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: Brabazon
Around 1548 Edward Brabazon 1st Baron Ardee was born.
Around 1570 Edward Brabazon 1st Baron Ardee (age 22) and Mary Smythe Baroness Ardee (age 18) were married.
Around 1580 [his son] William Brabazon 1st Earl Meath was born to Edward Brabazon 1st Baron Ardee (age 32) and [his wife] Mary Smythe Baroness Ardee (age 28).
Around 1581 [his son] Anthony Brabazon was born to Edward Brabazon 1st Baron Ardee (age 33) and [his wife] Mary Smythe Baroness Ardee (age 29).
In 1606 Edward Brabazon 1st Baron Ardee (age 58) was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.
After 9th June 1611 [his son-in-law] Luke Plunkett 1st Earl of Fingall and [his daughter] Susanna Brabazon were married.
In 1616 Edward Brabazon 1st Baron Ardee (age 68) was created 1st Baron Ardee. [his wife] Mary Smythe Baroness Ardee (age 64) by marriage Baroness Ardee.
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 7th August 1625 Edward Brabazon 1st Baron Ardee (age 77) died. His son [his son] William (age 45) succeeded 2nd Baron Ardee.
On 13th August 1625 [his former wife] Mary Smythe Baroness Ardee (age 73) died.
On 16th April 1627 [his son] William Brabazon 1st Earl Meath (age 47) was created 1st Earl Meath with remainder in default of male heirs to his brother Sir Anthony Brabazon and his male heirs.
[his daughter] Susanna Brabazon was born to Edward Brabazon 1st Baron Ardee and Mary Smythe Baroness Ardee.