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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1359 de Bohun Fitzalan Double Wedding
1376 Death of the Black Prince
1385 Richard II Creates his Two Uncles as Dukes
1392 Death of Isabella of Castile
1396 Marriage of John of Gaunt and Katherine Roet
1396 Marriage of Richard II and Isabella of Valois
1397 Murder of Thomas of Woodstock
1397 Arrest and Execution of Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl of Surrey 11th Earl Arundel
In September 1359, a case of Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings, siblings from the de Bohun family, children of [her grandfather] William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton, his only children, and the Fitzalan family, children of , were married:
[her uncle] Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl of Surrey 4th or 11th Earl of Arundel and [her aunt] Elizabeth Bohun Countess Arundel and Surrey were married. She the daughter of William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton and [her grandmother] Elizabeth Badlesmere Countess Northampton. He the son of Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey and Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey.
[her father] Humphrey Bohun 7th Earl Hereford 6th Earl Essex 2nd Earl of Northampton and [her mother] Joan Fitzalan Countess Essex, Hereford and Northampton were married. She the daughter of Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey and Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey. He the son of William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton and Elizabeth Badlesmere Countess Northampton.
Around 1366 Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester was born to [her father] Humphrey Bohun 7th Earl Hereford 6th Earl Essex 2nd Earl of Northampton and [her mother] Joan Fitzalan Countess Essex, Hereford and Northampton.
On 15th August 1369 Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England died at Windsor Castle. Her husband [her future father-in-law] King Edward III of England and youngest son Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester were present. She was given a state funeral six months later on 9th January 1370 at which she was interred at on the northeast side of the Chapel of St Edward the Confessor, Westminster Abbey. Her alabaster effigy was executed by sculptor Jean de Liège.
On 16th January 1373 [her father] Humphrey Bohun 7th Earl Hereford 6th Earl Essex 2nd Earl of Northampton died. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey. Earl Hereford, Earl Essex, Earl of Northampton extinct. His estates were divided between his two daughters Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester, wife of [her future husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and [her sister] Mary Bohun, wife of Henry of Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV, although the title and estates should have been inherited Gilbert Bohun who was a grandson of Humphrey Bohun 2nd Earl Hereford 1st Earl Essex.
In 1374 Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester were married. She the daughter of Humphrey Bohun 7th Earl Hereford 6th Earl Essex 2nd Earl of Northampton and Joan Fitzalan Countess Essex, Hereford and Northampton. He the son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England.
In 1376 [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester was created 1st Earl Essex. Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester by marriage Countess Essex.
On 8th June 1376 [her brother-in-law] Edward "Black Prince" died of dysentery at Westminster Palace. He was buried in Canterbury Cathedral. Richard succeeded as heir to his grandfather [her father-in-law] King Edward III of England who died a year later.
In 1377 [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester was created 1st Earl Buckingham. Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester by marriage Countess Buckingham.
Around 1381 [her son] Humphrey Plantagenet 2nd Earl Buckingham was born to [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester.
On 5th October 1382 [her sister-in-law] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons died.
Around 1383 [her daughter] Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford was born to [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester. She married (1) 1390 Thomas Stafford 3rd Earl Stafford, son of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford (2) 28th June 1398 Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford, son of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford, and had issue (3) 1405 William Bourchier 1st Count of Eu and had issue.
Before 16th August 1383 [her daughter] Joan Plantagenet Baroness Strange and Talbot was born to [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester. Her inquisition post mortem describes her being aged seventeen at the time of her death on the 16th of August 1400. She married before 1400 Gilbert Talbot 8th Baron Strange Blackmere 5th Baron Talbot, son of Richard Talbot 7th Baron Strange Blackmere 4th Baron Talbot and Ankaret Strange 7th Baroness Strange Blackmere, Baroness Talbot.
On 12th March 1385 [her daughter] Isabel Plantagenet was born to [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester.
On 6th August 1385 [her brother-in-law] Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York was created 1st Duke York by King Richard II of England. Isabella of Castile Duchess York by marriage Duchess York.
