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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On 30th August 1720 Samuel Whitbread was born.
Around 12th September 1761 [his daughter] Emma Maria Elizabeth Whitbread Baroness St John Bletso was born to Samuel Whitbread (age 41) and [his future wife] Harriet Hayton. She married 2nd December 1780 Henry St John 13th Baron St John, son of John St John 12th Baron St John and Susanne Louise Simond, and had issue.
Before 18th January 1764 Samuel Whitbread (age 43) and Harriet Hayton were married.
On 18th January 1764 [his son] Samuel Charles Whitbread was born to Samuel Whitbread (age 43) and [his wife] Harriet Hayton at Cardington, Bedfordshire. He married 26th December 1787 Elizabeth Grey, daughter of Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey and Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey, and had issue.
In 1768 Samuel Whitbread (age 47) was elected MP Bedford.
On 13th August 1769 Samuel Whitbread (age 48) and Mary Cornwallis (age 33) were married. She the daughter of Charles Cornwallis 1st Earl Cornwallis and Elizabeth Townshend Countess Cornwallis.
In 1770 [his daughter] Mary Whitbread Lady Grey was born to Samuel Whitbread (age 49) and [his wife] Mary Cornwallis (age 33). She married 18th June 1795 George Grey 1st Baronet, son of Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey and Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey, and had issue.
On 28th December 1770 [his wife] Mary Cornwallis (age 34) died.
On 2nd December 1780 [his son-in-law] Henry St John 13th Baron St John (age 22) and [his daughter] Emma Maria Elizabeth Whitbread Baroness St John Bletso (age 19) were married. She by marriage Baroness St John of Bletso.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 26th December 1787 [his son] Samuel Charles Whitbread (age 23) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Grey were married. See Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. She the daughter of Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey (age 58) and Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 43).
In 1792 Samuel Whitbread (age 71) was elected MP Steyning.
On 18th June 1795 [his son-in-law] George Grey 1st Baronet (age 27) and [his daughter] Mary Whitbread Lady Grey (age 25) were married. Her brother [his son] Samuel (age 31) had married her husband George's sister [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth six years earlier. See Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. He the son of Charles Grey 1st Earl Grey (age 65) and Elizabeth Grey Countess Grey (age 51).
On 11th June 1796 Samuel Whitbread (age 75) died.