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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MP Harwich is in Member Parliament.
In 1604 Richard Browne (age 65) was elected MP Harwich.
In 1614 Charles Montagu (age 50) was elected MP Harwich.
In 1647 Capell Luckyn 2nd Baronet (age 26) was elected MP Harwich.
In 1660 Capell Luckyn 2nd Baronet (age 39) was elected MP Harwich. He was re-elected in 1664 and sat until 1679.
In 1679 Philip Parker 1st Baronet (age 61) was elected MP Harwich.
In 1690 Charles Cheyne 1st Viscount Newhaven (age 64) was elected MP Harwich and MP Newport choosing to sit for Harwich.
In April 1708 Thomas Frankland 3rd Baronet (age 23) was elected MP Harwich.
In 1710 Thomas Frankland 3rd Baronet (age 25) was elected MP Harwich during the 1710 General Election.
In 1722 John Perceval 1st Earl Egmont (age 38) was elected MP Harwich which seat he held until 1734.
In 1784 Thomas Orde-Powlett 1st Baron Bolton (age 43) was elected MP Harwich.
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 1807 William Huskisson (age 36) was elected MP Harwich. He was appointed Secretary of the Treasury.