Biography of John Beaumont Count Soissons 1288-1356

Paternal Family Tree: Avesnes

Maternal Family Tree: Clementia Aquitaine Countess Luxemburg 1060-1142

John Beaumont Count Soissons and Margaret Nesle Countess Soissons were married. She the daughter of Hugh Nesle Count Soissons. He the son of John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland and Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Stephen I England.

In 1270 [his father] John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland (age 23) and [his mother] Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland (age 18) were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault, Countess Holland. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry "Great" Luxemburg V Count Luxemburg III Count Namur (age 54) and [his grandmother] Margaret of Bar Countess Luxemburg and Namur (age 50). He the son of [his grandfather] John of Avesnes I Count Hainaut and [his grandmother] Adelaide Gerulfing Countess Hainaut (age 40). They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.

In 1288 John Beaumont Count Soissons was born to [his father] John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland (age 41) and [his mother] Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland (age 36).

In 1290 [his brother-in-law] Roger Bigod 5th Earl Norfolk (age 45) and [his sister] Alice Hainaut Countess Norfolk were married. She by marriage Countess Norfolk. She the daughter of [his father] John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland (age 43) and [his mother] Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland (age 38). They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Stephen I England.

On 18th October 1298 [his brother-in-law] Robert Artois II Count Artois (age 48) and [his sister] Margaret Hainaut Countess Artois were married. She by marriage Countess Artois. She the daughter of [his father] John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland (age 51) and [his mother] Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland (age 46). He the son of Robert Capet Count of Artois and Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Stephen I England.

In 1304 John Beaumont Count Soissons (age 16) by marriage Count Soissons.

On 22nd August 1304 [his father] John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland (age 57) died. His son [his brother] William (age 18) succeeded I Count Hainault.

On 19th May 1305 [his brother] William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland (age 19) and [his sister-in-law] Joan Valois Countess Zeeland Holland Avesnes and Hainaut (age 11) were married. She by marriage Countess Zeeland, Countess Holland, Countess Avesnes, Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Charles Valois I Count Valois (age 35) and Margaret Capet Countess Valois. He the son of [his father] John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland and [his mother] Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland (age 53). 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 1310 [his brother-in-law] Louis Bourbon I Duke Bourbon (age 31) and [his sister] Mary Hainaut Duchess Bourbon (age 30) were married. She the daughter of [his father] John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland and [his mother] Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland (age 58). He the son of Robert Bourbon 1st Count Clermont (age 54) and Beatrice Burgundy (age 53). They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Stephen I England.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

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In 1311 [his mother] Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland (age 59) died.

On 26th October 1317 [his sister] Alice Hainaut Countess Norfolk died.

In 1323 [his daughter] Jeanne Beaumont Count Soissons, Blois, Chatillon and Namur was born to John Beaumont Count Soissons (age 35) and Margaret Nesle Countess Soissons (age 18). She married (1) 1340 her second cousin once removed Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon, son of Guy Chatillon I Count Blois and Margaret Valois, and had issue (2) 13th February 1348 her second cousin William "Rich" Dampierre I Marquis Namur, son of John Dampierre I Marquis Namur and Marie Artois.

In 1327 [his brother-in-law] Louis Bourbon I Duke Bourbon (age 48) was created I Duke Bourbon. [his sister] Mary Hainaut Duchess Bourbon (age 47) by marriage Duchess Bourbon.

On 7th June 1337 [his brother] William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland (age 51) died. His son [his nephew] William (age 30) succeeded II Count Hainault. Joanna Reginar Duchess Brabant (age 15) by marriage Countess Hainault.

In 1340 [his son-in-law] Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon and [his daughter] Jeanne Beaumont Count Soissons, Blois, Chatillon and Namur (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess Blois, Countess Chatillon. She the daughter of John Beaumont Count Soissons (age 52) and Margaret Nesle Countess Soissons (age 35). He the son of Guy Chatillon I Count Blois and Margaret Valois (age 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 18th October 1342 [his sister] Margaret Hainaut Countess Artois died.

On 13th February 1348 [his son-in-law] William "Rich" Dampierre I Marquis Namur (age 24) and [his daughter] Jeanne Beaumont Count Soissons, Blois, Chatillon and Namur (age 25) were married. He by marriage Marquis Namur. She the daughter of John Beaumont Count Soissons (age 60) and Margaret Nesle Countess Soissons (age 43). He the son of John Dampierre I Marquis Namur and Marie Artois. They were second cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Stephen I England.

In December 1350 [his daughter] Jeanne Beaumont Count Soissons, Blois, Chatillon and Namur (age 27) died.

In 1354 [his sister] Mary Hainaut Duchess Bourbon (age 74) died.

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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On 11th March 1356 John Beaumont Count Soissons (age 68) died.

Froissart Book 1: 1307-1340. So Sir John of Hainault remained, at the request of the queen, with only a small household and few companions, among the English, who continuously showed him all the honor and companionship they could. The ladies of the land did likewise — there were many of them, countesses and other great and noble ladies and maidens — who had come to keep company with my lady the queen, and they continued to come day by day. For it seemed to them that the noble knight well deserved such honor, as indeed he did.

Si demora messires Jehans de Haynau, à le priière de le royne, à petite maisnie et à peu de compagnons, entre les Englès qui li faisoient toutdis toute l'onneur et le compagnie qu'il pooient. Ossi faisoient les dames dou pays, dont il y avoit grant fuison, contesses et autres grandes et gentilz dames et pucelles, qui venues estoient compagnier ma dame la royne, et venoient de jour en jour, car il leur sambloit que li gentilz chevaliers l'euist bien deservi, si com il avoit.

                    Bourgeois de Valenciennes. The third brother was named [his brother] William. He became Count of Hainaut, and was a good knight, brave, wise, and very courteous.
                
                    And the fourth of the brothers was named John, Lord of Beaumont, and he took as his wife Lady Jeanne, daughter of the Count of Soissons.
                
                    Le tierch frère eult nom Guillame. Celuy fut conte de Haynault et bon chevalier et preux et sages et moult courtois.
                
                    Et le quart des frères eult nom Jehan sire de Beaumont et eult à femme damoiselle Jehenne fille du conte de Soisson.