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: Stanley
Maternal Family Tree: Jeanne Sabran
In 1532 [his son] Robert Stanley died.
On 7th February 1555 [his father] Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby [aged 23] and [his mother] Margaret Clifford Countess Derby [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry Clifford 2nd Earl of Cumberland [aged 38] and [his grandmother] Eleanor Brandon Countess Cumberland. He the son of Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby [aged 45] and Dorothy Howard Countess Derby [aged 44]. They were fourth cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
Around 1561 William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby was born to [his father] Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby [aged 29] and [his mother] Margaret Clifford Countess Derby [aged 21]. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 24th October 1572 [his grandfather] Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby [aged 63] died at Lathom, Lancashire. His son [his father] Henry [aged 41] succeeded 4th Earl Derby, 12th Baron Strange Knockin, 8th Baron Mohun of Dunster, 5th Baron Stanley. [his mother] Margaret Clifford Countess Derby [aged 32] by marriage Countess Derby.
Richard Shireburn [aged 50] was an executor in his will.
Around 1575 William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 14] educated St John's College.
Around 1579 [his brother] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby [aged 20] and [his sister-in-law] Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 29] were married. He the son of [his father] Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby [aged 47] and [his mother] Margaret Clifford Countess Derby [aged 39].
On 25th September 1593 [his father] Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby [aged 62] died at Lathom, Lancashire. His son [his brother] Ferdinando [aged 34] succeeded 5th Earl Derby, 13th Baron Strange Knockin, 9th Baron Mohun of Dunster, 6th Baron Stanley. [his sister-in-law] Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 44] by marriage Countess Derby.
On 16th April 1594 Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby [aged 35] died from poisoning. His brother William [aged 33] succeeded 6th Earl Derby. Baron Mohun of Dunster and Baron Stanley abeyant.
On 26th January 1595 William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 34] and Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess Derby. She the daughter of Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford [aged 44] and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford. He the son of Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby and Margaret Clifford Countess Derby [aged 55]. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 29th September 1596 [his mother] Margaret Clifford Countess Derby [aged 56] died.
On 28th April 1599 Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [aged 19] and [his sister-in-law] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford [aged 49] and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford. He the son of William Norreys and Elizabeth Morrison Countess Lincoln. They were fifth cousin once removed.
Around 1600 [his daughter] Anne Stanley was born to William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 39] and [his wife] Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 24]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She married (1) before 1605 Robert Kerr 1st Earl Ancram and had issue (2) 20th July 1615 Henry Portman 2nd Baronet, son of John Portman 1st Baronet.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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In 1601 William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 40] was appointed 391st Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 67].
On 27th June 1601 Henry Norreys [aged 76] died at Rycote, Oxfordshire [Map]. His grandson Francis [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Baron Norreys of Rycote. [his sister-in-law] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 17] by marriage Baroness Norreys of Rycote. Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire inherited the Rycote and Wytham estates. His title to his estates was challenged by his uncle, Sir Edward Norreys, but the latter died in 1603, whose estates also passed to Lord Norreys.
On 24th June 1604 [his father-in-law] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford [aged 54] died at his home in King Street Covent Garden. His son [his brother-in-law] Henry [aged 11] succeeded 18th Earl of Oxford.
Before 1605 [his son-in-law] Robert Kerr 1st Earl Ancram [aged 26] and Anne Stanley [aged 4] were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years. She the daughter of William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 43] and Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 29].
In 1605 Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery [aged 20] was created 1st Earl Montgomery. [his sister-in-law] Susan Vere Countess Montgomery [aged 17] by marriage Countess Montgomery.
On 27th December 1605 Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery [aged 21] and [his sister-in-law] Susan Vere Countess Montgomery [aged 18] were married at Whitehall. The bride was escorted into the church by the Queen's [aged 31] brother Prince Ulrik Oldenburg [aged 26] and her son Henry Frederick Stewart Prince of Wales [aged 11]. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford. He the son of Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke and Mary Sidney Countess Pembroke [aged 44].
On 31st January 1607 [his son] James Stanley 7th Earl of Derby was born to William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 46] and [his wife] Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 31] at Knowsley, Lancashire. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. He married 26th June 1626 Charlotte Thouars Countess Derby, daughter of Claude de La Tremoille 2nd Duke Thouars and Charlotte Flandrina Orange Nassau, and had issue.
