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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Effigy of Effigy in Great Malvern Church is in Monumental Effigies of Great Britain.
THIS unappropriated figure is of the same period with that of Longespee, Earl of Salisbury. There are some remarkable peculiarities in the arms which it bears. In the right hand is a formidable martel de fer, horseman's hammer, or pole-axe, formed on the same principle as the pick-axe of the labourer, but shorter in the head, which measures about nine inches, and has one cutting and one pointed end; apparently a most efficient weapon for breaking defensive armour, beating down and wounding opponents. In the left hand is a circular target, eighteen inches in diameter. On the left side is suspended the broad-bladed sword of the time.