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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
1035 Death of Duke Robert II of Normandy
14th October 1066 Battle of Hastings
1066 Coronation of William the Conqueror
Around 1031 Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall was born to [his father] Herluin de Conteville (age 30) and [his mother] Herleva of Falaise.
On 2nd July 1035 Robert "Magnificent" Normandy I Duke Normandy (age 35) died at Nicaea. His son [his illegitimate half-brother] William (age 7) succeeded II Duke Normandy.
In 1047 [his illegitimate half-brother] King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 19), supported by Henry I King of the Franks (age 38), defeated a rebel army led by William's cousin Guy Ivrea (age 22) who opposed William's succession as Duke of Normandy at the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in Caen, Calvados, Basse Normandie.
Hamon Dentatus was killed.
Around 1049 Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 18) was appointed Count Mortain Mortagne.
Before 1051 [his illegitimate half-brother] King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 22) and [his sister-in-law] Matilda Flanders Queen Consort England (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Baldwin "The Good" V Count Flanders (age 38) and Adela Capet Duchess Normandy (age 41). He the illegitmate son of Robert "Magnificent" Normandy I Duke Normandy and [his mother] Herleva of Falaise. They were third cousin once removed.
Before 1066 Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 34) and Matilda or Maud Montgomery were married. She the daughter of Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Mabel de Bellême (age 30).
In 1066 [his father] Herluin de Conteville (age 65) died.
On 14th October 1066 the Norman army led by [his illegitimate half-brother] King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 38) defeated the English army of King Harold II of England (age 44) at the 14th October 1066 Battle of Hastings fought at Senlac Hill Hastings. Aimery Thouars (age 42), Ralph de Gael 2nd Earl East Anglia (age 24), Eustace II Count Boulogne (age 51), William Fitzosbern 1st Earl Hereford (age 46), Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche, William Warenne 1st Earl of Surrey, Raoul Tosny, Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan (age 26), Hugh Grandesmil (age 34), [his father-in-law] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (possibly), Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 35) and [his brother] Bishop Odo of Bayeux fought for William.
King Harold II of England was killed. Earl Wessex, Earl Hereford extinct.
Leofwine Godwinson 2nd Earl Kent (age 31) was killed. Earl Kent extinct.
His brothers Gyrth Godwinson Earl East Anglia (age 34) and Engenulphe Aigle (age 56) were killed.
On 25th December 1066 [his illegitimate half-brother] King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 38) was crowned I King of England at Westminster Abbey [Map] by Archbishop Ealdred.
In 1067 [his brother] Bishop Odo of Bayeux was created 1st Earl Kent.
On 28th January 1069 Robert de Comines Earl Northumbria was burned to death in Durham, County Durham [Map] when a rebel army set fire to the house in which he was staying. All his men were killed. In retaliation [his illegitimate half-brother] King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 41) commenced the Harrying of the North.
Around 1070 Launceston Castle [Map] was commissioned by Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 39).
In 1070 Waltheof Northumbria 1st Earl of Northampton 1st Earl Huntingdon and Judith Flanders Countess Huntingdon (age 16) were married. She by marriage Earldorman Northumbria, Countess Huntingdon. She, Judith, a niece of [his illegitimate half-brother] King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 42). She the daughter of Lambert Flanders II Count Lens and Adelaide Normandy Countess Troyes and Meaux Champagne Aumale Ponthieu (age 40). He the son of Siward "Stout" Earl of Northumbria and Aelfflaed Northumbria.
In 1072 Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 41) was created 1st Earl Cornwall.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Before 1084 [his son] William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall was born to Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 52) and [his wife] Matilda or Maud Montgomery.
Around 1085 [his wife] Matilda or Maud Montgomery died.
On 9th September 1087 [his illegitimate half-brother] King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 59) died at the Priory of St Gervaise, Rouen [Map]. He was buried at the Abbaye aux Hommes, Caen [Map], at a ceremony presided over by Gilbert Arques Bishop Evreux. [his illegitimate nephew] King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 19) attended. His son [his illegitimate nephew] William (age 31) succeeded II King of England. His son [his illegitimate nephew] Robert (age 36) succeeded III Duke Normandy.
In 1090 Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 59) died. His son William (age 6) succeeded Count Mortain Mortagne, 2nd Earl Cornwall.
Around 1100 Restormel Castle, Cornwall [Map] was constructed as a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle on behalf of Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall to protect a crossing point of the River Fowey.
[his father] Herluin de Conteville and [his mother] Herleva of Falaise were married.
[his father] Herluin de Conteville and Fredesendis were married.
[his daughter] Agnes Mortain was born to Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall and Matilda or Maud Montgomery.
[his daughter] Emma Mortain Duchess Narbonne was born to Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall and Matilda or Maud Montgomery. She married William Rouerge Duke Narbonne, son of Pons Rouerge Margrave Provence and Almodis La Marche Margrave Provence, and had issue.
[his daughter] Denise Mortain was born to Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall and Matilda or Maud Montgomery.
Father: Herluin de Conteville
Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall
GrandFather: Father of Beatrix and Herleva
Mother: Herleva of Falaise