[her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester was created 1st Duke Albemarle, and around the same time, 1st Duke Gloucester. Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester by marriage Duchess Albemarle and Duchess Gloucester.
On 19th December 1387 an army of the Lords Appellant led by the future King Henry IV of England prevented the forces of King Richard II of England commanded by Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland from crossing the bridge over the River Thames at Radcot in Oxfordshire. When [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester arrived with further Lord Appellant's men the King's men were encircled. The King's men attempted to force the crossing of the bridge at which time the only casualties occurred including Thomas Molyneux who was killed by Thomas Mortimer. Around 800 men drowned in the marshes whilst trying to escape. Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland narrowly escaped to France.
In 1388 [her daughter] Philippa Plantagenet died.
In 1388 [her daughter] Philippa Plantagenet was born to [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester. She died aged less than one years old.
Around 1390 [her son-in-law] Thomas Stafford 3rd Earl Stafford and Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford were married. She by marriage Countess Stafford. She would, eight years later marry his younger brother Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford; an example of a Married to Two Siblings. She the daughter of Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester. He the son of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford.
On 23rd December 1392 Isabella of Castile Duchess York died. She was buried at King's Langley Priory, Hertfordshire. She the wife of [her brother-in-law] Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York. Isabella had travelled to England with her sister Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster who had married Edmund's elder brother John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster. Isabella and Edmund's marriage was not, apparently, a happy one. She is known to have had an affair with John Holland 1st Duke Exeter who may have been the father of Richard of Conisbrough 1st Earl Cambridge progenitor of the House of York.
On 4th November 1393 [her brother-in-law] Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York and Joan Holland Duchess York were married. She by marriage Duchess York. The difference in their ages was 38 years. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and [her aunt] Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent. He the son of [her father-in-law] King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England.
On 13th January 1396 [her brother-in-law] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster were married at Lincoln Cathedral. She by marriage Duchess Lancaster. He the son of [her father-in-law] King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England.
Froissart Book 4 Chapter 73. [13th January 1396]. At this period, the [her brother-in-law] duke of Lancaster married his third wife [Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster], the daughter of a Hainault knight, called sir Paon de Ruet: he had formerly been one of the knights to the good and noble queen Philippa of England, who much loved the Hainaulters, as she was herself of that country.
This lady whom the duke of Lancaster married was called Catherine, and in her youth had been of the household of the duchess Blanche of Lancaster. Before the lady Blanche's death, and even when the duke was married to his second wife Constance, the daughter of don Pedro, he cohabited with the lady Catherine de Ruet, who was then married to an English knight [Hugh Swynford] now dead.
The duke of Lancaster had three children1 by her, previous to his marriage, two sons and a daughter: the eldest son was named John lord Beaufort of Lancaster; the other Thomas [Henry], whom the duke kept at the schools in Oxford, and made a great churchman and civihan. He was afterward bishop of Lincoln, which is the richest bishopric in the kingdom: from affection to these children, the duke married their mother, to the great astonishment of France and England, for Catherine Swynford was of base extraction in comparison to his two former duchesses Blanche and Constance. When this marriage was announced to the ladies of high rank in England, such as the duchess of Gloucester, the countess of Derby2, the countess of Arundel, and others connected with the royal family, they were greatly shocked, and thought the duke much to blame. They said, "he had sadly disgraced himself by thus marrying his concubine;" and added, that, "since it was so, she would be the second lady in the kingdom, and the queen would be dishonourably accompanied by her; but that, for their parts, they would leave her to do the honours alone, for they would never enter any place where she was. They themselves would be disgraced if they suffered such a base-born duchess, who had been the duke's concubine a long time before and during his marriages, to take precedence, and their hearts would burst with grief were it to happen." Those who were the most outrageous on the subject were the [her husband] duke and duchess of Gloucester. They considered the duke of Lancaster as a doating fool for thus marrying his concubine, and declared they would never honour his lady by calling her sister. The duke of York made light of the matter, for he lived chiefly with the king and his brother of Lancaster. The duke of Gloucester was of a different way of thinking: although the youngest of the three brothers, he yielded to no man's opinion, was naturally very proud and overbearing, and in opposition to the king's ministers, unless he could turn them as he willed. Catherine Ruet, however, remained duchess of Lancaster, and the second lady in England, as long as she lived. She was a lady accustomed to honours, for she had been brought up at court during her youth, and the duke fondly loved the children he had by her, as he showed during his life and at his death.
Note 1. Froissart mistakes in the number, and Thomas for Henry. According to Sandford, he had four children by Catherine Swynford: — John Beaufort, earl of Somerset, — Henry Beaufort, bishop of Winchester and cardinal of Beaufort, — Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter and earl of Dorset, — Joan Beaufort, countess of Westmoreland. For farther particulars, see Sandford and Dugdale.
Note 2. This reference to the Countess of Derby is confusing. In 1396 the Earl of Derby was Henry, future King Henry IV, who inherited the title from his mother Blanche when she died in 1368. Henry's first wife Mary Bohun had died in 1394, and he marired his second wife Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England in 1403?
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Life Charles VI by a Monk of St Denis [~1420]. [30th October 1396] Thus far awaited by the kings, Lady Isabelle, with a retinue of distinguished ladies adorned with golden and gem-studded garlands, also mounted on horses adorned with royal trappings, then arrived. If you had attended to their appearance, you would have undoubtedly said that it was the assembly of goddesses and a ritual long imagined renewed. To recount each detail that made the royal virgin conspicuous at that time would be long; but using brevity, it is hardly recalled in the memory of men to have seen in the annals of history any authority with such a rich flow of horses, chariots, and litters, and such a noble retinue of barons and knights soliciting the marriage of a foreign prince. Therefore, in royal attire, adorned with golden embroidered lilies and a golden diadem, while the kings, as previously mentioned, were exiting from their tents to celebrate mutual conversation near the aforementioned pallium; with trumpets and sweetly resonating musical instruments, she was led to her father's place. And no sooner had they arrived to honour her properly than the Duchess of Lancaster and the Duchess of Gloucester soon approached her. With them, also, the Dukes of Orléans, Bitturiae, and Burgundy were present, who, receiving her in their arms, honourably presented her to King Richard of England. When he had greeted her twice on bent knee, satisfied with this reverence, and leaving his seat, he gently embraced her with the kiss of peace in the presence of her father, who then directed a word to him: "Behold," he said, "my son, the daughter whom I had promised you; I leave her to you, asking that you henceforth love her as your own wife."
When he had willingly pledged this, having given a kiss to his father and parents with tears, he made her be led to Calais. Then, celebrating a solemn banquet for the King of France, he honoured him more courteously than usual; for he not only granted him the right-hand seat, but also had dishes brought in successively served during the meal, with counts of royal lineage being present, who, serving him honourably, offered bread and cups in royal fashion. Then the kings reclined alone; to whom, during the meal, the dukes of both parties were obedient, proceeding with all kinds of dishes. When this was completed, when the King of England had taken cups from the hand of the [her brother-in-law] Duke of Lancaster, and the King of France from the hand of the Duke of Orléans, they offered each other the following gifts. A solid gold vessel, suitable for offering dishes, with a sumptuous necklace was granted by the father to the son; who, not being ungrateful to his father, presented another necklace. Following his example, the Duke of Lancaster gave one other to himself, exceeding in value what he had recently received as a gift from King John of France. When these matters were completed, when the kings had proceeded on horseback up to the pallium, and the King of England, receiving a diamond and a sapphire of immense value, had compensated for the gifts of his father with the two best right-hand men, then with mutual farewell spoken, they mixed kisses of peace, and thus each joyfully returned to their own.
