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
dam 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
delaide 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
orn 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
elfgifu 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
elfheah 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
Aella, (King of Northumbria 866-7)
Died: 21 March 867
ella (Aelle) became king of Northumbria after the city of York fell to the Great Army of the Vikings. The previous king, Osberht was removed from power by the Northumbrians after York was captured and replaced by Aella. The two kings put aside their differences to mount a joint attack on York in an attempt to drive the Danes out, but even though they gained access to the city the pair were killed and the attack failed.Timeline
The Danes led by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, Ivar the boneless and Halfdan, attacked Northumbria and York. They wanted revenge for the death of their father who had been killed by Aella, the King of Northumbria. (Aella could have been an Irish Prince.) The Danes destroyed many churches and monasteries including Whitby Abbey. The monasteries remained ruined for two hundred years. (This may be a legend as Aella was supposedly killed at York)
Armies from Northumbria led by the two kings Aella and Osberht attacked the Danes at York but were defeated. The two kings were killed after gaining access to the city. After the battle the Danes moved south attacking Nottingham and taking control of it. The king of Mercia asked Ethelred and Alfred for assistance and an army from Wessex was sent to help. 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)
Aethelwold (Bishop of Winchester)
Died: 984
ethelwold became Bishop of Winchester in 963 and together with Archbishop Dunstan began the reform of monastic practices. The pair were supported by King Edgar and were able to push through many reforms. The purpose of the reforms was to put an end to the decline of monastic life which had been caused by the many Viking raids and the preference of secular clergy. Unlike Dunstan who preferred a more tactful approach Aethelwold's methods of reform were very dramatic including removing those who would not take the full monastic vows and baning wives from the monasteries. After reforms were put in place in Abingdon, Winchester and the south east, the bishop toured England pushing through his demands and restoring monasteries that had been abandoned during the Viking attacks. One of these was Ely that had been destroyed by the Danes. Aethelwold established the Benedictine rule at the abbey.Timeline
Aethelwold becomes Bishop of Winchester.
As part of his reform of monastic life, Aethelwold, Bishop of Winchester bought the lands of the Isle of Ely and installed Benedictine monks on the site.
Agnes (of France)
Born: 1171 Died: circa 1220
gnes was the daughter of King Louis VII of France and his third wife Adela of Champagne. At the very young age of eight a marriage was arranged for her to marry the son of the Emporer of Constantinople, Alexius. She travelled to Constantinople in 1179 where large wedding festivities were held. Within a year Alexius became Emporer at the age of thirteen when his father died. Alexius was too young ro rule unaided and in 1183 was murdered by another family member, Andronicus, who took advantage of the situation to rule himself. Although Andronicus was in his sixties he forced Agnes to be his wife. Agnes was made twice a widow when, in 1185, Andronicus himself was killed when he too was disposed. Agnes, still a young girl of sixteen, found protection under a Greek called Theodore Branas, a general of the Byzantine Empire, who she married. Agnes' date of death is not known.
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.
Alexander (IV, Pope 1254-1261)
Born: circa 1199 Died: 1261
lexander IV was the Pope from 1254 until his death in 1261. He agreed to absolve King Henry III of England from the Provisions of Oxford and allow the English king to regain the power that the Barons had taken from him.Timeline
Pope Alexander IV agreed to absolve King Henry III from the Provisions of Oxford. ¹
Urban IV was elected Pope after the death of Pope Alexander IV.
Alfonso (Son of Edward I)
Born: November 1273 Died: 19 August 1284
lfonso was the son of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile and born in Gascony. Both of his elder brothers had died at an early age and for a short time Alfonso was heir to the English throne. At the age of ten a marriage was arranged for him to the daughter of the Count of Florence, but he dies before the wedding could take place.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
lice (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
lys 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 Brittany)
Born: 1477 Died: 1514
nne of Brittany was married to two French kings. Firstly she was married to King Charles VIII and after his death she married King Louis XII. She had several children by both kings several of which died in early childhood some only surviving for a few days. Anne had previously been betrothed to Maximilian, the Holy Roman Emporer, but this agreement had been overturned by Charles. When King Charles died in 1498, Louis became king of France and requested the annulment of his to his first wife Joan so that he could marry Anne. The Pope gave him permission so Anne became Louis' wife and the only woman to be Queen consort of France twice. Anne died in January of 1514. She was buried next to her first husband Charles in the church of Saint Denis. According to her wishes her heart was placed in a golden urn and taken to a monastery in Nantes. Only two of her children survived her, one being Claude, who would become the wife of King Francis I of France.Timeline
Charles VIII of France married Anne, the duchess of Brittany. Anne had been duchess since the death of her father in 1488. Both Charles and Anne had been part of arranged marriages, but as those marriages were not consummated they were declared void. The marriage between Charles and Anne ended the independence of Brittany from France.
After the death of King Charles VIII of France, his successor Louis XII had the marriage to his first wife Joan annulled so that he could marry Anne, the widow of Charles.
Family Tree Details
+Charles (VIII, King of France 1483-1498) (b.1470 - d.1498)
+Louis (XII, King of France) (b.1462 - d.1515)
Anne (of Brittany) (b.1477 - d.1514)
+Charles (VIII, King of France 1483-1498) (b.1470 - d.1498)
+Louis (XII, King of France) (b.1462 - d.1515)
Anne (of Denmark, Queen Consort of Scotland)
Born: 1574 Died: 1619
nne of Denmark, the daughter of Frederick II of Denmark, married James VI of Scotland (later James I of England). They were married in Oslo in November 1589. One of their sons would become Charles I, King of England.
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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