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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Orders of Chivalry is in Crown.
In June 1919 Brigadier-General Claude Berners Westmacott (age 53) was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
On 1st March 1851 Henry Watkin Williams-Wynn (age 67) was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
On 10th March 1863 Thomas Myddelton-Biddulph (age 53) was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire being knighted on 27th March 1863.
In March 1918 Emily Fenton Armitage (age 54) was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
On 7th February 1958 Arthur Valerian Wellesley 8th Duke Wellington (age 42) was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire "in recognition of distinguished services in Cyprus for the period 1st July to 31st December, 1957".
In 1866 Albert aka Abdullah Sassoon 1st Baronet (age 47) was made a Companion of the Order of the Star of India.
In 1927 Frank Bernard Dicksee (age 73) was appointed to the Royal Victorian Order.
The London Gazette 27493. Chancery of the Royal Victorian Order, St. James's Palace, November 9,1902.
The King has been graciously pleased to make the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Royal Victorian Order:-
To be Knights Grand Cross:
Victor Albert Francis Charles (age 38), Viscount Churchill, K.C.V.O. (Lord in Waiting).
General Frederick Augustus, Baron Chelmsford, G.C.B. (Gold Stick in Waiting).
Horace Brand, Baron Farquhar, K.C.V.O. (Master of the Household).
Colonel Sir Edward Ridley Colborne Bradford, Bart, G.C.B., K.C.S.L (Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police).
Colonel Sir Robert Nigel Fitz-Hardinge Kingscote (age 72), K.C.B. (Extra Equerry to His Majesty).
Admiral Sir Henry Frederick Stephenson, K.C.B. (Extra Equerry to His Majesty).
Major-General Sir Henry Trotter, K.C.V.O. (Commanding Home District).
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In 1984 Arthur Valerian Wellesley 8th Duke Wellington (age 68) was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.
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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On 15th March 1952 Arthur Valerian Wellesley 8th Duke Wellington (age 36) was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order Fourth Class.