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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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Edmund Isham 6th Baronet 1690-1772

Paternal Family Tree: Isham

On 16th July 1683 [his father] Justinian Isham 4th Baronet [aged 24] and [his mother] Elizabeth Turnor Lady Isham [aged 17] were married.

On 18th December 1690 Edmund Isham 6th Baronet was born to Justinian Isham 4th Baronet [aged 32] and Elizabeth Turnor Lady Isham [aged 24].

In 1707 [his mother] Elizabeth Turnor Lady Isham [aged 41] died.

On 13th May 1730 [his father] Justinian Isham 4th Baronet [aged 71] died. His son [his brother] Justinian [aged 42] succeeded 5th Baronet Isham of Lamport in Northamptonshire.

On 17th February 1735 Edmund Isham 6th Baronet [aged 44] and Elizabeth Wood Lady Isham were married. She by marriage Lady Isham of Lamport in Northamptonshire.

On 5th March 1737 [his brother] Justinian Isham 5th Baronet [aged 49] died without issue. His brother Edmund [aged 46] succeeded 6th Baronet Isham of Lamport in Northamptonshire.

On 19th July 1748 [his wife] Elizabeth Wood Lady Isham died.

On 4th May 1751 Edmund Isham 6th Baronet [aged 60] and Philippa Gee Lady Isham were married. She by marriage Lady Isham of Lamport in Northamptonshire.

1772. Thomas Hudson [aged 71]. Portrait of Edmund Isham 6th Baronet [aged 81].

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The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

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On 15th December 1772 Edmund Isham 6th Baronet [aged 81] died without issue. His nephew Justinian [aged 32] succeeded 7th Baronet Isham of Lamport in Northamptonshire.

On 17th December 1786 [his former wife] Philippa Gee Lady Isham died.