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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Extant Earldoms of England is in Earldoms of England.
On 14th April 1944 John Pelham 9th Earl Chichester was born to John Pelham 8th Earl of Chichester posthumously his father having been killed in a car accident around eight weeks before. At birth he succeeded his father as 9th Earl Chichester, 10th Baron Pelham of Stanmer in Sussex and 14th Baronet Pelham of Laughton.
On 11th September 1963 Montagu Henry Edmund Cecil Towneley Bertie 8th Earl of Abingdon 13th Earl Lindsey [aged 75] died. His first cousin Richard [aged 32] succeeded 14th Earl Lindsey, 9th Earl Abingdon, 13th Baron Norreys of Rycote.
In 1968 Richard Charles Paulet 17th Marquess of Winchester [aged 63] died unmarried. His first cousin once removed Nigel [aged 26] succeeded 18th Marquess Winchester, 18th Earl Wiltshire, 18th Baron St John.
On 13th March 1969 Robert Foljambe 4th Earl of Liverpool [aged 81] died. His great nephew Edward [aged 24] succeeded 5th Earl Liverpool.
On 15th April 1973 John Grimston 6th Earl of Verulam [aged 60] died. His son John [aged 21] succeeded 7th Earl Verulam, 7th Viscount Grimston, 10th Viscount Grimston, 8th Baron Verulam of Gorhambury in Hertfordshire, 14th Baronet Grimston of Little Waltham in Essex.
On 31st May 1974 Albert Archibald Primrose 6th Earl Rosebery 2nd Earl Midlothian [aged 92] died. His son Neil [aged 45] succeeded 7th Earl Rosebery, 3rd Earl Midlothian, 3rd Viscount Mentmore of Mentmore in Buckinghamshire, 3rd Baron Epsom of Hyde in Surrey.
On 31st December 1974 Philip Grantham Yorke 9th Earl of Hardwicke [aged 68] died. His grandson Joseph [aged 3] succeeded 10th Earl Hardwicke, 10th Viscount Royston.
On 30th January 1978 William Bingham Compton 6th Marquess Northampton [aged 92] died. His son Spencer [aged 31] succeeded 7th Marquess Northampton, 15th Earl of Northampton, 7th Earl Compton of Compton in Warwickshire, 7th Baron Wilmington of Wilmington in Sussex.
On 14th July 1979 Walter Keppel 9th Earl Albermarle [aged 97] died. His grandson Rufus [aged 13] succeeded 10th Earl Albermarle, 10th Viscount Bury in Lancashire, 10th Baron Ashford of Ashford in Kent.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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On 19th March 1980 Charles Ingram Courtenay Wood 2nd Earl Halifax [aged 67] died. His son Charles [aged 36] succeeded 3rd Earl Halifax, 4th Viscount Halifax, 7th Baronet Wood of Barnsley in Yorkshire.
On 27th April 1980 Charles Bennett 9th Earl of Tankerville [aged 58] died. His son Peter [aged 23] succeeded 10th Earl Tankerville, 11th Baron Ossulston of Ossulston in Middlesex.
On 12th November 1980 John Chetwynd-Talbot 21st Earl of Shrewsbury 6th Earl Talbot [aged 65] died at Switzerland. His son Charles [aged 27] succeeded 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury, 22nd Earl Waterford, 7th Earl Talbot, 7th Viscount Ingestre, 9th Baron Talbot of Hensol in Glamorganshire.
John Chetwynd-Talbot 21st Earl of Shrewsbury 6th Earl Talbot: On 1st December 1914 he was born to Charles Chetwynd-Talbot and Winifred Contance Hester Paget. On 17th May 1921 Charles Chetwynd-Talbot 20th Earl of Shrewsbury 5th Earl Talbot died. On 7th May 1921 His grandson John succeeded 21st Earl of Shrewsbury, 21st Earl Waterford, 6th Earl Talbot, 6th Viscount Ingestre, 8th Baron Talbot of Hensol in Glamorganshire. Before 18th December 1952 John Chetwynd-Talbot 21st Earl of Shrewsbury 6th Earl Talbot and Nina Mortlock Countess Shrewsbury, Waterford and Talbot were married. She by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury, Countess Waterford, Countess Talbot.
