William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

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Biography of Alfonso VIII King Castile 1155-1214

Paternal Family Tree: Ivrea

Maternal Family Tree: Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche 1129

1189 Death of King Henry II

1189 Richard I Appoints his Bishops

1191 Marriage of King Richard I and Berengaria of Navarre

1199 Death of King Richard I

In 1151 [his father] Sancho III King Castile [aged 17] and [his mother] Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of [his grandfather] García "Restorer" IV King Navarre and [his grandmother] Marguerite Aigle Queen Consort Navarre. He the son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 45] and Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon. They were fourth cousins.

On 11th November 1155 Alfonso VIII King Castile was born to [his father] Sancho III King Castile [aged 21] and [his mother] Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile [aged 22].

On 12th August 1156 [his mother] Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile [aged 23] died.

On 21st August 1157 [his grandfather] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon [aged 52] died. His son [his father] Sancho [aged 23] succeeded III King Castile. His son [his uncle] Ferdinand [aged 20] succeeded II King Leon.

On 31st August 1158 [his father] Sancho III King Castile [aged 24] died. His son Alfonso [aged 2] succeeded VIII King Castile.

Before 17th September 1177 Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 21] and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England [aged 44] and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England [aged 55]. He the son of Sancho III King Castile and Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile. They were half fourth cousins.

In 1179 [his daughter] Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 23] and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 17]. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She married 1197 her first cousin once removed Alfonso IX King Leon, son of Ferdinand II King Leon and Urraca Burgundy Queen Consort Leon, and had issue.

In July 1181 [his brother-in-law] Geoffrey Plantagenet 2nd Duke Brittany [aged 22] and Constance Penthièvre Duchess Brittany [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Duchess Brittany. He by marriage Duke Brittany. She the daughter of Conan "The Young" Penthièvre IV Duke Brittany and Margaret Dunkeld Duchess Brittany [aged 36]. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England [aged 48] and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England [aged 59]. They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 19th August 1186 [his brother-in-law] Geoffrey Plantagenet 2nd Duke Brittany [aged 27] died at Paris [Map].

On 28th May 1187 [his daughter] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 31] and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 25]. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She married 1206 her second cousin once removed Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal, son of Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal and Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal, and had issue.

On 4th March 1188 [his daughter] Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 32] and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 26]. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She married 23rd May 1200 her third cousin King Louis VIII of France, son of King Philip II of France and Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France, and had issue.

On 28th June 1189 [his sister-in-law] Matilda Plantagenet Duchess Saxony [aged 33] died. She was buried at Brunswick Cathedral [Map].

Death of King Henry II

On 6th July 1189 [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England [aged 56] died at Chinon Castle [Map]. William Mandeville 3rd Earl Essex Count Aumale was present. He was buried at Fontevraud Abbey [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] Richard [aged 31] succeeded I King of England.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

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Richard I Appoints his Bishops

On 15th September 1189 [his brother-in-law] King Richard "Lionheart" I of England [aged 32] held a Council meeting at Pipewell [Map] at which he appointed a number of Bishops:

Bishop William Longchamp was elected Bishop of Ely.

Bishop Godfrey Lucy was elected Bishop of Winchester.

Bishop Richard Fitzneal [aged 59] was elected Bishop of London.

Archbishop Hubert Walter [aged 29] was elected Bishop of Salisbury.

In 1191 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Archbishop Geoffrey Plantagenet [aged 39] was appointed Archbishop of York.

Marriage of King Richard I and Berengaria of Navarre

On 12th May 1191 [his brother-in-law] King Richard "Lionheart" I of England [aged 33] and Berengaria of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 26] were married at Chapel of St George at Limassol Castle [Map]. She was crowned Queen Consort England the same day by the Hélie de Malemort, archbishop of Bordeaux, Jean aka John Fitz Luke, bishop of Évreux and Bernard II de Lacarre, Bishop of Bayonne. She the daughter of [his uncle] Sancho "Wise" King Navarre [aged 59] and [his aunt] Sancha Ivrea. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England [aged 69]. They were half fourth cousins.

Richard's mother and sister Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England and [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily [aged 25] were present.

