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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Count is in Lords Temporal.
In 1065 Waleran Luxemburg Count Limburg Count Arlon was created Count Arlon. Jutta Luxemburg Ardennes Countess Limburg and Arlon by marriage Countess Arlon.
In 1082 Waleran Luxemburg Count Limburg Count Arlon died. His son Henry [aged 23] succeeded Count Limburg, Count Arlon.
Before 1085 Henry Luxemburg I Duke Lower Lorraine [aged 25] and Adelaide Pottenstein Duchess Lower Lorraine were married. She by marriage Countess Limburg, Countess Arlon. He the son of Waleran Luxemburg Count Limburg Count Arlon and Jutta Luxemburg Ardennes Countess Limburg and Arlon.
Around 1070 Louis Arnstein 3rd Count Arnstein succeeded 3rd Count Arnstein.
On 19th May 1305 William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland [aged 19] and Joan Valois Countess Zeeland Holland Avesnes and Hainaut [aged 11] were married. She by marriage Countess Zeeland, Countess Holland, Countess Avesnes, Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Charles Valois I Count Valois [aged 35] and Margaret Capet Countess Valois. He the son of John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland and Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland [aged 53]. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
Herman Brabant Count Brabant was appointed Count Brabant.
John Harcourt VI Count Harcourt succeeded VI Count Harcourt.
In 1052 Waleran Luxemburg Count Limburg Count Arlon was appointed Count Limburg.
Before 1059 Waleran Luxemburg Count Limburg Count Arlon and Jutta Luxemburg Ardennes Countess Limburg and Arlon were married. She by marriage Countess Limburg. She the daughter of Frederick Luxemburg Ardennes Duke Lower Lorraine [aged 55] and Gerberga Flanders Duchess Lower Lorraine [aged 43].
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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In 1082 Waleran Luxemburg Count Limburg Count Arlon died. His son Henry [aged 23] succeeded Count Limburg, Count Arlon.
Before 1085 Henry Luxemburg I Duke Lower Lorraine [aged 25] and Adelaide Pottenstein Duchess Lower Lorraine were married. She by marriage Countess Limburg, Countess Arlon. He the son of Waleran Luxemburg Count Limburg Count Arlon and Jutta Luxemburg Ardennes Countess Limburg and Arlon.
Giselbert Luxemburg Ardennes Count Longwy Count Luxemburg Count Salm was created Count Longwy, Count Luxemburg, Count Salm.
Around 1134 Louis I Count Loon [aged 26] and Agnes Metz Countess Loon [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Loon.
In 1139 Louis I Count Loon [aged 31] succeeded I Count Loon.
Before 2nd August 1218 Louis II Count Loon was fatally poisoned. His brother Henry [aged 82] succeeded Count Loon.
On 2nd August 1218 Henry Count Loon [aged 82] was fatally poisoned a few days after his brother had been. His brother Arnold succeeded III Count Loon.
In 973 Reginar Reginar III Count Hainaut [aged 53] died. His son Reginar [aged 23] succeeded IV Count Mons.
Before 995 Reginar Reginar IV Count Mons [aged 44] and Hedwig Capet Countess Mons [aged 24] were married. She by marriage Countess Mons. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks [aged 53] and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France [aged 49]. He the son of Reginar Reginar III Count Hainaut.
In 1013 Reginar Reginar IV Count Mons [aged 63] died. His son Reginar [aged 18] succeeded V Count Mons.
Before 1039 Reginar Reginar V Count Mons [aged 43] and Mathilde Brabant Countess Mons were married. She by marriage Countess Mons. She the daughter of Herman Brabant Count Brabant. He the son of Reginar Reginar IV Count Mons and Hedwig Capet Countess Mons.
In 1039 Reginar Reginar V Count Mons [aged 44] died. In 1039 His son Herman succeeded Reginar V Count Mons.
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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In 1040 Herman Reginar V Count Mons III Count Hainaut and Richilde Unknown Countess Mons and Hainaut were married. She by marriage Countess Mons, Countess Hainault. He the son of Reginar Reginar V Count Mons and Mathilde Brabant Countess Mons.
Henry Luxemburg Ardennes Count Palatine Lorraine was appointed Count Palatine Lorraine.
In 1059 Herman Luxemburg Ardennes I Count Salm succeeded I Count Salm.
Giselbert Luxemburg Ardennes Count Longwy Count Luxemburg Count Salm was created Count Longwy, Count Luxemburg, Count Salm.
On 20th March 1671 Charles Theodore Salm Prince Salm [aged 26] and Luise Marie Palatinate Simmern Countess Salm [aged 23] were married. She by marriage Countess Salm Salm.
In 1710 Charles Theodore Salm Prince Salm [aged 65] died. His son Louis [aged 35] succeeded Count Salm Salm. Albertine Johannette Nassau Hadamar Countess Salm [aged 35] by marriage Countess Salm Salm.
Charles Theodore Salm Prince Salm succeeded Count Salm Salm.
On 19th May 1305 William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland [aged 19] and Joan Valois Countess Zeeland Holland Avesnes and Hainaut [aged 11] were married. She by marriage Countess Zeeland, Countess Holland, Countess Avesnes, Countess Hainault. She the daughter of Charles Valois I Count Valois [aged 35] and Margaret Capet Countess Valois. He the son of John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland and Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland [aged 53]. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
In 1354 William Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria [aged 23] succeeded V Count Hainault, V Count Zeeland.
On 13th December 1404 Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria [aged 68] died at The Hague. His son William [aged 39] succeeded IV Count Holland, VI Count Hainault, V Count Zeeland. Margaret Valois Countess Holland [aged 30] by marriage Countess Holland.
John "Pitiless" Wittelsbach II Duke Bavaria Straubing succeeded III Count Holland, VI Count Hainault, V Count Zeeland, II Duke Bavaria Straubing.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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In 1465 Adolf Egmont 2nd Duke Guelders [aged 26] was appointed Count Zutphen.
Otto Zutphen 2nd Count Zutphen succeeded 2nd Count Zutphen.