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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Earl March is in Earldoms of England Alphabetically.
There have been four creations of Earl March:
1st. October 1328. Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March. Merged with the Crown. 28th June 1461. Coronation of Edward IV.
2nd. 1473. King Edward V of England. Extinct. August 1483. Disappearance of the Princes in the Tower.
3rd. 1619. Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox. Extinct. December 1672.
4th. 9th August 1675. Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond. Extant.
Earl March is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Forfeit Earldoms of England, Merged with the Crown Earldoms of England.
Summary
October 1328. Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March [aged 41] created. See Roger Mortimer created Earl of March.
29th November 1330. King Edward III of England [aged 18] forfeit. See Execution of Mortimer.
1354. Roger Mortimer 2nd Earl March [aged 25] restored.
26th February 1360. Son Edmund Mortimer 3rd Earl March, Earl of Ulster [aged 8] succeeded.
27th December 1381. Son Roger Mortimer 4th Earl March 3rd Earl of Ulster [aged 7] succeeded.
20th July 1398. Son Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl March 7th Earl of Ulster [aged 6] succeeded.
18th January 1425. Nephew Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York [aged 13] succeeded.
30th December 1460. Son King Edward IV of England [aged 18] succeeded. See Battle of Wakefield.
28th June 1461. King Edward IV of England merged with the crown. See Coronation of Edward IV.
In October 1328 Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March [aged 41] was created 1st Earl March by his own authority to the surprise, perhaps astonishment, of the nobility who compared his behaviour as similar to the usurped Edward II.
On 29th November 1330 Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March [aged 43] was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn [Map] accused of assuming royal power and of various other high misdemeanours. His body hung at the gallows for two days and nights. He was buried at Christ Church, Greyfriars [Map]. Isabella of France Queen Consort England [aged 35] subsequently requested his burial at Wigmore Abbey [Map] and, after firstly refusing, King Edward III of England [aged 18] allowed his remains to be removed to Wigmore Abbey [Map]. Earl March, Baron Mortimer of Wigmore forfeit.
Before 1352 Roger Mortimer 2nd Earl March [aged 23] and Philippa Montagu Countess March [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess March. She the daughter of William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury and Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury. He the son of Edmund Mortimer and Elizabeth Badlesmere Countess Northampton [aged 38].
In 1354 Roger Mortimer 2nd Earl March [aged 25] was restored 2nd Earl March
On 26th February 1360 Roger Mortimer 2nd Earl March [aged 31] died. He was buried at Wigmore Abbey [Map]. His son Edmund [aged 8] succeeded 3rd Earl March, 5th Baron Mortimer of Wigmore.
On 24th August 1369 Edmund Mortimer 3rd Earl March, Earl of Ulster [aged 17] and Philippa Plantagenet Countess March 2nd Countess Ulster [aged 14] were married at Reading Abbey, Berkshire [Map]. She by marriage Countess March. He by marriage Earl of Ulster. She the daughter of Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence and Elizabeth Burgh Duchess of Clarence. He the son of Roger Mortimer 2nd Earl March and Philippa Montagu Countess March [aged 37]. They were fourth cousins. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
On 27th December 1381 Edmund Mortimer 3rd Earl March, Earl of Ulster [aged 29] died. He was buried at Wigmore Abbey [Map]. His son Roger [aged 7] succeeded 4th Earl March, 3rd Earl of Ulster, 6th Baron Mortimer of Wigmore.
On 7th October 1388 Roger Mortimer 4th Earl March 3rd Earl of Ulster [aged 14] and Eleanor Holland Countess March and Ulster [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Countess March, Countess of Ulster. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent [aged 38] and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent [aged 38]. He the son of Edmund Mortimer 3rd Earl March, Earl of Ulster and Philippa Plantagenet Countess March 2nd Countess Ulster. They were second cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 20th July 1398 Roger Mortimer 4th Earl March 3rd Earl of Ulster [aged 24] died at Kells, County Meath. He was buried at Wigmore Abbey [Map]. His son Edmund [aged 6] succeeded Heir to the Throne of England, 5th Earl March, 4th Earl of Ulster, 7th Baron Mortimer of Wigmore.
In 1415 Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl March 7th Earl of Ulster [aged 23] and Anne Stafford Duchess Exeter were married. She by marriage Countess March, Countess of Ulster. She the daughter of Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford and Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford [aged 32]. He the son of Roger Mortimer 4th Earl March 3rd Earl of Ulster and Eleanor Holland Countess March and Ulster. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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On 18th January 1425 Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl March 7th Earl of Ulster [aged 33] died at Trim Castle. He was buried at Clare Priory, Suffolk [Map]. His nephew Richard [aged 13] succeeded 6th Earl March, 5th Earl of Ulster, 8th Baron Mortimer of Wigmore.