Hucusque ab ipsis regibus expectata domina Ysabellis cum comitiva insignium dominarum in sertis aureis et gemmatis, equis eciam cultu regio faleratis insedencium, tunc advenit. Quarum si apparatum attendisses, olim fictum dearum contubernium et ritum dixisses procul dubio renovatum. Referre singula, que regiam virginem tunc reddiderunt conspicuam, longum esset; sed breviloquio utens, memoria hominum minime recolebat in annalibus vidisse hujus auctoritatis aliquam cum tanto divite fluxu equorum, curruum et lecticarum, tamque nobili comitiva baronum et militum extranei principis peciisse connubium. Cultu itaque regio, aureis contexto liliis, aureoque dyademate insignita, interim dum reges, modo quo superius dictum est, de tentoriis exeuntes, ad sepedictum pallum colloquium mutuum celebrarent; cum lituis et instrumentis musicis dulciter resonantibus ad locum paternum perducitur. Nec mora, ut eam honore debito prevenirent, Lencastrie et Glocestrie ducisse mox ad eam accesserunt. Cum duce eciam Aurelianensi Biturie et Burgundie duces affuerunt, qui eam in ulnis suscipientes ipsam regi Anglie Richardo honorifice obtulerunt. Quem cum bis flexis genibus salutasset, hac reverencia contentus, et sedem suam relinquens, eam cum pacis osculo dulciter amplexatus est in patris presencia, qui tunc ad eum verbum dirigens: "Ecce, inquit, filiam, fili mi, quam vobis promiseram, relinquo, rogans ut eam deinceps ut uxorem propriam diligatis."
Quod cum libenti animo spopondisset, cum patri et parentibus osculum cum lacrimis prebuisset, eam ad Calesium duci fecit. Tunc regi Francie celebrans solemne convivium, eum solito curialius honoravit; nam non solum sibi dexteram sedem concessit, sed et fercula allata successive ministrari durante prandio fecit, de genere regali adhibitis comitibus, qui sibi honorifice servientes, panem et pocula regio more offerrent. Soli tunc discubuerunt reges; quibus, durante prandio, duces utriusque partis obsequiosi fuerunt, omnia ferculorum genera precedendo. Quo peracto, cum rex Anglie de manu ducis Lencastrie, et rex Francie de manu ducis Aurelianensis pocula cum speciebus sumpsissent, hec sequencia munera sibi invicem obtulerunt. Vas quidem auri solidum, speciebus porrigendis aptum, cum sumptuoso monili pater filio concessit; qui nec ingratus existens patri monile aliud presentavit. Cujus exemplum dux Lencastrie sequutus, unum aliud sibi dedit in valore excedens quod a Johanne rege Francie dono nuper acceperat. Hiis peractis, cum reges equestres usque ad pallum processissent, et rex Anglie adamantem et saphirum ingentis valoris recipiens, et patris munera duobus dextrariis optimis compensasset, tunc cum mutuo vale dicto pacis oscula miscuerunt, et sic quisque letus ad propria remeavit.
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Froissart Book 4 Chapter 92. 1397. The late [her husband] duke of Gloucester was by inheritance constable of England; but the king deprived his heir of it, and gave it to his cousin the earl of Rutland. The king now assumed a greater state than ever king of England had done before, nor had there been any one who had expended such large sums by one hundred thousand nobles. He also took the wardship of the heir of Arundel, son to the late earl whom he had beheaded in London, as has been related, and forced him to live with him. And because one of the knights of the late duke of Gloucester, named Cerbec, had spoken too freely of the king and council, he was arrested and instantly beheaded. Sir John Lacquingay was likewise in some peril; but, when he saw the turn affairs had taken, he quitted the service of the duchess of Gloucester, and fixed his abode elsewhere. At this period there was no one, however great, in England, that dared speak his sentiments of what the king did or intended doing. He had formed a council of his own from the knights of his chamber, who encouraged him to act as they advised. The king had in his pay full two thousand archers, who were on guard day and night, for he did not think himself perfectly safe from his uncles or the Arundel family.1
Note 1. For more ample particulars respecting the murder of the duke of Gloucester, I must refer the reader to Mr. Gough's History of Pleshy.
