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 24th December 1837 Empress Elisabeth of Austria was born.
1855 . Anton Einsle (age 53). Portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (age 17).
1855. Amanda Bergstedt (age 13). Portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (age 17).
1860. Franz Schrotzberg (age 48). Portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (age 22).
Around 1865. Franz Xaver Winterhalter (age 59). Portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (age 27).
Adeline Horsey Recollections. The beautiful and unfortunate Empress Elizabeth of Austria (age 39) rented Cottesbroke from my cousins the Langhams, and her exploits in the hunting-field are well known. Bay Middleton was always staying at Cottesbroke, and used generally to give the Empress a "lead".
The Empress found Sunday rather a dull day at Cottesbroke, so she had jumps made all round the park, and at 6 o'clock every Sunday morning she and Bay Middleton used to ride together, and taking the jumps became her unvarying Sunday amusement.
Her biographers have not flattered her when they describe her as being singularly handsome, for she was indeed a queenly figure, and I think her only personal defects were her hands and feet, which were large and ungainly. It is said that when Elizabeth first met the Empress Eugenie (age 50) she was very jealous of her tiny extremities, for Eugenie's hands and feet were exceptionally small.
On 10th September 1898 Empress Elisabeth of Austria (age 60) was assassinated being fatally stabbed in the heart by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni.