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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Earl Clanricarde

Earl Clanricarde is in Earl Ireland.

In 1544 Ulick na "gCeann aka of the Heads" Burke 1st Earl Clanricarde died. His son Richard succeeded 2nd Earl Clanricarde.

In 1582 Richard Burke 2nd Earl Clanricarde died. His son Ulrick succeeded 3rd Earl Clanricarde.

In 1601 Ulrick Burke 3rd Earl Clanricarde died. His son Richard [aged 29] succeeded 4th Earl Clanricarde.

On 12th November 1635 Richard Burke 4th Earl Clanricarde 1st Earl St Albans [aged 63] died. His son Ulick [aged 31] succeeded 5th Earl Clanricarde, 2nd Earl St Albans. Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford [aged 42] was blamed for his death making an enemy of Ulick Burke 1st Marquess Clanricarde and his half-brother (they shared the same mother Frances Walsingham Countess Essex) Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 44].

In July 1657 Ulick Burke 1st Marquess Clanricarde [aged 53] died. His first cousin Richard succeeded 6th Earl Clanricarde. Earl St Albans extinct.

In 1666 Richard Burgh 8th Earl Clanricarde [aged 27] died. His brother John [aged 24] succeeded 9th Earl Clanricarde.

In 1666 Richard Burke 6th Earl Clanricarde died. His brother William succeeded 7th Earl Clanricarde.

In or before 1674 William Burke 7th Earl Clanricarde and Helen MacCarty Countess Clanricarde [aged 41] were married. She by marriage Countess Clanricarde.

After 1708 William Burke 7th Earl Clanricarde died. His son Richard succeeded 8th Earl Clanricarde.

In 1722 John Burke 9th Earl Clanricard [aged 80] died. His son Michael [aged 36] succeeded 10th Earl Clanricarde.

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.

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In 1726 Michael Burke 10th Earl Clanricarde [aged 40] died. His son John [aged 5] succeeded 11th Earl Clanricarde.

On 1st July 1740 John Smith Burgh 11th Earl Clanricarde [aged 19] and Hester Amelia Vincent Countess Clanricarde were married. She by marriage Countess Clanricarde. He the son of Michael Burke 10th Earl Clanricarde.

On 21st April 1782 John Smith Burgh 11th Earl Clanricarde [aged 61] died. His son Henry [aged 40] succeeded 12th Earl Clanricarde.

On 8th December 1797 Henry Burgh 1st Marquess Clarincade [aged 55] died without issue. Marquess Clarincade extinct. His brother John [aged 53] succeeded 13th Earl Clanricarde.

On 10th April 1874 Ulick Burgh 1st Marquess Clanricarde [aged 71] died at Stratton Street. His son Hubert [aged 41] succeeded 2nd Marquess Clarincade, 15th Earl Clanricarde, 2nd Baron Somerhill of Somerhill in Kent.