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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Wessex
In or before 838 [her father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and [her mother] Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Wessex. He the son of [her grandfather] King Egbert of Wessex (age 64).
Around 838 Æthelswith Wessex was born to [her father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and [her mother] Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex.
In 839 [her brother] King Æthelstan of Kent was appointed King of Kent by his father [her father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex.
In 839 [her grandfather] King Egbert of Wessex (age 66) died. His son [her father] Æthelwulf succeeded King Wessex.
In 852 [her brother] King Æthelstan of Kent died. He may have been buried at Winchester Old Minster.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 853. This year [her future husband] Burhred, King of Mercia, with his council, besought [her father] King Ethelwulf to assist him to subdue North-Wales. He did so; and with an army marched over Mercia into North-Wales, and made all the inhabitants subject to him. The same year King Ethelwulf sent his son [her brother] Alfred to Rome (age 4); and Leo, who was then pope, consecrated him king, and adopted him as his spiritual son. The same year also Elchere with the men of Kent, and Huda with the men of Surrey, fought in the Isle of Thanet [Map] with the heathen army, and soon obtained the victory; but there were many men slain and drowned on either hand, and both the aldermen killed. Burhred, the Mercian king, about this time received in marriage the daughter (age 15) of Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons.
Assers Life of Alfred 853. 853. 9. Other Events of 853.24 That same year also, Ealdorman Ealhere with the men of Kent, and Huda with the men of Surrey, fought bravely and resolutely against an army of the heathen in the island which is called Tenet [Map]25 in the Saxon tongue, but Ruim in the Welsh language. At first the Christians were victorious. The battle lasted a long time; many fell on both sides, and were drowned in the water; and both the ealdormen were there slain. In the same year also, after Easter, [her father] Æthelwulf, King of the West Saxons, gave his daughter (age 15) to [her future husband] Burgred, King of the Mercians, as his queen, and the marriage was celebrated in princely wise at the royal vill of Chippenham [Map].
Note 24. Based upon the Chronicle.
Around May 853 King Burgred of Mercia and Æthelswith Wessex (age 15) were married at Chippenham, Wiltshire [Map]. She by marriage Queen Consort Mercia. She the daughter of King Æthelwulf of Wessex and Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex.
In 856 [her father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and [her step-mother] Judith Carolingian Queen Consort Wessex (age 12) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Wessex. She the daughter of Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 32) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of [her grandfather] King Egbert of Wessex.
Around 858 [her brother] King Æthelbald of Wessex and [her step-mother] Judith Carolingian Queen Consort Wessex (age 14) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Wessex. She the daughter of Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 34) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of [her father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and [her mother] Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex.
On 13th January 858 [her father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex died. His son [her brother] Æthelbald succeeded King Wessex.
In 860 [her brother] King Æthelbald of Wessex died. His brother [her brother] Æthelberht succeeded King Wessex.
In 865 [her brother] King Æthelberht of Wessex died. His brother [her brother] Æthelred (age 18) succeeded King Wessex. Wulfthryth Unknown Queen Anglo Saxons by marriage Queen Anglo Saxons.
In 868 [her brother] King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex (age 19) and [her sister-in-law] Æalhswith of Mercia Queen Consort of England were married at Gainsborough [Map]. She the daughter of Æthelred Mucel Mercia Earldorman Gaini and Eadburh of Mercia. He the son of [her father] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and [her mother] Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex.
In 871 [her brother] King Æthelred of Wessex (age 24) was buried at Wimborne Minster, Dorset [Map]. [her brother] King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex (age 22) succeeded King of England. [her sister-in-law] Æalhswith of Mercia Queen Consort of England by marriage Queen Consort England.
On 4th January 871 [her brother] King Æthelred of Wessex (age 24) and [her brother] Alfred the Great's (age 22) army attacked, but were repulsed by, the Viking army at Battle of Reading. Æthelwulf Mercia Earldorman Berkshire (age 46) was killed.
On 8th January 871 [her brother] King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex (age 22) defeated the Viking army led by Halfdan Ragnarsson at the Battle of Ashdown in Berkshire. Bagsecg Viking was killed.
Around 22nd March 871 Halfdan Ragnarsson defeated the Wessex army led by [her brother] King Æthelred of Wessex (age 24) and [her brother] King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex (age 22) at the Battle of Merton. The location of 'Marton' is not known; suggestions include Marden, Wiltshire in Wiltshire and Winterborne St Martin, Dorset. Bishop Heahmund of Wessex was killed.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 23rd April 871 [her brother] King Æthelred of Wessex (age 24) died possibly as a result of wounds received at the Battle of Merton which took place a month earlier.
Around 875 [her husband] King Burgred of Mercia died.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 888. This year Alderman Beeke conducted the alms of the West-Saxons and of King Alfred to Rome; but Queen Ethelswith (age 50), who was the sister of King Alfred, died on the way to Rome; and her body lies at Pavia [Map]. The same year also Ethered, Archbishop of Canterbury and Alderman Ethelwold, died in one month.
Kings Wessex: Daughter of King Æthelwulf of Wessex
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ingild Wessex
Great x 3 Grandfather: Eoppa Wessex
Great x 2 Grandfather: Eafa Wessex
Great x 1 Grandfather: Ealmund King of Kent
GrandFather: King Egbert of Wessex
Father: King Æthelwulf of Wessex
Æthelswith Wessex Queen Consort Mercia
GrandFather: Oslac
Mother: Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex