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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Around 1433 Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley was born to [his father] Griffin Kynaston [aged 31] at Hordley, Ellesmere.
Before 18th March 1434 Richard Strange 3rd Baron Dunster 7th Baron Strange Knockin [aged 52] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Cobham Baroness Strange and Mohun [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Baroness Strange Knockin, Baroness Mohun of Dunster. The difference in their ages was 37 years. They were fourth cousin once removed.
Around 1444 [his father] Griffin Kynaston [aged 42] died.
In 1450 Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 17] and Elizabeth Cobham Baroness Strange and Mohun [aged 31] were married.
On 27th March 1450 [his step-son] John Strange 8th Baron Strange Knockin 4th Baron Mohun Dunster [aged 6] and Jacquetta Woodville Baroness Strange and Mohun [aged 5] were married. She the daughter of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers [aged 45] and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford [aged 35]. They were sixth cousins.
On 7th July 1452 [his sister-in-law] Eleanor Cobham Duchess of Gloucester [aged 52] died at Beaumaris Castle [Map].
In 1453 [his son] Thomas Kynaston was born to Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 20] and [his wife] Elizabeth Cobham Baroness Strange and Mohun [aged 34].
In 1454 Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 21] was appointed Constable of Denbigh Castle.
On 17th March 1454 [his wife] Elizabeth Cobham Baroness Strange and Mohun [aged 35] died.
On 23rd September 1459 a Lancastrian army of James Tuchet 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet [aged 61] and John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 58] fought with a Yorkist army commanded by Richard Neville Earl Salisbury [aged 59] at Blore Heath, Staffordshire [Map] whilst he, Salisbury, was travelling to Ludlow [Map] to join up with the main Yorkist army. Forewarned by scouts Salisbury arranged his troops into battle order the night before, arranging his wagons defensively, and digging trenches.
The Yorkist army included John Conyers [aged 48], Thomas Harrington [aged 59], James Harrington [aged 29], John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 28], William Stanley [aged 24], Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 26], John Savile, Walter Strickland [aged 48] and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 59].
The Lancastrian army included brothers John Dutton, Thomas Dutton [aged 38] and Peter Dutton who were killed.
James Tuchet 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet was killed, probably by Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley. His son John [aged 33] succeeded 6th Baron Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire, 3rd Baron Tuchet. Anne Echingham Baroness Audley Heighley [aged 39] by marriage Baroness Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire, Baroness Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire.
John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley and Edmund Sutton [aged 34] were captured. Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles [aged 53] fought.
William Troutbeck [aged 23], Richard Molyneux of Sefton and John Egerton [aged 55] were killed.
After the battle Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England [aged 29] took refuge at Eccleshall Castle, Staffordshire [Map]. Thomas Harrington, John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Thomas Neville [aged 29] were captured at Acton Bridge, Tarporley [Map] and imprisoned at Chester Castle [Map] having been detached from the main Yorkist force.
In 1461 Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 28] was appointed High Sheriff of Shropshire.
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 1465 Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 32] and Elizabeth Grey [aged 25] were married. She the daughter of Henry Grey 2nd Earl Tankerville and Antigone Lancaster Countess Tankerville.
In 1466 [his daughter] Jana Kynaston was born to Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 33] and [his wife] Elizabeth Grey [aged 26]. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry IV of England.
On 17th December 1466 [his brother-in-law] Richard Grey 3rd Earl Tankerville [aged 30] died.
Around 1467 [his daughter] Margaret Kynaston was born to Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 34] and [his wife] Elizabeth Grey [aged 27]. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry IV of England.
In 1469 [his son] Lancelot Kynaston was born to Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 36] and [his wife] Elizabeth Grey [aged 29]. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry IV of England.
In 1470 [his daughter] Maria Kynaston was born to Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 37] and [his wife] Elizabeth Grey [aged 30]. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry IV of England.
In 1470 Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 37] was appointed High Sheriff of Shropshire.
Around 1470 [his son] Humphrey Kynaston was born to Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 37] and [his wife] Elizabeth Grey [aged 30]. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry IV of England.
