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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Carolingian
Charles "Bald" I succeeded I King West Francia.
Charles "Bald" I and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia were married. She by marriage Queen Consort West Francia. She the daughter of Odi Orléans 1st Count Orléans. He the son of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks and Judith Welf Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks.
Charles "Bald" I and Richildis Bivinids Queen Consort West Francia were married. She by marriage Queen Consort West Francia. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks and Judith Welf Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks.
Around 794 [his father] Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks (age 16) and Ermengarde Hesbaye Queen Consort Aquitaine (age 16) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aquitaine. He the son of [his grandfather] Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor (age 51) and [his grandmother] Hildegard Vinzgouw Queen Franks Queen Lombardy Holy Roman Empress.
On 13th June 823 Charles "Bald" I was born to [his father] Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks (age 45) and [his mother] Judith Welf Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks (age 26).
In or before 828 [his half-brother] Louis "German" II King East Francia (age 23) and [his sister-in-law] Hemma Welf Queen Consort East Francia (age 24) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort East Francia. He the son of [his father] Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks (age 49) and Ermengarde Hesbaye Queen Consort Aquitaine.
On 13th December 838 [his half-brother] Pepin I King Aquitaine (age 41) died. His son [his nephew] Pepin (age 15) succeeded II King Aquitaine.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The same year, ere midwinter, died Charles, king of the Franks (age 16). He was slain by a boar; and one year before his [his half-brother] brother (age 36) died, who had also the Western kingdom. They were both the sons of [his father] Louis (age 62), who also had the Western kingdom, and died the same year that the sun was eclipsed. He was the son of that Charles whose [his daughter] daughter [his future son-in-law] Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons, had to wife.
In 840 [his half-brother] Lothair Holy Roman Emperor (age 45) succeeded King Middle Francia. [his sister-in-law] Ermengarde Tours Queen Consort Bavaria Queen Consort Middle Francia by marriage Queen Consort Middle Francia.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 20th June 840 [his father] Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks (age 62) died. His son [his half-brother] Pepin succeeded I King Aquitaine. [his sister-in-law] Ingeltrude Madrie Queen Consort Aquitaine by marriage Queen Consort Aquitaine.
In 843 [his mother] Judith Welf Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks (age 46) died.
Around 844 [his daughter] Judith Carolingian Queen Consort Wessex was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 20) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. She married (1) Baldwin "Iron Arm" I Margrave Flanders and had issue (2) 856 King Æthelwulf of Wessex (3) 858 King Æthelbald of Wessex, son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex and Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex.
On 1st November 846 [his son] Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 23) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. He married (1) before 863 Ansgarde Burgundy Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort West Francia and had issue (2) February 875 Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia and had issue.
In 847 [his son] Charles "Child" III King Aquitaine was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 23) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
In 848 [his son] Lothar "Lame" Carolingian Abbot Saint Germain was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 24) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
In 849 [his son] Carloman Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 25) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
In 852 [his daughter] Rotrude Carolingian Abbess Saint Radegunde was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 28) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. She married before 900 Roger Maine I Count Maine and had issue.
In 854 [his daughter] Ermentrud Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 30) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 854. This year the heathen men34 for the first time remained over winter in the Isle of Shepey [Map]. The same year [his future son-in-law] King Ethelwulf registered a TENTH of his land over all his kingdom for the honour of God and for his own everlasting salvation. The same year also he went to Rome with great pomp, and was resident there a twelvemonth. Then he returned homeward; and Charles, king of the Franks (age 30), gave him his daughter, whose name was [his daughter] Judith (age 10), to be his queen. After this he came to his people, and they were fain to receive him; but about two years after his residence among the Franks he died; and his body lies at Winchester. He reigned eighteen years and a half. And Ethelwulf was the son of Egbert, Egbert of Ealhmund, Ealhmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild; Ingild was the brother of Ina, king of the West-Saxons, who held that kingdom thirty-seven winters, and afterwards went to St. Peter, where he died. And they were the sons of Cenred, Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, Creoda of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithugar, Frithugar of Brond, Brond of Balday, Balday of Woden, Woden of Frithuwald, Frithuwald of Freawine, Freawine of Frithuwualf, Frithuwulf of Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Great, Great of Taetwa, Taetwa of Beaw, Beaw of Sceldwa, Sceldwa of Heremod, Heremod of Itermon, Itermon of Hathra, Hathra of Hwala, Hwala of Bedwig, Bedwig of Sceaf; that is, the son of Noah, who was born in Noah's ark: Laznech, Methusalem, Enoh, Jared, Malalahel, Cainion, Enos, Seth, Adam the first man, and our Father, that is, Christ. Amen. Then two sons of Ethelwulf succeeded to the kingdom; [his future son-in-law] Ethelbald to Wessex, and Ethelbert to Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex. Ethelbald reigned five years. Alfred (age 5), his third son, Ethelwulf had sent to Rome; and when the pope heard say that he was dead, he consecrated Alfred king, and held him under spiritual hands, as his father Ethelwulf had desired, and for which purpose he had sent him thither.
Note 34. i.e. the Danes; or, as they are sometimes called, Northmen, which is a general term including all those numerous tribes that issued at different times from the north of Europe, whether Danes, Norwegians, Sweons, Jutes, or Goths, etc.; who were all in a state of paganism at this time.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
Around 855 King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex (age 6) visited the court of Charles "Bald" I (age 31).
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 29th September 855 [his half-brother] Lothair Holy Roman Emperor (age 60) died.
In 856 [his son-in-law] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and [his daughter] Judith Carolingian Queen Consort Wessex (age 12) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Wessex. She the daughter of Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 32) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of King Egbert of Wessex.
Around 856 [his daughter] Hildegarde Carolingian died.
In 856 [his daughter] Hildegarde Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 32) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. She died aged less than one years old.
In 857 [his daughter] Gisela Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 33) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
Around 858 [his son-in-law] King Æthelbald of Wessex and [his daughter] Judith Carolingian Queen Consort Wessex (age 14) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Wessex. She the daughter of Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 34) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of [his son-in-law] King Æthelwulf of Wessex and Osburgh Queen Consort Wessex.
Before 863 [his son] Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia (age 16) and [his daughter-in-law] Ansgarde Burgundy Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort West Francia were married in secret. She by marriage Queen Consort Aquitaine, Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 39) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
In 864 [his daughter] Godehilde Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 40) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 866 [his son] Charles "Child" III King Aquitaine (age 19) died.
In 866 [his son] Lothar "Lame" Carolingian Abbot Saint Germain (age 18) died.
Around 870 [his daughter] Judith Carolingian Queen Consort Wessex (age 26) died.
In 872 [his son] Drogo Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 48) and Richildis Bivinids Queen Consort West Francia (age 27). He died aged one in 873.
In 873 [his son] Drogo Carolingian (age 1) died.
In 873 [his son] Pippin Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 49) and Richildis Bivinids Queen Consort West Francia (age 28). He died aged one in 874.
In 874 [his daughter] Gisela Carolingian (age 17) died.
In 874 [his son] Pippin Carolingian (age 1) died.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 875 [his son] Son Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 51) and Richildis Bivinids Queen Consort West Francia (age 30). He died aged less than one years old.
In 875 [his son] Son Carolingian died.
In February 875 [his son] Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia (age 28) and [his daughter-in-law] Adelaide Paris Queen Consort Aquitaine and West Francia (age 25) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aquitaine, Queen Consort West Francia. He the son of Charles "Bald" I King West Francia (age 51) and Ermentrude Orléans Queen Consort West Francia.
In 876 [his son] Charles Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I (age 52) and Richildis Bivinids Queen Consort West Francia (age 31). He died aged one in 877.
In 876 [his half-brother] Louis "German" II King East Francia (age 72) died. His son [his nephew] Carloman (age 47) succeeded King Bavaria.
In 876 [his son] Carloman Carolingian (age 27) died.
In 877 [his daughter] Ermentrud Carolingian (age 23) died.
In 877 [his son] Charles Carolingian (age 1) died.
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 6th October 877 Charles "Bald" I (age 54) died.
[his father] Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks and [his mother] Judith Welf Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aquitaine. He the son of [his grandfather] Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor and [his grandmother] Hildegard Vinzgouw Queen Franks Queen Lombardy Holy Roman Empress.
[his daughter] Rothilde Carolingian was born to Charles "Bald" I and Richildis Bivinids Queen Consort West Francia.
