Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
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Benjamin West is in Painters.
On 10th October 1738 Benjamin West was born.
In 1765 Benjamin West [aged 26] and Elizabeth Shewell were married at St Martin in the Fields Church [Map].
Around 1769 Benjamin West [aged 30]. Portrait of Francis Osborne 5th Duke Leeds [aged 17].
Before 1771. Benjamin West [aged 32]. Portrait of Jocosa Drury Lady Cust [aged 21].
Jocosa Drury Lady Cust: On 19th April 1749 she was born to Thomas Drury 1st Baronet and Martha Tyrrell Lady Drury. On 16th October 1770 Brownlow Cust 1st Baron Brownlow and she were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square. She by marriage Lady Cust of Stamford in Lincolnshire. On 11th February 1772 Jocosa Drury Lady Cust died, probably of childbirth, since her daughter was born in 1771.
1772. Benjamin West [aged 33]. Portrait of Anna Maria Schutz as the Cumaean Sibyl reading music at a table.
Anna Maria Schutz: In 1749 John Whitwell aka Griffin 4th Baron Howard Walden 1st Baron Braybrooke and she were married.
1772. Benjamin West [aged 33]. Portrait of Catherine Clayton Baroness Howard de Walden [aged 24] as the Perisan Sibyl reading at a table writing.
Catherine Clayton Baroness Howard de Walden: Around 1748 she was born. In 1765 John Whitwell aka Griffin 4th Baron Howard Walden 1st Baron Braybrooke and she were married. The difference in their ages was 28 years. On 15th August 1807 she died.
1772. Benjamin West [aged 33]. Portrait of John Whitwell aka Griffin 4th Baron Howard Walden 1st Baron Braybrooke [aged 52].
1772. Benjamin West [aged 33]. Portrait of Edward Astley 4th Baronet [aged 42].
1773. Benjamin West [aged 34]. Portrait of Joseph Banks 1st Baronet [aged 29].
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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Around 1773. Benjamin West [aged 34]. Portrait of the artist's wife Elizabeth Shewell and their son Raphael.
Elizabeth Shewell: In 1765 Benjamin West and she were married at St Martin in the Fields Church [Map].
1777. Benjamin West [aged 38]. Portrait of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [aged 32].
1778. Benjamin West [aged 39]. Portrait of the Mary Palmer Lady Beauchamp-Proctor [aged 18].
Mary Palmer Lady Beauchamp-Proctor: In 1760 she was born. On 5th May 1778 Thomas Beauchamp-Proctor 2nd Baronet and she were married. She by marriage Lady Beauchamp-Proctor of Langley Park in Norfolk. In 1848 she died.
In 1790 Thomas Phillips [aged 19] travelled to London with an introduction to Benjamin West [aged 51] who found him employment on the painted-glass windows of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle [Map].
1793. Benjamin West [aged 54]. Self-Portrait.
Before 1795. Benjamin West [aged 56]. Thomas Grosvenor [aged 60].
Around 1801. Benjamin West [aged 62]. Milkmaids in St James' Park [Map] with Westminster Abbey [Map] Beyond.
Before 1802. Benjamin West [aged 63]. Richard Grosvenor 1st Earl Grosvenor [aged 70].
1805. Benjamin West [aged 66]. Portrait of the artist's wife Elizabeth Shewell and their son Benjamin West III.
1812. Benjamin West [aged 73]. Portrait of John Eardley-Wilmot [aged 64].
John Eardley-Wilmot: In 1748 he was born to John Eardley-Wilmot. On 23rd June 1815 John Eardley-Wilmot died in Bengal, India.
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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1814. Benjamin West [aged 75]. Portrait of William Cavendish-Bentinck 3rd Duke Portland.
On 11th March 1820 Benjamin West [aged 81] died.