On 4th May 1471 King Edward IV of England [aged 29] was victorious at the 4th May 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury. His brother Richard [aged 18], Richard Beauchamp 2nd Baron Beauchamp Powick [aged 36], John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk [aged 46], George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Abergavenny [aged 31], John Savage [aged 49], John Savage [aged 27], Thomas St Leger [aged 31], John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet [aged 45], Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough [aged 40] fought. William Brandon [aged 46], George Browne [aged 31], Ralph Hastings, Richard Hastings Baron Willoughby [aged 38], James Tyrrell [aged 16], Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 38] were knighted. William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings [aged 40] commanded.
Margaret of Anjou [aged 41] was captured. Her son Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales [aged 17] was killed. He was the last of the Lancastrian line excluding the illegitmate Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester [aged 11] whose line continues to the present.
John Courtenay 7th or 15th Earl Devon [aged 36] was killed and attainted. Earl Devon forfeit. Some sources refer to these titles as being abeyant?
John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 71] was killed. Baron Wenlock extinct.
John Delves [aged 49], John Beaufort [aged 30], William Vaux of Harrowden [aged 35] and Robert Whittingham [aged 42] were killed.
Edmund Beaufort [aged 32], Humphrey Tuchet [aged 37] and Hugh Courtenay [aged 44] were captured.
Henry Roos fought and escaped to Tewkesbury Abbey [Map] where he sought sanctuary. He was subsequently pardoned.
William Carey [aged 34] was killed.
On 22nd August 1485 King Richard III of England [aged 32] was killed during the Battle of Bosworth. His second cousin once removed Henry Tudor [aged 28] succeeded VII King of England.
Humphrey Cotes [aged 35] died. It isn't clear on which side he was fighting.
Those supporting Henry Tudor included:
John Blount 3rd Baron Mountjoy [aged 35].
John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne [aged 43].
Richard Guildford [aged 35].
Walter Hungerford [aged 21].
Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby [aged 50].
Edward Woodville Lord Scales [aged 29].
Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 26].
Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth [aged 36].
Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford [aged 53].
William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont [aged 47].
Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney [aged 34].
William Stanley [aged 50].
Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 52].
Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney [aged 38].
William Brandon [aged 29] was killed.
James Harrington [aged 55] was killed.
John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk [aged 60] was killed and attainted. He was buried firstly at Thetford Priory, Norfolk [Map] and therafter at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. Duke Norfolk, Baron Mowbray, Baron Segrave, Baron Howard forfeit.
John Sacheverell [aged 85] was killed.
Philibert Chandee 1st Earl Bath
William Norreys [aged 44], Gilbert Talbot [aged 33], John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford [aged 42] and John Savage [aged 41] commanded,.
Robert Poyntz [aged 35] was knighted.
Those who fought for Richard III included:
John Bourchier 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 47].
John Conyers [aged 74].
Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 17].
William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 59].
Richard Fitzhugh 6th Baron Fitzhugh [aged 28].
John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 48].
Thomas Scrope 6th Baron Scrope of Masham [aged 26].
Henry Grey 4th or 7th Baron Grey of Codnor [aged 50].
Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent [aged 68].
Ralph Neville 3rd Earl of Westmoreland [aged 29].
John de la Pole Earl Lincoln 1st [aged 23].
Humphrey Stafford [aged 59].
George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 17].
Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk [aged 42] was wounded, captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map] for three years. He was attainted; Earl Surrey forfeit.
Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell [aged 29] fought and escaped.
John Zouche 7th Baron Zouche Harringworth [aged 26] was captured.
John Babington [aged 62], William Alington [aged 65], Robert Mortimer [aged 43], Robert Brackenbury, Richard Ratclyffe [aged 55] and Richard Bagot [aged 73] were killed
Walter Devereux Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 53] was killed.
William Catesby [aged 35] was executed at Leicester, Leicestershire [Map] after the battle.
George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster [aged 25] held as a hostage by Richard III before the Battle of Bosworth.
Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland [aged 36] betrayed King Richard III of England by not committing his forces at the Battle of Bosworth.
John Iwardby [aged 35] was killed.
On 28th October 1495 Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 62] died at Myddle, Shropshire.
In 1501 [his former wife] Elizabeth Grey [aged 61] died.
Great x 3 Grandfather: Madog Kynaston
Great x 2 Grandfather: Jenkin ap Madog Kynaston
Great x 1 Grandfather: Madog Kynaston
GrandFather: John Kynaston
Father: Griffin Kynaston