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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Paternal Family Tree: Chatillon
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Cuman
In 1310 [his father] Guy Chatillon I Count Blois and [his mother] Margaret Valois [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Charles Valois I Count Valois [aged 39] and [his grandmother] Margaret Capet Countess Valois. He the son of Hugh Chatillon II Count Blois and Beatrix Dampierre Countess Blois. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
In 1319 Charles of Blois Duke Brittany was born to Guy Chatillon I Count Blois and Margaret Valois [aged 24].
In 1331 Guy Capet Count Penthièvre [aged 44] died. His daughter [his future wife] Joan [aged 12] succeeded Countess Penthièvre.
On 4th June 1337 Charles of Blois Duke Brittany [aged 18] and Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre [aged 18] were married at Paris [Map]. She the daughter of Guy Capet Count Penthièvre and Jeanne Avaugour Countess Penthièvre. He the son of Guy Chatillon I Count Blois and Margaret Valois [aged 42]. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
In 1340 [his brother] Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon and [his sister-in-law] Jeanne Beaumont Count Soissons, Blois, Chatillon and Namur [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Countess Blois, Countess Chatillon. She the daughter of John Beaumont Count Soissons [aged 52] and Margaret Nesle Countess Soissons [aged 35]. He the son of [his father] Guy Chatillon I Count Blois and [his mother] Margaret Valois [aged 45]. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Stephen I England.
On 30th April 1341 John III Duke Brittany [aged 55] died at Caen [Map]. Earl Richmond suspended. The succession of the Duchy of Brittany was disputed between [his wife] Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre [aged 22] and John Montfort IV Duke Brittany [aged 46] leading to the War of the Breton Succession. His niece Joan succeeded Duchess Brittany 1221 Dreux. Charles of Blois Duke Brittany [aged 22] by marriage Duke Brittany 1221 Dreux. His half brother John succeeded IV Duke Brittany 1221 Dreux. Joanna of Flanders Duchess Brittany [aged 46] by marriage Duchess Brittany 1221 Dreux.
In 1342 [his mother] Margaret Valois [aged 47] died.
On 12th August 1342 [his father] Guy Chatillon I Count Blois died. His son [his brother] Louis succeeded II Count Blois.
In 1345 [his daughter] Marie Chatillon Duchess Anjou was born to Charles of Blois Duke Brittany [aged 26] and [his wife] Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre [aged 26]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. She married 1360 her second cousin Louis Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou, son of King John "The Good" II of France and Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France, and had issue.
On 5th February 1345 [his son] John I Count of Penthièvre was born to Charles of Blois Duke Brittany [aged 26] and [his wife] Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre [aged 26]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England.
On 20th June 1347 Charles of Blois Duke Brittany [aged 28] was captured by Thomas Dagworth 1st Baron Dagworth [aged 71] at La Roche Derrien.
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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In 1351 [his son-in-law] Charles de la Cerda [aged 24] and Marguerite Chatillon were married. She the daughter of Charles of Blois Duke Brittany [aged 32] and Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre [aged 32]. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 1st January 1354 [his daughter] Marguerite Chatillon died.
In 1360 [his son-in-law] Louis Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou [aged 20] and Marie Chatillon Duchess Anjou [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Duchess Anjou. She the daughter of Charles of Blois Duke Brittany [aged 41] and Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre [aged 41]. He the son of King John "The Good" II of France [aged 40] and Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France. They were second cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 29th September 1364 Battle of Auray decided the Breton Succession in favour of John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 25]. The Breton and English army was commanded by John Chandos [aged 44] and included William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby [aged 34], Miles Stapleton [aged 44] and Hugh Calverley [aged 40]. Charles of Blois Duke Brittany [aged 45] was killed. Bertrand Geusclin [aged 44] surrendered.
On 10th September 1384 [his former wife] Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre [aged 65] died.
[his daughter] Marguerite Chatillon was born to Charles of Blois Duke Brittany and Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. She married 1351 her third cousin once removed Charles de la Cerda.
[his son] Henry Chatillon was born to Charles of Blois Duke Brittany and Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England.
Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. At that time the said Charles promised the king eighteen thousand gold florins of the escut, which were then valued at one hundred thousand pounds of silver, for his ransom. And then, according to the arrangement of the council of both parties, the same lord Charles caused two of his sons and one of his daughters to come into England, so that he might leave them there as hostages while he went into Brittany to provide for the payment of his said ransom. At that time it was discussed between the said parties and agreed upon under a certain convention, confirmed by the oaths of the parties, that the eldest son1 and heir of the said lord Charles should be betrothed to the daughter of the king of England; and that then the said lord Charles should hold the duchy of Brittany in peace. It was expressly agreed that the said lord Charles and all those adhering to him in Brittany should remain at peace during the war between the kings of England and France and should attempt nothing in the meantime to the prejudice of the king of England; and that the said lord Charles, at his own expense, should obtain from the pope permission that his said son and the daughter of the king of England, who were related within a prohibited degree, might lawfully contract marriage.
Eo tempore dictus Carolus promisit domino regi xits millia florenorum de seuto, quæ tune valuerunt C millia librarum argenti, pro redemptione sua; et tunc, juxta ordinationem concilii utriusque partis, idem dominus Carolus fecit venire in Angliam duos filios suos et unam filiam suam, ut in ostagium dimitteret eos, dum iret in Britanniam pro dicta redemptione sua providenda. Eo tempore locutum fuit inter dictas partes et concordatum sub certa conventione, vallats juramentis partium earundem, quod senior filius et heres dicti domini Caroli desponsaret filiam dicti domini regis Angliæ; et quod tunc dictus dominus Carolus ducatum Britanniæ haberet in pace, expresse hoc acto quod idem dominus Carolus et omnes sibi adhærentes in Britannia tenerent se in pace, durante guerra inter reges Angliæ et Francis, et nihil interim in prejudieium domini regis Anglise attemptarent; et quod idem dominus Carolus sumptibus suis impetraret a domino papa quod dictus fillus suus et filia regis Anglie, qui se attingebant in gradu prohibito, ad matrimonium contrahendum licite contrahere possent.
Note 1. The eldest son of Charles of Blois, Duke of Brittany, was John, 1345-1404. In 1356 King Edward III's living daughters were Isabella, Mary and Margaret. In the event no marriage took place as described in the following paragraphs. A dispensation was required since John and King Edward's daughters were second cousins, their common ancestors being their great grandparents Charles, I Count of Valois, and Margaret Capet.
Kings Wessex: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Kings Scotland: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 15 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 13 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [1]
Maximilian "The Great" Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria I Elector Bavaria [1]
Maria Anna Wittelsbach Holy Roman Empress [1]
Marie de Medici Queen Consort France [1]
Ferdinand of Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [2]
Margaret of Austria Queen Consort Spain [2]
Anna of Austria Holy Roman Empress [2]
John George Wettin Elector Saxony [1]
Frederick William "Great Elector" Hohenzollern Elector Brandenburg [1]
Eleonora Gonzaga Queen Consort Bohemia [3]
Maria Leopoldine Habsburg Spain Queen Consort Bohemia [2]
Hedwig Eleonora Queen Consort Sweden [1]
Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [3]
Charlotte Amalie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [1]
Victor Amadeus King Sardinia [4]
Louise of Mecklenburg Güstrow Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [1]
Maria Anna Neuburg Queen Consort Spain [2]
Joseph I Holy Roman Emperor [2]
Charles Habsburg Spain VI Holy Roman Emperor [2]
Adolph Frederick King Sweden [1]
King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [2]
Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [1]
Caroline Matilda Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [2]
Marie Sophie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [3]
Caroline of Brunswick Queen Consort England [2]
Frederick William III King Prussia [1]
Frederica Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort Hanover [2]
Queen Fredrika Dorotea Vilhelmina [2]
King Christian I of Norway and VIII of Denmark [3]
Frederick William IV King Prussia [2]
Frederick VII King of Denmark [5]
Queen Louise Hesse-Kassel of Denmark [6]
King Christian IX of Denmark [3]
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom [4]
Queen Sophia of Sweden and Norway [5]
Victoria Empress Germany Queen Consort Prussia [11]
King Edward VII of the United Kingdom [11]
Maria Christina of Austria Queen Consort Spain [3]
Victoria Mary Teck Queen Consort England [6]
Frederick Charles I King Finland [6]
Alexandrine Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark [8]
Victoria Eugénie Mountbatten Queen Consort Spain [14]
Louise Mountbatten Queen Consort Sweden [17]
Ingrid Bernadotte Queen Consort Denmark [13]
Philip Mountbatten Duke Edinburgh [20]
Carl XVI King Sweden [27]
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy II Chatillon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter III Chatillon
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh Chatillon I Count Blois V Count Saint Pol
