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.
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Paternal Family Tree: Cust
On 16th October 1770 [his father] Brownlow Cust 1st Baron Brownlow [aged 25] and Jocosa Drury Lady Cust [aged 21] were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square. She by marriage Lady Cust of Stamford in Lincolnshire.
In 1775 [his father] Brownlow Cust 1st Baron Brownlow [aged 30] and [his mother] Frances Bankes Baroness Brownlow were married. She by marriage Lady Cust of Stamford in Lincolnshire.
On 19th August 1779 John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow was born to [his father] Brownlow Cust 1st Baron Brownlow [aged 34] and [his mother] Frances Bankes Baroness Brownlow.
In 1795 John Hoppner [aged 36]. Portrait of John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 15] and [his brother] Henry Cockayne-Cust [aged 14].
On 25th December 1807 [his father] Brownlow Cust 1st Baron Brownlow [aged 63] died. His son John [aged 28] succeeded 2nd Baron Brownlow of Belton in Lincolnshire, 5th Baronet Cust of Stamford in Lincolnshire, and inherited Belton House [Map]. Monument in St Peter and St Paul Church, Belton [Map] sculpted by Richard "The Elder" Westmacott [aged 60].
On 24th July 1810 John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 30] and Amelia Sophia Hume [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Baroness Brownlow of Belton in Lincolnshire.
On 14th April 1811 [his daughter] Sophia Frances Cust was born to John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 31] and [his wife] Amelia Sophia Hume [aged 22]. She died aged eleven in 1822.
On 15th October 1812 [his son] John Hume Egerton was born to John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 33] and [his wife] Amelia Sophia Hume [aged 24]. He married 1841 Marianne Margaret Compton, daughter of Spencer Compton 2nd Marquess Northampton and Margaret Douglas-Maclean-Clephane Marchioness Northampton, and had issue.
In 1813 [his son] Charles Henry Cust was born to John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 33] and [his wife] Amelia Sophia Hume [aged 24].
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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On 21st February 1814 [his wife] Amelia Sophia Hume [aged 25] died.
The London Gazette 17066. Whitehall, September 30, 1815.
His Royal, Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the Dignities of Earl and Marquess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to the Right Honourable George James Earl of Cholmondeley [aged 66], and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Earl of Rocksavage, in the county palatine of Chester, and Marquess Cholmondeley. [Note. Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 54] by marriage Marchioness Cholmondeley.]
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable James Walter [aged 40], Viscount Grimston, of that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland, and Baron Verulam of Gorhambury, in the county of Hertford, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Viscount Grimston and Earl Verulam.
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Baron and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable Charles Viscount Whitworth [aged 63], Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, His Majesty's Lieutenant-General and General Governor of Ireland, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Baron Adbaston, in the county of Stafford, and Earl Whitworth.
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable John Lord Brownlow [aged 36], and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Viscount Alford, of Alford in the county of Lincoln, and Earl Brownlow.
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignity of Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable John Craggs Lord Eliot [aged 54], and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, stile, and title of Earl of Saint Germains, in the county of Cornwall.
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable John Lord Boringdon [aged 43], and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, stiles, and titles of Viscount Boringdon, of North Malton, in the County of Devon, and Earl Morley, of Morley in the said county.
His Royal Highness bas also been pleased, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable Orlando Baron Bradford [aged 53], and the heirs mile of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Viscount Newport, in the county of Salop, and Earl of Bradford, in the said, county. [Note. Lucy Elizabeth Byng Countess Bradford [aged 48] by marriage Countess Bradford.]
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant the dignities of Viscount and Earl of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable William Baron Beauchamp [aged 68], of Powyke, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the names, stiles, and titles of Viscount Elmley, in the county of Worcester, and Earl of Beauchamp. [Catherine Denn Countess Beauchamp by marriage Countess Beauchamp.]
His Royal Highness has also been pleased, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty to grant the dignity of a Viscount of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honourable Alan Hyde Lord Gardner [aged 45], Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron of his Majesty's fleet, by the name, stile, and title of Viscount Gardner. [Note. He died before the patent had passed the Great Seal so the patent was null and void.]
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Before 1819 John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 39] and Caroline Fludyer Countess Brownlow [aged 24] were married. She by marriage Countess Brownlow.
In 1822 [his daughter] Katherine Anne Cust was born to John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 42] and [his wife] Caroline Fludyer Countess Brownlow [aged 27]. She married 1st August 1850 her half sixth cousin Arthur George Onslow, son of Arthur George Onslow 3rd Earl Onslow and Charlotte Hanmer Countess Onslow.
On 21st December 1822 [his daughter] Sophia Frances Cust [aged 11] died.
On 4th July 1824 [his wife] Caroline Fludyer Countess Brownlow [aged 30] died.
On 17th July 1828 John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 48] and Emma Sophie Edgecumbe Countess Brownlow [aged 36] were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square. She by marriage Countess Brownlow. She the daughter of Richard Edgecumbe 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe [aged 63] and Sophia Hobart Countess Mount Edgcumbe.
1835. Martin Archer Shee [aged 65]. Portrait of John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 55].
In 1839 John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 59] commissioned a large Aubusson carpet for the Saloon of Belton House [Map].
On 26th September 1839 [his father-in-law] Richard Edgecumbe 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe [aged 75] died. His son [his brother-in-law] Ernest [aged 42] succeeded 3rd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, 4th Baron Edgcumbe.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1841 John Hume Egerton [aged 28] and Marianne Margaret Compton [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of Spencer Compton 2nd Marquess Northampton [aged 50] and Margaret Douglas-Maclean-Clephane Marchioness Northampton. He the son of John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 61] and Amelia Sophia Hume.
On 1st August 1850 [his son-in-law] Arthur George Onslow [aged 30] and Katherine Anne Cust [aged 28] were married. She the daughter of John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 70] and Caroline Fludyer Countess Brownlow. He the son of Arthur George Onslow 3rd Earl Onslow [aged 72] and Charlotte Hanmer Countess Onslow. They were half sixth cousins.
On 3rd January 1851 [his son] John Hume Egerton [aged 38] died.
On 15th September 1853 John Cust 1st Earl Brownlow [aged 74] died. His grandson John [aged 11] succeeded 2nd Earl Brownlow, 2nd Viscount Alford, 3rd Baron Brownlow of Belton in Lincolnshire, 6th Baronet Cust of Stamford in Lincolnshire, and inherited Belton House [Map].
On 28th January 1872 [his former wife] Emma Sophie Edgecumbe Countess Brownlow [aged 80] died.
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Cust 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandfather: Pury Cust
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Pury
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Pury Lady Dering
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Cust 2nd Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Woodcock
Great x 2 Grandmother: Ursula Woodcock
GrandFather: John Cust 3rd Baronet
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Brownlow 1st Baronet 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Brownlow 2nd Baronet
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Duncombe 
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Brownlow 4th Baronet
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Freke of Stretton in Dorset
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Freke Lady Brownlow
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Brownlow Lady Cust
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Mason
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Mason Baroness Brownlow
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Long 2nd Baronet
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anna Margaret Long
Father: Brownlow Cust 1st Baron Brownlow
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Payne
GrandMother: Etheldreda Payne Lady Cust
Great x 2 Grandfather: Martin Folkes 
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Folkes
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Hovell 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Hovell of Hillington
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Chicheley 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Hovell
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Lilly of South Lynn
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ethelreda Lilly
GrandFather: Henry Bankes
Mother: Frances Bankes Baroness Brownlow