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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In or before 1321 [his father] Henry Percy 10th and 2nd Baron Percy and [his mother] Idonia Clifford Baroness Percy were married. She by marriage Baroness Percy of Alnwick, Baroness Percy of Topcliffe.
In 1321 Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy was born to [his father] Henry Percy 10th and 2nd Baron Percy and [his mother] Idonia Clifford Baroness Percy.
After 20th January 1340 [his brother-in-law] Robert Umfraville and [his sister] Margaret Percy Baroness Ferrers Groby were married. He the son of Gilbert Umfraville 9th Earl Angus and Joan Willoughby Countess Angus.
Before 10th November 1341 Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy and Mary Plantagenet Baroness Percy were married. She by marriage Baroness Percy of Alnwick. She the daughter of Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster and Maud Chaworth.
On 10th November 1341 [his son] Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland was born to Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy and [his wife] Mary Plantagenet Baroness Percy at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland. He married (1) 1358 Margaret Neville, daughter of Ralph Neville 2nd Baron Neville of Raby and Alice Audley Baroness Greystoke and Neville, and had issue (2) 1381 Maud Lucy Countess Northumberland, daughter of Thomas Lucy 2nd Baron Lucy and Margaret Multon.
In 1343 [his son] Thomas Percy 1st Earl of Worcester was born to Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy and [his wife] Mary Plantagenet Baroness Percy.
14th December 1344 Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey and Isabel Despencer Countess Arundel marriage annulled by Pope Clement VI on the grounds that he had never freely consented to marry Isabel. He, at this time, is believed to be having an affair with her first cousin [his sister-in-law] Eleanor who he married four months later.
In or before 1345 [his brother-in-law] John Fitzwalter 3rd Baron Fitzwalter and [his sister] Eleanor Percy Baroness Fitzwalter were married. She by marriage Baroness Fitzwalter. The difference in their ages was 21 years.
In or before 1345 Ralph Ufford and [his sister-in-law] Maud Plantagenet Countess Ulster were married. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster and Maud Chaworth.
On 5th April 1345 Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey and [his sister-in-law] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey were married at Ditton Church, Stoke Poges. She by marriage Countess Arundel. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster and Maud Chaworth. He the son of Edmund Fitzalan 2nd or 9th Earl of Arundel and Alice Warenne Countess Arundel.
On 22nd September 1345 [his father-in-law] Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster died at Leicester Castle. [his brother-in-law] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster succeeded 4th Earl of Leicester, 4th Earl Lancaster.
On 26th August 1346 the army of King Edward III of England defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England, his son Edward "Black Prince", Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick, William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick.
The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield, Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Bernard Brocas, Thomas Felton, James Audley, Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh, Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh, Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham, John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth, Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton, William Scrope, Stephen Scrope, William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby, John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle, Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle, Nicholas Longford, Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh, Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings, Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk, John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford, Thomas West, John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby, John Wingfield, Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy, Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux, John Devereux, Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos, Richard Pembridge and John Sully.
The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France was wounded. William de Coucy and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy and were killed.
Charles II Count Alençon was killed. Charles Valois Archbishop of Lyons succeeded Count Alençon.
Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. Louis Chatillon III Count Blois Count Soissons succeeded III Count Blois.
Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders was killed. Louis of Male III Count Nevers II Count Flanders succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.
King John I of Bohemia was killed. Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg succeeded IV King Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg. Blanche Valois Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg by marriage Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg.
Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine was killed. John Metz I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.
Jean IV de Harcourt was killed.
In June 1347 John Warenne 7th Earl of Surrey died. Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey succeeded 8th Earl Surrey. [his sister-in-law] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey by marriage Countess Surrey. Conisbrough Castle reverted to the Crown.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. In the same year, the Earl of Lancaster,1 the Barons of Stafford and Greystoke, along with the heirs of the Lords Percy and Neville, as well as Lord Furnival and Bartholomew de Burghersh, together with many others, crossed over to Gascony around the Feast of All Saints [1st November 1349], to oppose the ravaging campaigns of John of Valois, son of the tyrant of the French, who was heavily harassing that duchy.
Eodem anno comes Lancastrie et barones Staffordie et de Greistoke, item heredes dominorum de Percy et de Neville atque dominus de Fornival et Bartholomeus de Burghasshe, cum multis aliis, circa festum Omnium Sanctorum transfretaverant in Vasconiam, posituri resistenciam debacacioni Iohannis de Valesio, filii tiranni Francorum, qui ducatum illum nimis infestavit.
Note 1. The earl of Lancaster was appointed lieutenant of Poitou on the 18th October 1349. Rymer's Fœdera 3.190. Knighton. William, lord Greystock, succeeded in 1323 and died in 1358. The heirs of Percy and Nevill were Henry, afterwards 3rd lord Percy, 1352-1368, who had fought at Crécy, and was brother-in-law of Lancaster; and John Nevill, who had been present with his father at Nevile's Cross, married Percy's sister, and became 3rd lord Nevill, 1367-1388. Thomas, lord Furnival, had also fought at Crécy, and died about 1364. Both Bartholomew, lord Burghersh, and his son, of the same name, served in this campaign.
