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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Paternal Family Tree: Anjou aka Plantagenet
In 1110 [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem [age 21] and Ermengarde of Maine Countess of Anjou were married. She by marriage Countess Anjou. She the daughter of Elias I Count Maine and Matilda Chateau Du Loir Countess Maine. He the son of [his grandfather] Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou and [his grandmother] Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France [age 40]. They were third cousin twice removed.
On 2nd June 1129 Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem [age 40] and Melisende Queen of Jerusalem [age 24] were married at Jerusalem [Map]. She by marriage Countess Anjou. Her father [age 54] had written to Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem requesting the marriage since he had no male heirs. She the daughter of Baldwin II King Jerusalem. He the son of Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou and Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France.
In 1136 Almaric I King Jerusalem was born to [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem [age 47] and [his mother] Melisende Queen of Jerusalem [age 31].
In 1143 [his brother] Baldwin III King Jerusalem [age 13] was appointed III King Jerusalem.
On 13th November 1143 [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem [age 54] died in a hunting accident. His wife [his mother] Melisende Queen of Jerusalem [age 38] continued to reign in her own right with their son [his brother] Baldwin III King Jerusalem [age 13].
In 1144 [his half-brother] Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy [age 30] by conquest Duke Normandy. [his sister-in-law] Empress Matilda [age 41] by marriage Duchess Normandy.
On 7th September 1151 [his half-brother] Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy [age 38] died at Château du Loir [Map]. He was buried at St Julien's Cathedral [Map].
In 1157 Almaric I King Jerusalem [age 21] and Agnes Courtenay Queen Jerusalem [age 21] were married. She by marriage Queen Jerusalem. She the daughter of Joscelin Courtenay II Count Edessa. He the son of Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem and Melisende Queen of Jerusalem [age 52]. They were third cousins.
In 1159 [his father-in-law] Joscelin Courtenay II Count Edessa died. His son [his brother-in-law] Joscelin succeeded III Count Edessa.
In 1160 [his daughter] Sibylla Anjou Queen Jerusalem was born to Almaric I King Jerusalem [age 24] and [his wife] Agnes Courtenay Queen Jerusalem [age 24]. She married (1) William Montferrat and had issue (2) August 1186 Guy I King Jerusalem.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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In 1161 [his son] Baldwin IV King Jerusalem was born to Almaric I King Jerusalem [age 25] and [his wife] Agnes Courtenay Queen Jerusalem [age 25] at Jerusalem [Map].
On 11th September 1161 [his mother] Melisende Queen of Jerusalem [age 56] died. Her son [his brother] Baldwin [age 31] succeeded King Jerusalem.
On 10th February 1163 Baldwin III King Jerusalem [age 33] died at Beirut. His brother Almaric [age 27] succeeded I King Jerusalem.
In 1165 [his half-sister] Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex [age 53] died.
In 1167 Almaric I King Jerusalem [age 31] and Maria Komnenos Queen Jerusalem [age 13] were married. She by marriage Queen Jerusalem. He the son of Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem and Melisende Queen of Jerusalem.
In 1172 [his daughter] Isabella Anjou Queen Jerusalem was born to Almaric I King Jerusalem [age 36] and [his wife] Maria Komnenos Queen Jerusalem [age 18]. She married (1) 1190 Conrad of Montferrat King of Jerusalem (2) 6th May 1192 her half third cousin twice removed Henry Blois II Count Champagne, son of Henry Blois I Count Champagne and Marie Capet Countess Champagne.
On 11th July 1174 Almaric I King Jerusalem [age 38] died. His son Baldwin [age 13] succeeded IV King Jerusalem.
Annals of Six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet [1258-1328]. When he arrived at Rouen with a multitude of Welshmen, he sent them across the Seine to plunder provisions in the forests—supplies that were being carried to the army of the French. The French, therefore, fearing the king on one side and the Welsh on the other, came to the king of England to discuss peace. Rejoicing at this, the king appointed the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin as the date for restoring peace, to be held at Gisors. On the vigil [14th August 1174] of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary, the French army abandoned the siege of Rouen and withdrew. When the appointed time for restoring peace arrived, the two sides met, but accomplished nothing; instead they set another meeting for the Feast of St. Michael [20th September 1174] near the city of Tours. When they met again at that place and time, peace was finally achieved, and the three sons of the king humbly submitted themselves to their father. The king of France and the count of Flanders restored to the king of England the strongholds they had seized in Normandy. After the Feast of St. John, Amalric1, king of Jerusalem, died, and his son Baldwin IV succeeded him. Noradin, king of Aleppo, also died, and his son succeeded him—born of the sister of the count of Saint-Gilles, whom Noradin had taken captive during the expedition to Jerusalem. She and her son, having received a truce from the king of Jerusalem for seven years, promised him a very large sum of gold. Saraguntat, Noradin’s nephew, killed the admiral of Babylon and became ruler both of Babylon and Alexandria. John of Oxford, dean of Salisbury, was elected bishop of Norwich.
Veniens autem Rothomagum cum multitudine Wallensium, misit eos trans Secanam, ut in nemoribus victualia diriperent, quæ ad Francorum exercitum vehebantur. Franci itaque, ex una parte timentes regem, et ex parte alia Wallenses, ad regem Anglorum de pace conveniunt locuturi. Super quo lætatus rex, terminum reformandæ pacis, apud Gisortium, statuit festum Nativitatis Virginis gloriosæ. In vigilia vero Assumptionis beatæ Mariæ, omissa obsidione Rothomagi, exercitus Francorum discessit. Adveniente termino reformandæ pacis convenerunt partes, sed nihil proficientes alium terminum in festo S. Michaelis juxta civitatem Turonis statuerunt. Quibus die et loco iterum convenientes, pax proHis three venit, et tres regis filii patri suo se humiliter subto him. diderunt. Rex autem Francorum et comes Flandriæ firmitates, quas in Normannia ceperant, regi Angliæ reddiderunt. Post festum S. Joannis moritur Almaricus rex Jerusalem, successitque filius ejus Baldewinus quartus. Obiit etiam Noradinus rex Halapiæ, et successit filius ejus, natus ex sorore comitis S. Ægidii, quam in itinere Ierosolymitano captivam acceperat. Ipsa vero et filius ejus, acceptis induciis a rege Jerusalem usque ad septennium, promiserunt ei plurimam summam auri. Saraguntat, Noradini nepos, occidit amiralium Babyloniæ, tam Babyloniæ quam Alexandriæ princeps factus. Joannes Oxoniensis, Saresberiensis decanus, ad episcopatum eligitur Norwicensem.
Note 1. Almaric [age 38], King of Jerusalem, died on 11th July 1174. He was succeeded by his son Baldwin IV [age 13].
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Around 1184 [his former wife] Agnes Courtenay Queen Jerusalem [age 48] died.
In 1217 [his former wife] Maria Komnenos Queen Jerusalem [age 63] died.
Kings Franks: Great x 10 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandfather: Fulcuich Count Mortagne au Perche
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh de Perche Count Gâtinais
Great x 3 Grandmother: Melisende Viscountess Châteaudun
Great x 1 Grandfather: Geoffrey "Ferréol" Anjou 2nd Count Gâtinais
Great x 3 Grandfather: Albéric II Count Mâcon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Béatrice de Mâcon Countess Gâtinais
GrandFather: Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou
Great x 4 Grandfather: Fulk "Good" Ingelger 2nd Count Anjou
Great x 3 Grandfather: Geoffrey "Greygown" Ingelger 1st Count Anjou
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gerberge Unknown Viscountess Anjou
Great x 2 Grandfather: Fulk "Black" Ingelger III Count Anjou
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Vermandois Count Meaux Count Châlons
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adele Vermandois Countess Anjou
Great x 1 Grandmother: Ermengarde Blanche Ingelger Duchess Burgundy
Great x 2 Grandmother: Hildegarde Sundgau Countess Anjou
Father: Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem
Great x 4 Grandfather: Aumary Reginarids
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Reginarids
Great x 2 Grandfather: Aumary Reginarids
Great x 1 Grandfather: Simon Montfort
Great x 2 Grandmother: Bertrade Unknown
GrandMother: Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard "Fearless" Normandy I Duke Normandy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Normandy Archbishop of Rouen
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gunnora Countess Ponthieu
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Normandy 2nd Count Évreux
Great x 3 Grandmother: Herleva Countess Évreux
Great x 1 Grandmother: Agnès of Normandy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ramon Borrell Count of Barcelona
Great x 2 Grandmother: Adelaide aka Godehildis Ramon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger I of Carcasonne
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ermesinde of Carcassonne
Great x 1 Grandfather: Hugh I Count of Rethel
GrandFather: Baldwin II King Jerusalem
Great x 2 Grandfather: Guy I of Montlhéry
Great x 1 Grandmother: Melisende of Crécy
Mother: Melisende Queen of Jerusalem