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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Count Hainault is in Count.
On 25th August 915 Reginar "Longneck" I Duke Lorraine died. Reginar II Reginarids II Count Hainaut was appointed II Count Hainault. Gilbert Reginarids I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.
Around 932 Reginar II Reginarids II Count Hainaut died. Reginar Reginar III Count Hainaut succeeded III Count Hainault.
Before 973 Reginar Reginar III Count Hainaut and Adela Equisheim Countess Hainault were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault. He the son of Reginar II Reginarids II Count Hainaut.
In 1040 Herman Reginar V Count Mons III Count Hainaut and Richilde Unknown Countess Mons and Hainaut were married. She by marriage Countess Mons, Countess Hainault. He the son of Reginar Reginar V Count Mons and Mathilde Brabant Countess Mons.
In 1051 Baldwin VI Count Flanders I Count Hainaut succeeded I Count Hainault.
Before 1055 Baldwin VI Count Flanders I Count Hainaut and Richilde Countess Flanders and Hainault were married. She by marriage Countess Flanders, Countess Hainault. He the son of Baldwin "The Good" V Count Flanders and Adela Capet Duchess Normandy.
On 20th February 1071 Battle of Cassel was fought between uncle Robert "The Frisian" I Count Flanders and nephew Arnulf III Count Flanders, supported by his mother Richilde Countess Flanders and Hainault and Philip I King of the Franks, over the succession of Flanders.
Arnulf III Count Flanders was killed. Baldwin II Count Hainaut succeeded II Count Hainault. Robert "The Frisian" I Count Flanders was appointed I Count Flanders.
William Fitzosbern 1st Earl Hereford was killed. Roger de Breteuil Fitzosbern 2nd Earl Hereford succeeded 2nd Earl Hereford.
Eustace II Count Boulogne and his son Eustace Flanders III Count Boulogne fought for Robert. During the battle Robert "The Frisian" I Count Flanders and Richilde Countess Flanders and Hainault were captured, and subsequently exchanged for each other.
In 1102 Baldwin Flanders III Count Hainaut succeeded III Count Hainault.
On 17th December 1195 Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut died. Baldwin IX Count Flanders VI Count Hainaut succeeded 6th Count Hainault.
On 5th December 1244 Joan I Countess Flanders died. Margaret II Countess Flanders succeeded II Countess Flanders. John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland succeeded II Count Hainault, II Count Holland.
In 1246 John of Avesnes I Count Hainaut and Adelaide Gerulfing Countess Hainaut were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Floris Gerulfing IV Count Holland and Mathilde Reginar Countess Holland and Palatine. He the son of Bouchard Avesnes and Margaret II Countess Flanders.
In 1246 John of Avesnes I Count Hainaut succeeded I Count Hainault.
In 1270 John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland and Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault, Countess Holland. She the daughter of Henry "Great" Luxemburg V Count Luxemburg III Count Namur and Margaret of Bar Countess Luxemburg and Namur. He the son of John of Avesnes I Count Hainaut and Adelaide Gerulfing Countess Hainaut.
On 22nd August 1304 John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland died. William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland succeeded I Count Hainault.
On 19th May 1305 William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland and Joan Valois Countess Zeeland Holland Avesnes and Hainaut were married. She by marriage Countess Zeeland, Countess Holland, Countess Avesnes, Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Charles Valois I Count Valois and Margaret Capet Countess Valois. He the son of John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland and Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland.
On 7th June 1337 William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland died. William Hainaut II Count Hainaut succeeded II Count Hainault. Joanna Reginar Duchess Brabant by marriage Countess Hainault.
On 26th September 1345 William Hainaut II Count Hainaut was killed at the Battle of Warns. Margaret Hainaut Holy Roman Empress succeeded II Countess Hainault. Louis Wittelsbach IV Holy Roman Emperor by marriage Count Hainault.
In 1354 William Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria succeeded V Count Hainault, V Count Zeeland.
On 13th December 1404 Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria died at The Hague. William Wittelsbach IV Count Holland VI Count Hainaut V Count Zeeland succeeded IV Count Holland, VI Count Hainault, V Count Zeeland. Margaret Valois Countess Holland by marriage Countess Holland.
Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut succeeded V Count Hainault.
Baldwin II Count Hainaut and Ida Reginar Countess Hainaut were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Henry Reginar II Count Louvain and Adela Thuringa Countess Louvain. He the son of Baldwin VI Count Flanders I Count Hainaut and Richilde Countess Flanders and Hainault.
Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut and Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Thierry Count Flanders and Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex. He the son of Baldwin Flanders IV Count Hainaut and Alice Namur Countess Hainault.
Baldwin Flanders III Count Hainaut and Yolande Guelders Countess Hainault were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Gerald I Count Guelders. He the son of Baldwin II Count Hainaut and Ida Reginar Countess Hainaut.
John "Pitiless" Wittelsbach II Duke Bavaria Straubing succeeded III Count Holland, VI Count Hainault, V Count Zeeland, II Duke Bavaria Straubing.
Reginar "Longneck" I Duke Lorraine was appointed I Count Hainault.
Baldwin Flanders IV Count Hainaut and Alice Namur Countess Hainault were married. She by marriage Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Godfrey Namur I Count Namur and Ermesinde Luxemburg Countess Namur. He the son of Baldwin Flanders III Count Hainaut and Yolande Guelders Countess Hainault.
Baldwin Flanders IV Count Hainaut succeeded IV Count Hainault.