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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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Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society Volume 8 Page 66

Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society Volume 8 Page 66 is in Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society Volume 8.

Cadbury Castle [Map], which I have chosen as a specimen of the first, or purely military type, is thus described in the additions to Camden, published with Gibson's edition.

Leaving the sea, our next direction is the river Ivell, near which is Camalet, mentioned by Mr. Camden as a place of great antiquity. The hill is a mile in compass. At the top are four trenches, and between each of them an earthen wall. On the very top of the hill is an area of twenty acres, (it is really much larger,) where in several places, as Leland observes, may be seen the foundations of walls, and there was much dusky blue stone, which the people of the ad joining village had carried away." At the present time the high walls, and almost all the foundations of walls, have disappeared, as well as all traces of the internal arrange ment of the place; but the outer fortifications are suffi ciently well preserved to enable us to make out their plan satisfactorily. Whatever outworks may have existed have been obliterated by cultivation, with the exception of some platforms on the south side; but there are the vast trenches with their earthen walls, on some of which the remains of a work of dry masonry may still be observed. Three entrances may also be clearly made out; that on the east side has been so much altered for the convenience of the occupants of the area within the works as to have entirely lost its ancient character; but it seems probable that there was an original entrance at this point. The next is at the south-east angle of the place, and having crossed the outer defences, opens into the moat between the inner agger and the one next to it, the path over the inner agger being steep and narrow, and probably at one time being strongly fortified. This opening of the approach into the trench is not uncommon in British works. At the south west angle is the main entrance, which leads through all the intrenchments up to the area of the fort, commanded by flanking works, and probably by platforms for slingers and at the highest point of the ground within the works there are still vestiges of what may have been the founda tions of an interior fortification. On the north side the ancient works have been so much disturbed by modern fences that it is not easy to decide whether there was an entrance in that direction or not.

Now this appears to me to be a purely military work. All the fortifications seem of one plan, and to have reference to each other. That there is no division such as I have mentioned as existing in the other type, nor any appearance of a cattle enclosure, which I believe will always be found in connection with a British city, which, however strongly fortified, was constructed for other purposes be sides those of a purely warlike character.

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