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: West
Around 1526 William West 1st was born to [his father] George West (age 16) and [his mother] Elizabeth Morton (age 14). His date usually given as "Around 1520" however his father was born in 1510. Adjusted to "Around 1526".
On 30th December 1538 [his father] George West (age 28) died.
On 25th September 1554 [his uncle] Thomas West 9th Baron De La Warr 6th Baron West (age 79) died at Offington Worthing. Baron West and Baron De La Warr abeyant between the two daughters of his half-brother [his uncle] Owen West. A new barony Baron De La Warr was conferred on Thomas' heir-male William West 1st (age 28).
Before 1555 William West 1st (age 28) and Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 30) were married.
Around 1556 [his son] Thomas West 2nd Baron De La Warr was born to William West 1st (age 30) and [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 32). He married 19th November 1571 Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr and had issue.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 30th June 1556. The last day of Juin was led from the Towre unto Yeld-halle Wylliam West (age 30) sqwyre odur-wyse callyd lord La Ware, and cast of he [high] treson, to be drane and quartered.
Note. P. 109. Ibid. Condemnation of lord La Warre—"for high treason," says our diarist; which statement has been adopted by Strype, Memorials, ii. p. 302, and thence by Bayley, History of the Tower of London, p. 452. But his crime was of a more private character, and one would rather suppose this was the date of his pardon than of his sentence. He had attempted to poison his [his uncle] uncle and predecessor, and was consequently by Act of Parliament, in 2 Edward VI disabled from succeeding him in title and estate. His uncle was now lately dead (see p. 339), and shortly after we find that the young lord joined the army in France, and distinguished himself at St. Quintin's. His claim to the dignity of a peer was not acknowledged until 1579; on that subject see Retrospective Review, 2d Ser. ii. 300. He died in 1595.
Around 1557 [his daughter] Mary West was born to William West 1st (age 31) and [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 33). She married before 1600 Richard Blount of London and Williton in Somerset.
Around 1558 [his daughter] Jane West was born to William West 1st (age 32) and [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 34). She married (1) 9th June 1572 Thomas Wenman and had issue (2) 2nd May 1577 Thomas Tasburgh (3) 1605 Ralph Sheldon.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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Henry Machyn's Diary. 14th October 1561. The xiiij day they wher a-for the consell at Westmynster hall [Map] the ij lordes [Note. Anthony Browne 1st Viscount Montagu (age 32) and William West 1st (age 35)].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 18th October 1561. The xviij day of October ther was (a) fray be-twyn my lord Montyguw('s) (age 32) men and my lord Delaware('s) (age 35) men, and after the ij lordes wher sent to the Flett [Map], and the men to the Masselsay [Map].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 22nd October 1561. The xxij day of October my lord Montyguw (age 32) and my lord Delaware (age 35) wher delevered owtt of the Flett [Map] home.
On 17th November 1567 [his mother] Elizabeth Morton (age 55) died.
On 5th February 1570 William West 1st (age 44) was created 1st Baron De La Warr. [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 46) by marriage Baroness De La Warr.
On 19th November 1571 [his son] Thomas West 2nd Baron De La Warr (age 15) and [his daughter-in-law] Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr (age 16) were married.
On 9th June 1572 [his son-in-law] Thomas Wenman (age 24) and [his daughter] Jane West (age 14) were married at St Dunstan's in the West, Fleet Street [Map].
Between 2nd May 1577 and 29th January 1603 [his son-in-law] Thomas Tasburgh (age 23) and [his daughter] Jane West (age 19) were married.
Around 5th May 1579 [his wife] Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr (age 55) died.
On 30th December 1595 William West 1st (age 69) died. His son Thomas (age 39) succeeded 2nd Baron De La Warr. [his daughter-in-law] Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr (age 40) by marriage Baroness De La Warr.
[his father] George West and [his mother] Elizabeth Morton were married.
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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[his daughter] Elizabeth West was born to William West 1st and Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr.
[his son] William West was born to William West 1st and Elizabeth Strange Baroness De La Warr.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 15 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas West 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas West 1st Baron West
Great x 2 Grandfather: Reginald West 6th Baron De La Warr 3rd Baron West 4 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger la Warr 3rd Baron de la Warr 5 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Ware Baroness West 3 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Mowbray 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard West 7th Baron De La Warr 4th Baron West 5 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Thorley Baroness De La Warr Baroness West
GrandFather: Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West 6 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Hungerford 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Hussey 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Hungerford 2nd Baron Hungerford 9 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Peverell
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor or Catherine Peverell 8 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Courtenay 7 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Hungerford Baroness De La Warr Baroness West 6 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Botreaux 2nd Baron Botreaux
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth St Lo Baroness Botreaux 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Botreaux 4th Baroness Botreaux Baroness Hungerford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaumont 4th Baron Beaumont 
3 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beaumont Baroness Botreaux 4 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Everingham Baroness Beaumont
Father: George West 7 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Copley
Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Copley
GrandMother: Eleanor Copley Baroness De La Warr and West
William West 1st Baron De La Warr 8 x Great Grand Son of
GrandFather: Robert Morton of Lechlade
Mother: Elizabeth Morton