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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Viscount Mandeville

Viscount Mandeville is in Viscountcies of England Alphabetically.

In 1620 Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester [aged 57] was created 1st Viscount Mandeville, 1st Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 26th April 1620 Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester [aged 57] and Margaret Crouch Countess Manchester [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Viscountess Mandeville. The difference in their ages was 42 years.

On 7th November 1642 Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester [aged 79] died. His son Edward [aged 40] succeeded 2nd Earl Manchester, 2nd Viscount Mandeville, 2nd Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 5th May 1671 Edward Montagu 2nd Earl Manchester [aged 69] died. His son Robert [aged 37] succeeded 3rd Earl Manchester, 3rd Viscount Mandeville, 3rd Baron Montagu of Kimbolton. Anne Yelverton Countess Manchester [aged 41] by marriage Countess Manchester.

On 14th March 1683 Robert Montagu 3rd Earl Manchester [aged 48] died. His son Charles [aged 21] succeeded 4th Earl Manchester, 4th Viscount Mandeville, 4th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

In 1722 Charles Montagu 1st Duke Manchester [aged 60] died. His son William [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Duke Manchester, 5th Earl Manchester, 5th Viscount Mandeville, 5th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 21st October 1739 William Montagu 2nd Duke Manchester [aged 39] died. His brother Robert [aged 29] succeeded 3rd Duke Manchester, 6th Earl Manchester, 6th Viscount Mandeville, 6th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton. Harriet Dunch Duchess Manchester by marriage Duchess Manchester.

On 10th May 1762 Robert Montagu 3rd Duke Manchester [aged 52] died. His son George [aged 25] succeeded 4th Duke Manchester, 7th Earl Manchester, 7th Viscount Mandeville, 7th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 2nd September 1788 George Montagu 4th Duke Manchester [aged 51] died. His son William [aged 16] succeeded 5th Duke Manchester, 8th Earl Manchester, 8th Viscount Mandeville, 8th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 18th March 1843 William Montagu 5th Duke Manchester [aged 71] died. His son George [aged 43] succeeded 6th Duke Manchester, 9th Earl Manchester, 9th Viscount Mandeville, 9th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton. Millicent Sparrow Duchess Manchester [aged 45] by marriage Duchess Manchester.

On 18th August 1855 George Montagu 6th Duke Manchester [aged 56] died. His son William [aged 31] succeeded 7th Duke Manchester, 10th Earl Manchester, 10th Viscount Mandeville, 10th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton. Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester [aged 23] by marriage Duchess Manchester.

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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On 22nd March 1890 William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester [aged 66] died. His son George [aged 36] succeeded 8th Duke Manchester, 11th Earl Manchester, 11th Viscount Mandeville, 11th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton. Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester [aged 37] by marriage Duchess Manchester.

On 18th August 1892 George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester [aged 39] died at Tandragee Castle. His son William [aged 15] succeeded 9th Duke Manchester, 12th Earl Manchester, 12th Viscount Mandeville, 12th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 9th February 1947 William Montagu 9th Duke Manchester [aged 69] died. His son Alexander [aged 44] succeeded 10th Duke Manchester, 13th Earl Manchester, 13th Viscount Mandeville, 13th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 23rd November 1977 Alexander Montagu 10th Duke of Manchester [aged 75] died. His son Sidney [aged 48] succeeded 11th Duke Manchester, 14th Earl Manchester, 14th Viscount Mandeville, 14th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 3rd June 1985 Sidney Montagu 11th Duke of Manchester [aged 56] died at Robin Hood Ranch, Tennessee. He was buried at St Andrew's Church, Kimbolton [Map]. His brother Angus [aged 46] succeeded 12th Duke Manchester, 15th Earl Manchester, 15th Viscount Mandeville, 15th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.

On 25th July 2002 Angus Montagu 12th Duke of Manchester [aged 63] died. His son Alexander [aged 39] succeeded 13th Duke Manchester, 16th Earl Manchester, 16th Viscount Mandeville, 16th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.