Biographies of lesser people starting with A
The people listed on this page currently have less information so do not warrant a page of their own. As this website evolves and more information is added these people will be promoted to individual pages.
Please note: Portraits on this page are not intented to be accurate depictions of the individuals.
Adam (of Usk)
Born: circa 1352 Died: 1430
Adam of Usk was a medieval lawyer and wrote an account of English history for the period between 1377 to 1404. He was born at Usk, in Monmouthshire and was sent to study at Oxford University by Edmund Mortimer, the Earl of March. At Oxford he became a law student and excelled in the subject. From around 1390 until 1397/9 he was advocate at the court of the Archbishop of Canterbury. When Henry Bolingbroke invaded England in 1399 to become King Henry IV Adam joined the invading army alongside Thomas Arundel, the Archbishop of Canterbury. After the defeat of Richard II, Adam was appointed as a commissioner in the old king's deposition and visited Richard in prison. King Henry was pleased with the work Adam did, but in 1402 for some reason Adam was banished and left England for Rome. It was here that his skills again were recognised and he became a papal chaplain and the auditor of the Sacred Palace (Rota). While in Rome was was assigned the bishoprics of both Hereford and St. David's but was not allowed to take up the positions by those back in England. In around 1411 Adam secretly returned to England and may have been pardoned by the King, but after the death of Thomas Arundel in 1414 he lost the person who was his patron and never rose to the important roles that he had enjoyed before.Adelaide (of Savoy)
Born: 1092 Died: 18 November 1154
Adelaide was the second wife of Louis VI, king of France and mother of Louis VII, king of France. She was the daughter of Humbert, the count of Maurienne and Gisele of Burgandy. They were married in 1115 in Paris and together they had seven sons and a daughter. Sadly in 1131 their eldest son Philip was killed after falling from a horse. Their second son become King Louis VII after the death of his father. After the death of Louis VI Adelaide married Matthieu of Montmorency. Towards the end of her life Adelaide spent time at the Abbey of Montmatre in Paris that she had founded with King Louis in around 1133. It is here that she is buried.
Family Tree Details
+Louis (VI, The Fat, King of France 1108-1137) (b.1108 - d.1137)
= Philip (of France) (b.1116 - d.1131)
= Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
+Eleanor (of Aquitaine) (b.1122 - d.1204)
| = Mary (of Champagne) (b.1145 - )
| = Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
+Constance (of Castile)
| = Alys (Daugher of Louis VII) (b.1160 - d.1220)
| = Margaret (Young Queen of England) (b.1158? - d.1197?)
| +Henry ('the Young King') (b.1155 - d.1183)
+Adela (of Champagne) (b.1145? - d.1206)
= Philippe (II Augustus, King of France 1180-1223) (b.1165 - d.1223)
| +Isabella (of Hainault) ( - d.1190)
| | = Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226) (b.1187 - d.1226)
| +Ingeborg (of Denmark)
| +Agnes (of Meran) ( - d.1201)
| = Philip (of Boulogne) ( - d.1235)
= Agnes (of France) (b.1171 - d.1220?)
Adelaide (of Savoy) (b.1092 - d.1154)
+Louis (VI, The Fat, King of France 1108-1137) (b.1108 - d.1137)
= Philip (of France) (b.1116 - d.1131)
= Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
+Eleanor (of Aquitaine) (b.1122 - d.1204)
| = Mary (of Champagne) (b.1145 - )
| = Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
+Constance (of Castile)
| = Alys (Daugher of Louis VII) (b.1160 - d.1220)
| = Margaret (Young Queen of England) (b.1158? - d.1197?)
| +Henry ('the Young King') (b.1155 - d.1183)
+Adela (of Champagne) (b.1145? - d.1206)
= Philippe (II Augustus, King of France 1180-1223) (b.1165 - d.1223)
| +Isabella (of Hainault) ( - d.1190)
| | = Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226) (b.1187 - d.1226)
| +Ingeborg (of Denmark)
| +Agnes (of Meran) ( - d.1201)
| = Philip (of Boulogne) ( - d.1235)
= Agnes (of France) (b.1171 - d.1220?)
Adelard (of Bath)
Born: circa 1090 Died: circa 1160
Born in the late eleventh century, he studied and taught in France before going to Spain to learn Arabic. This allowed him to translate the Elements of Euclid, a series of books written by the Greek mathematician Euclid. Adelard travelled to Africa and Greece (learning the language) and Asia Minor. When he returned to England in England in 1130 he wrote several books on scientific information.Aelfgifu (of Northampton)
Born: circa 990 Died: 1040
Aelfgifu was the consort of Canute. They had two sons, Swein Alfivason (also known as Swein Knutsson) and Harold Harefoot. Although Canute married Emma of Normandy in 1017, Aelfgifu remained an important person and was made regent of Norway in 1030 when Canute removed Olaf Haraldson from power. Through misrule and attempts to take too much power, both Aelfgifu and Swein were expelled from Norway in 1034 or 1035. After Canute's death in 1035, Aelfgifu supported her other son, Harald Harefoot, in his bid to become the English king.Timeline
Aelfgifu became regent of Norway ruling in place of her son Swein who had been appointed king of Norway by Canute after the defeat of Olaf Haraldson.
Family Tree Details
+Canute (King of England 1016-1035) (b.995? - d.1035)
= Swein
= Harold (Harefoot, King of England 1037-1040) (b.1015? - d.1040)
Aelfgifu (of Northampton) (b.990? - d.1040)
+Canute (King of England 1016-1035) (b.995? - d.1035)
= Swein
= Harold (Harefoot, King of England 1037-1040) (b.1015? - d.1040)
Aelfheah (Archbishop of Canterbury)
Born: circa 954 Died: 1012
Aelfheah became Bishop of Winchester in 984 and Archbishop of Canterbury in 1006. In 994, the English king, Aethelred The Unready sent the bishop to negotiate peace with the Viking Olaf Tryggvason who had invaded England. Aelfheah was successful in converting Olaf to Christianity and getting an agreement that further invasions would stop in exchange for a payment (Danegeld). In 1011 the Vikings captured Canterbury and took Aelfheah hostage. Aelfheah refused anyone to pay the ransom and in a drunken rage the Vikings murdered him. Outraged by the actions of his fellow men Thorkell the Tall defected to the side of Aethelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks. Aelfheah was later canonised in 1078 by the Pope.Timeline
Through the Winter months Aethelred provided the Vikings with lodgings and £16,000 in cash to stop the raids on his land. Aethelred was also the sponsor at the baptism of Olaf Trygvasson. Olaf was given instruction from the Aelfheah Bishop of Winchester. ¹
Aefheah, formerly the bishop of Winchester became the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Vikings captured Canterbury and obtained a payment of £48,000. In a drunken rage the Vikings murdered Aelfheah, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Aelfheah was the man that had baptised Olaf Trygvasson in the Winter of 994. Outraged by the actions of his fellow men Thorkell the Tall defected to the side of Aethelred along with 45 Viking ships to help defend England from further Viking attacks. ¹
Aelred (of Rievaulx)
Born: 1109 Died: 1166
elred was an English historian and was born in Hexham in Northumbria. He was a steward to King David of Scotland before becoming a monk at Rievaulx Abbey. At Rievaulx he devoted himself to writing historical works. He became the Abbot at Rievaulx Abbey.Aethelred (of Mercia)
Born: circa 855 Died: 911
ethelred of Mercia married Edward the Elder's sister Aethelfead and assisted Edward the Elder in battles against the Danes. After Aethelred's death in 911 Aethelfead ruled Mercia in her own right and together with her brother continued the fight against the Danes and Danelaw until her death in 918. Timeline
Aethelflaed, the daughter of Alfred the Great married Aethelred of Mercia.
Family Tree Details
Aethelred (of Mercia) (b.855? - d.911)
+Aethelflaed (Lady of the Mercians) (b.869? - d.918)
Agnes (of France)
Born: 1171 Died: circa 1220
Family Tree Details
Agnes (of France) (b.1171 - d.1220?)
