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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Paternal Family Tree: Douglas
Maternal Family Tree: Mary Margaret Montifex 1330-1424
Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney was born to [her father] Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine and [her mother] Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine.
Before 1390 [her father] Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine (age 17) and [her mother] Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] King Robert III of Scotland (age 52) and [her grandmother] Annabella Drummond Queen Consort Scotland (age 39). He the son of Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas (age 60) and Joanna Strathearn Countess Douglas. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John of England.
In 1390 John Stewart 2nd Earl Buchan (age 9) and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney were married. She the daughter of Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine (age 18) and Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine. He the son of Robert Stewart 1st Duke Albany (age 50) and Muriella Keith Duchess Albany (age 32). They were first cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King John of England.
Before 1400 [her brother-in-law] Murdoch Stewart 2nd Duke Albany (age 37) and Isabel Countess Lennox Duchess Albany were married. She by marriage Duchess Albany. She the daughter of Duncan Lennox 8th Earl Lennox (age 54). He the son of [her father-in-law] Robert Stewart 1st Duke Albany (age 59) and Margaret Graham 3rd Countess Menteith.
Around December 1400 [her grandfather] Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas (age 70) died at Threave Castle. His son [her father] Archibald (age 28) succeeded 4th Earl Douglas. [her mother] Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine by marriage Countess Douglas.
On 21st July 1403 King Henry IV of England (age 36), with his son the future King Henry V of England (age 16), defeated the rebel army of Henry "Hotspur" Percy (age 39) at the Battle of Shrewsbury at the site now known as Battlefield, Shrewsbury [Map]. King Henry V of England took an arrow to the side of his face. John Stanley (age 53) was wounded in the throat. Thomas Strickland (age 36) fought and was awarded £38 and two of the rebel Henry's horses. Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick (age 21) fought for the King. Walter Blount (age 55), the King's Standard Bearer, was killed by [her father] Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine (age 31).
Thomas Wendesley (age 59), Edmund Cockayne (age 47) and Robert Goushill were killed.
Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford (age 25) was killed. His son Humphrey Stafford succeeded 6th Earl Stafford, 7th Baron Stafford.
Hugh Shirley (age 52) was killed; he was one of four knights dressed as King Henry IV of England.
Of the rebels, Henry "Hotspur" Percy, Madog Kynaston (age 43) and John Clifton were killed.
Thomas Percy 1st Earl of Worcester (age 60) was beheaded after the battle. Earl Worcester extinct.
Richard Vernon 11th Baron Shipbrook (age 48) was hanged. Baron Shipbrook forfeit.
John Rossall was killed. His sister Eleanor Rossall (age 26) inherited a half-share in the Rossall Shrewsbury [Map] estates.
John Massey (age 65) was killed.
On 3rd September 1420 [her father-in-law] Robert Stewart 1st Duke Albany (age 80) died at Stirling Castle [Map]. His son [her brother-in-law] Murdoch (age 58) succeeded 2nd Duke Albany. His son [her husband] John (age 39) succeeded 2nd Earl Buchan. Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney by marriage Countess Buchan.
On 22nd March 1421 the Dauphin's (age 18) French army and a Scottish army heavily defeated the English army at the Battle of Baugé. On the French side Étienne Vignolles "La Hire" fought. On the Scottish side [her husband] John Stewart 2nd Earl Buchan (age 40) and John Stewart of Darnley 1st Count Évreux (age 41) fought. William Douglas (age 37) was killed.
On the English side John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset (age 18), Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter (age 44), Thomas Beaufort Count Perche (age 16) and John Holland 2nd Duke Exeter (age 26) were captured. John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset would be captive for the next seventeen years. Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter was released in 1422. Thomas Beaufort Count Perche was released around 1427 in a prisoner exchange.
Thomas Lancaster 1st Duke of Clarence (age 33) was killed in battle. Duke Clarence extinct.
John Lumley (age 38) was killed in battle.
John Ros 7th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 24) was killed in battle. His brother Thomas (age 13) succeeded 8th Baron Ros Helmsley.
William Ros (age 23), and Gilbert V Umfraville were killed.
John Grey 1st Earl Tankerville (age 37) was killed in battle. His son Henry (age 3) succeeded 2nd Earl Tankerville.
William Douglas 1st Lord Drumlanrig was present.
Around 1424 [her brother] Archibald Douglas 2nd Duke Touraine (age 34) and [her sister-in-law] Euphemia Graham Lady Hamilton (age 16) were married. She by marriage Duchess Touraine, Countess Wigtown. She the daughter of Patrick Graham and Eupheme Stewart 2nd Countess of Strathearn and Caithness. He the son of [her father] Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine (age 52) and [her mother] Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine. They were half second cousins.
