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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Paternal Family Tree: Oldenburg
In 1423 [his father] Dietrich Count of Oldenburg [aged 25] and [his mother] Helvig of Schauenburg were married.
In February 1426 Christian I King of Denmark was born to [his father] Dietrich Count of Oldenburg [aged 28] and [his mother] Helvig of Schauenburg.
In 1440 [his father] Dietrich Count of Oldenburg [aged 42] died.
In 1448 Christian I King of Denmark [aged 21] succeeded I King of Denmark.
On 28th October 1449 Christian I King of Denmark [aged 23] and Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 18] were married.
In 1450 [his son] Olaf Oldenburg was born to Christian I King of Denmark [aged 23] and [his wife] Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 19]. He died aged one in 1451.
In 1451 [his son] Canute Oldenburg was born to Christian I King of Denmark [aged 24] and [his wife] Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 20]. He died aged four in 1455.
In 1451 [his son] Olaf Oldenburg [aged 1] died.
In 1455 [his son] Canute Oldenburg [aged 4] died.
On 2nd February 1455 [his son] John King of Denmark Norway and Sweden was born to Christian I King of Denmark [aged 29] and [his wife] Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 24]. He married 6th September 1478 Christina Queen Consort Denmark Norway and Sweden and had issue.
On 23rd June 1456 [his daughter] Margaret Oldenburg Queen Consort Scotland was born to Christian I King of Denmark [aged 30] and [his wife] Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 25]. She married July 1469 King James III of Scotland, son of King James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland, and had issue.
In July 1469 [his son-in-law] King James III of Scotland [aged 17] and Margaret Oldenburg Queen Consort Scotland [aged 13] were married at Holyrood Abbey, Holyrood. She by marriage Queen Consort Scotland. She the daughter of Christian I King of Denmark [aged 43] and Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 38]. He the son of King James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland.
On 7th October 1471 [his son] King Frederick I of Denmark was born to Christian I King of Denmark [aged 45] and [his wife] Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 40]. He married (1) 10th April 1502 his half second cousin Anna of Brandenburg and had issue (2) 9th October 1518 Sophie of Pomerania Queen Consort of Denmark and Sweden and had issue.
On 6th September 1478 John King of Denmark Norway and Sweden [aged 23] and Christina Queen Consort Denmark Norway and Sweden [aged 16] were married. He the son of Christian I King of Denmark [aged 52] and Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 47].
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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On 21st May 1481 Christian I King of Denmark [aged 55] died. His son John [aged 26] succeeded King of Denmark. Christina Queen Consort Denmark Norway and Sweden [aged 19] by marriage Queen Consort Denmark.
On 10th November 1495 [his former wife] Dorothea of Brandenburg [aged 64] died.