyrconnel.
On 15th March 1754 [his son] Charles Manners 4th Duke Rutland was born to John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 33) and [his wife] Frances Seymour (age 25). He married 26th December 1775 his half fourth cousin Mary Isabella Somerset Duchess Rutland, daughter of Charles Noel Somerset 4th Duke Beaufort and Elizabeth Berekeley Duchess Beaufort, and had issue.
In 1755 [his father] John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 58) was appointed Lord High Steward.
On 29th June 1757 Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford (age 74) died. His son Heneage (age 41) succeeded 3rd Earl Aylesford. [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Seymour Countess Aylesford (age 26) by marriage Countess Aylesford.
On 6th February 1758 [his son] Robert Manners was born to John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 37) and [his wife] Frances Seymour (age 29).
On 1st August 1759 William Middleton 5th Baronet (age 21) was severely injured at the Battle of Minden.
George Sackville aka Germain 1st Viscount Sackville (age 43) was ordered several times to advance the British cavalry to complete the victory but refused to do so since Sackville was estranged from Lord Granby (age 38), the force commander, and withheld permission for Granby to "gain glory" through an attack. For this action, he was cashiered and sent home. Sackville refused to accept responsibility for refusing to obey orders. Back in England, he demanded a court martial, and made it a large enough issue that he obtained his demand in 1760. The court found him guilty, and imposed one of the strangest and strongest verdicts ever rendered against a general officer. The court's verdict not only upheld his discharge, but ruled that he was "...unfit to serve His Majesty in any military Capacity whatever", then ordered that their verdict be read to and entered in the orderly book of every regiment in the army. The king had his name struck from the Privy Council rolls.
On 2nd June 1760 [his son] John Manners (age 8) died.
In 1761 [his father] John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 64) was appointed Master of the Horse.
On 25th January 1761 [his wife] Frances Seymour (age 32) died.
Around 1770 Joshua Reynolds (age 46). Portrait of John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 48).
On 18th October 1770 John Manners Marquess of Granby (age 49) died.
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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In 1773 Joshua Reynolds (age 49). Portrait of John Manners Marquess of Granby.
[his daughter] Caroline Manners was born to John Manners Marquess of Granby and Frances Seymour.
Letters of Horace Walpole. Lord Granby is going to be married to the eldest of the Lady Seymours; she has above £130,000. The [his father] Duke of Rutland will take none of it, but gives at present £6000 a-year.
[his daughter] Catherine Manners was born to John Manners Marquess of Granby and Frances Seymour.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 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 27 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Manners 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Manners 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Vernon 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Pierrepont 
10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Grace Pierrepont 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Cavendish 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Manners 1st Duke Rutland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harrington 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Montagu Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Cotton
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Cotton 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Shirley 
11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandFather: John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Noel 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Noel 2nd Viscount Campden
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mabel Harrington
Great x 2 Grandfather: Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden
Great x 4 Grandfather: Baptist Hicks 1st Viscount Campden
Great x 3 Grandmother: Juliana Hicks Viscountess Campden
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth May Viscountess Campden
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Bertie 1st Earl Lindsey 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Montagu Countess Lindsey 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cockayne 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Morris Countess Dover
Father: John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Russell 1st Baron Russell 
9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Long Baroness Russel Thornhaugh
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Russell 1st Duke Bedford 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Giles Brydges 3rd Baron Chandos 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Clinton 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Russell 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst 12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset 
13 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Carr Countess of Bedford 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
GrandMother: Catherine Russell Duchess Rutland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Wriothesley 2nd Earl of Southampton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Browne Countess Southampton 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Vernon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Vernon Countess Southampton 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Devereux 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Rachel Wriothesley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Daniel de Massue Seigneur de Rouvigny
Great x 2 Grandmother: Rachel Massue Countess Southampton
John Manners Marquess of Granby 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Sutton 
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Sutton 1st Baron Lexinton
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Cony of Bassingthorpe in Lincolnshire
Great x 2 Grandmother: Susan Cony
GrandFather: Robert Sutton 2nd Baron Lexinton 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony St Leger 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony St Leger 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Anthony St Leger 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary St Leger Baroness Lexington 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Mother: Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Hungerford 
11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony Hungerford 12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton 13 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Giles Hungerford 14 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Giles Crouch of Cornhill
Great x 2 Grandmother: Sarah Crouch
GrandMother: Margaret Hungerford Baroness Lexington 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England