Charles Chetwynd-Talbot 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury 7th Earl Talbot: Charles Chetwynd-Talbot 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury 7th Earl Talbot educated Harrow School. On 18th December 1952 he was born to John Chetwynd-Talbot 21st Earl of Shrewsbury 6th Earl Talbot and Nina Mortlock Countess Shrewsbury, Waterford and Talbot.
On 30th August 1981 Gerald Bridgeman 6th Earl of Bradford [aged 69] died. His son Richard [aged 33] succeeded 7th Earl Bradford, 7th Viscount Newport of Shropshire, 8th Baron Bradford in Shropshire, 12th Baronet Bridgeman of Great Lever in Lancashire. Joanne Elizabeth Miller Countess Bradford by marriage Countess Bradford.
On 22nd March 1983 John Pratt 5th Marquess Camden [aged 83] died. His son David [aged 52] succeeded 6th Marquess Camden, 6th Earl Brecknock, 7th Earl Camden, 7th Viscount Bayham of Bayham Abbey in Kent, 7th Baron Camden of Camden Place in Kent.
On 19th April 1983 Vere Hobart-Hampden 9th Earl of Buckinghamshire [aged 81] died. His second cousin once removed George [aged 38] succeeded 10th Earl Buckinghamshire, 10th Baron Hobart, 14th Baronet Hobart of Intwood in Norfolk.
On 18th July 1983 William Keith Rous 5th Earl of Stradbroke [aged 76] died. His son Robert [aged 46] succeeded 6th Earl Stradbroke, 6th Viscount Dunwich, 11th Baronet Stradbrooke of Henham in Suffolk.
On 29th May 1984 Edward Curzon 6th Earl Howe [aged 75] died. His second cousin Frederick [aged 33] succeeded 7th Earl Howe, 8th Viscount Curzon of Penn in Buckinghamshire, 9th Baron Howe.
On 28th September 1984 Gerard Wallop 9th Earl of Portsmouth [aged 86] died. His grandson Quentin [aged 30] succeeded 10th Earl Portsmouth, 10th Viscount Lymington, 10th Baron Wallop of Farley Wallop Hampshire.
On 28th November 1984 Edward John Stanley 18th Earl of Derby [aged 66] died. His nephew Hugh [aged 22] succeeded 19th Earl Derby, 13th Baronet Stanley of Bickerstaffe.
On 18th January 1985 Noel Lytton 4th Earl of Lytton [aged 84] died. His son John [aged 34] succeeded 5th Earl of Lytton in Derbyshire, 18th Baron Wentworth, 22nd Baron Despencer, 6th Baron Lytton of Knebworth in Hertfordshire, 6th Baronet Bulwer of Knebworth in Hertfordshire.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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On 29th December 1986 Harold Macmillan 1st Earl Stockton [aged 92] died. His grandson Alexander [aged 43] succeeded 2nd Earl of Stockton, 2nd Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden, of Chelwood Gate in East Sussex and of Stockton-on-Tees in Cleveland.
On 3rd June 1987 Alan Montagu Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie 4th Earl of Wharncliffe [aged 52] died at Wharncliffe House, Wortley. He was buried at the Church of St Leonard, Wortley [Map]. His second cousin once removed Richard [aged 34] succeeded 5th Earl Wharncliffe, 7th Baron Wharncliffe of Wortley in Yorkshire.
On 12th January 1988 William Martin Alleyne Brownlow-Cecil 7th Marquess Exeter [aged 78] died. His son Michael [aged 52] succeeded 8th Marquess Exeter, 17th Earl Exeter, 18th Baron Burghley.
On 9th February 1988 William Sackville 10th Earl De La Warr [aged 66] died. His son William [aged 39] succeeded 11th Earl De La Warr, 11th Viscount Cantalupe, 17th Baron De La Warr 6th Baron Buckhurst of Buckhurst in Sussex.
On 8th October 1988 Charles Beauclerk 13th Duke St Albans [aged 73] died. His son Murray [aged 49] succeeded 14th Duke St Albans, 14th Earl Burford, 14th Baron Heddington, 11th Baron Vere of Hanworth in Middlesex.