In 1194 Raymond Count of Toulouse [aged 37] succeeded Marquess Provence. [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily [aged 28] by marriage Marchioness Provence.

In 1196 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] William Longespée Earl Salisbury [aged 20] and Ela of Salisbury 3rd Countess of Salisbury [aged 9] were married. He by marriage Earl Salisbury. She the daughter of William of Salisbury 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 46] and Eleanor Vitre Countess of Salisbury [aged 38]. He the illegitmate son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and Ida Tosny Countess Norfolk [aged 40]. They were fifth cousin once removed.

In October 1196 Raymond Count of Toulouse [aged 39] and [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily [aged 31] were married at Rouen, France [Map]. She by marriage Countess Toulouse. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England [aged 74]. He the son of Raymond Rouerge V Count Toulouse and Constance Capet Countess Boulogne and Toulouse. They were third cousin once removed.

In 1197 [his son-in-law] Alfonso IX King Leon [aged 25] and Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Leon. She the daughter of Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 41] and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 35]. He the son of Ferdinand II King Leon and Urraca Burgundy Queen Consort Leon [aged 49]. They were first cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

In 1197 [his sister-in-law] Alix Capet Countess Blois [aged 46] died.

On 11th March 1198 [his sister-in-law] Marie Capet Countess Champagne [aged 53] died.

Death of King Richard I

On 26th March 1199 [his brother-in-law] King Richard "Lionheart" I of England [aged 41] was besieging Châlus Chabrol Castle. During the course of the evening King Richard "Lionheart" I of England was shot by a crossbow. Richard died on 6th April 1199. His brother John [aged 32] succeeded I King of England.

His mother Eleanor appears to have been present at his death as confirmed in a Charter by her on 21st April: 'quia dilectus noster Lucas, abjbas de Torpiniaco, affuit nobiscum infirmitati et funeri karissimi filii nostri regis, et circa eiusdem exequias pre omnibus aliis religiosis laboravit.' i.e. 'because our beloved Luke, abbot of Turpenay, was with us during the illness and at the funeral of our most dear son the king, and worked more than all other religious men in carrying out his obsequies.' Coggeshall also mentioned that Richard 'summoned by letter his mother, who was dwelling at Fontevraud'.

There was a brother between Richard and John named Geoffrey Duke of Brittany who had a son Arthur [aged 11], who was around twelve, and a daughter Eleanor [aged 15], who was around fifteen, whose mother was Constance Penthièvre Duchess Brittany [aged 38].

King Philip II of France [aged 33] had planned for Eleanor to marry his son, probably to bring Brittany into the French Royal family, possibly to pursue a claim on England.

King Philip II of France supported Arthur's claim to the English throne. In the resulting war Arthur was captured, imprisoned and never seen again. Eleanor was captured, probably around the same time as Arthur, and imprisoned, more or less, for the remainder of her life, even after King John's death through the reign of King Henry III since she represented a threat to Henry's succession.

On 4th September 1199 [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily [aged 33] died at Rouen, France [Map]. She was buried at Fontevraud Abbey [Map].

Around April 1200 [his brother-in-law] King John of England [aged 33] and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex [aged 27] marriage annulled due to consanuinity but more likely because John's new status as heir to the English throne mean't he had better prospects. He may have already decided to marry Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 12] who he married on 24th August 1200.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough

A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'

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23rd May 1200 [his son-in-law] King Louis VIII of France [aged 12] and Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France [aged 12] were married. She the daughter of Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 44] and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 38]. He the son of King Philip II of France [aged 34] and Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France. They were third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 24th August 1200 [his brother-in-law] King John of England [aged 33] and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 12] were married. She had been engaged to Hugh IX of Lusignan IV Count of La Marche [aged 37] who subsequently appealed to King Philip II of France [aged 35], their feudal overlord, who used the position to justify a war against John. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême [aged 40] and Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England [aged 78]. They were fourth cousin once removed.

Around 1202 [his daughter] Constance Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 46] and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 40]. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 14th April 1204 [his son] Henry I King Castile was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 48] and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 42]. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. He married (1) 1215 his second cousin once removed Mafalda Burgundy Queen Consort Castile, daughter of Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal and Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal (2) 1216 his second cousin Sancha Ivrea Queen Consort Castile, daughter of Alfonso IX King Leon and Theresa of Portugal Queen Consort Leon.