On 20th July 1615 [his son-in-law] Henry Portman 2nd Baronet [aged 18] and Anne Stanley [aged 15] were married. She brought £5000 to the marriage. She the daughter of William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 54] and Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 40].
On 28th January 1621 Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [aged 41] was created 1st Earl Berkshire, 1st Viscount Thame. [his sister-in-law] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 36] by marriage Countess Berkshire.
On 1st January 1624 [his brother-in-law] Henry de Vere 18th Earl of Oxford [aged 30] and Diana Cecil Countess of Oxford and Elgin [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter [aged 58] and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter [aged 45]. He the son of [his father-in-law] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth Trentham Maid of Honour Countess of Oxford. They were fifth cousin once removed.
In June 1625 [his brother-in-law] Henry de Vere 18th Earl of Oxford [aged 32] died. His second cousin Robert [aged 49] succeeded 19th Earl of Oxford.
On 26th June 1626 James Stanley 7th Earl of Derby [aged 19] and Charlotte Thouars Countess Derby [aged 26] were married. She by marriage Baroness Strange Knockin. She the daughter of Claude de La Tremoille 2nd Duke Thouars and Charlotte Flandrina Orange Nassau [aged 46]. He the son of William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 65] and Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 50].
On 10th March 1627 [his wife] Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [aged 51] died at Richmond, Surrey [Map]. She was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].
On 29th September 1642 William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby [aged 81] died. His son James [aged 35] succeeded 7th Earl Derby. Charlotte Thouars Countess Derby [aged 42] by marriage Countess Derby.
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] Elizabeth Stanley was born to William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby and Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Stanley was born to William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby and Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
[his son] Robert Stanley was born to William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby and Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 13 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 2 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 22 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 5 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Stanley 1st Baron Stanley 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Goushill Baroness Stanley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Neville Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Neville Baroness Stanley 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Stanley 2nd Earl of Derby 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Strange 3rd Baron Dunster 7th Baron Strange Knockin 
7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Strange 8th Baron Strange Knockin 4th Baron Mohun Dunster 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cobham Baroness Strange and Mohun 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Strange 9th Baroness Strange of Knockin 5th Baroness Dunster 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jacquetta Woodville Baroness Strange and Mohun 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
GrandFather: Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Leonard Hastings 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Camoys 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings Baron Botreaux, Hungerford and Moleyns 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Neville Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Baroness Bonville and Hastings 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Hastings Countess Derby 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Hungerford 3rd Baron Hungerford 1st Baron Moleyns 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Hungerford 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Moleyns Baroness Hungerford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Hungerford Baroness Hastings, 4th Baroness Hungerford, 5th Baroness Botreaux and 2nd Baroness Moleyns 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Percy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Father: Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Howard 
3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Howard 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Tendring
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk 
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Mowbray Baroness Grey Ruthyn 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Moleyns
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Moleyns 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Beaumont 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Katherine Moleyns 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
GrandMother: Dorothy Howard Countess Derby 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Frederick Tilney 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Tilney
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh Tilney
Great x 1 Grandmother: Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk
William Stanley 6th Earl of Derby 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Clifford 8th Baron Clifford 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Dacre Baroness Clifford 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry "Shepherd Lord" Clifford 10th Baron Clifford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Bromflete 1st Baron Vesci
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Bromflete Baroness Clifford 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Fitzhugh Baroness Darcy Knayth and Fitzhugh 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Clifford 1st Earl of Cumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Oliver St John 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John St John 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne St John Baroness Clifford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Bradshaigh
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Bradshaigh
GrandFather: Henry Clifford 2nd Earl of Cumberland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Devereux 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Percy Baroness Clifford 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Winstone Churchill Spencer 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Spencer of Spencer Combe
Great x 2 Grandmother: Katherine Spencer Countess Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset 
Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Beaufort Countess Ormonde 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Mother: Margaret Clifford Countess Derby Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Brandon 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Brandon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ada Calthorpe 
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Brandon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Wingfield 
8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Wingfield 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Goushill 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Morice Bruyn 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Bruyn aka Darcy
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bruyn
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Dracy 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Darcy
GrandMother: Eleanor Brandon Countess Cumberland Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Owen Tudor 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Henry VII of England and Ireland 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Tudor Queen Consort France Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York 
Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Edward IV of England 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth York Queen Consort England Daughter of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England