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.
Paternal Family Tree: Jimenez
Around 1071 [his father] Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona (age 29) and [his mother] Felicia Montdidier Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona (age 11) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon, Queen Consort Pamplona. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Hilduin Montdidier IV Count Montdidier. He the son of [his grandfather] Ramiro Sánchez I King Aragon and [his grandmother] Gisberga or Ermesinda Bigorre Queen Consort Aragon.
Around 1073 Alfonso I King Aragon I King Pamplona was born to [his father] Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona (age 31) and [his mother] Felicia Montdidier Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona (age 13).
In 1076 [his father] Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona (age 34) succeeded V King Pamplona.
In 1086 [his half-brother] Peter I King Aragon I King Pamplona (age 18) and [his sister-in-law] Agnes Poitiers Queen Consort Aragon Queen Consort Pamplona (age 14) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon, Queen Consort Pamplona. She the daughter of Guy William Poitiers VIII Duke Aquitaine (age 61) and Hildegarde Burgundy Duchess Aquitaine (age 30). He the son of [his father] Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona (age 44) and Isabella Urgell Queen Consort Aragon Queen Consort Pamplona.
On 4th June 1094 [his father] Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona (age 52) died. His son [his half-brother] Peter (age 26) succeeded I King Aragon, I King Pamplona.
In 1097 [his half-brother] Peter I King Aragon I King Pamplona (age 29) and [his sister-in-law] Bertha Queen Consort Aragon Queen Consort Pamplona (age 22) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon, Queen Consort Pamplona. He the son of [his father] Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona and Isabella Urgell Queen Consort Aragon Queen Consort Pamplona.
In 1104 [his half-brother] Peter I King Aragon I King Pamplona (age 36) died. His half brother Alfonso (age 31) succeeded I King Aragon, I King Pamplona.
In 1109 Alfonso I King Aragon I King Pamplona (age 36) and Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona (age 29) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon, Queen Consort Pamplona. She the daughter of Alfonso "Brave" VI King Leon VI King Castile (age 68) and Constance Burgundy Queen Consort Castile and Leon. He the son of Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona and Felicia Montdidier Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona (age 49). They were half second cousins.
On 1st July 1109 [his father-in-law] Alfonso "Brave" VI King Leon VI King Castile (age 68) died. His daughter [his wife] Urracca (age 30) succeeded Queen Leon, Queen Castile and Queen Galicia.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1112 Alfonso I King Aragon I King Pamplona (age 39) and Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona (age 32) were divorced.
In 1117 Roger II King Sicily (age 21) and [his illegitimate sister-in-law] Elvira Alfónsez Jiménez Queen Consort Sicily (age 37) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Sicily. She the illegitmate daughter of [his former father-in-law] Alfonso "Brave" VI King Leon VI King Castile and Jimena Munoz.
On 3rd May 1123 [his mother] Felicia Montdidier Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona (age 63) died.
In 1126 [his former step-son] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon (age 20) succeeded VII King Castile, VII King Leon.
On 8th March 1126 [his former wife] Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona (age 46) died.
In 1134 Alfonso I King Aragon I King Pamplona (age 61) died. His brother [his brother] Ramiro (age 47) succeeded I King Aragon.
Raymond Ivrea and Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona were married. She the daughter of Alfonso "Brave" VI King Leon VI King Castile and Constance Burgundy Queen Consort Castile and Leon. He the son of William I Count Burgundy and Ettiennette Countess Burgundy. They were fourth cousin once removed.
[his father] Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona and Isabella Urgell Queen Consort Aragon Queen Consort Pamplona were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon, Queen Consort Pamplona. She the daughter of Ermengol Urgell 3rd Count Urgell. He the son of [his grandfather] Ramiro Sánchez I King Aragon and [his grandmother] Gisberga or Ermesinda Bigorre Queen Consort Aragon.
Great x 4 Grandfather: García I King Pamplona
Great x 3 Grandfather: Sancho II King Pamplona
Great x 4 Grandmother: Andregoto Aznárez
Great x 2 Grandfather: García Sánchez "Tremulous" II King Pamplona
Great x 4 Grandfather: Fernán González Count Castile
Great x 3 Grandmother: Urraca González Queen Consort Leon Queen Consort Pamplona
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sancha Sánchez
Great x 1 Grandfather: Sancho "Great" III King Pamplona
Great x 3 Grandfather: Fernando Bermúdez
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jimena Fernández Bermúdez Queen Consort Pamplona
GrandFather: Ramiro Sánchez I King Aragon
Great x 1 Grandmother: Sancha Aibar
Father: Sancho Ramírez I King Aragon V King Pamplona
Great x 2 Grandfather: Roger I of Carcasonne
Great x 1 Grandfather: Bernard Roger Count of Bigorre
GrandMother: Gisberga or Ermesinda Bigorre Queen Consort Aragon
Alfonso I King Aragon I King Pamplona
Great x 1 Grandfather: Hilduin III Count Montdidier
GrandFather: Hilduin Montdidier IV Count Montdidier
Mother: Felicia Montdidier Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona