Ada Timeline
Historical Timeline (true events)
1136 – Henry is given Doncaster and the lordship of Carlisle, together with his mother’s inheritance (earldom of Huntingdon). Disputed by Simon de Senlis who should have inherited Huntingdon because his mother had inherited from his father’s estate. (eventually granted to him in 1141). Henry never called himself the Earl of Huntingdon.
1138 – January, David and Henry launch an appeal for the earldom of Northumbria, when that was denied there followed the Battle of the Standard, but Scotland defeated.
11 May, William de Warenne, Ada’s father dies. Oldest brother, William becomes 3rd earl of Surrey.
1139 – 9 April, 2nd Treaty of Durham signed.
Probably married June 1st (guess for book)
Ada mentions she’s been married 4 months at start of book in SEP/OCT. (Mother goes to Normandy after wedding).
What month for Ludlow Castle siege – late in year?
Henry is injured by a grappling hook.
30 Sept Empress Matilda arrives with Robert. Robert marches to Bristol.
King Stephen moves south to trap Empress Matilda at Arundel Castle. Stephen agrees to a truce and Empess Matilda is free to go to Robert in the SW.
1140 – 9 April, Henry is released from his year as hostage.
King Stephen establishes order in east England. Peace conference in Bath that Matilda of B attends (king’s wife). Conference collapsed.
After Christmas – Ranulf tries to kidnap Henry and Ada. Matilda B asks king to send escort to get them safely to Eads Hall.
1141 – January, they arrive at Eads Hall
Feb, King Stephen laid siege to Lincoln Castle owned by Ranulf.
Marriage celebration – March? Empress Matilda has invaded London, announced at Ada and Henry’s marriage ceremony.
Henry becomes ill and Malachy heals
What month is Malcolm born – December, so she’d get pregnant in March
April? King Stephen is held in Bristol – this would be Visit from Odo?
Geoffrey of Anjou invaded Normandy again and Waleran of Beaumont, who was still fighting in England, could not stop it. Waleran was one of those who decided to defect in mid-1141, crossing into Normandy to secure his ancestral possessions by allying himself with the Angevins, and bringing Worcestershire into the Empress’s camp.
December – Malcolm born
Huntingdon granted to Simon de Senlis – probably after birth of Malcolm
1142 – Matilda’s son Henry comes to England for the first time.
Between 1139 and 1150, King David held an assembly of nobles and churchmen, a precursor to the parliament of Scotland, at Edinburgh Castle.
26 September – The Anarchy: Stephen captures Oxford, and besieges Matilda inside the castle.
Birth of William/Ada (?)
December – The Anarchy: Matilda escapes from Oxford Castle across the snow in a white cape for camouflage, according to Henry of Huntingdon.
1143 – Birth of Ada/William (?)
1144 – Birth of David
Matilda’s husband Geoffrey V of Anjou, completes the conquest of Normandy
1145 – Birth of Margaret
The Anarchy: Stephen captures Faringdon Castle
1146 – The Anarchy: Ranulf of Chester is captured, but released after surrendering his castles.
Many knights and barons leave England to take part in the Second Crusade
1147 – Death of Ada’s mother – date?
The Anarchy: Henry arrives in England to fight for Matilda, but is defeated in skirmishes, and returns to Normandy.
The Anarchy: Ranulf of Chester lays waste to the land around Coventry, but fails to capture the city itself.[1]
24 October – English crusaders capture Lisbon from the Moors
1148 – Death of brother, William, killed in Anatolia while on a crusade
February – The Anarchy: Empress Matilda forced to return to Normandy.
King David I of Scotland attempts to wrest control of the Bishopric of Durham and the Archbishopric of York from Stephen, but fails.
1150 – Ada present at King David’s court.
1151 – Ada present at King David’s court.
Henry Plantagenet succeeded to Normandy and Anjou. (age 18)
1152 – Ada present at King David’s court
12 June Death of Henry
Birth of Matilda, who died soon afterwards
Ada’s dower came into effect on Henry’s death (King David’s gift of Haddington and Crail and she’s now in a position to grant charters.
Her son, Malcolm placed in the hands of Duncan I, earl of Fife to be taken around Scotland to meet his future noblemen.
Her son, William taken south to York where he was made earl of Northumberland
Henry Plantagenet married Eleanor of Aquitaine, the divorced wife of Louis VII of France, and secured her inheritance (age 19)
1153 – May, Death of King David. Ada’s family is very vulnerable (in the Haddington area she had her nobles, St Martin and Giffard (see end of older timeline)
Ada’s oldest son Malcolm is crowned (age 12) king of Scotland in Scone
Henry Plantagenet came to England and forced King Stephen to submit to terms. (age 20)
August, King Stephen’s son, Eustace died.
In 1153 Henry — by then Stephen’s accepted heir — granted Staffordshire to Ranulf. That year [June or July], whilst Ranulf was a guest at the house of William Peverel the Younger, his host attempted to kill him with poisoned wine. Three of his men who had drunk the wine died, while Ranulf suffered agonizing pain. A few months later Henry became king and exiled Peverel from England as punishment. Ranulf succumbed to the poison on 16 December 1153: his son Hugh inherited his lands as held in 1135 (when Stephen took the throne), while other honours bestowed upon Ranulf were revoked. (Wikipedia)
1154 – Death of her most trusted overseer, Duncan, earl of Fife. (So who was then in command of the security of Scotland’s royal family?)
Upon King Stephen’s death (Oct 25), Henry Plantagenet succeeded to the English crown.
1159 – (perhaps before 1159?) Duncan II, earl of Fife married Ela, Ada’s niece. Ela is thought to have been the daughter of Reginald de Warenne.