In 1206 [his son-in-law] Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal [aged 20] and Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 50] and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 44]. He the son of Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal [aged 51] and Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal. They were second cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 12th December 1212 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Archbishop Geoffrey Plantagenet [aged 60] died at Normandy [Map]. He was buried at Notre Dame du Parc, Rouen.

On 5th October 1214 Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 58] died. He was buried at Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas [Map]. His son Henry [aged 10] succeeded I King Castile.

On 31st October 1214 [his former wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 53] died at Burgos [Map]. She was buried at Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas [Map].

[his son] Henry Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his son] Ferdinand Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his daughter] Mafalda Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his daughter] Sancha Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his daughter] Eleanor Ivrea Queen Consort Aragon was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She married her half second cousin James I King Aragon, son of Peter II King Aragon and Marie Montpellier Queen Consort Aragon, and had issue.

Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.

In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.

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[his son] Sancho Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Royal Ancestors of Alfonso VIII King Castile 1155-1214

Kings Franks: Great x 12 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Kings France: Great x 5 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 9 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Royal Descendants of Alfonso VIII King Castile 1155-1214
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Eleanor Ivrea Queen Consort Aragon [1]

Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile [1]

Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [1]

Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France [1]

Henry I King Castile [1]

Ancestors of Alfonso VIII King Castile 1155-1214

Great x 4 Grandfather: Otto William Ivrea I Count Burgundy

Great x 3 Grandfather: Reginald Ivrea I Count Burgundy

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ermentrude Countess Burgundy

Great x 2 Grandfather: William I Count Burgundy

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Normandy Countess Burgundy

Great x 4 Grandmother: Judith Penthièvre Duchess Normandy

Great x 1 Grandfather: Raymond Ivrea

Great x 2 Grandmother: Ettiennette Countess Burgundy

GrandFather: Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon

Great x 4 Grandfather: Sancho "Great" III King Pamplona

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ferdinand "Great" I King Leon

Great x 2 Grandfather: Alfonso "Brave" VI King Leon VI King Castile

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso "Noble" V King Leon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Sancha Astur Leonese

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elvira González Queen Consort Leon

Great x 1 Grandmother: Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert I Duke Burgundy

Great x 4 Grandmother: Constance Arles Queen Consort France

Great x 2 Grandmother: Constance Burgundy Queen Consort Castile and Leon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Helie Samur Duchess Burgundy

Father: Sancho III King Castile

GrandMother: Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon

Great x 2 Grandfather: Gilbert Gevaudan

Great x 1 Grandmother: Douce Gevaudan Countess Barcelona

Great x 2 Grandmother: Gerberga Arles

Great x 3 Grandmother: Etienette Countess Provence and Arles

Alfonso VIII King Castile

Great x 4 Grandfather: Sancho "Great" III King Pamplona

Great x 3 Grandfather: García III King Pamplona

Great x 2 Grandfather: Sancho Jiménez

Great x 1 Grandfather: Ramiro Jiménez

Great x 2 Grandmother: Constanza Unknown

GrandFather: García "Restorer" IV King Navarre

Great x 2 Grandfather: Rodrigo Díaz Vivar

Great x 1 Grandmother: Cristina Rodríguez Vivar

Mother: Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile

Great x 2 Grandfather: Engenulphe Aigle

Great x 1 Grandfather: Gilbert Aigle Lord Aigle

Great x 2 Grandmother: Richvaride Unknown

GrandMother: Marguerite Aigle Queen Consort Navarre

Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Chateaudun I Count Perche

Great x 3 Grandfather: Rotrou Chateaudun II Count Perche

Great x 4 Grandmother: Helvise Corbon Viscountess Châteaudun

Great x 2 Grandfather: Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche

Great x 4 Grandfather: Guérin de Domfront

Great x 3 Grandmother: Adeliza de Bellême Countess Perche

Great x 1 Grandmother: Juliette du Perche Chateaudun

Great x 4 Grandfather: Hilduin III Count Montdidier

Great x 3 Grandfather: Hilduin Montdidier IV Count Montdidier

Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche