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: Spencer
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough 1713-1761
On 23rd May 1732 [his father] Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 25] and [his mother] Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess of Sunderland. He the son of [his grandfather] Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland and [his grandmother] Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland.
On 31st March 1740 Charles Spencer was born to [his father] Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 33] and [his mother] Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough [aged 27].
On 23rd March 1756 [his brother-in-law] Henry Herbert 10th Earl Pembroke 7th Earl Montgomery [aged 21] and [his sister] Elizabeth Spencer Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. She the daughter of [his father] Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 49] and [his mother] Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough [aged 43]. He the son of Henry Herbert 6th Earl Montgomery 9th Earl Pembroke and Mary Fitzwilliam Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 48]. They were fourth cousin twice removed.
On 8th September 1757 [his brother-in-law] Frederick St John 3rd Viscount St John 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke [aged 24] and [his sister] Diana Spencer Viscountess St John and Bolingbroke [aged 23] were married. She by marriage Viscountess St John, Viscountess Bolingbroke. She the daughter of [his father] Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 50] and [his mother] Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough [aged 44].
On 20th October 1758 [his father] Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 51] died. His son [his brother] George [aged 19] succeeded 4th Duke Marlborough, 4th Marquess of Blandford, 4th Earl of Marlborough, 4th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 6th Earl of Sunderland, 8th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.
In 1761 Charles Spencer [aged 20] was elected MP Oxfordshire.
On 7th October 1761 [his mother] Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough [aged 48] died.
In 1762 [his brother] George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough [aged 22] and [his sister-in-law] Caroline Russell Duchess of Marlborough [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Duchess Marlborough. She the daughter of John Russell 4th Duke Bedford [aged 51] and Gertrude Leveson-Gower Duchess Bedford. He the son of [his father] Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough and [his mother] Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough. They were fourth cousins.
On 2nd October 1762 Charles Spencer [aged 22] and Mary Beauclerk [aged 18] were married. He the son of Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough and Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough.
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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On 4th May 1763 [his brother-in-law] Aubrey Beauclerk 5th Duke St Albans [aged 22] and Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of William Ponsonby 2nd Earl Bessborough [aged 59] and Caroline Cavendish Countess Bessborough.
Around 1764 [his son] Robert Spencer was born to Charles Spencer [aged 23] and [his wife] Mary Beauclerk [aged 20]. He a great x 2 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
On 21st December 1767 [his son] John Spencer was born to Charles Spencer [aged 27] and [his wife] Mary Beauclerk [aged 24]. He a great x 2 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
On 12th March 1768 [his brother-in-law] Topham Beauclerk [aged 28] and [his sister] Diana Spencer Viscountess St John and Bolingbroke [aged 33] were married. She the daughter of [his father] Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough and [his mother] Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough.
On 9th January 1769 [his son] William Robert Spencer was born to Charles Spencer [aged 28] and [his wife] Mary Beauclerk [aged 25] at Kensington Palace. He a great x 2 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. He married 1791 Susan Jenison and had issue.
On 21st October 1781 [his father-in-law] Vere Beauclerk 1st Baron de Vere [aged 82] died. His son [his brother-in-law] Aubrey [aged 41] succeeded 2nd Baron Vere of Hanworth in Middlesex.
On 10th February 1787 George Beauclerk 4th Duke St Albans [aged 28] died unmarried and without issue. His first cousin once removed [his brother-in-law] Aubrey [aged 46] succeeded 5th Duke St Albans, 5th Earl Burford, 5th Baron Heddington. Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans [aged 44] by marriage Duchess St Albans.
In 1791 [his son] William Robert Spencer [aged 21] and [his daughter-in-law] Susan Jenison were married.
In 1793 Charles Spencer [aged 52] was appointed Privy Council.
In 1796 Charles Spencer [aged 55] was elected MP Oxfordshire.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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On 9th February 1802 [his brother-in-law] Aubrey Beauclerk 5th Duke St Albans [aged 61] died. He was buried at Hanworth. His son Aubrey [aged 36] succeeded 6th Duke St Albans, 6th Earl Burford, 6th Baron Heddington, 3rd Baron Vere of Hanworth in Middlesex.
On 1st August 1808 [his sister] Diana Spencer Viscountess St John and Bolingbroke [aged 74] died.
On 13th January 1812 [his wife] Mary Beauclerk [aged 68] died.
On 29th January 1817 [his brother] George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough [aged 78] died. His son [his nephew] George [aged 50] succeeded 5th Duke Marlborough, 5th Marquess of Blandford, 5th Earl of Marlborough, 5th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 7th Earl of Sunderland, 9th Baron Spencer Wormleighton. Susan Stewart Duchess of Marlborough [aged 49] by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
On 16th June 1820 Charles Spencer [aged 80] died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 28 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Spencer 1st Baron Spencer 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Spencer 2nd Baron Spencer 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Willoughby 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Penelope Wriothesley Baroness Spencer Wormleighton 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Vernon Countess Southampton 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Digby 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Digby 1st Earl Bristol 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Abigail Heveningham 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Digby 2nd Earl Bristol 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Walcott
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Digby Countess Sunderland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Russell 1st Baron Russell 
9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Long Baroness Russel Thornhaugh
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Russell Countess Bristol 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Giles Brydges 3rd Baron Chandos 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Clinton 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Father: Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Winston Churchill 
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough 14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Drake
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Drake
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Drake 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Boteler 1st Baron Boteler 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Helen Boteler 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Villiers Baroness Boteler Brantfield 
GrandMother: Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Jennings
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Jennings
Great x 1 Grandmother: Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gifford Thornhurst 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Thornhurst
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Temple 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Susanna Temple
Charles Spencer 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Trevor 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Trevor
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Trevor
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Trevor 1st Baron Trevor Bromham
GrandFather: Thomas Trevor 2nd Baron Trevor Bromham
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Searle