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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Bishop of Oxford is in Bishop. See Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford [Map].
After June 1567 Archbishop Hugh Curwen [aged 67] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.
In 1632 Bishop John Bancroft [aged 58] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.
In November 1665 Bishop Walter Blandford [aged 49] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.
In 1671 Bishop Nathaniel Crew 3rd Baron Crew [aged 37] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.
In 1674 Bishop Henry Compton [aged 42] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.
John Evelyn's Diary. 28th April 1676. The University of Oxford presented me with the "Marmora Oxoniensia Arundeliana"; the Bishop of Oxford writing to desire that I would introduce Mr. Prideaux, the editor (a young man most learned in antiquities) to the Duke of Norfolk [aged 49], to present another dedicated to his Grace, which I did, and we dined with the Duke at Arundel House [Map], and supped at the Bishop of Rochester's [aged 51] with Isaac Vossius [aged 58].
In 1686 Bishop Samuel Parker [aged 46] was appointed Bishop of Oxford by King James II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 52].
In 1699 Bishop William Talbot [aged 41] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.
In 1816 Bishop Edward Legge [aged 60] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.
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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In 1829 Bishop Richard Bagot [aged 46] was appointed Bishop of Oxford.
On 17th October 1911 Bishop Charles Gore [aged 58] was elected Bishop of Oxford.