On 5th October 1989 Lawrence Dundas 3rd Marquess of Zetland [aged 80] died. His son Mark [aged 51] succeeded 4th Marquess Zetland, 4th Earl of Ronaldshay in Orkney, 6th Earl Zetland aka Shetland, 7th Baron Dundas, 8th Baronet Dundas of Kerse
On 13th March 1990 Hugh Cholmondeley 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley [aged 70] died. His son David [aged 29] succeeded 7th Marquess Cholmondeley, 10th Earl Cholmondeley in Cheshire, 7th Earl Rocksavage of Cheshire, 11th Viscount Cholmondeley of Kells in County Meath, 10th Viscount Malpas in Cheshire, 10th Baron Cholmondeley Nampwich in Cheshire, 9th Baron Newburgh of Newburgh in Anglesey, 9th Baron Newborough of Newborough in County Wexford.
On 24th August 1990 Francis Hastings 16th Earl Huntingdon [aged 89] died. He was buried at Hasting's Chapel, St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch [Map]. His first cousin once removed William [aged 42] succeeded 17th Earl Huntingdon.
On 30th August 1990 Simon Craven 8th Earl Craven [aged 29] died in a car accident. His son Benjamin [aged 1] succeeded 9th Earl Craven in Yorkshire, 9th Viscount Uffington, 15th Baron Craven of Hamstead Marshall in Berkshire.
In 1991 Basil Howard Moreton 6th Earl of Ducie [aged 74] died. His son David [aged 39] succeeded 7th Earl Ducie, 10th Baron Ducie.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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On 16th March 1991 Rowland Baring 3rd Earl of Cromer [aged 72] died. His son Evelyn [aged 44] succeeded 4th Earl Cromer, 4th Viscount Errington Hexham Northumberland.
On 21st March 1991 John Edward Pelham 7th Earl of Yarborough [aged 70] died. His son Charles [aged 27] succeeded 8th Earl Yarborough, 9th Baron Yarborough.
On 29th January 1992 Michael Hicks-Beach 2nd Earl St Aldwyn [aged 79] died. His son Michael [aged 42] succeeded 3rd Earl St Aldwyn of Coln St Aldwyn in Gloucestershire, 11th Baronet Hicks-Beach of Beverston in Gloucestershire.
On 29th March 1992 John Spencer 8th Earl Spencer [aged 68] died. His son Charles [aged 27] succeeded 9th Earl Spencer, 9th Viscount Althorp, 9th Viscount Spencer, 9th Baron Spencer Althorp.
On 18th June 1992 Benjamin Guinness 3rd Earl of Iveagh [aged 55] died. His son Edward [aged 22] succeeded 4th Earl Iveagh.
On 7th December 1992 George Parker 8th Earl Macclesfield [aged 78] died. His son Richard [aged 49] succeeded 9th Earl Macclesfield.
On 7th March 1993 Richard Fortescue 7th Earl Fortescue [aged 70] died. His son Charles [aged 41] succeeded 8th Earl Fortescue, 8th Viscount Ebrington of Ebrington in Gloucestershire, 10th Baron Fortescue of Castle Hill.
On 13th August 1993 George Herbert 7th Earl of Powis [aged 68] died. His son John [aged 41] succeeded 8th Earl Powis. Katharine Odeyne de Grey Countess Powis [aged 65] by marriage Countess Powis.
On 8th September 1993 David Fane 15th Earl of Westmoreland [aged 69] died. His son Anthony [aged 42] succeeded 16th Earl of Westmoreland.
On 30th January 1994 Oswald Phipps 4th Marquess Normanby [aged 81] died. His son Constantine [aged 39] succeeded 5th Marquess Normanby, 6th Earl Mulgrave, 6th Viscount Normanby, 8th Baron Mulgrave of New Ross in Wexford and 6th Baron Mulgrave.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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On 28th November 1994 Charles James Ruthven Howard 12th Earl Carlisle [aged 71] died. His son George [aged 45] succeeded 13th Earl Carlisle.
On 23rd March 1995 Rollo Feilding 11th Earl of Denbigh [aged 51] died. His son Alexander [aged 24] succeeded 11th Earl Desmond, 12th Earl Denbigh, 12th Viscount Feilding, 12th Baron Feilding of Newnham Paddocks in Warwickshire, 11th Viscount Callan of Callan in Kilkenny, 11th Baron Feilding of Lecagh in Tipperary, 11th Baron St Liz.
