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.
Earl Devonshire is in Earldoms of England Alphabetically.
Earl Devonshire is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
1603. Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 40] created.
3rd April 1606. Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire extinct.
In 1603 Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 40] was created 1st Earl Devonshire.
On 26th December 1605 Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 42] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 42] were married at Wansted House, Essex during a service conducted by Archbishop William Laud [aged 32] (future). The marriage was regarded as uncanonical and resulted in the disgrace of both parties, who were banished from King James I's court circles. She by marriage Countess Devonshire. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 62]. They were third cousins.
On 3rd April 1606 Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 43] died at Savoy Palace [Map]. Earl Devonshire, Baron Mountjoy extinct.
Earl Devonshire is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extant Earldoms of England.
Summary
2nd August 1618. William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 65] created.
3rd March 1626. Son William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire [aged 36] succeeded.
20th June 1628. Son William Cavendish 3rd Earl Devonshire [aged 10] succeeded.
23rd November 1684. Son William Cavendish 1st Duke Devonshire [aged 44] succeeded.
18th August 1707. Son William Cavendish 2nd Duke Devonshire [aged 35] succeeded.
4th June 1729. Son William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire [aged 30] succeeded.
5th December 1755. Son William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire [aged 35] succeeded.
2nd October 1764. Son William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire [aged 16] succeeded.
29th July 1811. Son William Cavendish 6th Duke Devonshire [aged 21] succeeded.
18th January 1858. First Cousin Once Removed William Cavendish 7th Duke Devonshire [aged 49] succeeded.
21st December 1891. Son Spencer Cavendish 8th Duke Devonshire [aged 58] succeeded.
24th March 1908. Nephew Victor Christian William Cavendish 9th Duke Devonshire [aged 39] succeeded.
6th May 1938. Son Edward William Spencer Cavendish 10th Duke Devonshire [aged 43] succeeded.
26th November 1950. Son Andrew Cavendish 11th Duke Devonshire [aged 30] succeeded.
3rd May 2004. Son Peregrine Cavendish 12th Duke of Devonshire [aged 60] succeeded.
On 2nd August 1618 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 65] was created 1st Earl Devonshire, at the Bishop's Palace, Salisbury Cathedral. Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire [aged 50] by marriage Countess Devonshire.
On 3rd March 1626 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 73] died. His son William [aged 36] succeeded 2nd Earl Devonshire, 2nd Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire by marriage Countess Devonshire. On 12th October 1616 Henry Cavendish died. Both were buried at St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].
The monument was behind the altar in the original church but moved to a separate chapel in the new church.
Monument formed two bodies under a low four-poster with black Ionic columns and black covering slab. The monument has been attributed to Maximilian Colt [aged 51].
On 20th June 1628 William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire [aged 38] died at Devonshire House. He was buried at Derby Cathedral [Map]. His son William [aged 10] succeeded 3rd Earl Devonshire, 3rd Baron Cavendish Hardwick.
On 4th March 1639 William Cavendish 3rd Earl Devonshire [aged 21] and Elizabeth Cecil Countess Devonshire [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Devonshire. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 47] and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury [aged 49]. He the son of William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire and Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 23rd November 1684 William Cavendish 3rd Earl Devonshire [aged 67] died at his house in Roehampton, Surrey. He was buried in the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son William [aged 44] succeeded 4th Earl Devonshire, 4th Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Mary Butler Duchess Devonshire [aged 38] by marriage Countess Devonshire.
On 18th August 1707 William Cavendish 1st Duke Devonshire [aged 67] died. His son William [aged 35] succeeded 2nd Duke Devonshire, 5th Earl Devonshire, 5th Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Rachel Russell Duchess Devonshire [aged 33] by marriage Duchess Devonshire.
On 4th June 1729 William Cavendish 2nd Duke Devonshire [aged 57] died. His son William [aged 30] succeeded 3rd Duke Devonshire, 6th Earl Devonshire, 6th Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire [aged 30] by marriage Duchess Devonshire.
On 5th December 1755 William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire [aged 57] died. His son William [aged 35] succeeded 4th Duke Devonshire, 7th Earl Devonshire, 7th Baron Cavendish Hardwick.
On 2nd October 1764 William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire [aged 44] died. His son William [aged 16] succeeded 5th Duke Devonshire, 8th Earl Devonshire, 8th Baron Cavendish Hardwick.
On 29th July 1811 William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire [aged 63] died. His son William [aged 21] succeeded 6th Duke Devonshire, 9th Earl Devonshire, 9th Baron Cavendish Hardwick, 8th Baron Clifford.
On 18th January 1858 William Cavendish 6th Duke Devonshire [aged 67] died at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried in the Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map]. His first cousin once removed William [aged 49] succeeded 7th Duke Devonshire, 10th Earl Devonshire, 10th Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Baron Clifford abeyant.
On 21st December 1891 William Cavendish 7th Duke Devonshire [aged 83] died. He was buried at the Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map]. His son Spencer [aged 58] succeeded 8th Duke Devonshire, 11th Earl Devonshire, 3rd Earl Burlington, 11th Baron Cavendish Hardwick.
On 24th March 1908 Spencer Cavendish 8th Duke Devonshire [aged 74] died of pneumonia at Hotel Metropol. His nephew Victor [aged 39] succeeded 9th Duke Devonshire, 12th Earl Devonshire, 4th Earl Burlington, 12th Baron Cavendish Hardwick. On 28th March 1908 he was buried in the Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].
On 6th May 1938 Victor Christian William Cavendish 9th Duke Devonshire [aged 69] died at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried at Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map]. His son Edward [aged 43] succeeded 10th Duke Devonshire, 13th Earl Devonshire, 5th Earl Burlington, 13th Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Mary Alice Gascoyne-Cecil Duchess Devonshire [aged 42] by marriage Duchess Devonshire. On 2nd April 1960 Evelyn Emily Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice Duchess Devonshire [aged 67] died. Both the Duke and Duchess were buried in the Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].
Evelyn Emily Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice Duchess Devonshire: On 27th August 1870 she was born to Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice 5th Marquess Lansdowne. On 30th July 1892 Victor Christian William Cavendish 9th Duke Devonshire and she were married. She by marriage Duchess Devonshire. She the daughter of Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice 5th Marquess Lansdowne. They were fifth cousins.
On 26th November 1950 Edward William Spencer Cavendish 10th Duke Devonshire [aged 55] died. His son Andrew [aged 30] succeeded 11th Duke Devonshire, 14th Earl Devonshire, 6th Earl Burlington, 14th Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Deborah Vivien Mitford Duchess Devonshire [aged 30] by marriage Duchess Devonshire. On 24th December 1988 Mary Alice Gascoyne-Cecil Duchess Devonshire [aged 55] died. Both the Duke and Duchess were buried in the Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].
On 3rd May 2004 Andrew Cavendish 11th Duke Devonshire [aged 84] died. His son Peregrine [aged 60] succeeded 12th Duke Devonshire, 15th Earl Devonshire, 15th Baron Cavendish Hardwick, 7th Earl Burlington. Amanda Carmen Heywood-Lonsdale Duchess of Devonshire [aged 60] by marriage Duchess Devonshire.