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: Collier
In 1844 [his father] Robert Collier 1st Baron Monkswell [aged 26] and [his mother] Isabella Rose Baroness Monkswell [aged 29] were married.
On 27th January 1850 John Collier was born to Robert Collier 1st Baron Monkswell [aged 32] and Isabella Rose Baroness Monkswell [aged 35].
In July 1873 [his brother] Robert Collier 2nd Baron Monkswell [aged 28] and [his sister-in-law] Mary Josephine Hardcastle Baroness Monkswell [aged 23] were married.
Around 1877. John Collier [aged 26]. Portrait of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 75].
1878. John Collier [aged 27]. Portrait of William Kingdon Clifford [aged 32].
On 30th June 1879 John Collier [aged 29] and Marian "Mady" Huxley [aged 20] were married. They had one child. He would marry her sister Emma aka Ethel Huxley [aged 13] ten years later; Married to Two Siblings.
1880. John Collier [aged 29]. Portrait of John Dalton Hooker [aged 62].
1881. John Collier [aged 30]. Portrait of Francis Dukinfield Astley. The portrait possible posthumous, or the date earlier?
Francis Dukinfield Astley: On 29th May 1853 he was born to Francis Dukinfield Palmer Astley. On 2nd August 1880 Francis Dukinfield Astley drowned in Canada while shooting rapids in a boat with two Indian guides whilst on a sporting holiday with a group of friends.
1881. John Collier [aged 30]. (Copy of) Portrait of Charles Darwin [aged 71].
1882. John Collier [aged 31]. "Clytemnestra".
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.
1882. John Collier [aged 31]. Portrait of James Prescott Joule [aged 63].
Around 1883. John Collier [aged 32]. Portrait of Marian "Mady" Huxley [aged 24]; the artist's wife.
Marian "Mady" Huxley: In 1859 she was born to Thomas Henry Huxley. On 30th June 1879 John Collier and she were married. They had one child. He would marry her sister Emma aka Ethel Huxley ten years later; Married to Two Siblings. In 1887 she died. In 1889 John Collier and Emma aka Ethel Huxley were married in Norway; marriage to a former wife's sister being illegal in England at the time. She the sister of his late wife Marian "Mady" Huxley; Married to Two Siblings.
1883. John Collier [aged 32]. Portrait of [his father-in-law] Thomas Henry Huxley [aged 57].
Thomas Henry Huxley: On 4th May 1825 he was born. On 29th June 1895 he died.
1884. John Collier [aged 33]. Portrait of Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baron Shuttleworth [aged 39].
Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baron Shuttleworth: On 18th December 1844 he was born to James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baronet and Janet Shuttleworth. On 26th May 1877 James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baronet died. His son Ughtred succeeded 2nd Baronet Kay-Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire. On 20th December 1939 he died. His grandson Richard succeeded 2nd Baron Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe in Lancashire, Richard Kay-Shuttleworth 2nd Baron Shuttleworth, 3rd Baronet Kay-Shuttleworth of Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire.
On 21st July 1884 [his daughter] Joyce Collier was born to John Collier [aged 34] and [his wife] Marian "Mady" Huxley [aged 25].
Around 1885. John Collier [aged 34]. "Circe".
In 1886 [his mother] Isabella Rose Baroness Monkswell [aged 71] died.
On 27th October 1886 [his father] Robert Collier 1st Baron Monkswell [aged 69] died. His son [his brother] Robert [aged 41] succeeded 2nd Baron Monkswell of Monkswell in Devon. [his sister-in-law] Mary Josephine Hardcastle Baroness Monkswell [aged 36] by marriage Baroness Monkswell of Monkswell in Devon.
In 1887 [his wife] Marian "Mady" Huxley [aged 28] died.
1889. John Collier [aged 38]. "Lilith".
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 1889 John Collier [aged 38] and Emma aka Ethel Huxley [aged 23] were married in Norway; marriage to a former wife's sister being illegal in England at the time. She the sister of his late wife Marian "Mady" Huxley; Married to Two Siblings.
1890. John Collier [aged 39]. Portrait of [his former father-in-law] Thomas Henry Huxley [aged 64].
1890. John Collier [aged 39]. The Death of Cleopatra.
1892. John Collier [aged 41]. "Lady Darling". Possibly a portrait of (possiblyMary Caroline Greathed [aged 28] although it isn't clear whether she was Lady Darling in 1892?
Mary Caroline Greathed: In 1864 she was born to Major-General William Wilberforce Greathed and Alice Clive. On 16th September 1885 Charles John Darling 1st Baron Darling and she were married. On 5th November 1913 she died.
1892. John Collier [aged 41]. "In the Forest of Arden".
1893. John Collier [aged 42]. Portrait of James Laing [aged 69].
James Laing: On 11th January 1823 he was born. In 1855 he and Theresa Talbot Peacock were married at St Andrew's Church, Bishop Auckland. On 15th December 1901 he died.
1893. John Collier [aged 42]. Portrait of Mabel Gwynedd Terry-Lewis [aged 20].
Mabel Gwynedd Terry-Lewis: On 28th October 1872 she was born to Arthur James Lewis and Kate Terry. On 28th November 1957 she died.
1895. John Collier [aged 44]. Portrait of Cecilia Loftus aka Brown [aged 18].
Cecilia Loftus aka Brown: On 22nd October 1876 she was born. On 29th August 1894 Justin Huntly McCarthy and she were married in Edinburgh following an elopement. They divorced in 1899. In 1898 Cecilia Loftus aka Brown appeared in The Children of the King at the Royal Court Theatre. On 12th July 1943 she died at the Lincoln Hotel, New York. She was buried at the Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla in a plot provided by the Actor's Fund.
1896. John Collier [aged 45]. Portrait of Henry St John Halford 3rd Baronet [aged 67].
Henry St John Halford 3rd Baronet: On 9th August 1828 he was born to Henry Halford 2nd Baronet and Barbara Vaughan. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.12%. On 23rd July 1853 Henry St John Halford 3rd Baronet and Elizabeth Ursula Bagshawe Lady Halford were married. On 22nd May 1868 Henry Halford 2nd Baronet died. His son Henry succeeded 3rd Baronet Vaughan aka Halford of Wistow in Leicestershire. On 4th January 1897 Henry St John Halford 3rd Baronet died. His brother John succeeded 4th Baronet Vaughan aka Halford of Wistow in Leicestershire; he died three months later.
In or before 1898. John Collier [aged 47]. "Lady Godiva".
1900. John Collier [aged 49]. "Queen Guinevre's Maying".
1901. John Collier [aged 50]. Portrait of Samuel Cunliffe Lister 1st Baron Masham [aged 85].
Samuel Cunliffe Lister 1st Baron Masham: On 1st January 1815 he was born. In 1891 Samuel Cunliffe Lister 1st Baron Masham was created 1st Baron Masham of Swinton On 2nd February 1906 he died. His son Samuel succeeded 2nd Baron Masham of Swinton.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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1901. John Collier [aged 50]. "In the Venusberg".
1901. John Collier [aged 50]. Portrait of Florence Rachel Hamilton-Russell [aged 25].
Florence Rachel Hamilton-Russell: Around 1876 she was born to Gustavus Hamilton-Russell 8th Viscount Boyne and Katherine Frances Scott. On 3rd April 1957 Florence Rachel Hamilton-Russell died unmarried.
In 1903. John Collier [aged 52]. Portrait of William Onslow 4th Earl Onslow [aged 49].
In 1904. John Collier [aged 53]. Portrait of Charles Strickland 8th Baronet [aged 84].
Around 1905. John Collier [aged 54]. Portrait of Bishop Watkin Williams [aged 59].
After 1907. John Collier [aged 56]. Portrait of Ella Priestly [aged 21], wife of Lieutenant Colonel Harold Ritchie [aged 31].
Ella Priestly: On 14th July 1885 she was born. On 6th January 1907 Lieutenant Colonel Harold Ritchie and she were married. On 12th February 1956 she died.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold Ritchie: In 1876 he was born. In 1918 he died from wounds.
1908. John Collier [aged 57]. Portrait of George Venables-Vernon aka Warren 5th Baron Vernon.
On 22nd December 1909 [his brother] Robert Collier 2nd Baron Monkswell [aged 64] died. His son [his nephew] Robert succeeded 3rd Baron Monkswell of Monkswell in Devon.
Before 1913. John Collier [aged 62]. Portrait of John Lubbock 1st Baron Avebury [aged 78].
1913. John Collier [aged 62]. Portrait of Edward George Littleton 3rd Baron Hatherton [aged 70].
1913. John Collier [aged 62]. Portrait of Herbrand Arthur Russell 11th Duke Bedford [aged 54].
Around 1914. John Collier [aged 63]. "Clytemnestra".
1914. John Collier [aged 63]. Portrait of Angela McInnes
Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
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1921. John Collier [aged 70]. "The Sleeping Beauty".
Before 1934. John Collier [aged 83]. Portrait of Doris Allen Lady Vernon [aged 50].
Doris Allen Lady Vernon: In 1883 she was born. In 1905 Bowater Vernon 2nd Baronet and she were married. In 1962 she died.
Before 1934. John Collier [aged 83]. Portrait of a lady in pink carrying a bowl of pink carnations
Before 1934. Style of John Collier [aged 83]. Portrait of Emmeline "Nina" Welby-Gregory [aged 66].
On 11th April 1934 John Collier [aged 84] died.
In 1941 [his former wife] Emma aka Ethel Huxley [aged 75] died.
GrandFather: John Collier
GrandFather: William Rose of Woolston Heath
Mother: Isabella Rose Baroness Monkswell