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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Marriage Age Gap Greater Than Forty Years is in Marriages with Large Age Gaps.
In 1096 Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan [aged 56] and Elizabeth Capet Countess Leicester, Meulan and Surrey [aged 11] were married. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. The difference in their ages was 45 years. She the daughter of Hugh "Great" Capet [aged 39] and Adelaide I Countess Vermandois.
In or before 1156 Hugh Bigod 1st Earl Norfolk [aged 60] and Gundred Beaumont Countess Norfolk [aged 20] were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years. She the daughter of Roger Beaumont 2nd Earl Warwick and Gundred Warenne Countess Warwick.
Around 1242 Hugh de Lacy [aged 66] and Emmeline Riddlesford [aged 19] were married. The difference in their ages was 47 years.
In 1252 Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester [aged 57] and Eleanor Ferrers Countess Winchester [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Countess Winchester. The difference in their ages was 41 years. She the daughter of William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby [aged 59] and Sibyl Marshal [aged 51]. He the son of Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester and Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester. They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
After 1256 Philip Basset [aged 72] and Ela Longespée [aged 32] were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years. They were first cousin twice removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
After 20th January 1325 Thomas Blount 1st Baron Blount [aged 62] and Juliana Leybourne Countess Huntingdon [aged 22] were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years.
In or after 1356 Alan Buxhull [aged 33] and Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury were married. She reputed to be the richest woman in England at the time. The difference in their ages was 41 years.
On 16th January 1401 Stephen "Magnificient Fop" Wittelsbach III Duke Bavaria [aged 64] and Elisabeth de la Marck Duchess Bavaria [aged 23] were married at Cologne. She by marriage Duchess Bavaria. The difference in their ages was 41 years. She the daughter of Adolph de la Marck and Margaret Jülich Countess Cleves and Mark [aged 51]. He the son of Stephen Wittelsbach II Duke Bavaria and Elisabeth Barcelona Duchess Bavaria.
After 12th May 1427 William Granville [aged 45] and Philippa Bonville [aged 1] were married. The difference in their ages was 44 years. They were fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 11th May 1433 William Wittelsbach III Duke Bavaria [aged 58] and Margarethe of Cleves [aged 17] were married. The difference in their ages was 41 years. She the daughter of Adolph de la Marck I Duke Cleves [aged 59] and Marie Valois Duchess Cleves [aged 40]. He the son of John Wittelsbach II Duke Bavaria and Catherine Gorizia Duchess Bavaria. They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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Before 22nd May 1441 James Douglas 1st Lord Dalkeith [aged 71] and Janet Borthwick [aged 28] were married. The difference in their ages was 43 years.
Before 1458 William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux [aged 68] and Margaret Ros Baroness Botreaux Baroness Burgh [aged 27] were married. She by marriage Baroness Botreaux. The difference in their ages was 40 years. She the daughter of Thomas Ros 8th Baron Ros Helmsley and Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset [aged 49].
In January 1465 John Woodville [aged 20] and Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk [aged 65] were married. Described as a 'Diabolical Marriage' by opponents of the Woodvilles. He being nineteen, she sixty-five. His first wife, her fourth husband. Regarded as an example of the Woodville family increasing their wealth and power. See Woodville Marriages The difference in their ages was 45 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland. He the son of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers [aged 60] and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford [aged 50]. They were fifth cousin once removed. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In or before 1500 Thomas Wortley [aged 66] and Catherine Fitzwilliam [aged 26] were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years.
Before 1504 William Fairfax of Steeton [aged 67] and Elizabeth Fairfax [aged 23] were married. The difference in their ages was 44 years.
In or before 1511 Robert Clere [aged 65] and Alice Boleyn [aged 23] were married. The difference in their ages was 41 years.
After 8th April 1527 Giles Greville [aged 61] and Anne Reade [aged 17] were married. The difference in their ages was 44 years.
Around 1531 Anthony Ughtred [aged 53] and Elizabeth Seymour Baroness Cromwell Oakham [aged 13] were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years.