On 29th April 1424 [her father] Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine (age 52) was created 1st Duke Touraine by Charles "Victorious" VII King France (age 21); he was the first non-Frenchman to be appiinted Duke in France. Charles had also appointed him Lieutenant General in the waging of war in the Kingdom of France. [her mother] Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine by marriage Duchess Touraine.
On 17th August 1424 the English forces led by John Lancaster 1st Duke Bedford (age 35) inflicted a significant defeat on the French and Scottish army at the Battle of Verneuil; a second Agincourt. For the English Edmund Hungerford (age 15), Ralph Longford (age 23), John "Old Talbot" Talbot 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (age 41) and Richard Waller (age 29) fought.
On the French and Scottish side Pierre Valois, [her father] Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine (age 52), his son James Douglas, William Seton Master of Seton (age 34), Alexander Home of Home and Dunglas (age 56) were killed
John Stewart 2nd Earl Buchan (age 43) was killed. His brother Robert (age 39) de jure Earl Ross and Earl Buchan although he didn't claim the title since both titles had reverted to the Crown.
Jean Poton Xaintrailles (age 34) fought.
On 17th August 1424 [her brother] Archibald Douglas 2nd Duke Touraine (age 34) succeeded 2nd Duke Touraine, 2nd Earl Wigtown, 5th Lord Douglas, 2nd Lord Annandale, 2nd Lord Galloway, 2nd Lord Bothwell.
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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Before 1425 [her daughter] Margaret Stewart was born to [her former husband] John Stewart 2nd Earl Buchan and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.20%. She married before 8th January 1437 George Seton 3rd Lord Seton and had issue.
Around 1st May 1427 Thomas Stewart and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney were married. She the daughter of Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine and Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine. He the son of Alexander Stewart 1st Earl of Mar (age 52). They were second cousins.
Before August 1432 [her husband] Thomas Stewart died.
In 1436 [her son] William Sinclair 2nd Lord Sinclair was born to William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness (age 26) and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney. Coefficient of inbreeding 2.40%. He married after 29th April 1458 Christian Leslie Lady Sinclair and had issue.
Before 8th January 1437 [her son-in-law] George Seton 3rd Lord Seton (age 22) and Margaret Stewart (age 12) were married. She the daughter of John Stewart 2nd Earl Buchan and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney.
On 26th June 1439 [her brother] Archibald Douglas 2nd Duke Touraine (age 49) died. His son [her nephew] William (age 15) succeeded 3rd Duke Touraine, 3rd Earl Wigtown, 6th Lord Douglas, 3rd Lord Annandale, 3rd Lord Galloway, 3rd Lord Bothwell. Janet Lindsay Countess Wigtown (age 12) by marriage Countess Wigtown.
In 1440 [her daughter] Catherine Sinclair Duchess Albany was born to William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness (age 30) and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney. Coefficient of inbreeding 2.40%. She married before 1477 her second cousin Alexander Stewart 1st Duke Albany, son of King James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland, and had issue.
Around 1451 Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney died.
[her daughter] Unamed Sinclair was born to William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney. Coefficient of inbreeding 2.40%.
William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney were married. She by marriage Countess Orkney. She the daughter of Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine and Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine. He the son of Henry Sinclair 2nd Earl Orkney and Egidia "Fair Maid of Nithsdale" Douglas Countess Orkney. They were half first cousin once removed.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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Thomas son Alexander Earl Mar and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney were married. She the daughter of Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine and Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine.
Kings Wessex: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of King John of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Archibald Douglas
Great x 3 Grandfather: William "Longleg" Douglas
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Crawford
Great x 2 Grandfather: William "Hardy" Douglas 2nd Lord Douglas
Great x 3 Grandmother: Constance Battail Battail
Great x 1 Grandfather: James "Black" Douglas
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Stewart 3rd High Steward 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart 4th High Steward
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bethóc Angus
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stewart Baroness Douglas
GrandFather: Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas
Father: Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine
Great x 1 Grandfather: Maurice de Moravia Strathearn 1st Earl Strathearn
GrandMother: Joanna Strathearn Countess Douglas
Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart 4th High Steward
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Stewart 5th High Steward
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Stewart 6th High Steward
Great x 1 Grandfather: King Robert II of Scotland 
3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Bruce Earl Carrick 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marjorie Carrick 3rd Countess Carrick
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marjorie Bruce 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Donald Mar 7th Earl of Mar
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Mar Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar Grand Daughter of King John of England
GrandFather: King Robert III of Scotland 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Adam Mure
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Mure Queen Consort Scotland
Mother: Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Malcolm Drummond
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Drummond of Stobhall 11th Thane of Lennox
GrandMother: Annabella Drummond Queen Consort Scotland
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Margaret Montifex