On 23rd May 1995 Geoffrey Waldegrave 12th Earl Waldegrave [aged 89] died. His son James [aged 54] succeeded 13th Earl Waldegrave, 14th Baron Waldegrave Chewton Somerset, 17th Baronet Waldegrave of Hever Castle.
On 31st October 1995 Henry Percy 11th Duke of Northumberland [aged 42] died from an overdose of amphetamines. He was unmarried. His brother Ralph [aged 38] succeeded 12th Duke Northumberland, 9th Earl Beverley, 11th Baron Percy, 15th Baronet Smithson of Stanwick in Yorkshire.
In 1996 David Greville 8th Earl of Warwick, 8th Earl Brooke [aged 62] died. His son Guy [aged 38] succeeded 9th Earl Warwick, 9th Earl Brooke Warwick Castle, 16th Baron Brooke of Beauchamps Court in Warwickshire.
On 31st October 1996 Granville James Leveson-Gower 5th Earl Granville [aged 77] died. His son Fergus [aged 37] succeeded 6th Earl Granville, 6th Viscount Granville.
On 30th January 1997 Henry Charles Bentinck 11th Earl of Portland [aged 77] died. His son Timothy [aged 43] succeeded 12th Earl of Portland.
On 4th July 1997 William Gerald Charles Cadogan 7th Earl Cadogan [aged 83] died. His son Charles [aged 60] succeeded 8th Earl Cadogan, 8th Viscount Chelsea, 10th Baron Cadogan.
On 14th December 1997 Gerald Legge 9th Earl of Dartmouth [aged 73] died. His son William [aged 48] succeeded 10th Earl Dartmouth, 11th Baron Dartmouth.
On 22nd December 1997 Hugh Seymour 8th Marquess Hertford [aged 67] died. His son Henry [aged 39] succeeded 9th Marquess Hertford, 9th Earl Hertford, 9th Earl of Yarmouth, 9th Viscount Beauchamp, 10th Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 10th Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim.
On 9th August 1998 George Child-Villiers 9th Earl of Jersey [aged 88] died. His grandson William [aged 22] succeeded 10th Earl Jersey, 13th Viscount Grandison, 10th Viscount Villiers, 10th Baron Villiers.
On 4th January 1999 Charles John Robert Manners 10th Duke Rutland [aged 79] died. His son David [aged 39] succeeded 11th Duke Rutland, 11th Marquess Grandby, 19th Earl of Rutland, 11th Baron Manners of Haddon in Derbyshire, 5th Baron Roos of Belvoir in Leicestershire.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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On 10th January 1999 Frederick William John Augustus Hervey 7th Marquess of Bristol [aged 44] died of multiple organ failure due to chronic drug abuse almost penniless at Little Horringer Hall, Bury St Edmunds [Map]. His half brother Frederick [aged 19] succeeded 8th Marquess of Bristol, 8th Earl Jermyn of Horningworth in Suffolk, 12th Earl Bristol, 13th Baron Hervey of Ickworth in Suffolk.
On 26th March 1999 Edward Francis North 9th Earl Guildford [aged 65] died. His son Piers [aged 28] succeeded 10th Earl Guildford, 12th Baron Guildford.
On 26th June 1999 Christopher Finch-Hatton 11th Earl Nottingham 16th Earl of Winchilsea [aged 62] died. His son Daniel [aged 31] succeeded 12th Earl Nottingham, 17th Earl Winchilsea, 17th Viscount Maidstone, 10th Baron Finch Daventry, 18th Baronet Finch of Eastwell in Kent.
On 1st October 1999 Seymour Egerton 7th Earl Wilton [aged 78] died. His fourth cousin Francis [aged 65] succeeded 8th Earl Wilton, 8th Viscount Grey de Wilton.
On 23rd February 2000 John Henry Guy Neville 5th Marquess Abergavenny [aged 85] died. His nephew Christopher [aged 44] succeeded 6th Marquess Abergavenny, 10th Earl Abergavenny, 10th Viscount Neville, 6th Earl Lewes. Venetia Maynard Marchioness Abergavenny [aged 42] by marriage Marchioness Abergavenny.
On 21st September 2000 John Sutherland Egerton 6th Duke Sutherland [aged 85] died. His first cousin once removed Francis [aged 60] succeeded 7th Duke Sutherland, 7th Marquess Stafford, 6th Earl Ellesmere, 9th Earl Gower, 6th Viscount Brackley, 10th Baron Gower, 14th Baronet Gower of Stittenham in Yorkshire.
On 20th October 2000 Kenelm Charles Pepys 8th Earl of Cottenham [aged 51] died. His son Mark [aged 17] succeeded 9th Earl of Cottenham, 9th Viscount Crowhurst of Crowhurst in Surrey, 9th Baron Cottenham of Cottenham in Cambridgshire, 11th Baronet Pepys of Wimpole Street, 12th Baronet Pepys of Brook Street.
On 11th November 2000 William James Harris 6th Earl Malmesbury [aged 92] died. His son James [aged 54] succeeded 7th Earl Malmesbury, 7th Viscount Fitz-Harris of Hurn Court in Hampshire, 7th Baron Malmesbury.
On 7th July 2001 Edward Horace Fiennes-Clinton 18th Earl of Lincoln [aged 88] died. His grandson Robert [aged 29] succeeded 19th Earl Lincoln.
On 11th September 2001 Henry Herbert 7th Earl of Carnarvon [aged 77] died. His son George [aged 44] succeeded 8th Earl Carnarvon, 8th Baron Porchester of Highclere in Hampshire.
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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On 5th April 2002 Arthur Mountifort Longfield Ponsonby 11th Earl Bessborough [aged 89] died. His son Myles [aged 61] succeeded 12th Earl Bessborough, 13th Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 13th Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.
On 26th May 2002 John Wodehouse 4th Earl Kimberley [aged 78] died. His son John [aged 51] succeeded 5th Earl Kimberley, 7th Baron Wodehouse of Kimberley in Norfolk, 12th Baronet Woodhouse of Wilberhall.
On 24th June 2002 Miles Stapleton Fitzalan Howard 17th Duke of Norfolk [aged 86] died. His son Edward [aged 45] succeeded 18th Duke Norfolk, 36th Earl Arundel, 19th Earl Surrey, 16th Earl Norfolk, 26th Baron Maltravers, 26th Baron Arundel, 5th Baron Howard of Glossop in Derbyshire, 13th Baron Beaumont. Georgina Susan Gore Duchess of Norfolk [aged 40] by marriage Duchess Norfolk.
On 25th July 2002 Angus Montagu 12th Duke of Manchester [aged 63] died. His son Alexander [aged 39] succeeded 13th Duke Manchester, 16th Earl Manchester, 16th Viscount Mandeville, 16th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.
On 13th June 2003 Henry Robin Ian Russell 14th Duke Bedford [aged 63] died. His son Andrew [aged 41] succeeded 15th Duke Bedford, 15th Marquess Tavistock, 19th Earl Bedford, 19th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 17th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 15th Baron Howland of Streatham.
On 11th July 2003 Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 6th Marquess of Salisbury [aged 86] died. His son Robert [aged 56] succeeded 7th Marquess Salisbury in Wiltshire, 13th Earl Salisbury.
On 7th October 2003 Henry Herbert 17th Earl of Pembroke, 14th Earl of Montgomery [aged 64] died. His son William [aged 25] succeeded 18th Earl Pembroke, 15th Earl Montgomery, 7th Baron Herbert Lea
On 12th March 2004 Francis Henry Coventry 12th Earl Coventry [aged 91] died. His fourth cousin George [aged 64] succeeded 13th Earl Coventry.
On 23rd March 2004 Richard Lumley 12th Earl of Scarbrough [aged 71] died. His son Richard [aged 30] succeeded 13th Earl of Scarborough, 14th Viscount Lumley, 13th Baron Lumley.
On 3rd May 2004 Andrew Cavendish 11th Duke Devonshire [aged 84] died. His son Peregrine [aged 60] succeeded 12th Duke Devonshire, 15th Earl Devonshire, 15th Baron Cavendish Hardwick, 7th Earl Burlington. Amanda Carmen Heywood-Lonsdale Duchess of Devonshire [aged 60] by marriage Duchess Devonshire.
