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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St Michael's Church, Rocester is in Rocester, Staffordshire [Map], Churches in Staffordshire.
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map].
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. Cross in Churchyard.
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. Font.
In 1872 the spire was added to St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map].
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. Church reopened 27th September 1872.
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. Memorial to Charles Campbell Hartley, 2nd Lieutenant, 63rd Battery Royal Field Artillery. Died at Meerut, India, 11th November 1912 from the result of an accident on parade, aged 23 years.
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. Window in memory of Lydia Anne Webb of Clownholme died 70 years 11th March 1913.
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. 6283 Private G. Harper. North Staffordshire Regiment. Died 5th April 1917 aged 36.
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. 281235 Private A.Clarke, Labour Corps. Died 25th November 1917, aged 29. Son of James and Elizabeth Clarke, of 19, West View, Rocester.
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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St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. Lych Gate War Memorial.
St Michael's Church, Rocester [Map]. East Window, and two windows in the chancel, by William Frend De Morgan restored 1991. One of the windows signed "DM".