Kings Franks: Son of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King of the Franks
Agnes de la Marck Queen Consort Navarre [12]
Isabella Burgundy Queen Consort Germany [1]
Judith Carolingian Queen Consort Wessex [1]
Louis "Stammerer" II King Aquitaine III King West Francia [1]
Charles "Child" III King Aquitaine [1]
King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England [1]
Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France [1]
Matilda Dammartin Queen Consort Portugal [1]
Blanche Capet Queen Navarre [1]
Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon [1]
Maria of Brabant Queen Consort France [2]
Henry Luxemburg VII Holy Roman Emperor [3]
Margaret of Burgundy Queen Consort France [1]
Joan of Burgundy Queen Consort France [2]
Joan "Lame" Burgundy Queen Consort France [1]
Blanche of Burgundy Queen Consort France [2]
Philip "Noble" III King Navarre [1]
Joan Évreux Queen Consort France [1]
Margaret Hainaut Holy Roman Empress [4]
Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England [4]
King Robert II of Scotland [1]
Blanche Valois Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg [2]
Blanche Dampierre Queen Consort Norway and Sweden [4]
Joan Auvergne Queen Consort France [1]
Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France [7]
Blanche Bourbon Queen Consort Castile [7]
Martha Armagnac Queen Consort Aragon [1]
Yolande of Bar Queen Consort Aragon [5]
King Richard II of England [1]
Philippa Lancaster Queen Consort Denmark [4]
Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland [4]
Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford [8]
Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England [6]
Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland [12]
King Edward IV of England [13]
King Richard III of England [13]
Anne Neville Queen Consort England [19]
King Henry VII of England and Ireland [6]
Christina Queen Consort Denmark Norway and Sweden [1]
Bianca Maria Sforza Holy Roman Empress [9]
Anne of Brittany Queen Consort France [3]
Philip "Handsome Fair" King Castile [24]
Germaine Foix Queen Consort Aragon [12]
Marguerite Valois Orléans Queen Consort Navarre [25]
Queen Anne Boleyn of England [17]
Queen Jane Seymour [20]
Catherine Parr Queen Consort England [25]
Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England [22]
Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland [68]
Antoine King Navarre [45]
Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [6]
Queen Catherine Howard of England [14]
Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [11]
Jane Grey I Queen England and Ireland [32]
Louis VI Elector Palatine [12]
Louise Lorraine Queen Consort France [48]
King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [4]
Maximilian "The Great" Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria I Elector Bavaria [76]
Maria Anna Wittelsbach Holy Roman Empress [76]
Marie de Medici Queen Consort France [11]
Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine [15]
Ferdinand of Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [38]
George Wharton [209]
Margaret of Austria Queen Consort Spain [38]
Anna of Austria Holy Roman Empress [42]
John George Wettin Elector Saxony [33]
Frederick William "Great Elector" Hohenzollern Elector Brandenburg [33]
Eleonora Gonzaga Queen Consort Bohemia [77]
Maria Leopoldine Habsburg Spain Queen Consort Bohemia [38]
Marie Françoise Élisabeth of Savoy Queen Consort of Portugal [86]
Charlotte Amalie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [33]
Mary of Modena Queen Consort England Scotland and Ireland [1]
Victor Amadeus King Sardinia [101]
Louise of Mecklenburg Güstrow Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [33]
Maria Anna Neuburg Queen Consort Spain [66]
Joseph I Holy Roman Emperor [66]
Charles Habsburg Spain VI Holy Roman Emperor [66]
Francis I Holy Roman Emperor [49]
Adolph Frederick King Sweden [33]
Elisabeth Therese Lorraine Queen Consort Sardinia [49]
President George Washington [11]
King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [68]
Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [35]
Caroline Matilda Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [68]
Marie Sophie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [99]
Caroline of Brunswick Queen Consort England [68]
Frederick William III King Prussia [33]
Frederica Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort Hanover [68]
Queen Fredrika Dorotea Vilhelmina [66]
King Christian I of Norway and VIII of Denmark [103]
Frederick William IV King Prussia [68]
Caroline Amalie Oldenburg Queen Norway [2]
Frederick VII King of Denmark [171]
Queen Louise Hesse-Kassel of Denmark [202]
King Christian IX of Denmark [102]
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom [136]
Queen Sophia of Sweden and Norway [168]
Victoria Empress Germany Queen Consort Prussia [375]
King Edward VII of the United Kingdom [375]
Maria Christina of Austria Queen Consort Spain [99]
Brigadier-General Charles Fitz-Clarence [830]
Victoria Mary Teck Queen Consort England [198]
Frederick Charles I King Finland [202]
Constantine I King Greece [102]
Alexandrine Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark [273]
Victoria Eugénie Mountbatten Queen Consort Spain [474]
Louise Mountbatten Queen Consort Sweden [573]
Ingrid Bernadotte Queen Consort Denmark [443]
Philip Mountbatten Duke Edinburgh [675]
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom [3373]
Sophia Glücksburg Queen Consort Spain [2]
Constantine II King Hellenes [2]
Carl XVI King Sweden [922]
Queen Consort Camilla Shand [1146]
Diana Spencer Princess Wales [10113]
Charles "Bald" I King West Francia
GrandFather: Welf
Mother: Judith Welf Queen Consort Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks
Great x 1 Grandfather: Isambart "The Saxon" Saxony
GrandMother: Hedwig Saxony