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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Codnor, Derbyshire is in Amber Valley, Derbyshire.
See: Codnor Castle Codnor [Map].
In 1154 Mabilia Grey was born to Anchitel Grey (age 24) at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map].
Around 1204 William Grey was born to Henry Grey (age 43) at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map].
Around 1255 Henry Grey 1st Baron Grey of Codnor was born to John Grey (age 30) at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map]. He married before 1282 Eleanor Courtenay Baroness Grey Codnor, daughter of Hugh Courtenay 3rd Baron Okehampton and Eleanor Despencer Baroness Okehampton, and had issue.
Around 1282 Richard Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Codnor was born to Henry Grey 1st Baron Grey of Codnor (age 27) and Eleanor Courtenay Baroness Grey Codnor at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map]. He married before 1302 Joan Fitzpayn Baroness Grey Codnor, daughter of Robert Fitzpayn 1st Baron Fitzpayn and Isabella Clifford, and had issue.
In 1285 Lucy Grey Baroness Dudley was born to Henry Grey 1st Baron Grey of Codnor (age 30) and Eleanor Courtenay Baroness Grey Codnor at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map]. She married in or before 1318 John Somery 4th Baron Dudley, son of Roger Somery 3rd Baron Dudley and Agnes Unknown Baroness Dudley, and had issue.
Around 1302 Joan Grey was born to Richard Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Codnor (age 20) and Joan Fitzpayn Baroness Grey Codnor (age 15) at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map]. She married (1) her fourth cousin once removed William Harcourt and had issue (2) after 6th June 1349 her third cousin Ralph Ferrers, son of Henry Ferrers 2nd Baron Ferrers of Groby and Isabel Verdun Baroness Ferrers Groby.
Around 1305 John Grey 3rd Baron Grey of Codnor was born to Richard Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Codnor (age 23) and Joan Fitzpayn Baroness Grey Codnor (age 18) at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map]. He married in or before 1331 Alice Lisle Baroness Grey Codnor and had issue.
Around 1306 Henry Grey was born to Richard Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Codnor (age 24) and Joan Fitzpayn Baroness Grey Codnor (age 19) at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map].
Around 1310 Gilbert Grey was born to Richard Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Codnor (age 28) and Joan Fitzpayn Baroness Grey Codnor (age 23) at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map].
On 10th March 1335 Richard Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Codnor (age 53) died at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map]. His son John (age 30) succeeded 3rd Baron Grey of Codnor.
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 1344 Alice Lisle Baroness Grey Codnor (age 35) died at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map].
On 14th December 1392 Henry Grey (age 61) died at Codnor, Derbyshire [Map].
Codnor Castle Codnor is also in Castles in Derbyshire.
In 1481 David Zouche was born to John Zouche (age 51) and Elizabeth St John (age 33) at Codnor Castle Codnor [Map]. He married 1519 Margaret Bourchier 1st Baroness Bryan, daughter of Humphrey Bourchier and Elizabeth Tilney Countess of Surrey.