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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Paternal Family Tree: Montagu
Maternal Family Tree: Emma de Dinan 1136-1208
Around 1684 George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax was born to [his father] Edward Montagu [aged 35] and [his mother] Elizabeth Pelham [aged 34].
In 1694 Godfrey Kneller [aged 47]. Portrait of George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 10].
In 1700 [his uncle] Charles Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 38] was created 1st Baron Halifax with special remainder to his nephew George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 16].
In 1706 George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 22] and Ricarda Posthuma Saltonstale [aged 17] were married.
In 1711 [his wife] Ricarda Posthuma Saltonstale [aged 22] died.
After 1711 George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 27] and Mary Lumley Countess Halifax [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of Richard Lumley 1st Earl Scarborough [aged 61] and Frances Jones Countess Scarborough [aged 43]. They were fifth cousin once removed.
In 1715 George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 31] was created 1st Earl Halifax. [his wife] Mary Lumley Countess Halifax [aged 24] by marriage Countess Halifax.
In 1715 [his father] Edward Montagu [aged 66] died.
On 19th May 1715 [his uncle] Charles Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 54] died. Earl Halifax extinct. His nephew George [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Baron Halifax.
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.
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On 6th October 1716 [his son] George Montagu Dunk 2nd Earl Halifax was born to George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 32] and [his wife] Mary Lumley Countess Halifax [aged 25]. He married 1741 Anne Richards.
In 1718 [his daughter] Mary Montagu was born to George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 34] and [his wife] Mary Lumley Countess Halifax [aged 27]. She married 25th September 1740 Danvers Osborn 3rd Baronet and had issue.
On 17th December 1721 [his father-in-law] Richard Lumley 1st Earl Scarborough [aged 71] died of apoplexy at Gerard Street, Soho. His son [his brother-in-law] Richard [aged 35] succeeded 2nd Earl of Scarborough, 3rd Viscount Lumley, 2nd Baron Lumley.
On 23rd May 1723 James Saunderson 1st Earl Castleton [aged 56] died unmarried. Earl Castleton and Viscount Castleton extinct. His estates were inherited by his cousin [his brother-in-law] Thomas Lumley-Saunderson 3rd Earl Scarborough [aged 32] who added Saunderson to his surname.
On 13th July 1723 [his mother] Elizabeth Pelham [aged 73] died.
On 27th June 1724 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Lumley-Saunderson 3rd Earl Scarborough [aged 33] and Frances Hamilton Countess Scarborough were married. She the daughter of George Hamilton 1st Earl Orkney [aged 58] and Elizabeth Villiers Countess Orkney [aged 67]. He the son of [his father-in-law] Richard Lumley 1st Earl Scarborough and [his mother-in-law] Frances Jones Countess Scarborough. They were fourth cousins.
On 12th December 1726 [his wife] Mary Lumley Countess Halifax [aged 35] died.
In 1728 [his son-in-law] Francis North 1st Earl Guildford [aged 23] and Lucy Montagu Baroness Guildford were married. She the daughter of George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 44] and Ricarda Posthuma Saltonstale. They were fourth cousins.
In 1734 [his daughter] Lucy Montagu Baroness Guildford died.
On 1st January 1739 [his son-in-law] Roger Burgoyne 6th Baronet [aged 28] and Frances Montagu Lady Burgoyne were married. She by marriage Lady Burgoyne of Sutton in Bedfordshire. She the daughter of George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 55] and Mary Lumley Countess Halifax. They were fifth cousins.
On 9th May 1739 George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax [aged 55] died. His son George [aged 22] succeeded 2nd Earl Halifax, 3rd Baron Halifax.
[his father] Edward Montagu and [his mother] Elizabeth Pelham were married. They were fourth cousins.
[his daughter] Frances Montagu Lady Burgoyne was born to George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax and Mary Lumley Countess Halifax. She married 1st January 1739 her fifth cousin Roger Burgoyne 6th Baronet, son of Roger Burgoyne 4th Baronet, and had issue.
[his daughter] Lucy Montagu Baroness Guildford was born to George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax and Ricarda Posthuma Saltonstale. She married 1728 her fourth cousin Francis North 1st Earl Guildford, son of Francis North 2nd Baron Guildford and Alicia Brownlow Baroness Guildford, and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 17 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 26 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 20 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Montagu 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Dudley 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Roper of Well Hall 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Helen Roper
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Alexander Harrington 
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Harrington
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Moton
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harrington
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Sidney 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lucy Sidney
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Pakenham
GrandFather: George Montagu 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Crouch of Corneyborough
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Crouch Countess Manchester
Father: Edward Montagu 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Anthony Irby
Great x 1 Grandfather: Anthony Irby 12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Peyton of Isleham in Cambridgeshire 
9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Peyton 1st Baronet 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Rich 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Peyton 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Osborne 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Osborne
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Hewett
GrandMother: Elizabeth Irby 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Wray
Great x 3 Grandfather: Christopher Wray
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Jackson
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Wray 1st Baronet
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Girlington
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Girlington
Great x 1 Grandmother: Frances Wray 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Drury 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Drury 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Audrey Rich
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Drury Lady Glentworth 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Stafford 
14 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stafford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Stafford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Pelham
Great x 3 Grandfather: Nicholas Pelham 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Carew 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Pelham 1st Baronet 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Sackville 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Sackville 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Boleyn 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Pelham 2nd Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Walsingham
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Walsingham
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Gouter
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Walsingham Baroness Pelham Laughton 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Guildford 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothy Guildford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Barbara West 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
GrandFather: John Pelham 3rd Baronet 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Mother: Elizabeth Pelham 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Sidney
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Sidney
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Pakenham
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Dudley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Gamage of Coity Castle 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Gamage of Coity Castle 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
GrandMother: Lucy Sidney Baroness Pelham Laughton 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Percy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Harbottle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 4th Baron Latimer of Snape 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Somerset Baroness Latimer Snape 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Devereux 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Hastings 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Knollys 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Carey 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England