Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Paternal Family Tree: Orange
Maternal Family Tree: Antoinette Polignac 1460
On 6th July 1551 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 18] and Anna Egmond Princess Orange were married. She by marriage Princess Orange.
On 25th August 1561 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 28] and [her step-mother] Anna of Saxony [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Princess Orange. They had two sons, one of which died in infancy, and three daughters.
On 24th June 1575 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 42] and [her mother] Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Princess Orange.
On 31st March 1576 Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine was born to [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 42] and [her mother] Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange [aged 29].
On 5th May 1582 [her mother] Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange [aged 35] died.
On 24th April 1583 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 50] and Louise Coligny Princess Orange were married. She by marriage Princess Orange.
On 22nd October 1583 Louis VI Elector Palatine [aged 44] died. His son [her future husband] Frederick [aged 9] succeeded IV Elector Palatine Rhine.
On 10th July 1584 [her father] William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 51] died. His son [her half-brother] Philip [aged 29] succeeded William I Prince Orange.
Before 16th July 1594 Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 20] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Electress Palatine Rhine. He the son of Louis VI Elector Palatine.
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 16th July 1594 [her daughter] Luise Juliane Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 20] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 18].
On 10th June 1595 [her daughter] Katharina Sofie Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 21] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 19].
On 26th August 1596 [her son] Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 22] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 20]. He married 14th February 1613 his fourth cousin once removed Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia, daughter of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland, and had issue.
After 1597 [her brother-in-law] Claude de La Tremoille 2nd Duke Thouars [aged 31] and [her sister] Charlotte Flandrina Orange Nassau [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Duchess Thouars. He the son of Louis III de La Tremoille 1st Duke Thouars and Jeanne Montmorency.
On 19th November 1597 [her daughter] Elisabeth Charlotte Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 23] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 21]. She married 1616 George William Hohenzollern and had issue.
On 4th January 1599 [her daughter] Anna Eleonore Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 24] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 22]. She died aged one in 1600.
On 5th August 1600 [her son] Louis William Palatinate Simmern VI Elector Palatine Rhine was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 26] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 24]. He died aged less than one years old.
On 10th October 1600 [her son] Louis William Palatinate Simmern VI Elector Palatine Rhine died.
On 10th October 1600 [her daughter] Anna Eleonore Palatinate Simmern [aged 1] died .
On 18th September 1601 [her son] Maurice Christian Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 27] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 25]. He died aged three in 1605.
On 23rd November 1602 [her son] Louis Philip Palatinate Simmern was born to [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 28] and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 26].
On 28th March 1605 [her son] Maurice Christian Palatinate Simmern [aged 3] died.
On 19th September 1610 [her husband] Frederick IV Elector Palatine [aged 36] died.
On 14th February 1613 Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine [aged 16] and Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia [aged 16] were married at Chapel Royal, Whitehall Palace. She the daughter of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 46] and Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland [aged 38]. He the son of Frederick IV Elector Palatine and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 36]. They were fourth cousin once removed.
A grand occasion that saw more royalty than ever visit the court of England. The marriage was an enormously popular match and was the occasion for an outpouring of public affection with the ceremony described as "a wonder of ceremonial and magnificence even for that extravagant age".
It was celebrated with lavish and sophisticated festivities both in London and Heidelberg, including mass feasts and lavish furnishings that cost nearly £50,000, and nearly bankrupted King James. Among many celebratory writings of the events was John Donne's [aged 41] "Epithalamion, Or Marriage Song on the Lady Elizabeth, and Count Palatine being married on St Valentine's Day".
In 1616 [her son-in-law] George William Hohenzollern [aged 20] and Elisabeth Charlotte Palatinate Simmern [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of Frederick IV Elector Palatine and Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 39].
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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On 28th June 1626 [her daughter] Katharina Sofie Palatinate Simmern [aged 31] died.
On 29th November 1632 [her son] Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine [aged 36] died.
On 16th April 1640 [her sister] Charlotte Flandrina Orange Nassau [aged 60] died.
On 28th April 1640 [her daughter] Luise Juliane Palatinate Simmern [aged 45] died.
On 15th March 1644 Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [aged 67] died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Frederick Palatinate Simmern V Elector Palatine Rhine [1]
Frederick William "Great Elector" Hohenzollern Elector Brandenburg [1]
Charlotte Amalie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [1]
Marie Sophie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [2]
Queen Louise Hesse-Kassel of Denmark [2]
King Christian IX of Denmark [2]
Queen Sophia of Sweden and Norway [2]
Maria Christina of Austria Queen Consort Spain [2]
Victoria Mary Teck Queen Consort England [4]
GrandFather: William "The Rich" I Count of Nassau Dillenburg
Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon 1st Count Vendôme 1st Count Castres 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Vendome
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Bourbon VIII Count Vendôme 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy Montfort Baron Laval
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jeanne Laval Countess Vendôme and Castres 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne 13th de Laval Baroness Laval 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon Prince of La Roche sur Yon 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabelle Beauvau Countess Vendôme
GrandFather: Louis Duke of Montpensier 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gilbert Bourbon Count of Monpensier 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bertrand V of La Tour
Great x 3 Grandmother: Gabrielle La Tour
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jacquette du Peschin Dame de Banassat
Great x 1 Grandmother: Louise Bourbon Duchess of Monpensier 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ludovico III Marquis of Mantua
Great x 3 Grandfather: Frederico Gonzaga Marquess Mantua
Great x 4 Grandmother: Barbara of Brandenburg Marquise of Mantua
Great x 2 Grandmother: Clara Gonzaga 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albert Wittelsbach III Duke Bavaria 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anna Brunswick Grubenhagen Duchess Bavaria 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Mother: Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Jean IV de Longwy Seigneur de Givry
GrandMother: Jacqueline de Longwy 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Valois Orléans 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marguerite Rohan
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jeanne Valois 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Antoinette Polignac