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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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Tournament Bastard of Burgundy is in 1465-1469 Rise of the Woodville Family.
On 23rd May 1467 Antoine "Bastard of Burgundy" (age 46) arrived at Greenwich, Kent [Map] with a retinue of 400 people to take part in a great Tournament. He was greeted by John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40).
On 29th May 1467 King Edward IV of England (age 25) and Antoine "Bastard of Burgundy" (age 46) met at Chelsea. William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 36), Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex (age 63), Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 12), Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers (age 27), James Douglas 9th Earl Douglas 3rd Earl Avondale (age 41) and Thomas Montgomery accompanied Edward.
On 30th May 1467 George York 1st Duke of Clarence (age 17) and John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40) visited Antoine "Bastard of Burgundy" (age 46) at his lodgings in Chelsea.
On 5th June 1467 the challenger Edward Woodville Lord Scales (age 11) travelled to London and was conveyed to Ely Palace Camden by John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40).
On 8th June 1467 King Edward IV of England (age 25) and John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40) went to Whitehall Palace [Map] to retrieve the Great Seal from Archbishop George Neville (age 35). Considered as a slight against the Neville family to whom King Edward IV of England was increasingly distant.
On 11th June 1467 the fighting on horseback took place witnessed by King Edward IV of England (age 25). John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40) was Master of the Ceremonies accompanied by John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 42). The day ended with the Bastard's (age 46) horse having being accidentally fatally injured by Lord Scales' (age 11) saddle.
On 12th June 1467 the fighting on foot commenced, with axes. The day ended with no clear winner; honours equal.
On 14th June 1467 the Tournament ended with a great banquet attended by King Edward IV of England (age 25) and Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 30) at the Grocer's Hall. John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40) and William Fitzalan 9th or 16th Earl of Arundel (age 49) were present.
On 16th June 1467 a great banquet was hosted by the King's older sister Anne York Duchess Exeter (age 27) and, in the absence of her husband Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter (age 36) who remained, her future husband Thomas St Leger (age 27). King Edward IV of England (age 25) and Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 30) attended as did Antoine "Bastard of Burgundy" (age 46).
On 23rd June 1467 the Tournament was brought to a premature close following the announcement of the death of the Bastard's (age 46) father Philip "Good" Valois III Duke Burgundy (deceased).
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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A Brief Latin Chronicle. In the year of our Lord 1467, during the week of Pentecost, the Bastard of Burgundy came to England to fight a single combat with Lord Anthony, Lord Scales. Barriers and pavilions having been set up in Smithfield, London, on the feast of Saint Barnabas (11th June 1467), they entered the designated place and engaged each other almost playfully, but quickly broke off. And certain others who fought afterward there also departed unharmed.
Anno Domini 1467, in ebdomada Pentecostes venit in Angliam bastardus Burgundie dimicaturus certamine singulari cum domino Antonio, domino de Scales; factisque in Smythfeld, London, barris et tentoriis, &c., in festo Sancti Barnabe, ingressi locum dictum quasi ludentes congressi cito cessaverunt. Et alii quidam post eos inibi congressi immunes a plaga recesserunt.