In or before 1540 William Copley [aged 67] and Margaret Savage [aged 19] were married. The difference in their ages was 48 years.
In 1550 Albert "The Elder" Hohenzollern I Duke Prussia [aged 59] and Anna Maria Guelph Duchess Prussia [aged 17] were married. The difference in their ages was 41 years. She the daughter of Eric "The Elder" Guelph I Duke Brunswick-Lüneburg. He the son of Frederick Hohenzollern I Margrave Brandenburg-Ansbach and Sophia Jagiellon Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach. They were fifth cousins.
In or before 1554 Richard Lyster [aged 21] and Isabel Lister [aged 67] were married. The difference in their ages was 46 years; she, unusually, being older than him.
After 1573 Archbishop Henry Ussher [aged 23] and Mary Smith were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years.
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 12th December 1574 Thomas Fane [aged 64] and Mary Neville 7th and 5th Baroness Abergavenny 3rd Baroness Despencer [aged 20] were married at Birling, Kent [Map]. The difference in their ages was 44 years.
Around 1595 John Bridgeman [aged 58] and Frances Daunt [aged 17] were married at Owlpen, Gloucestershire. The difference in their ages was 41 years.
Before 15th February 1616 George Carey [aged 75] and Lettice Rich [aged 27] were married. The difference in their ages was 48 years. She the daughter of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 56] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.
On 26th April 1620 Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester [aged 57] and Margaret Crouch Countess Manchester [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Viscountess Mandeville. The difference in their ages was 42 years.
In 1622 James Balfour 1st Baron Balfour [aged 55] and Anne Blayney [aged 15] were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years.
In 1622 Anthony Ashley 1st Baronet [aged 61] and Lady Philippa Sheldon [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Lady Ashley of Wimborne St Giles in Dorset. The difference in their ages was 42 years.
In 1635 Edward Cecil 1st Viscount Wimbledon [aged 62] and Sophia Zouche [aged 17] were married. The difference in their ages was 45 years. He the son of Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter and Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter. They were half fourth cousin twice removed.
In 1638 Bishop John Leslie [aged 66] and Katherine Cunningham [aged 18] were married. The difference in their ages was 48 years.
Around February 1646 Theobald Gorges [aged 63] and Anne Gage [aged 21] were married at St Bartholomew the Less. The difference in their ages was 41 years. He the son of Thomas Gorges of Longford Castle and Helena Snakenbourg Marchioness Northampton.
In 1648 Robert Howard [aged 64] and Catherine Neville [aged 22] were married. The difference in their ages was 41 years. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk. They were sixth cousins.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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In or before 1655 John Tracy 2nd Viscount Tracy [aged 61] and Dorothy Cocks [aged 19] were married. The difference in their ages was 42 years.
On 21st February 1660 Robert Sutton 1st Baron Lexinton [aged 65] and Mary St Leger Baroness Lexington [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Baroness Lexinton of Aram in Nottinghamshire. The difference in their ages was 45 years.
After 1661 George Blount [aged 11] and Mary O'Brien Viscountess Cullen [aged 52] were married. The difference in their ages was 41 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of Henry O'Brien 5th Earl Thomond and Mary Brereton Countess Thomond.
Before 23rd February 1666 Hugh Hamilton 1st Viscount of Glenawly [aged 66] and Susanna Balfour [aged 26] were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years.
On 2nd June 1680 John Maynard [aged 76] and Mary Upton [aged 30] were married. The difference in their ages was 46 years.
Before 8th May 1682 James Howard 3rd Earl Suffolk [aged 63] and Anne Montagu Countess Suffolk [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Countess Suffolk. The difference in their ages was 47 years. She the daughter of Robert Montagu 3rd Earl Manchester [aged 48] and Anne Yelverton Countess Manchester [aged 52]. He the son of Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk.
On 16th July 1695 Thomas Coventry 1st Earl Coventry [aged 66] and Elizabeth Grimes Countess Coventry [aged 25] were married. The difference in their ages was 41 years.
In 1758 Anthony Duncombe 1st Baron Feversham [aged 63] and Anne Hales Baroness Feversham Downton [aged 22] were married. She by marriage Baroness Feversham Downton in Wiltshire. The difference in their ages was 41 years.