Alcuin (of York)
Born: circa 735 Died: 804
lcuin taught at the University of York and was an important adviser to Charlemagne. Alcuin was a writer and poet and compiled a series of books on the lives of the saints.Timeline
Alcuin of York died at the monastery of St. Martin's at Tours.
Alfonso (Son of Edward I)
Born: November 1273 Died: 19 August 1284
Timeline
At the time of his death, Alfonso was heir to the English throne as he was the eldest surviving son of King Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, but at the age of just ten at Windsor Castle he died. This left his four month-old younger brother, Edward, as heir.
Siblings (incl. half-siblings)
Family Tree Details
Alfonso (Son of Edward I) (b.1273 - d.1284)
Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine)
Born: 1150 Died: 1198
Alice (Alix) was the second daughter of King Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine.Siblings (incl. half-siblings)
Family Tree Details
Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
Alys (Daugher of Louis VII)
Born: 1160 Died: 1220
Alys was the daughter of King Louis VII of France and Constance of Castile his second wife. A marriage agreement was arranged between Alys and the son of Henry II, Richard who would become King Richard I, the Lionheart. Alys was only a child and until she was old enough to be married lived under the protection of the English King. The marriage never took place and Richard married Berengaria instead. Alys' half-brother Philip II of France fined Richard for not marrying her. It was rumoured that King Henry had made Alys his mistress and this was the reason that Richard did not marry her. After Henry's death Alys returned to France and in 1195 was married to William III Talvas, Count of Ponthieu who was almost twenty years younger than her. With William she had several daughters.Timeline
A marriage agreement was arranged between Prince Richard and the daughter of King Louis VII, bringing peace between England and France.Alys was only nine years old at the time and sent to England under protection of the English King Henry II. ¹
Family Tree Details
Alys (Daugher of Louis VII) (b.1160 - d.1220)
Amalric (I, King of Jerusalem, 1162 - 1174)
Born: 1136 Died: 11 July 1174
on of Fulk V, count of Anjou and King of Jerusalem. Amalric became King of Jerusalem after the death of his elder brother Baldwin.Timeline
Baldwin, the king of Jerusalem died. He was succeeded by his brother Amalric. ¹
Family Tree Details
Amalric (I, King of Jerusalem, 1162 - 1174) (b.1136 - d.1174)
+Comnena, Maria (b.1154 - )
Anne (of Bohemia)
Born: circa 1367 Died: 1394
nne, the daughter of Emporer Chales IV of Bohemia, was the first wife of Richard II, king of England. She had an extravagant life style which didn't help Richard's relationship with parliament. Richard and Anne did not have any children. Timeline
Richard II married Anne, the sister of Wenceslas of Bohemia. This was a diplomatic move over the French as the king of France Charles V wanted Anne his marry his own son. The marriage was not popular as a large loan had to be paid to Wenceslas for the privilege. The coronation of Queen Anne took place a few days later at Westminster Abbey.
The rivals Henry Bolingbroke and King Richard both lost their wives in his month. Mary Bohun died in childbirth while Anne of Bohemia died from the plague.
Henry Yevele designed a tomb for King Richard II and his first wife Anne of Bohemia at Westminster Abbey, ¹
Family Tree Details
Anne (of Bohemia) (b.1367? - d.1394)
+Richard (II, King of England 1377-1399) (b.1367 - d.1400)
Anne (of Denmark, Queen Consort of Scotland)
Born: 1574 Died: 1619
Anne of Denmark, the daughter of Frederick II of Denmark, married James VI of Scotland (later James I of England). In August of 1589 they were married by proxy in Denmark before Anne attempted to sail to Scotland to her new husband. But bad weather prevented the Danish fleet, carrying the new queen, reaching the Scottish shores. On hearing the news King James decided to rescue his queen himself. One of their sons would become Charles I, King of England.Timeline
A proxy marriage was performed in Denmark to wed James VI of Scotland, who was not present, to Anne, the daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark.
After the proxy marriage in Denmark, Queen Anne attempted to sail to Scotland to join King James, but bad weather prevented the Danish fleet, carrying the new queen, reaching Scottish shores. On hearing the news King James decided to rescue his queen himself.
