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fl. 1207-26. England. Cistercian abbot of Coggeshall Abbey, Essex, England. Main author of Chronicon Anglicanum, which covers English national history and crusading history of 1066-1224. The Chronicon, which is preceded in its manuscripts by Ralph Niger's Chronica Anglica (Chronicle II), covering the period from the nativity to ca 1178, starts with a short set of annals for 1066-1186, not composed by Ralph. The lengthy section covering 1187-1205 is a true narrative chronicle, and Ralph was the original author. The short final section…

[Ailred, Æthelred; Ailredus Rievallensis] 1110-67. England. Cistercian abbot of Rievaulx Abbey, Yorkshire, England. Wrote spiritual treatises, sermons, a planctus, vitae, and two historical works, the Genealogia regum Anglorum and the Relatio de Standardo. In 1153 he wrote a planctus for the recently deceased King David of Scotland and soon thereafter composed the Genealogia regum Anglorum as a companion piece. His lives of Edward the Confessor ( Vita S. Edwardi regis et confessoris, 1162-63) and of St. Ninian ( Vita Niniani) are also of some historical importance. However…

[Annals of Rievaulx] mid-12th century. England. Short anonymous Latin chronicle of England, covering the years 162-1120s. Little more than annals, traditionally associated with the Cistercianabbey of Rievaulx, Yorkshire. Hayward, however, argues that while its only surviving manuscript was copied at Rievaulx, it was compiled in the West Midlands at Worcester Cathedral Priory between mid-1125 and September 1137 by either John of Worcester or someone working under his direction.The chronicle focuses on church history and royal genealogy (see Genealogical Chronicl…