On 30th December 1460 the Lancastrian army took their revenge for the defeats of the First Battle of St Albans and the Battle of Northampton at the Battle of Wakefield near Sandal Castle [Map]. The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter [aged 30], Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset [aged 24] and Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland [aged 39], and included John Courtenay 7th or 15th Earl Devon [aged 25] and William Gascoigne XIII [aged 30], both knighted, and James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde [aged 40], John "Butcher" Clifford 9th Baron Clifford [aged 25], John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby [aged 50], Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley [aged 33], Henry Roos and Thomas St Leger [aged 20].
The Yorkist army was heavily defeated.
Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York [aged 49] was killed. His son Edward [aged 18] succeeded 4th Duke York, 7th Earl March, 9th Earl of Ulster, 3rd Earl Cambridge, 9th Baron Mortimer of Wigmore.
Thomas Neville [aged 30], and Edward Bourchier were killed.
Father and son Thomas Harrington [aged 60] and John Harrington [aged 36] were killed, the former dying of his wounds the day after.
William Bonville 6th Baron Harington [aged 18] was killed. His daughter Cecily succeeded 7th Baroness Harington.
Thomas Parr [aged 53] fought in the Yorkist army.
Following the battle Richard Neville Earl Salisbury [aged 60] was beheaded by Thomas "Bastard of Exeter" Holland. William Bonville [aged 40] was executed.
Edmund York 1st Earl of Rutland [aged 17] was killed on Wakefield Bridge [Map] by John "Butcher" Clifford. Earl of Rutland extinct.
On 28th June 1461 King Edward IV of England [aged 19] was crowned IV King of England. Duke York, Earl March, Earl of Ulster, Earl Cambridge, Baron Mortimer of Wigmore merged with the Crown. Cardinal Thomas Bourchier [aged 43] was assisted by Archbishop William Booth [aged 73] at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Earl March is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
1473. King Edward V of England [aged 2] created.
August 1483. King Edward V of England extinct. See Disappearance of the Princes in the Tower.
Around 1473 King Edward V of England [aged 2] was created 1st Earl March.
Around August 1483 the Princes in the Tower, brothers King Edward V of England [aged 12] and Richard of Shrewsbury 1st Duke of York [aged 9] disappeared from the Tower of London [Map].
King Edward V of England: Earl March and Earl Pembroke extinct.
Richard of Shrewsbury 1st Duke of York: Duke York, Duke Norfolk and Earl Norfolk, Earl Nottingham extinct.
Commines writes "Not long after, he received letters from the Duke of Gloucester, who had made himself king, styled himself Richard III, and barbarously murdered his two nephews".
Robert Ricart, Mayor of Bristol: "And this yere the two sonnes of King E. were put to scylence in the Towre of London." although it should be noted this was written in the margin.
Croyland Chronicle: "while a rumour was spread that the sons of king Edward before-named had died a violent death, but it was uncertain how."
Polydore Vergil: "And to rid himself of this altogether he decided to kill his nephews, for as long as they were safe he could by no means be free of danger."
Jean Molinet: "They were imprisoned for about five weeks; and by the captain of the tower, the Duke Richard secretly had them put to death and eliminated."
Mancini: "I have seen not a few people burst into tears and weep when his memory was brought up after he was removed from the sight of men, and it was already suspected that he had been eliminated. Whether he has indeed been removed, and by what manner of death, I have not yet discovered."
Robert Fabyan: "In which passe tyme the prynce, or of ryght kynge Edwarde the v., with his broder the duke of Yorke, were put under suer kepynge within the Tower, in suche wyse that they neuer came abrode after."
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Earl March is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
1619. Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox [aged 40] created.
30th July 1624. Son James Stewart 4th Duke Lennox 1st Duke Richmond [aged 12] succeeded.
30th March 1655. Son Esmé Stewart 2nd Duke Richmond 5th Duke Lennox [aged 6] succeeded.
10th August 1660. First Cousin Charles Stewart 6th Duke Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond [aged 21] succeeded.
December 1672. Charles Stewart 6th Duke Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond extinct.
In 1619 Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox [aged 40] was created 1st Earl March. Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox [aged 27] by marriage Countess March.
On 30th July 1624 Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox [aged 45] died. His son James [aged 12] succeeded 4th Duke Lennox, 2nd Earl March.
On 30th March 1655 James Stewart 4th Duke Lennox 1st Duke Richmond [aged 42] died. His son Esmé [aged 6] succeeded 2nd Duke Richmond, 5th Duke Lennox, 3rd Earl March, 4th Baron Clifton of Leighton Bromswold in Huntingdonshire.
On 10th August 1660 Esmé Stewart 2nd Duke Richmond 5th Duke Lennox [aged 11] died of smallpox at Paris [Map]. He was buried in on 04 Sep 1660 in the Richmond Vault, Westminster Abbey. His first cousin Charles [aged 21] succeeded 6th Duke Lennox, 3rd Duke Richmond, 4th Earl March. Elizabeth Rogers Duchess Richmond by marriage Duchess Richmond. His sister Mary [aged 9] succeeded 5th Baroness Clifton of Leighton Bromswold in Huntingdonshire.