Great x 1 Grandfather: Guy Chatillon III Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Avesnes
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Avesnes
Great x 4 Grandmother: Adela Guise
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Avesnes 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Theobald "Good" Blois V Count Blois 
Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Blois 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alix Capet Countess Blois 
GrandFather: Hugh Chatillon II Count Blois 3 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Godfrey Reginar VIII Duke Lower Lorraine
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Reginar VIII Duke Lower Lorraine I Duke Brabant
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Luxemburg Duchess Lower Lorraine 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Reginar II Duke Brabant Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Matthew Metz Count Boulogne
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Metz Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Swabia
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marie Swabia Duchess Brabant
Father: Guy Chatillon I Count Blois 4 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Dampierre 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Guy Dampierre
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Dampierre II Count Flanders
Great x 4 Grandfather: Archambaud Bouron
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mathilde Bouron
Great x 1 Grandfather: Guy Dampierre Count Flanders 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut
Great x 3 Grandfather: Baldwin IX Count Flanders VI Count Hainaut
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret II Countess Flanders 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Blois I Count Champagne Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Blois Countess Flanders 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Capet Countess Champagne
GrandMother: Beatrix Dampierre Countess Blois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Luxemburg III Duke Limburg
Great x 3 Grandfather: Waleran Luxemburg III Duke Limburg
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sophia Saarbrücken Duchess Limburg
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry "Great" Luxemburg V Count Luxemburg III Count Namur
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "Blind" Namur IV Count Luxemburg I Count Namur
Great x 3 Grandmother: Erminsende Namur Countess of Bar
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Guelders Countess Namur and Luxemburg
Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabelle Luxemburg Countess Flanders 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Theobald of Bar I Count of Bar 2 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry of Bar II Count of Bar 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Erminsende of Bar Sur Seine Countess Bar
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret of Bar Countess Luxemburg and Namur 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Capet II Count Dreux
Great x 3 Grandmother: Philippa Capet Countess of Bar
Great x 4 Grandmother: Yolande Coucy Countess Dreux
Charles of Blois Duke Brittany 5 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Philip II of France 2 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Louis VIII of France 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso VIII King Castile 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile 
Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: King Philip III of France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso Barcelona II Count Provence 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Raymond IV Count Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gersenda II Sabran Countess Provence
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Savoy I Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy
GrandFather: Charles Valois I Count Valois 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sancha Ivrea Queen Consort Aragon
Great x 2 Grandfather: James I King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Montpellier Queen Consort Aragon
Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Béla III of Hungary
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Andrew II of Hungary
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes of Antioch
Great x 2 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon
Mother: Margaret Valois 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Philip II of France 2 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Louis VIII of France 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Charles Capet of Sicily Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso VIII King Castile
Great x 3 Grandmother: Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles II King Naples 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso Barcelona II Count Provence
Great x 3 Grandfather: Raymond IV Count Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gersenda II Sabran Countess Provence
Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrice Provence Queen Consort Sicily
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Savoy I Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy
GrandMother: Margaret Capet Countess Valois 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Andrew II of Hungary
Great x 3 Grandfather: Béla IV King of Hungary
Great x 2 Grandfather: Stephen V of Hungary
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cuman