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.
Earl Moray is in Earl Moray.
On 7th February 1562 James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray Regent [aged 31] was created 1st Earl Moray and 1st Earl Mar.
On 8th February 1562 James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray Regent [aged 31] and Agnes Keith Countess Moray and Mar [aged 31] were married at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. She by marriage Countess Moray and Countess Mar. She the daughter of William Keith 4th Earl Marischal [aged 55] and Margaret Keith Countess Marischal. He the illegitmate son of King James V of Scotland and Margaret Erskine [aged 46]. They were fourth cousins. He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 23rd January 1570 James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray Regent [aged 39] was assassinated at Linlithgow by James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, a supporter of Mary Queen of Scots [aged 27]. His daughter Elizabeth [aged 4] succeeded 2nd Countess Moray. As he was passing in a cavalcade in the main street below, Hamilton fatally wounded him with a carbine shot from a window of his uncle Archbishop Hamilton's [aged 57] house. He was the first head of government to be assassinated by a firearm.
On 23rd January 1581 James "The Bonnie Earl" Stewart 2nd Earl of Moray [aged 16] and Elizabeth Stewart 2nd Countess Moray [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Lord Doune. He by marriage 2nd Earl Moray. She the daughter of James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray Regent and Agnes Keith Countess Moray and Mar [aged 50]. They were third cousins. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 7th February 1592 James "The Bonnie Earl" Stewart 2nd Earl of Moray [aged 27] was murdered. His son James [aged 1] succeeded 3rd Earl Moray.
Moray, in expectation of a summons to the court, had arrived at Donibristle, a house on the Fife coast owned by his mother Margaret Campbell [deceased]. The house was suddenly beset by the followers of George Gordon 1st Marquess Huntly [aged 30], who called on him to surrender. He declined to do so, and the house was set on fire. Moray escaped but was subsequently killed.
The next day, the corpses of the earl and of Dunbar, Sheriff of Moray, who had also been killed in the attack, were brought to Leith by the earl's mother Margaret Campbell. She intended to confront King James VI [aged 25] and demand that Huntly be brought to justice. The body displayed in the St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh; a 'vendetta portrait' showing his wounds was commissioned.
The body remained on display for five years. He was eventually buried on the orders of King James.
James Stewart 3rd Earl of Moray: Before 1591 he was born to James "The Bonnie Earl" Stewart 2nd Earl of Moray and Elizabeth Stewart 2nd Countess Moray. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. On 2nd October 1607 James Stewart 3rd Earl of Moray and Anne Gordon Countess Moray were married. She by marriage Countess Moray. She the daughter of George Gordon 1st Marquess Huntly and Henrietta Stewart Marchioness Huntly. He the son of James "The Bonnie Earl" Stewart 2nd Earl of Moray and Elizabeth Stewart 2nd Countess Moray. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. On 6th August 1638 James Stewart 3rd Earl of Moray died. His son James succeeded 4th Earl Moray.
Margaret Campbell: In 1544 she was born to Archibald Campbell 4th Earl Argyll and Margaret Graham Countess Argyll. On 10th January 1563 James Stewart 1st Lord Doune and she were married. There was a masque involving courtiers and musicians dressed in white taffeta as shepherds. She the daughter of Archibald Campbell 4th Earl Argyll and Margaret Graham Countess Argyll. They were half third cousin once removed. In February 1592 Margaret Campbell died.
On 2nd October 1607 James Stewart 3rd Earl of Moray [aged 16] and Anne Gordon Countess Moray were married. She by marriage Countess Moray. She the daughter of George Gordon 1st Marquess Huntly [aged 45] and Henrietta Stewart Marchioness Huntly [aged 34]. He the son of James "The Bonnie Earl" Stewart 2nd Earl of Moray and Elizabeth Stewart 2nd Countess Moray. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 18th October 1627 James Stewart 4th Earl of Moray [aged 16] and Margaret Home Countess Moray were married. She by marriage Countess Moray. She the daughter of Alexander Home 1st Earl of Home and Mary Dudley Countess Home [aged 41]. He the son of James Stewart 3rd Earl of Moray [aged 36] and Anne Gordon Countess Moray. They were half third cousin twice removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 6th August 1638 James Stewart 3rd Earl of Moray [aged 47] died. His son James [aged 27] succeeded 4th Earl Moray.
On 4th March 1653 James Stewart 4th Earl of Moray [aged 42] died. His son Alexander [aged 18] succeeded 5th Earl Moray.
In 1658 Alexander Stuart 5th Earl of Moray [aged 23] and Emilia Balfour Countess Moray [aged 12] were married. She by marriage Countess Moray. He the son of James Stewart 4th Earl of Moray and Margaret Home Countess Moray.
On 1st November 1701 Alexander Stuart 5th Earl of Moray [aged 67] died. His son Charles [aged 18] succeeded 6th Earl Moray.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1735 Charles Stuart 6th Earl of Moray [aged 52] died. His brother Francis [aged 52] succeeded 7th Earl Moray.
On 11th December 1739 Francis Stuart 7th Earl of Moray [aged 56] died. His son James [aged 31] succeeded 8th Earl Moray.
On 24th April 1740 James Stuart 8th Earl of Moray [aged 32] and Margaret Wemyss Countess Moray [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Countess Moray. She the daughter of David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss and Elizabeth St Clair. He the son of Francis Stuart 7th Earl of Moray. They were fifth cousins.
On 5th July 1767 James Stuart 8th Earl of Moray [aged 59] died. His son Francis [aged 30] succeeded 9th Earl Moray. Jean Gray Countess Moray [aged 24] by marriage Countess Moray.
In 1810 Francis Stuart 9th Earl of Moray [aged 73] died. His son Francis [aged 38] succeeded 10th Earl Moray. Margaret Jane Ainslie Countess Moray by marriage Countess Moray.
On 12th January 1848 Francis Stuart 10th Earl of Moray [aged 76] died. His son Francis [aged 53] succeeded 11th Earl Moray.
In 1859 Francis Stuart 11th Earl of Moray [aged 64] died. His brother John [aged 61] succeeded 12th Earl Moray.
On 8th November 1867 John Stuart 12th Earl of Moray [aged 70] died. His half brother Archibald [aged 57] succeeded 13th Earl Moray.
In 1872 Archibald Stuart 13th Earl of Moray [aged 62] died. His brother George [aged 56] succeeded 14th Earl Moray.
On 19th April 1930 Morton Gray Stuart 17th Earl of Moray [aged 75] died. His son Francis [aged 37] succeeded 18th Earl Moray.