In December 1672 Charles Stewart 6th Duke Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond [aged 33] drowned at Elsinor. Duke Lennox, Duke Richmond, Earl March, Earl Lichfield. Baron Stuart extinct. His sister Katherine [aged 32] succeeded 7th Baroness Clifton of Leighton Bromswold in Huntingdonshire.
Earl March is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extant Earldoms of England.
Summary
9th August 1675. Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond [aged 3] created.
27th May 1723. Son Charles Lennox 2nd Duke Richmond [aged 22] succeeded.
8th August 1750. Son Charles Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond [aged 15] succeeded.
29th December 1806. Nephew Charles Lennox 4th Duke Richmond [aged 42] succeeded.
28th August 1819. Son Charles Gordon-Lennox 5th Duke Richmond [aged 28] succeeded.
21st October 1860. Son Charles Gordon-Lennox 6th Duke Richmond [aged 42] succeeded.
27th September 1903. Son Charles Gordon-Lennox 7th Duke Richmond [aged 57] succeeded.
18th January 1928. Son Charles Gordon-Lennox 8th Duke Richmond [aged 57] succeeded.
7th May 1935. Son Frederick Charles Gordon-Lennox 9th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 4th Duke of Gordon [aged 31] succeeded.
2nd November 1989. Son Charles Gordon-Lennox 10th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 5th Duke of Gordon [aged 60] succeeded.
1st September 2017. Son Charles Gordon-Lennox 11th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 6th Duke of Gordon [aged 62] succeeded.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 9th August 1675 Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond [aged 3] was created 1st Duke Richmond, 1st Earl March, 1st Baron Settrington by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 45].
On 27th May 1723 Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond [aged 50] died. His son Charles [aged 22] succeeded 2nd Duke Richmond, 2nd Earl March, 2nd Baron Settrington. Sarah Cadogan Duchess Richmond [aged 17] by marriage Duchess Richmond.
On 8th August 1750 Charles Lennox 2nd Duke Richmond [aged 49] died. His son Charles [aged 15] succeeded 3rd Duke Richmond, 3rd Earl March, 3rd Baron Settrington.
On 29th December 1806 Charles Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond [aged 71] died at Goodwood West Sussex. He was buried at Chichester Cathedral [Map]. His nephew Charles [aged 42] succeeded 4th Duke Richmond, 4th Earl March, 4th Baron Settrington. Charlotte Gordon Duchess Richmond [aged 38] by marriage Duchess Richmond.
On 28th August 1819 Charles Lennox 4th Duke Richmond [aged 54] died. His son Charles [aged 28] succeeded 5th Duke Richmond, 5th Earl March, 5th Baron Settrington. Caroline Paget Duchess Richmond [aged 23] by marriage Duchess Richmond.
On 21st October 1860 Charles Gordon-Lennox 5th Duke Richmond [aged 69] died. His son Charles [aged 42] succeeded 6th Duke Richmond, 6th Earl March, 6th Baron Settrington. Frances Harriett Greville Duchess Richmond [aged 36] by marriage Duchess Richmond.
On 27th September 1903 Charles Gordon-Lennox 6th Duke Richmond [aged 85] died. His son Charles [aged 57] succeeded 7th Duke Richmond, 2nd Duke Gordon, 7th Earl March, 7th Baron Settrington.
On 18th January 1928 Charles Gordon-Lennox 7th Duke Richmond [aged 82] died. His son Charles [aged 57] succeeded 8th Duke Richmond, 3rd Duke Gordon, 8th Earl March, 8th Baron Settrington. Hilda Madeline Brassey Duchess Richmond [aged 55] by marriage Duchess Richmond, Duchess Gordon.
On 7th May 1935 Charles Gordon-Lennox 8th Duke Richmond [aged 64] died. His son Frederick [aged 31] succeeded 9th Duke Richmond, 4th Duke Gordon, 9th Earl March, 9th Baron Settrington.
On 2nd November 1989 Frederick Charles Gordon-Lennox 9th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 4th Duke of Gordon [aged 85] died. His son Charles [aged 60] succeeded 10th Duke Richmond, 5th Duke Gordon, 10th Earl March, 10th Baron Settrington.
On 1st September 2017 Charles Gordon-Lennox 10th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 5th Duke of Gordon [aged 87] died. His son Charles [aged 62] succeeded 11th Duke Richmond, 6th Duke Gordon, 11th Earl March, 11th Baron Settrington. Janet Elizabeth Astor Duchess of Richmond and Gordon [aged 55] by marriage Duchess Richmond, Duchess Gordon.