On 5th June 2004 Michael Marsham 7th Earl Romney [aged 93] died. His first cousin once removed Julian [aged 56] succeeded 8th Earl Romney, 8th Viscount Marsham, 10th Baron Romney, 14th Baronet Marsham of Cuckston in Kent.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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On 8th July 2004 Stafford Henry Northcote 4th Earl of Iddesleigh [aged 71] died. His son John [aged 47] succeeded 5th Earl of Iddesleigh in Devon, 5th Viscount St Gyres of Newton St Gyres in Devon, 12th Baronet Northcote of Hayne in Devon
On 15th May 2005 Anthony Ashley-Cooper 11th Earl of Shaftesbury [aged 27] died of a heart attack. His brother Nicholas [aged 25] succeeded 12th Earl Shaftesbury, 12th Baron Ashley of Wimborne St Giles, 13th Baronet Cooper of Rockbourne in Southampton.
On 18th June 2005 Robert Edward de Vere Capell 10th Earl of Essex [aged 85] died. His son Frederick [aged 61] succeeded 11th Earl Essex, 12th Baron Capell Hadham.
On 11th November 2005 Thomas Patrick John Anson 5th Earl Lichfield [aged 66] died at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. His son Thomas [aged 27] succeeded 6th Earl Lichfield, 7th Viscount Anson of Shugborough and Orgrave in Staffordshire and 7th Baron Soberton of Soberton in Hampshire.
On 2nd July 2006 Maurice Fox-Strangways 9th Earl of Ilchester [aged 86] died. His nephew Robin [aged 63] succeeded 10th Earl Ilchester, 10th Baron Ilchester and Stavordale of Redlynch in Somerset, 10th Baron Strangways of Woodford in Dorset, 10th Baron Ilchester of Ilchester in Somerset.
On 30th December 2006 Antony Lambton 6th Earl of Durham [aged 84] died. His son Edward [aged 45] succeeded 7th Earl Durham.
On 4th September 2007 Walter Francis Montagu-Douglas-Scott 9th Duke Buccleuch 11th Duke Queensberry [aged 83] died. His son Richard [aged 53] succeeded 10th Duke Buccleuch, 12th Duke Queensberry, 10th Earl Doncaster, 10th Baron Scott of Tynedale.
On 9th October 2007 Dudley Ryder 7th Earl of Harrowby [aged 84] died. His son Dudley [aged 56] succeeded 8th Earl of Harrowby, 9th Baron Harrowby of Harrowby in Lincolnshire.
On 19th February 2008 Charles Finch-Knightley 11th Earl of Aylesford [aged 89] died. His son Heneage [aged 60] succeeded 12th Earl Aylesford.
On 10th August 2008 Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie 8th Earl of Radnor [aged 80] died. His son William [aged 53] succeeded 9th Earl Radnor, 10th Viscount Folkestone, 10th Baron Longford, 12th Baronet Bouverie of St Catherine Cree Church in London.
On 28th March 2009 Peter Nelson 9th Earl Nelson [aged 67] died. His son Simon [aged 37] succeeded 10th Earl Nelson of Trafalgar and Merson in Surrey, 10th Viscount Merton, 11th Baron Nelson of the Nile and Hillborough in Norfolk.
On 12th April 2009 William Stanhope 11th Earl of Harrington [aged 86] died. His son Charles [aged 63] succeeded 12th Earl Harrington, 12th Viscount Petersham, 12th Baron Harrington.
On 4th July 2009 George Frederick Laurence Hyde Villiers 7th Earl Clarendon [aged 76] died. His son George [aged 33] succeeded 8th Earl Clarendon, 8th Baron Hyde of Hindon in Wiltshire 1756.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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On 29th December 2009 Anthony Gerard Edward Noel 5th Earl of Gainsborough [aged 86] died. His son Anthony [aged 59] succeeded 6th Earl Gainsborough, 8th Baron Barham. Sarah Rose Winnington Countess Gainsborough [aged 58] by marriage Countess Gainsborough.
On 16th January 2011 Julian Asquith 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith [aged 94] died. His son Raymond [aged 58] succeeded 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith.
On 7th April 2011 Hugh Denis Charles Fitzroy 11th Duke Grafton [aged 92] died at Euston Hall, Suffolk. His grandson Henry [aged 33] succeeded 12th Duke Grafton, 12th Earl Euston, 12th Viscount Ipswich, 12th Baron Sudbury. Olivia Staden Duchess Grafton by marriage Duchess Grafton.
