Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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On 22nd September 1851 Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont was born to [his father] Agénor 10th Duc de Gramont [aged 32].
On 4th March 1855 [his grandfather] Antoine Héraclius Agénor 9th Duc de Gramont [aged 65] died. His son [his father] Agénor [aged 35] succeeded 10th Duke Gramont.
On 10th December 1878 Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont [aged 27] and Marguerite de Rothschild Duchess Gramont [aged 23] were married. Her father Mayer Carl Freiherr von Rothschild [aged 58] disapproved; he disowned her. He the son of Agénor 10th Duc de Gramont [aged 59].
On 29th September 1879 [his son] Armand de Gramont 12th Duc de Gramont was born to Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont [aged 28] and [his wife] Marguerite de Rothschild Duchess Gramont [aged 24]. He married 1904 Élaine Greffulhe Duchess Gramont.
On 17th January 1880 [his father] Agénor 10th Duc de Gramont [aged 60] died. His son Antoine [aged 28] succeeded 11th Duke Gramont. [his wife] Marguerite de Rothschild Duchess Gramont [aged 24] by marriage Duchess Gramont.
On 8th August 1880 [his daughter] Corisande Emma Louise Ida de Gramont was born to Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont [aged 28] and [his wife] Marguerite de Rothschild Duchess Gramont [aged 24]. She married 1901 Hélie Guillaume Hubert de Noailles.
In 1901 [his son-in-law] Hélie Guillaume Hubert de Noailles [aged 29] and Corisande Emma Louise Ida de Gramont [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont [aged 49] and Marguerite de Rothschild Duchess Gramont [aged 45].
1902. Philip de László [aged 32]. Portrait of Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont [aged 50].
In 1904 Armand de Gramont 12th Duc de Gramont [aged 24] and Élaine Greffulhe Duchess Gramont [aged 21] were married. He the son of Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont [aged 52] and Marguerite de Rothschild Duchess Gramont [aged 48].
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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On 25th July 1905 [his wife] Marguerite de Rothschild Duchess Gramont [aged 49] died.
On 3rd August 1907 Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont [aged 55] and Princess Maria Ruspoli [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Gramont. The difference in their ages was 36 years. He the son of Agénor 10th Duc de Gramont.
On 30th January 1925 Antoine Alfred Agénor de Gramont 11th Duc de Gramont [aged 73] died. His son Armand [aged 45] succeeded 12th Duke Gramont. Élaine Greffulhe Duchess Gramont [aged 42] by marriage Duchess Gramont.
In 1976 [his former wife] Princess Maria Ruspoli [aged 88] died.
Great x 4 Grandfather: Antoine Charles 4th Duke Gramont
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis 6th Duke of Gramont
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Christine de Noailles
Great x 2 Grandfather: Antoine 7th Duke Gramont
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles-Armand de Gontaut Duc de Biron
Great x 3 Grandmother: Geneviève de Gontaut
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie-Antoinette Duchesse de Lauzun
Great x 1 Grandfather: Antoine 8th Duke Gramont
GrandFather: Antoine Héraclius Agénor 9th Duc de Gramont
Great x 2 Grandfather: Jules 1st Duke of Polignac
Great x 1 Grandmother: Aglae de Polignac "Guichette" Duchess Gramont
Great x 2 Grandmother: Yolande Martine Gabrielle Polastron Duchess Gramont
Father: Agénor 10th Duc de Gramont