In 1351 [his brother-in-law] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster was created 1st Duke Lancaster by King Edward III of England. Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster by marriage Duchess Lancaster.
Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence was created 1st Earl of Ulster.
John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster was created 1st Earl Richmond.
Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford was created 1st Earl Stafford.
On 26th February 1352 [his father] Henry Percy 10th and 2nd Baron Percy died. Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy succeeded 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick, 11th Baron Percy of Topcliffe.
In 1358 [his son] Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland and [his daughter-in-law] Margaret Neville were married.
On 13th April 1360 a freak weather event known as Black Monday Hailstorm occurred as the army of King Edward III of England were camped outside Chartres. Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick, William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton, [his brother-in-law] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster, Edward "Black Prince" and Walter Mauny were present. Around one thousand English were killed, with up to six thousand horses. King Edward III of England believed the event to be an Act of God and proceeded to negotiate with the French resulting in the Treaty of Brétigny.
On 28th April 1360 Guy Beauchamp died from injuries received during the Black Monday Hailstorm.
On 23rd March 1361 [his brother-in-law] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster died at Leicester Castle. He was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark. Duke Lancaster, Earl Lincoln extinct.
Blanche Duchess of Lancaster succeeded 5th Countess Lancaster and 2nd Countess Derby. John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster by marriage Earl Lancaster, Earl Derby.
Maud Plantagenet Duchess Lower Bavaria succeeded 5th Countess of Leicester.
On 18th October 1361 [his sister] Eleanor Percy Baroness Fitzwalter died.
In 1362 [his wife] Mary Plantagenet Baroness Percy died at Alnwick, Northumberland.
After 1362 Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy and Joan Orreby Baroness Percy were married. She by marriage Baroness Percy of Alnwick. The difference in their ages was 28 years.
On 24th August 1365 [his mother] Idonia Clifford Baroness Percy died at Alnwick, Northumberland.
On 12th March 1367 [his daughter] Mary Percy Baroness Ros of Helmsley was born to Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy and [his wife] Joan Orreby Baroness Percy. She married 22nd June 1382 John Ros 5th Baron Ros Helmsley, son of Thomas Ros 4th Baron Ros Helmsley and Beatrice Stafford Countess Desmond.
On 18th May 1368 Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy died at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland. He was buried at Alnwick Abbey, Northumberland. [his son] Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland succeeded 4th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 12th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. [his daughter-in-law] Margaret Neville by marriage Baroness Percy of Alnwick.
On 29th July 1369 [his former wife] Joan Orreby Baroness Percy died.
Archaeologia Volume 22 Section XVI. Aº 1376 there was a parlyament at London, whiche began about the octaves of St. George, and contynewed 9 weekes, wherein was demaunded for the Kynge a subsydye of the Commons. The knyghts of the shyre (inspyred as it is thought with the holy Ghost) after dylygent delyberation in the matter, refused to answer to suche petytions without the counsell of the nobles, & for that cause they requyred that certayn byshops, videlicet, of Norwych, Rochester, London, & Carleyll, myght covnsell them wherby with greater delyberation they myght make answere to the kyngs request. The byshops admytted to the recounsell, & hearing the allegations & petytions which the intended to propovnde, foreseinge how the matter was hard, and without great counsell not well to be brought to good effect, for that it requyred a strong hand, made answere, that by all meanes they should labour that 4 lordes which should entyerly love the kyngdome and his majesties dygnytye, should be sent for, with whose favors they myght be backed & defended if any sought to wronge them, and by them to be more incoraged stoutly to prosecute any matter that should be brought to passe for the safetye of the kyngdome, his majesties body and soule, yea, althoughe the Kynge should take the same in evill parte. The knyghtes consentynge with the byshops made request for 4 lordes without whose consent they neyther wold nor cold make anye answere in so wayghtye a matter. Then at there own election the were 4 sent vnto them, namely, the L. Henry Percye, the L. Rycharde de Stafforde, the L. Guy de Bryan, and the L. de Beuchampe,d who all sware with them, and perceyvynge there good purpose not without God's provydence consented with them, yet not without 4 erles faythfull to the land, ryche, & of poure were joyned with them, which graunted, they chose the Lord Edmond Mortymer Erle of Marche, Thomas Beuchamp Erle of Warwyke, Wm Vfford Erle of Suffolke, Rafe Stafford Erle of Stafforde, these beinge chosen it was easye to exact an othe of them, synce they ment nethynge but the kynges honor & the quyett of the lande.
Note d. It appears by the Rolls of Parliament that the Bishop of St. David's and Sir Henry Scroop, were appointed for the purposes named in the text, instead of the Bishop of Rochester and the Lord Beauchamp. The remaining ten are correctly stated above. Rot. Parl. 2. p. 322.