On 14th May 2011 Michael Onslow 7th Earl of Onslow [aged 73] died. His son Rupert [aged 43] succeeded 8th Earl Onslow, 8th Viscount Cranley, 11th Baron Onslow, 12th Baronet Onslow of West Clandon in Surrey, 13th Baronet Foote of London.
On 11th July 2011 George Henry Hubert Lascelles 7th Earl Harewood [aged 88] died. He was buried at All Saints Church Harewood [Map] on 15th July 2011. His son David [aged 60] succeeded 8th Earl Harewood in Yorkshire, 8th Viscount Lascelles, 8th Baron Harewood of Harewood in Yorkshire.
On 16th October 2011 Henry Allen John Bathurst 8th Earl Bathurst [aged 84] died. His son Allen [aged 50] succeeded 9th Earl Bathurst of Bathurst in Sussex, 9th Baron Bathurst.
On 13th November 2012 Robert Shirley 13th Earl Ferrers [aged 83] died. His son Robert [aged 59] succeeded 14th Earl Ferrers, 20th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.
On 13th July 2013 George Charles Henry Victor Paget 7th Marquess Anglesey [aged 90] died. His son Charles [aged 62] succeeded 8th Marquess Anglesey, 9th Earl Uxbridge, 17th Baron Paget Beaudasert, 11th Baronet Bayly of Plas Newydd in Anglesey.
On 10th September 2013 Richard Fleming Grey 6th Earl Grey [aged 74] died. His brother Philip [aged 73] succeeded 7th Earl Grey, 7th Viscount Grey of Howick in Northumberland, 7th Baron Grey of Howick in Northumberland, 8th Baronet Grey of Howick in Northumberland.
On 17th September 2013 Walter Temple-Gore-Langton 8th Earl Temple of Stowe [aged 88] died. His son James [aged 58] succeeded 9th Earl Temple of Stowe.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 16th November 2013 William Ward 4th Earl of Dudley [aged 93] died. He was buried at the Earl of Dudley's Memory Garden, St Michael's Church, Himley [Map]. His son William [aged 66] succeeded 5th Earl of Dudley of Dudley Castle in Staffordshire, 15th Baron Ward of Birmingham.
On 17th August 2014 Nicholas Russell 6th Earl Russell [aged 45] died. His brother John [aged 42] succeeded 7th Earl Russell of Kingston Russell in Dorset.
On 16th October 2014 John Spencer-Churchill 11th Duke of Marlborough [aged 88] died. His son James [aged 58] succeeded 12th Duke Marlborough, 12th Marquess of Blandford, 12th Earl of Marlborough, 12th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 14th Earl of Sunderland, 16th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.
On 25th April 2015 Edward Douglas Coke 7th Earl of Leicester [aged 78] died. His son Thomas [aged 49] succeeded 8th Earl of Leicester.
On 18th August 2015 Hugh Courtenay 18th Earl of Devon [aged 73] died. His son Charles [aged 40] succeeded 19th Earl Devon.
On 20th September 2015 John Parker 6th Earl Morley [aged 92] died. His son Mark [aged 59] succeeded 7th Earl Morley, 7th Viscount Boringdon of North Malton in Devon, 8th Baron Boringdon.
On 21st October 2015 William Murray 8th and 7th Earl Mansfield [aged 85] died. His son Alexander [aged 59] succeeded 9th Earl Mansfield in Middlesex, 8th Earl Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, 13th Viscount Stormont.
On 17th June 2016 Garret Wellesley 7th Earl Cowley [aged 81] died. His son Garret [aged 51] succeeded 8th Earl Cowley, 8th Viscount Dangan of Meath, 9th Baron Cowley.
On 15th July 2016 Peregrine Nicholas Eliot 10th Earl of St Germans [aged 75] died. His grandson Albert [aged 12] succeeded 11th Earl St Germans, 12th Baron Eliot of St Germans in Cornwall.
On 9th August 2016 Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor 6th Duke Westminster [aged 64] died. His son Hugh [aged 25] succeeded 7th Duke Westminster, 9th Marquess Westminster, 10th Earl Grosvenor, 16th Baronet Grosvenor of Eaton in Cheshire.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 12th November 2016 Thomas Edmund Byng 8th Earl of Strafford [aged 80] died. His son William [aged 52] succeeded 9th Earl Strafford, 9th Viscount Enfield of Enfield in Middlesex, 9th Baron Strafford of Harmondsworth in Middlesex.