Charles, the future king of England was born at Dunfermline Palace, Fife in Scotland.
Family Tree Details
+James (VI of Scotland, 1567-1625, from 1603 James I of England) (b.1566 - d.1625)
= Henry Frederick (Prince of Wales) (b.1594 - d.1612)
= Elizabeth (Queen Consort of Bohemia) (b.1596 - d.1662)
| +Frederick (V Elector Palatine) (b.1596 - d.1632)
| = Rupert (Prince, count Palatine of the Rhine) (b.1619 - d.1682)
| = Maurice (Prince of the Rhine) (b.1621 - d.1652)
= Charles (I, King of England and Scotland 1625-1649) (b.1600 - d.1649)
+Henrietta Maria (Queen of England)
= Charles (II, King of England 1660-1685) (b.1630 - d.1685)
= Mary (Princess Royal, Daughter of Charles I) (b.1631 - d.1660)
= James (II, King of England, VII of Scotland) (b.1633 - d.1701)
= Elizabeth (Princess) (b.1635 - )
Anne (of Denmark, Queen Consort of Scotland) (b.1574 - d.1619)
+James (VI of Scotland, 1567-1625, from 1603 James I of England) (b.1566 - d.1625)
= Henry Frederick (Prince of Wales) (b.1594 - d.1612)
= Elizabeth (Queen Consort of Bohemia) (b.1596 - d.1662)
| +Frederick (V Elector Palatine) (b.1596 - d.1632)
| = Rupert (Prince, count Palatine of the Rhine) (b.1619 - d.1682)
| = Maurice (Prince of the Rhine) (b.1621 - d.1652)
= Charles (I, King of England and Scotland 1625-1649) (b.1600 - d.1649)
+Henrietta Maria (Queen of England)
= Charles (II, King of England 1660-1685) (b.1630 - d.1685)
= Mary (Princess Royal, Daughter of Charles I) (b.1631 - d.1660)
= James (II, King of England, VII of Scotland) (b.1633 - d.1701)
= Elizabeth (Princess) (b.1635 - )
Ansgard (of Burgundy)
Died: 890
nsgard was the first wife of King Louis II of France. They married in secret before Louis became king but the marriage was repudiated in 878 when the King of France found out about it. Louis remarried but Ansgard ensured that her sons would remain heirs to the throne of France and after the death of Louis her sons became Louis III and Carloman II, joint rulers of the country.
Family Tree Details
+Louis (II, the Stammerer) (b.846 - d.879)
= Louis (III, King of France 879-882) ( - d.882)
= Carloman (II, King of France 879-884) ( - d.884)
Ansgard (of Burgundy) ( - d.890)
+Louis (II, the Stammerer) (b.846 - d.879)
= Louis (III, King of France 879-882) ( - d.882)
= Carloman (II, King of France 879-884) ( - d.884)
Athelbald (King of Wessex 858-860)
Died: 860
ing of Wessex from 858 until he died in 860. First (or second if Athelstan was a son) of Aethelwolf.Timeline
Unhappy with his father's marriage to Judith and absence from the country, Ethelbald, Ethelwulf's second son claimed the kingdom of Wessex for himself. When Ethelwulf later died, Ethelbald married Judith, his stepmother. ¹
Upon the death of his elder brother, Ethelbert became the King of Wessex. ¹
Family Tree Details
Athelbald (King of Wessex 858-860) ( - d.860)
Selection of references used:
- 1. Magnus Magnusson, Vikings!
- 2. Ronald McNair Scott, Alfred the Great, ISBN:0-86332-832-6
- 3. H.W.C.Davis, England under the Normans and Angevins, 1949
- 4. Antony Bridge, Richard the Lionheart, ISBN:ISBN-0-246-13373-2
- 5. Zoe Oldenbourg, The Crusades
- 6. John H Harvey, Henry Yevele, LIfe of an English Architect
Explore the White Tower
Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.
A Medieval Mystery
There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.
1: Location
Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.
2: Alignment
Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.
3: Size
Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?
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