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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Biography of Isabella of Castile Duchess York 1355-1392

Paternal Family Tree: Ivrea

Maternal Family Tree: María González Henestrosa Lady Villagera 1356

1367 Battle of Nájera

1369 Death of Peter I King Castile

1385 Richard II Creates his Two Uncles as Dukes

1392 Death of Isabella of Castile

In 1355 Isabella of Castile Duchess York was born illegitimately to [her father] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 20] and [her mother] Maria Padilla [aged 21].

On 29th May 1358 [her uncle] Fadrique Alfonso Ivrea [aged 24] was murdered at Seville on behalf of his brother [her father] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 23].

In July 1361 [her mother] Maria Padilla [aged 27] died at Seville.

Battle of Nájera

On 3rd April 1367 the forces of [her father] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 32] commanded by Edward "Black Prince" [aged 36] defeated the army of [her uncle] Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 33] at the Battle of Nájera at Nájera [Map]. The English forces included [her future brother-in-law] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 27], William Scrope, Peter Courtenay [aged 21], John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 30], John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 42], Bernard Brocas [aged 37] and Thomas Banastre [aged 33].

The forces of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile included Bertrand Geusclin [aged 47]. The battle achieved little since Bertrand Geusclin escaped.

John Ferrers 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 36] was killed. His son Robert [aged 9] succeeded 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley. Margaret Despencer Baroness Ferrers of Chartley by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.

Edward "Black Prince" thereafter returned home, taking Peter's daughters [her illegitimate sister] Constance [aged 13] and Isabella [aged 12] as hostages to ensure Peter would pay the money owed to Edward. Constance married John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster, Isabella married Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 25].

Death of Peter I King Castile

On 23rd March 1369 [her father] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 34] was murdered by his half-brother [her uncle] Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 35] outside the wall of the castle of Montiel, La Mancha. His half brother Henry succeeded II King Castile.

On 21st September 1371 [her brother-in-law] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 31] and [her illegitimate sister] Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 17] were married at Roquefort, Landes. She by marriage Duchess Lancaster. His younger brother Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 30] married Constance's sister in July 1372. An example of Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. She the illegitmate daughter of [her father] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile and [her mother] Maria Padilla. He the son of King Edward III of England [aged 58] and Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England. They were half third cousin twice removed.

After 21st September 1371 Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 16] accompanied her sister [her illegitimate sister] Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 17] to England after her marriage to [her brother-in-law] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 31].

On 11th July 1372 Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 31] and Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 17] were married at Wallingford, Oxfordshire [Map]. She by marriage Countess Cambridge. She being the younger sister of Constance [aged 18] who had married Edmund's older brother John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 32] a year before. An example of Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. She the illegitmate daughter of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile and Maria Padilla. He the son of King Edward III of England [aged 59] and Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England. They were half third cousin twice removed.

Around 1373 [her son] Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle was born to Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 31] and Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 18] at King's Langley, Hertfordshire [Map]. He a grandson of King Edward III of England. He married (1) 1381 his second cousin once removed Beatrice Burgundy Countess Rutland and Cork, daughter of Ferdinand I King Portugal and Leonor Teles Meneses Queen Consort Portugal (2) before 7th October 1398 Philippa Mohun Duchess York, daughter of John Mohun 2nd Baron Mohun of Dunster and Joan Burghesh Baroness Dunster.

Around 1374 [her daughter] Constance York Countess Gloucester was born to Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 32] and Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 19] at Conisbrough Castle [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married before 7th November 1379 her third cousin once removed Thomas Despencer 1st Earl Gloucester, son of Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh and Elizabeth Burghesh 3rd Baron Burghesh, and had issue.

Before 7th November 1379 [her son-in-law] Thomas Despencer 1st Earl Gloucester [aged 6] and Constance York Countess Gloucester [aged 5] were married. She the daughter of Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 38] and Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 24]. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of 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 1381 Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle [aged 8] and Beatrice Burgundy Countess Rutland and Cork [aged 8] were married. She the daughter of Ferdinand I King Portugal [aged 35] and Leonor Teles Meneses Queen Consort Portugal. He the son of Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 39] and Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 26]. They were second cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Edward III of England.

Before 1385 John Holland 1st Duke Exeter [aged 32] was rumoured to be having an affair with Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 29] wife of Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 43].

On 20th July 1385 [her son] Richard of Conisbrough 1st Earl Cambridge was born to Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 44] and Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 30] at Conisbrough Castle [Map]. Some historians suggest the father was John Holland 1st Duke Exeter [aged 33] with whom Isabella of Castile Duchess York was suspected of having an affair since 1. Richard received no lands from his father and was not mentioned either in his father's will nor his brother's will, 2. the age gap, around ten years, between Richard and his older siblings. He a grandson of King Edward III of England. He married (1) May 1406 his first cousin twice removed Anne Mortimer, daughter of Roger Mortimer 4th Earl March 3rd Earl of Ulster and Eleanor Holland Countess March and Ulster, and had issue (2) after 21st September 1411 his third cousin twice removed Maud Clifford Countess Cambridge, daughter of Thomas Clifford 6th Baron Clifford and Elizabeth Ros Baroness Clifford.

Richard II Creates his Two Uncles as Dukes

On 6th August 1385 Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 44] was created 1st Duke York by King Richard II of England [aged 18]. Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 30] by marriage Duchess York.

Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester [aged 30] was created 1st Duke Albemarle, and around the same time, 1st Duke Gloucester. Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester [aged 19] by marriage Duchess Albemarle and Duchess Gloucester.

Death of Isabella of Castile

On 23rd December 1392 Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 37] died. She was buried at King's Langley Priory, Hertfordshire [Map]. She the wife of Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 51]. Isabella had travelled to England with her sister [her illegitimate sister] Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 38] who had married Edmund's elder brother [her brother-in-law] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 52]. Isabella and Edmund's marriage was not, apparently, a happy one. She is known to have had an affair with John Holland 1st Duke Exeter [aged 40] who may have been the father of [her son] Richard of Conisbrough 1st Earl Cambridge [aged 7] progenitor of the House of York.

On 13th January 1393 Isabella of Castile Duchess York was buried at King's Langley Priory, Hertfordshire [Map].

Royal Ancestors of Isabella of Castile Duchess York 1355-1392

Kings Wessex: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Godwinson: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Kings France: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Royal Descendants of Isabella of Castile Duchess York 1355-1392
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

King Edward IV of England [1]

King Richard III of England [1]

Anne Neville Queen Consort England [1]

Brigadier-General Charles Fitz-Clarence [3]

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom [16]

Queen Consort Camilla Shand [3]

Diana Spencer Princess Wales [33]

Ancestors of Isabella of Castile Duchess York 1355-1392

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Ferdinand IV King Castile IV King Leon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

GrandFather: Alfonso "Avenger" XI King Castile 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso III King Portugal Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Denis I King Portugal 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mayor Guillén de Guzmán

Great x 1 Grandmother: Constance Burgundy Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon

Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter III King Aragon

Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elisabeth Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Manfred King Sicily

Great x 3 Grandmother: Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Father: Peter "Cruel" I King Castile 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso III King Portugal Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Denis I King Portugal 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mayor Guillén de Guzmán

Great x 1 Grandfather: Alfonso "Brave" IV King Portugal 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon

Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter III King Aragon

Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elisabeth Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Manfred King Sicily

Great x 3 Grandmother: Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

GrandMother: Maria Burgundy Queen Consort Castile 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Isabella of Castile Duchess York 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Garcia Padilla

GrandFather: Juan García Padilla 1st Lord Villagera

Mother: Maria Padilla

Great x 1 Grandfather: Fernán González Henestrosa

GrandMother: María González Henestrosa Lady Villagera