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: Dormer
Maternal Family Tree: Isabel Pigot 1550
In or before 1525 [his father] William Dormer (age 12) and Mary Sidney were married.
Around 1550 [his father] William Dormer (age 37) and [his mother] Dorothy Catesby (age 23) were married.
On 26th January 1551 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer was born to [his father] William Dormer (age 38) and [his mother] Dorothy Catesby (age 24).
On 29th December 1558 [his brother-in-law] Gómez Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba 1st Duke of Feria (age 38) and [his half-sister] Jane Dormer Duchess Feria (age 20) were married. She by marriage Duchess Feria. He had been one of the gentleman who had accompanied Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain (age 31) to England for his marriage to Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (deceased).
In 1571 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 19) was elected MP Tregony.
In or before 1573 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 21) and Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer were married.
Around 1573 [his daughter] Mary Dormer was born to Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 21) and [his wife] Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer. She married after 1583 John Caryll of Harting and had issue.
Before 6th October 1573 Henry Wriothesley 2nd Earl of Southampton (age 28) and [his sister-in-law] Mary Browne Countess Southampton (age 21) were married. She by marriage Countess of Southampton. He the son of Thomas Wriothesley 1st Earl of Southampton and Jane Cheney Countess Southampton (age 64).
On 17th May 1575 [his father] William Dormer (age 62) died.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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After 17th May 1575 [his step-father] William Pelham (age 47) and [his mother] Dorothy Catesby (age 48) were married.
After 1583 [his son-in-law] John Caryll of Harting and [his daughter] Mary Dormer (age 10) were married.
In 1584 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 32) was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.
In 1591 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 39) was knighted.
In 1593 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 41) was elected MP Buckinghamshire.
On 2nd May 1594 Thomas Heneage (age 62) and [his sister-in-law] Mary Browne Countess Southampton (age 41) were married. Her second husband. The difference in their ages was 20 years.
Between 5th November 1598 and 31st January 1599 William Hervey 1st Baron Hervey (age 33) and [his sister-in-law] Mary Browne Countess Southampton (age 46) were married. Her third husband.
Before 5th February 1607 [his sister-in-law] Mary Browne Countess Southampton (age 54) died.
On 13th January 1612 [his half-sister] Jane Dormer Duchess Feria (age 74) died.
On 30th September 1613 [his mother] Dorothy Catesby (age 86) died.
On 10th June 1615 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 64) was created 1st Baronet Dormer of Wyng in Buckinghamshire. [his wife] Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer by marriage Lady Dormer of Wyng in Buckinghamshire.
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 30th June 1615 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 64) was created 1st Baron Dormer of Wyng in Buckinghamshire. [his wife] Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer by marriage Baroness Dormer of Wyng in Buckinghamshire.
On 8th November 1616 Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer (age 65) died. His grandson [his grandson] Robert (age 6) succeeded 2nd Baron Dormer of Wyng in Buckinghamshire, 2nd Baronet Dormer of Wyng in Buckinghamshire. [his granddaughter-in-law] Anne Sophia Herbert Countess Carnarvon by marriage Baroness Dormer of Wyng in Buckinghamshire.
In 1631 [his former wife] Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer died.
[his son] William Dormer was born to Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer and Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer. He married Alice Molyneux, daughter of Richard Molyneux 1st Baronet and Frances Gerard Lady Molyneux, and had issue.
[his son] Anthony Dormer of Grove Park was born to Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer and Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer.
[his son] Robert Dormer was born to Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer and Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer.
[his daughter] Dorothy Dormer was born to Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer and Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer. She married her fourth cousin Henry Huddlestone.
[his daughter] Magdalen Dormer was born to Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer and Elizabeth Browne Baroness Dormer. She married John Curzon.
Great x 2 Grandfather: Geoffrey Dormer of Thame 
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Dormer of Thame and West Wycombe
GrandFather: Robert Dormer of Wing
Father: William Dormer
Robert Dormer 1st Baron Dormer
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Catesby 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Catesby
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Catesby
Great x 1 Grandfather: Humphrey Catesby
GrandFather: Anthony Catesby of Whiston
Mother: Dorothy Catesby
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Pigot
GrandMother: Isabel Pigot