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: Chichester
In or before 1666 [his father] Arthur Chichester 2nd Earl Donegal and [his mother] Jane Ichyngham Countess Donegall were married.
In 1666 Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal was born to Arthur Chichester 2nd Earl Donegal and Jane Ichyngham Countess Donegall.
On 18th March 1675 Arthur Chichester 1st Earl Donegal [aged 68] died. He was buried at St Nicholas' Church, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. His nephew [his father] Arthur succeeded 2nd Earl Donegal, 3rd Viscount Chichester of Carrickfergus, 4th Baron Chichester of Belfast. [his mother] Jane Ichyngham Countess Donegall by marriage Countess Donegal.
On 26th October 1678 [his father] Arthur Chichester 2nd Earl Donegal died. His son Arthur [aged 12] succeeded 3rd Earl Donegal. [his future wife] Barbara Boyle Countess Donegall [aged 16] by marriage Countess Donegal.
Before 20th November 1682 Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal [aged 16] and Barbara Boyle Countess Donegall [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery [aged 60]. He the son of Arthur Chichester 2nd Earl Donegal and Jane Ichyngham Countess Donegall.
On 20th November 1682 [his wife] Barbara Boyle Countess Donegall [aged 20] died.
Before 1695 Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal [aged 28] and Catherine Forbes [aged 4] were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. He the son of Arthur Chichester 2nd Earl Donegal and Jane Ichyngham Countess Donegall.
In 1695 [his son] Arthur Chichester 4th Earl Donegal was born to Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal [aged 29] and [his wife] Catherine Forbes [aged 5].
In 1701 Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal [aged 35] was appointed Colonel of the 35th Regiment of Foot which he had founded.
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 1704 Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal [aged 38] accompanied the 35th Regiment of Foot to fight in the War of the Spanish Succession in Spain, and was appointed major general of Spanish forces.
Around 1706 [his son] John Chichester was born to Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal [aged 40] and [his wife] Catherine Forbes [aged 16]. He married before 13th June 1739 Elizabeth Newdigate and had issue.
On 10th April 1706 Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal [aged 40] was killed in action at Fort Montjuïc, Barcelona. His son Arthur [aged 11] succeeded 4th Earl Donegal.
On 15th July 1743 [his former wife] Catherine Forbes [aged 53] died.
[his daughter] Anne Chichester Countess Barrymore was born to Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal and Catherine Forbes. She married 12th July 1716 James Barry 4th Earl Barrymore, son of Richard Barry 2nd Earl Barrymore, and had issue.
[his daughter] Catherine Chichester Visountess Massereene was born to Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal and Catherine Forbes. She married 9th September 1713 her third cousin Clotworthy Skeffington 4th Viscount Massereene, son of Clotworthy Skeffington 3rd Viscount Massereene and Rachel Hungerford Viscountess Massereene, and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Philip IV of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 23 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Chichester 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Chichester
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Chichester 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bourchier 1st Earl Bath 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bourchier 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Daubeney Baroness Fitzwarin 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Chichester 1st Viscount Chichester 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Courtenay 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William "Great" Courtenay 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Cheney
Great x 2 Grandmother: Gertrude Courtenay 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Gainsford
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Gainsford
Great x 4 Grandmother: Audrey Shaa
GrandFather: Lieutenant-Colonel John Chichester 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Copleston
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Copleston
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Biston
Father: Arthur Chichester 2nd Earl Donegal 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Jones 1st Viscount Ranelagh
GrandMother: Mary Jones
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Moore of Mellifont
Great x 2 Grandfather: Garret Moore 1st Viscount Moore of Drogheda
Great x 1 Grandmother: Frances Moore
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Colley of Carbury Castle
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Colley Viscountess Moore and Wilmot
Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl Donegal 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Osbourne Echingham
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Echingham of Dunroby
GrandFather: John Ichyngham of Dunbrody in Wexford
Mother: Jane Ichyngham Countess Donegall