William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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Baron Dudley is in Baronies of England Alphabetically.
Baron Dudley of Somery is also in Baronies of England Chronologically, Extinct Baronies of England.
Summary
29th September 1194. Ralph Somery 1st Baron Dudley [age 38] created.
1211. Son Roger Somery 2nd Baron Dudley [age 21] succeeded.
26th August 1273. Son Roger Somery 3rd Baron Dudley [age 18] succeeded.
11th October 1291. Son John Somery 4th Baron Dudley [age 12] succeeded.
1st July 1322. John Somery 4th Baron Dudley extinct.
On 29th September 1194 Ralph Somery 1st Baron Dudley [age 38] was created 1st Baron Dudley of Somery. Margaret Gras Baroness Dudley by marriage Baroness Dudley of Somery.
In 1211 Ralph Somery 1st Baron Dudley [age 55] died at Dudley, Staffordshire. His son Roger [age 21] succeeded 2nd Baron Dudley of Somery.
Before 1240 Roger Somery 2nd Baron Dudley [age 49] and Nicole D'Aubigny Baroness Dudley [age 29] were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley of Somery. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of William D'Aubigny 3rd Earl Lincoln 3rd Earl of Arundel and Mabel Gernon Countess Lincoln and Arundel.
After 1240 Roger Somery 2nd Baron Dudley [age 50] and Amabilia Chaucombe Baroness Dudley were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley of Somery.
On 26th August 1273 Roger Somery 2nd Baron Dudley [age 83] died at Dudley Castle [Map]. His son Roger [age 18] succeeded 3rd Baron Dudley of Somery. Agnes Unknown Baroness Dudley by marriage Baroness Dudley of Somery.
On 11th October 1291 Roger Somery 3rd Baron Dudley [age 36] died at Dudley Castle [Map]. His son John [age 12] succeeded 4th Baron Dudley of Somery.
In or before 1318 John Somery 4th Baron Dudley [age 38] and Lucy Grey Baroness Dudley [age 32] were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley of Somery.
On 1st July 1322 John Somery 4th Baron Dudley [age 43] died. His son doesn't appear to have been summoned to Parliament so Baron Dudley of Somery extinct.
Baron Dudley is also in Baronies of England Chronologically, Succeeded Baronesses of England, Abeyant Baronies of England, Extant Baronies of England.
Summary
15th February 1440. John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [age 39] created.
30th September 1487. Grandson Edward Sutton 2nd Baron Dudley [age 28] succeeded.
31st January 1532. Son John Sutton 3rd Baron Dudley [age 38] succeeded.
21st September 1553. Son Edward Sutton 4th Baron Dudley [age 28] succeeded.
12th July 1586. Son Edward Dudley 5th Baron Dudley [age 18] succeeded.
23rd June 1643. Granddaughter Frances Sutton 6th Baroness Dudley [age 31] succeeded.
11th August 1697. Son Edward Ward 7th Baron Dudley 2nd Baron Ward [age 66] succeeded.
1701. Grandson Edward Ward 8th Baron Dudley 3rd Baron Ward [age 17] succeeded.
28th March 1704. Son Edward Ward 9th Baron Dudley 4th Baron Ward succeeded.
16th June 1704. Uncle William Ward 10th Baron Dudley 5th Baron Ward [age 18] succeeded.
1740. Nephew Ferdinando Dudley Lea 11th Baron Dudley [age 29] succeeded.
21st October 1757. Ferdinando Dudley Lea 11th Baron Dudley abeyant.
1916. Ferdinando Dudley William Lea Smith 12th Baron Dudley [age 43] abeyance terminated.
5th December 1936. Son Ferdinando Lea Smith 13th Baron Dudley [age 26] succeeded.
19th April 1972. Sister Barbara Felicity Smith 14th Baroness Dudley [age 64] succeeded.
27th May 2002. Son Jim Wallace 15th Baron Dudley [age 71] succeeded.
20th June 2024. Son Jeremy Wallace 16th Baron Dudley [age 59] succeeded.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 15th February 1440 John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [age 39] was created 1st Baron Dudley. Elizabeth Berkeley Baroness Cherleton Baroness Dudley by marriage Baroness Dudley.
In 1484 Edward Sutton 2nd Baron Dudley [age 25] and Cecily Willoughby Baroness Dudley [age 21] were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England.
On 30th September 1487 John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [age 86] died at Stafford, Staffordshire [Map]. He was buried at Dudley Priory [Map]. His grandson Edward [age 28] succeeded 2nd Baron Dudley.
On 31st January 1532 Edward Sutton 2nd Baron Dudley [age 73] died. His son John [age 38] succeeded 3rd Baron Dudley. Cecily Grey Baroness Dudley by marriage Baroness Dudley.
In or before 21st September 1553 John Sutton 3rd Baron Dudley [age 59] died. His son Edward [age 28] succeeded 4th Baron Dudley.
In 1556 Edward Sutton 4th Baron Dudley [age 31] and Katherine Brydges Baroness Dudley were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
In 1567 Edward Sutton 4th Baron Dudley [age 42] and Jane Stanley Baroness Dudley were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley. She the daughter of Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby [age 57] and Dorothy Howard Countess Derby [age 56]. They were half second cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 16th December 1571 a triple wedding was celebrated at Whitehall Palace [Map].. with Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [age 38] present...
Edward Sutton 4th Baron Dudley [age 46] and Mary Howard Baroness Dudley [age 23] were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley. The difference in their ages was 23 years. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford [age 21] and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford [age 15] were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. He the son of John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford and Margery Golding Countess of Oxford.
Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester [age 21] and Elizabeth Hastings Countess of Worcester [age 25] were married. She by marriage Countess Worcester. She the daughter of Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon and Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon [age 60]. He the son of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester [age 45] and Christina North Countess of Worcester. They were third cousin once removed.
On 12th July 1586 Edward Sutton 4th Baron Dudley [age 61] died. He was buried at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map]. His son Edward [age 18] succeeded 5th Baron Dudley. Theodosia Harrington Baroness Dudley by marriage Baroness Dudley.
On 23rd June 1643 Edward Dudley 5th Baron Dudley [age 75] died. His granddaughter Frances [age 31] succeeded 6th Baroness Dudley. Humble Ward 1st Baron Ward of Birmingham Baron Dudley [age 29] by marriage Baron Dudley. Humble Ward 1st Baron Ward of Birmingham Baron Dudley by marriage Baron Dudley.
On 11th August 1697 Frances Sutton 6th Baroness Dudley [age 86] died. Her son Edward [age 66] succeeded 7th Baron Dudley.
In 1701 Edward Ward 7th Baron Dudley 2nd Baron Ward [age 70] died. His grandson Edward [age 17] succeeded 3rd Baron Ward of Birmingham, 8th Baron Dudley.
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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On 28th March 1704 Edward Ward 8th Baron Dudley 3rd Baron Ward [age 20] died of smallpox. His son Edward succeeded 4th Baron Ward of Birmingham, 9th Baron Dudley posthumously.
On 16th June 1704 Edward Ward 9th Baron Dudley 4th Baron Ward was born to Edward Ward 8th Baron Dudley 3rd Baron Ward and Diana Howard. His father had died three months before. On 6th September 1731 Edward Ward 9th Baron Dudley 4th Baron Ward died unmarried. His uncle William [age 18] succeeded 10th Baron Dudley, 5th Baron Ward of Birmingham.
In 1740 William Ward 10th Baron Dudley 5th Baron Ward [age 54] died unmarried.
Ferdinando Dudley Lea 11th Baron Dudley [age 29] succeeded 11th Baron Dudley.
John Ward 1st Viscount Dudley and Ward [age 35] succeeded 6th Baron Ward of Birmingham.
On 21st October 1757 Ferdinando Dudley Lea 11th Baron Dudley [age 47] died. Baron Dudley abeyant between his two sisters.
In 1916 Ferdinando Dudley William Lea Smith 12th Baron Dudley [age 43] abeyance terminated 12th Baron Dudley.
On 5th December 1936 Ferdinando Dudley William Lea Smith 12th Baron Dudley [age 64] died. His son Ferdinando [age 26] succeeded 13th Baron Dudley.
On 19th April 1972 Ferdinando Lea Smith 13th Baron Dudley [age 61] died. His sister Barbara [age 64] succeeded 14th Baroness Dudley.
On 27th May 2002 Barbara Felicity Smith 14th Baroness Dudley [age 95] died. Her son Jim [age 71] succeeded 15th Baron Dudley.
On 20th June 2024 Jim Wallace 15th Baron Dudley [age 93] died. His son Jeremy [age 59] succeeded 16th Baron Dudley.