On 13th January 2017 Antony Armstrong-Jones 1st Earl of Snowdon [aged 86] died. His son David [aged 55] succeeded 2nd Earl Snowdon, 2nd Viscount Linley. Serena Stanhope [aged 46] by marriage Countess Snowdon.
On 30th January 2017 John Scott 5th Earl of Eldon [aged 79] died. His son John [aged 55] succeeded 6th Earl Eldon, 6th Viscount Encoumbe of Encombe in Dorest, 6th Baron Eldon of Eldon in County Durham.
On 13th June 2017 Patricia Mountbatten 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma [aged 93] died. Her son Norton [aged 69] succeeded 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma.
On 18th June 2017 Adam Ivo Stuart Bligh 11th Earl of Darnley [aged 75] died. His son Ivo [aged 49] succeeded 12th Earl Darnley, 21st Baron Clifton of Leighton Bromswold in Huntingdonshire.
On 1st September 2017 Charles Gordon-Lennox 10th Duke of Richmond and Lennox 5th Duke of Gordon [aged 87] died. His son Charles [aged 62] succeeded 11th Duke Richmond, 6th Duke Gordon, 11th Earl March, 11th Baron Settrington. Janet Elizabeth Astor Duchess of Richmond and Gordon [aged 55] by marriage Duchess Richmond, Duchess Gordon.
On 7th March 2018 Other Windsor-Clive 3rd Earl of Plymouth [aged 94] died. His son Ivor [aged 66] succeeded 4th Earl Plymouth in Devon.
On 16th August 2018 David Fitzroy 11th Duke Beaufort [aged 90] died. His son Henry [aged 66] succeeded 12th Duke Beaufort, 14th Marquess Worcester, 18th Earl Worcester, 20th Baron Herbert of Raglan. Georgia Powell Duchess of Beaufort [aged 49] by marriage Duchess Beaufort.
On 12th February 2021 John Palmer 4th Earl of Selborne [aged 80] died. His son William [aged 49] succeeded 5th Earl Selborne, 5th Viscount Wolmer of Blackmoor in Hampshire, 5th Baron Selborne of Selborne in Hampshire.
On 22nd March 2021 John Crichton-Stuart 7th Marquess of Bute [aged 62] died. His son John [aged 31] succeeded 8th Marquis of the Isle of Bute, 11th Earl Bute, 8th Earl of Windsor, 8th Viscount Mountjoy of the Isle of Wight.
On 12th June 2021 Robert Edgcumbe 8th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe [aged 82] died. His brother Christopher [aged 71] succeeded 9th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, 10th Baron Edgcumbe.
On 16th June 2021 Edward Baldwin 4th Earl Baldwin of Bewdley [aged 83] died. His son Benedict [aged 47] succeeded 5th Earl Baldwin of Bewdley in Shropshire.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 26th February 2022 David Howard 7th Earl of Effingham [aged 82] died. His son Edward [aged 50] succeeded 8th Earl of Effingham, 18th Baron Howard of Effingham.
On 5th August 2022 Michael Howard 21st Earl of Suffolk, 14th Earl Berkshire [aged 87] died. His son Alexander [aged 48] succeeded 22nd Earl Suffolk, 15th Earl Berkshire, 14th Viscount Andover in Hampshire, 14th Baron Howard of Charlton in Wiltshire.
On 12th May 2024 Michael Brudenell-Bruce 8th Marquess of Ailesbury [aged 98] died after falling from a window at his home in the Shepherd's Bush area of London. His son David [aged 71] succeeded 9th Marquess Ailesbury, 15th Earl Cardigan, 10th Earl Ailesbury, 9th Earl Bruce of Whorlton in Yorkshire, 9th Viscount Savernake of Savernake Forest in Wiltshire, 15th Baron Brudenell of Stonton in Leicestershire, 10th Baron Bruce of Tottenham in Wiltshire.
On 1st February 2025 John Montagu 11th Earl of Sandwich [aged 81] died. His son Luke [aged 55] succeeded 12th Earl Sandwich. Julie Fisher Countess of Sandwich [aged 52] by marriage Countess Sandwich.