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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Paternal Family Tree: Hohenstauffen
Maternal Family Tree: Beatrice of Albon Duchess Burgundy 1161-1228
In 1233 [her father] Manfred King Sicily [aged 1] and [her mother] Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo [aged 9] were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Amedeo Savoy IV Count Savoy [aged 36] and [her grandmother] Margaret Burgundy Countess Savoy [aged 41]. He the illegitmate son of Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor [aged 38] and Bianca Lancia. They were fifth cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
In 1233 Manfred III Marquess Saluzzo and [her mother] Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo [aged 9] were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Amedeo Savoy IV Count Savoy [aged 36] and [her grandmother] Margaret Burgundy Countess Savoy [aged 41].
Around 1249 Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon was born to [her father] Manfred King Sicily [aged 17] and [her mother] Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo [aged 25].
Before 1251 [her brother-in-law] Edmund Lacy 8th Baron Pontefract, 9th Baron Halton [aged 20] and [her half-sister] Alice Saluzzo Baroness Lacy [aged 14] were married. She by marriage Baroness Pontefract. He the son of John Lacy Earl Lincoln and Margaret Quincy 3rd Countess Lincoln and Pembroke [aged 44]. They were sixth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
In 1258 [her mother] Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo [aged 34] died.
After 1258 [her father] Manfred King Sicily [aged 26] and Helena Angelina Doukaina were married. He the illegitmate son of [her grandfather] Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor and [her grandmother] Bianca Lancia.
On 4th November 1265 [her son] Alfonso III King Aragon was born to Peter III King Aragon [aged 25] and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon [aged 16].
On 26th February 1266 the Battle of Benevento was fought between King Charles Capet of Sicily [aged 38] and [her father] Manfred King Sicily [aged 34]. Manfred King Sicily was killed. His fifth cousin Charles succeeded King Sicily. Beatrice Provence Queen Consort Sicily [aged 35] by marriage Queen Consort Sicily.
On 10th April 1267 [her son] James "The Just" II King Aragon was born to Peter III King Aragon [aged 27] and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon [aged 18]. He married (1) 1st December 1291 his first cousin once removed Isabella of Castile Queen Consort Aragon, daughter of Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon and Maria Molina Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon (2) 29th October 1295 his half second cousin once removed Blanche Capet Queen Consort Aragon and had issue (3) 15th June 1315 Marie Lusignan Queen Consort Aragon (4) 25th December 1322 Elisenda Montcada Queen Consort Aragon.
In 1271 [her daughter] Elisabeth Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal was born to Peter III King Aragon [aged 31] and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon [aged 22]. She married 1282 her half third cousin once removed Denis I King Portugal, son of Alfonso III King Portugal and Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal, and had issue.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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In 1282 [her son-in-law] Denis I King Portugal [aged 20] and Elisabeth Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal [aged 11] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Portugal. She the daughter of Peter III King Aragon [aged 42] and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon [aged 33]. He the son of Alfonso III King Portugal and Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal [aged 40]. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 18th June 1291 [her son] Alfonso III King Aragon [aged 25] died. His brother James [aged 24] succeeded II King Aragon.
On 1st December 1291 James "The Just" II King Aragon [aged 24] and Isabella of Castile Queen Consort Aragon [aged 8] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon. She the daughter of Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon [aged 33] and Maria Molina Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon. He the son of Peter III King Aragon and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon [aged 42]. They were first cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 29th October 1295 James "The Just" II King Aragon [aged 28] and Blanche Capet Queen Consort Aragon were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon. She the daughter of Charles II King Naples [aged 41] and Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples [aged 38]. He the son of Peter III King Aragon and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon [aged 46]. They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
In 1296 [her half-brother] Thomas I Marquess Saluzzo [aged 57] died. His son [her nephew] Manfred succeeded IV Marquess Saluzzo.
On 9th April 1302 Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon [aged 53] died.
[her daughter] Yolanda Barcelona was born to Peter III King Aragon and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon.
Peter III King Aragon and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon. He the son of James I King Aragon and Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon. They were fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
Kings Wessex: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Kings Franks: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 3 Grandfather: Frederick "One Eyed" Hohenstaufen I Holy Roman Emperor 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Frederick "Barbarossa" Hohenstaufen I Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "Black" Welf IX Duke Bavaria
Great x 3 Grandmother: Judith Welf Holy Roman Empress
Great x 4 Grandmother: Wulfhilde of Saxony Duchess Bavaria
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Hohenstaufen VI Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephen Ivrea I Count Burgundy 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Reginald Ivrea III Count Burgundy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Metz Countess Burgundy
Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrice of Burgundy Holy Roman Empress
GrandFather: Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor
Father: Manfred King Sicily
GrandMother: Bianca Lancia
Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humbert "Fat" Savoy II Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Amadeus Savoy III Count Savoy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gisela Ivrea Countess Savoy
Great x 2 Grandfather: Humbert Savoy III Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mahaut Albon Countess Savoy
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Savoy I Count Savoy
Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrice Macon Countess Savoy
GrandFather: Amedeo Savoy IV Count Savoy
Great x 2 Grandfather: William I Count Geneva
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy
Mother: Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Odo "Red" I Duke Burgundy 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh II Duke Burgundy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sybilla Ivrea Duchess Burgundy
Great x 2 Grandfather: Odo II Duke Burgundy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Felicia Matilda Mayenne Duchess Burgundy
Great x 1 Grandfather: Hugh III Duke Burgundy 2 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephen Blois II Count Blois and Chartres 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Theobald Blois II Count Champagne IV Count Blois Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Adela Normandy Countess Blois 
Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marie Blois Duchess Burgundy Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Engelbert II Duke of Carinthia
Great x 3 Grandmother: Matilda Carinthia Countess Champagne and Blois
GrandMother: Margaret Burgundy Countess Savoy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Guigues V Count of Albon and Grenoble
Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice of Albon Duchess Burgundy