Froissart Book 4 Chapter 92. 1397. The resentments of the citizens began to cool, and they offered to mediate between the king and the [her brother-in-law] duke of Lancaster, who was mightily angered by the murder of his [her husband] brother. He bethought himself, however, that as his nephew was married to the daughter of the king of France, should he wage war against king Richard, his two daughters married in Castille and Portugal might suffer for it, from the French carrying a war into those countries. The duke was beside forced to change his mind, whether he would or not, from the solicitations of the citizens of London and some of the English prelates, who had been the mediators between the king and his uncles. The king obtained peace, on promising from that day forward to be solely guided by the advice of the duke of Lancaster, engaging never to do anything without first consulting him. The promise, however, he paid not any regard to, but followed the counsels of the rash and evil-minded, for which hereafter he severely suffered, as shall be related in this history. Thus did the king of England gain peace from his uncles for the murder of the duke of Gloucester, and now governed more fiercely than before. He went with his state to Pleshy in Essex, which had belonged to his uncle of Gloucester, and should have descended to his son Humphrey as heir to his father; but the king took possession of it, for it is the rule in England for the king to have the wardship of all children who have lost their fathers, and are under twenty-one years of age at which period their estates are restored to them. King Richard took his cousin Humphrey of Gloucester in ward, appropriating all his possessions to his own profit. He made him live with him, and the duchess and her two daughters with the queen.
Around 8th September 1397 [her husband] Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester was murdered in Calais for his role as leader of the Lords Appellant. Duke Albemarle, Duke Gloucester, Earl Essex forfeit. [her son] Humphrey Plantagenet 2nd Earl Buckingham succeeded 2nd Earl Buckingham.
Walter Clopton was part of the inquiry into his death the outcome of which is not known. A John Hall was executed for the murder.
Froissart Book 4 Chapter 92. [21st September 1397]. The duchess of Gloucester, her son Humphrey, and her two daughters, were sorely grieved when the body of the duke arrived. The duchess had double cause of affliction, for the earl of Arundel, her uncle, had been publicly beheaded in Cheapside by orders of the king. No baron nor knight dared to interpose, nor advise the king to do otherwise, for he was himself present at the execution, which was performed by the earl's son-in-law, the earl-marshal, who bandaged his eyes.
On 28th June 1398 [her son-in-law] Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford and Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford were married. She by marriage Countess Stafford. She had, around eight years previously, married his brother Thomas Stafford 3rd Earl Stafford who had died in 1392; an example of Married to Two Siblings. She the daughter of Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester. He the son of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford.
Froissart Book 4 Chapter 94. Before 19th October 1398. You must know that the earl of Derby and the late [her former husband] duke of Gloucester had married two sisters [Note. Mary Bohun and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester], daughters to the earl of Hereford and Northampton, constable of England: the children, therefore, of the earl of Derby and duke of Gloucester were cousins-german by their mother's side, and one degree removed by their father's. To say the truth, the death of the duke of Gloucester had displeased many of the great barons of England, who frequently murmured at it when together; but the king had now so greatly extended his power, none dared to speak of it openly, nor act upon the current rumours of the mode of his death. The king had caused it to be proclaimed, that whoever should say anything respecting the duke of Gloucester or the earl of Arundel, should be reckoned a false and wicked traitor and incur his indignation. This threat had caused many to be silent, afraid of what might befal them, who were, nevertheless, much dissatisfied.
On 2nd September 1399 [her son] Humphrey Plantagenet 2nd Earl Buckingham died. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey. Earl Buckingham extinct.
On 3rd October 1399 Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey. She has a monumental brass, representing the deceased in her conventual dress, as a nun of Barking Abbey.
Froissart Book 4 Chapter 92. You may suppose, that when news was carried to Pleshy of the duke of Gloucester's arrest, the duchess and her children were greatly dismayed, and, since such a bold measure had been taken, were much afraid of the consequences. Suspecting the duke's life was in great danger, they consulted sir John Laquingay what would be best for them now to do. The knight advised them to send instantly to the dukes of Lancaster and York, the duke's brothers; for by their mediation, perhaps, the king's choler would be appeased. He saw no other means, as the king would not choose to make them his enemies. The duchess of Gloucester followed this advice of the knight, and instantly despatched messengers to both, for they resided at a distance from each other. They were much enraged at hearing their brother was arrested, and returned answers to the duchess, not to be too much distressed at what had happened, for the king would not dare to treat him otherwise than by fair and legal measures, for it would not be suffered. This answer comforted the duchess and her children.