On 6th October 1759 William Stanhope [aged 57] and Anne Hussey Delaval [aged 16] were married. His third wife. The difference in their ages was 41 years. He the son of Philip Stanhope 3rd Earl Chesterfield and Elizabeth Savile.
Before 1791 Thomas Adderley [aged 78] and Margaretta Bourke [aged 35] were married. The difference in their ages was 43 years.
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.
Before 1800 John Acton 6th Baronet [aged 63] and Mary-Ann Acton Lady Acton [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Lady Acton of Aldenham Hall. The difference in their ages was 45 years. They were uncle and niece.
On 30th November 1811 Thomas Maynard Haselrigge 10th Baronet [aged 83] and Letitia Wodehouse Lady Haselrigge [aged 37] were married at Wymondham, Norfolk [Map]. The difference in their ages was 45 years.
In June 1815 William Jackson Hooker [aged 29] and Mary Palgrave [aged 71] were married. They had five children. The difference in their ages was 41 years; she, unusually, being older than him.
Around 1816 Thomas Coutts [aged 80] and Harriet Mellon Duchess St Albans [aged 38] were married. The difference in their ages was 42 years.
In 1822 Thomas Coke 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 67] and Anne Amelia Keppel Countess Leicester [aged 19] were married. The difference in their ages was 48 years. She the daughter of William Charles Keppel 4th Earl Albermarle [aged 49] and Elizabeth Southwell Countess Albermarle.
Before 5th November 1830 George James Cholmondeley [aged 78] and Mary Elizabeth Townshend Countess Romney [aged 30] were married. The difference in their ages was 47 years.
On 18th August 1852 Henry Holland 1st Baronet [aged 63] and Elizabeth Margaret HIbbert Lady Holland [aged 18] were married. The difference in their ages was 45 years.
In 1857 William Fox-Strangways 4th Earl of Ilchester [aged 61] and Sophia Penelope Sheffield Countess Ilchester [aged 15] were married. The difference in their ages was 46 years. He the son of Henry Thomas Fox-Strangways 2nd Earl of Ilchester and Maria Digby Countess Ilchester. They were third cousins.
On 25th November 1858 Henry Holland 1st Baronet [aged 70] and Margaret Jean Trevelyan Lady Holland [aged 23] were married. She by marriage Lady Holland of Sandlebridge. The difference in their ages was 46 years.
On 12th September 1863 Thomas Grosvenor 2nd Earl Wilton [aged 63] and Susan Isabel Elton Smith Countess Wilton [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Countess Wilton. The difference in their ages was 42 years. He the son of Robert Grosvenor 1st Marquess Westminster and Eleanor Egerton Marchioness Westminster.
On 19th January 1867 William Jolliffe 1st Baron Hylton [aged 66] and Sophia Penelope Sheffield Countess Ilchester [aged 25] were married. She by marriage Baroness Hylton of Hylton in County Durham. The difference in their ages was 41 years.
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.
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On 21st August 1869 Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt [aged 75] and Frank Armstrong Crawford [aged 30] were married. She signed a pre-nuptial agreement, agreeing to receive $500,000 in bonds after his death. Confederate Generals Braxton Bragg and his brother, Thomas Bragg, both attended the wedding. The difference in their ages was 44 years.
On 16th December 1896 George Truefitt [aged 72] and Constance Lever [aged 26] were married some three months after the death of his first wife Mary Haywood. The difference in their ages was 45 years.
In 1898 Charles Tennant 1st Baronet [aged 74] and Marguerite Agaranthe Miles [aged 30] were married. The difference in their ages was 44 years.
On 23rd April 1927 Alexander Cowan McCorquodale [aged 69] and Barbara Cartland [aged 25] were married. The difference in their ages was 43 years.
On 26th October 1946 David Hay 12th Marquess of Tweedale [aged 61] and Sonia Mary Peake [aged 21] were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years.
Edward Griffin and Elizabeth Palmer were married. The difference in their ages was 40 years.