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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Earl Abergavenny is in Earldoms of England Alphabetically, Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extant Earldoms of England.
Summary
17th May 1784. George Neville 1st Earl Abergavenny [aged 56] created.
9th September 1785. Son Henry Neville 2nd Earl Abergavenny [aged 30] succeeded.
27th March 1843. Son John Neville 3rd Earl Abergavenny [aged 53] succeeded.
12th April 1845. Brother William Neville 4th Earl Abergavenny [aged 52] succeeded.
17th August 1868. Son William Neville 1st Marquess Abergavenny [aged 41] succeeded.
12th December 1915. Son Reginald Neville 2nd Marquess Abergavenny [aged 62] succeeded.
13th October 1927. Brother Henry Neville 3rd Marquess Abergavenny [aged 73] succeeded.
10th January 1938. Nephew Guy Larnach Neville 4th Marquess Abergavenny [aged 54] succeeded.
30th March 1954. Son John Henry Guy Neville 5th Marquess Abergavenny [aged 39] succeeded.
23rd February 2000. Nephew Christopher Neville 6th Marquess Abergavenny [aged 44] succeeded.
On 17th May 1784 George Neville 1st Earl Abergavenny [aged 56] was created 1st Earl Abergavenny, 1st Viscount Neville.
On 9th September 1785 George Neville 1st Earl Abergavenny [aged 58] died. His son Henry [aged 30] succeeded 2nd Earl Abergavenny, 2nd Viscount Neville, 3rd Baron Abergavenny. Mary Robinson Countess Abergavenny [aged 25] by marriage Countess Abergavenny.
On 27th March 1843 Henry Neville 2nd Earl Abergavenny [aged 88] died. His son John [aged 53] succeeded 3rd Earl Abergavenny, 3rd Viscount Neville, 4th Baron Abergavenny.
On 12th April 1845 John Neville 3rd Earl Abergavenny [aged 55] died. His brother William [aged 52] succeeded 4th Earl Abergavenny, 4th Viscount Neville, 5th Baron Abergavenny. Caroline Leeke Countess Abergavenny by marriage Countess Abergavenny.
On 17th August 1868 William Neville 4th Earl Abergavenny [aged 76] died. His son William [aged 41] succeeded 5th Earl Abergavenny, 5th Viscount Neville, 6th Baron Abergavenny. Caroline Vanden Bempte Johnston Marchioness Abergavenny by marriage Countess Abergavenny.
On 12th December 1915 William Neville 1st Marquess Abergavenny [aged 89] died. His son Reginald [aged 62] succeeded 2nd Marquess Abergavenny, 6th Earl Abergavenny, 6th Viscount Neville, 2nd Earl Lewes, 7th Baron Abergavenny.
On 13th October 1927 Reginald Neville 2nd Marquess Abergavenny [aged 74] died at Cheadle, Cheshire [Map]. His brother Henry [aged 73] succeeded 3rd Marquess Abergavenny, 7th Earl Abergavenny, 7th Viscount Neville, 3rd Earl Lewes, 8th Baron Abergavenny.
On 10th January 1938 Henry Neville 3rd Marquess Abergavenny [aged 83] died. His nephew Guy [aged 54] succeeded 4th Marquess Abergavenny, 8th Earl Abergavenny, 8th Viscount Neville, 4th Earl Lewes. Baron Abergavenny abeyant between David George Pratt 6th Marquess Camden [aged 7] and Delaval Thomas Harold Astley 23rd Baron Hastings. Isabel "Nellie" Larnach Marchioness Abergavenny [aged 47] by marriage Marchioness Abergavenny.
On 30th March 1954 Guy Larnach Neville 4th Marquess Abergavenny [aged 70] died. His son John [aged 39] succeeded 5th Marquess Abergavenny, 9th Earl Abergavenny, 9th Viscount Neville, 5th Earl Lewes. Mary Patricia Harrison Marchioness Abergavenny [aged 38] by marriage Marchioness Abergavenny.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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On 23rd February 2000 John Henry Guy Neville 5th Marquess Abergavenny [aged 85] died. His nephew Christopher [aged 44] succeeded 6th Marquess Abergavenny, 10th Earl Abergavenny, 10th Viscount Neville, 6th Earl Lewes. Venetia Maynard Marchioness Abergavenny [aged 42] by marriage Marchioness Abergavenny.