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 Sancho III King Castile 1134-1158

Paternal Family Tree: Ivrea

Maternal Family Tree: Etienette Countess Provence and Arles

In November 1128 [his father] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 23] and [his mother] Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon [aged 12] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile, Queen Consort Leon. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Raymond III Count Barcelona [aged 45] and [his grandmother] Douce Gevaudan Countess Barcelona. He the son of Raymond Ivrea and Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona. They were third cousin once removed.

In 1134 Sancho III King Castile was born to [his father] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 28] and [his mother] Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon [aged 18].

On 15th January 1149 [his mother] Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon [aged 33] died.

In 1151 Sancho III King Castile [aged 17] and Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of García "Restorer" IV King Navarre and Marguerite Aigle Queen Consort Navarre. He the son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 45] and Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon. They were fourth cousins.

In 1152 [his father] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 46] and Richeza Unknown Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile, Queen Consort Leon. He the son of [his grandfather] Raymond Ivrea and [his grandmother] Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona.

On 20th July 1153 [his brother-in-law] Sancho "Wise" King Navarre [aged 21] and [his sister] Sancha Ivrea [aged 14] were married. She the daughter of [his father] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 48] and [his mother] Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon. He the son of García "Restorer" IV King Navarre and Marguerite Aigle Queen Consort Navarre. They were fourth cousins.

Louis VII marries Constance of Castile

In 1154 [his brother-in-law] Louis VII King of the Franks [aged 34] and [his sister] Constance of Castile Queen of the Franks [aged 14] were married in Orléans. She by marriage Queen of the Franks. Somewhat curiously they were more closely related than Louis and his first wife Eleanor of Aquitaine [aged 32] whose marriage had been annulled on account of consanguinity. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of [his father] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 48] and [his mother] Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon. He the son of Louis VI King of the Franks and Adelaide Savoy Queen Consort France. They were second cousins.

On 11th November 1155 [his son] Alfonso VIII King Castile was born to Sancho III King Castile [aged 21] and [his wife] Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile [aged 22]. He married before 17th September 1177 his half fourth cousin Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile, daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England, and had issue.

In 1156 [his son] Garcia Ivrea was born to Sancho III King Castile [aged 22] and [his wife] Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile [aged 22]. He died aged less than one years old.

In 1156 [his son] Garcia Ivrea died.

On 12th August 1156 [his wife] Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile [aged 23] died.

On 21st August 1157 [his father] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 52] died. His son Sancho [aged 23] succeeded III King Castile. His son [his brother] Ferdinand [aged 20] succeeded II King Leon.

On 31st August 1158 Sancho III King Castile [aged 24] died. His son Alfonso [aged 2] succeeded VIII King Castile.