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
On 22nd July 1852 [his father] William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester (age 28) and [his mother] Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester (age 20) were married at Hanover Lower Saxony. He the son of [his grandfather] George Montagu 6th Duke Manchester (age 53) and [his grandmother] Millicent Sparrow Duchess Manchester.
On 17th June 1853 George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester was born to [his father] William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester (age 29) and [his mother] Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester (age 21) at Kimbolton.
On 18th August 1855 [his grandfather] George Montagu 6th Duke Manchester (age 56) died. His son [his father] William (age 31) succeeded 7th Duke Manchester, 10th Earl Manchester, 10th Viscount Mandeville, 10th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton. [his mother] Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester (age 23) by marriage Duchess Manchester.
On 10th December 1873 [his brother-in-law] William Douglas Hamilton 12th Duke Hamilton 9th Duke Brandon (age 28) and [his sister] Mary Louisa Elizabeth Montagu Duchess Hamilton Duchess Brandon (age 18) were married. She by marriage Duchess Hamilton, Duchess Brandon of Suffolk. She the daughter of [his father] William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester (age 50) and [his mother] Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester (age 41). He the son of William Alexander Archibald Hamilton 11th Duke Hamilton 8th Duke Brandon. They were fourth cousin once removed.
On 22nd May 1876 George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester (age 22) and Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester (age 23) were married at Grace Church, Manhattan. Arguably a Dollar Princess. He the son of William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester (age 52) and Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester (age 43).
On 10th August 1876 [his brother-in-law] Archibald Brabazon Sparrow Acheson 4th Earl Gosford (age 35) and [his sister] Louisa Augusta Beatrice Montagu Countess Gosford (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Gosford. She the daughter of [his father] William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester (age 52) and [his mother] Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester (age 44). He the son of Archibald Acheson 3rd Earl Gosford and Theodosia Brabazon Countess Gosford. They were half second cousin once removed.
In 1877 George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester (age 23) was elected MP Huntingdonshire.
On 3rd March 1877 [his son] William Montagu 9th Duke Manchester was born to George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester (age 23) and [his wife] Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester (age 24). He married 14th November 1900 Helena Zimmerman and had issue.
On 27th November 1879 [his daughter] Jaqueline Mary Alva Montagu was born to George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester (age 26) and [his wife] Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester (age 26).
On 27th November 1879 [his daughter] Alice Eleanor Louise Montagu was born to George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester (age 26) and [his wife] Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester (age 26).
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.
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On 5th January 1889 [his brother-in-law] Edward George Villiers Stanley 17th Earl of Derby (age 23) and [his sister] Alice Maude Olivia Montagu Countess Derby (age 26) were married. She the daughter of [his father] William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester (age 65) and [his mother] Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester (age 56). He the son of Frederick Arthur Stanley 16th Earl of Derby (age 47) and Constance Villiers Countess Derby (age 49).
On 22nd March 1890 [his father] William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester (age 66) died. His son George (age 36) succeeded 8th Duke Manchester, 11th Earl Manchester, 11th Viscount Mandeville, 11th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton. [his wife] Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester (age 37) by marriage Duchess Manchester.
On 16th August 1892 [his step-father] Spencer Cavendish 8th Duke Devonshire (age 59) and [his mother] Louisa Vonalten Duchess Devonshire and Manchester (age 60) were married at Christ Church, Mayfair. She by marriage Duchess Devonshire. He the son of William Cavendish 7th Duke Devonshire and Blanche Georgiana Howard.
On 18th August 1892 George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester (age 39) died at Tandragee Castle. His son William (age 15) succeeded 9th Duke Manchester, 12th Earl Manchester, 12th Viscount Mandeville, 12th Baron Montagu of Kimbolton.
January 1902. Tiffany Window at St Andrew's Church, Kimbolton [Map]. In memory of the two daughters of George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester and [his former wife] Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester (age 49) Jaqueline Mary Alva Montagu, who died aged sixteen, and Alice Eleanor Louise Montagu, who died aged twenty-one, commissioned by their mother Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester.
Jaqueline Mary Alva Montagu: On 27th November 1879 she was born to George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester and Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester. On 15th March 1895 Jaqueline Mary Alva Montagu died of consumption.
Alice Eleanor Louise Montagu: On 27th November 1879 she was born to George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester and Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester. On 10th January 1900 Alice Eleanor Louise Montagu died of consumption.
On 20th November 1909 [his former wife] Consuelo Yznaga Duchess Manchester (age 56) died. Monument at St Andrew's Church, Kimbolton [Map] sculpted by René de Saint-Marceaux (age 64).
Kings Wessex: Great x 24 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 21 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 27 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 22 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 25 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 31 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 15 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 29 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Montagu 1st Duke Manchester 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Montagu 3rd Duke Manchester 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Doddington Greville Duchess Manchester 
10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Montagu 4th Duke Manchester 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Dunch 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Harriet Dunch Duchess Manchester 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Godfrey
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Montagu 5th Duke Manchester 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Dashwood 
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Dashwood 2nd Baronet
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Reade
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Dashwood Duchess Manchester
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Spencer 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Spencer Lady Dashwood
GrandFather: George Montagu 6th Duke Manchester 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Gordon 2nd Duke Gordon 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Cosmo George Gordon 3rd Duke Gordon 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Henrietta Mordaunt Duchess Gordon 
10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Gordon 4th Duke Gordon 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Gordon 2nd Earl Aberdeen
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Gordon Duchess Gordon 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Susan Murray 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 1 Grandmother: Susan Gordon Duchess Manchester 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Maxwell 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Maxwell Duchess Gordon
Father: William Drogo Montagu 7th Duke Manchester 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Sparrow
Great x 1 Grandfather: Brigadier-General Robert Bernard Sparrow 17 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Bernard 3rd Baronet 14 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Bernard 4th Baronet 15 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Bernard 16 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis St John 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary St John
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Gould
GrandMother: Millicent Sparrow Duchess Manchester 18 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Arthur Acheson 1st Earl Gosford 
Great x 1 Grandmother: Olivia Acheson 17 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Samuel Pole of Radbourne Hall in Derbyshire 
14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Lieutenant-General Edward Pole 15 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Mundy 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Millicent Pole Countess Gosford 16 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
George Victor Drogo Montagu 8th Duke Manchester 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
GrandFather: Karl Franz Viktor Vonalten