Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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Paternal Family Tree: Fletcher
In or before 1633 [his father] Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet (age 32) and [his mother] Catherine Dalston were married.
Around 1633 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet was born to [his father] Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet (age 33) and [his mother] Catherine Dalston.
In 1641 [his father] Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet (age 41) was created 1st Baronet Fletcher of Hutton le Forest in Cumberland.
On 24th September 1645 [his father] Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet (age 45) died. His son George (age 12) succeeded 2nd Baronet Fletcher of Hutton le Forest in Cumberland.
On 27th February 1654 or 27th February 1655 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 21) and Alice Hare were married. They had a son and three daughters.
In 1658 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 25) was elected MP Cumberland which seat he held until 1679.
In 1658 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 25) was appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland.
In April 1661 [his son] Henry Fletcher 3rd Baronet was born to George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 28) and [his wife] Alice Hare.
Before 1665 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 31) and Mary Johnstone Lady Fletcher were married. They had two sons and two daughters.
Around 1666 [his son] George Fletcher was born to George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 33) and [his wife] Mary Johnstone Lady Fletcher.
In 1680 [his son-in-law] Lionel Vane (age 33) and [his daughter] Catherine Fletcher were married.
In 1680 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 47) was appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland.
In 1681 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 48) was elected MP Cumberland which seat he held until 1685.
In 1689 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 56) was elected MP Cumberland which seat he held until his death in 1700.
On 23rd July 1700 George Fletcher 2nd Baronet (age 67) died. His son Henry (age 39) succeeded 3rd Baronet Fletcher of Hutton le Forest in Cumberland.
[his daughter] Catherine Fletcher was born to George Fletcher 2nd Baronet and Alice Hare. She married 1680 Lionel Vane and had issue.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Fletcher
GrandFather: Richard Fletcher
Father: Henry Fletcher 1st Baronet
GrandFather: George Dalston
Mother: Catherine Dalston