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: Constable
Maternal Family Tree: Aoife ni Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188
Before 1478 [his father] Marmaduke Constable [aged 20] and [his mother] Margery Fitzhugh were married. They were fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Around 1480 Marmaduke Constable was born to [his father] Marmaduke Constable [aged 23] and [his mother] Margery Fitzhugh. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England.
In or before 1494 [his son] Robert Constable was born to Marmaduke Constable [aged 13] and [his future wife] Barbara Sothill [aged 19]. He married 1520 his third cousin once removed Katherine Manners, daughter of George Manners 11th Baron Ros Helmsley and Anne St Leger Baroness Ros of Helmsley, and had issue.
Before 1495 Marmaduke Constable [aged 14] and Barbara Sothill [aged 20] were married.
In 1509 Marmaduke Constable [aged 29] was appointed High Sheriff of Yorkshire.
In 1513 Marmaduke Constable [aged 33] was appointed High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.
On 9th September 1513 at the Battle of Flodden was fought at the Branxton, Northumberland [Map]. the English army was commanded by Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk [aged 70], Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 40], Edmund Howard [aged 35], Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 45], Edward Stanley 1st Baron Monteagle [aged 51] and [his father] Marmaduke Constable [aged 56].
The English army included: Henry "Shepherd Lord" Clifford 10th Baron Clifford [aged 59], William Conyers 1st Baron Conyers [aged 44], Thomas Berkeley 5th Baron Berkeley [aged 41] and Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape [aged 45].
Father and son Ralph ellerker of risby in yorkshire and Ralph Ellerker were knighted by Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey, as were Marmaduke Constable [aged 33], William Constable [aged 38], George Darcy 1st Baron Darcy Aston [aged 16], Edmund Walsingham [aged 33], Thomas Burgh 7th Baron Cobham 5th Baron Strabolgi 1st Baron Burgh [aged 25] and Walter Stonor [aged 36].
John Booth [aged 78], Randall Babington, John Bigod [aged 38] and Thomas Fitzwilliam [aged 39], Christopher Savage [aged 49], Thomas Venables [aged 44] and Brian Tunstall [aged 33] were killed.
Bryan Stapleton of Wighill [aged 55] was killed. (Some reports have him dying in 1518).
The Scottish army suffered heavy casualties:
King James IV of Scotland [aged 40] was killed. His body was taken to London, then to Sheen Priory, Richmond [Map]; thereafter it disappeared. His son James [aged 1] succeeded V King Scotland.
Archbishop Alexander Stewart [aged 20] was killed.
David Kennedy 1st Earl Cassilis [aged 43] was killed. His son Gilbert [aged 18] succeeded 2nd Earl Cassilis. Isabel Campbell Countess Cassilis by marriage Countess Cassilis.
William Sinclair 2nd Earl Caithness [aged 54] was killed. His son John succeeded 3rd Earl Caithness.
Matthew Stewart 2nd Earl Lennox was killed. His son John [aged 23] succeeded 3rd Earl Lennox.
William Hay 4th Earl Erroll was killed. His son William [aged 18] succeeded 5th Earl Erroll.
John Douglas 2nd Earl Morton was killed. His son James succeeded 3rd Earl Morton, 6th Lord Dalkeith.
Adam Hepburn 2nd Earl Bothwell was killed. His son Patrick [aged 1] succeeded 3rd Earl Bothwell.
Alexander Stewart 4th of Garlies [aged 32] was killed. His son Alexander [aged 6] succeeded 5th Lord Garlies.
Alexander Elphinstone 1st Lord Elphinstone was killed. His son Alexander [aged 3] succeeded 2nd Lord Elphinstone.
Thomas Hay, George Hepburn Bishop Isles [aged 59], Adam Hepburn Master [aged 56], Thomas "Younger of Cushnie" Lumsden
William Douglas 6th Lord Drumlanrig was killed. William "Younger" Douglas 7th Lord Drumlanrig succeeded 7th Lord Drumlanrig.
George Seton 5th Lord Seton was killed. His son George succeeded 6th Lord Seton.
John Hay 2nd Lord Hay of Yester was killed. His son John [aged 23] succeeded 3rd Lord Hay of Yester. Elizabeth Douglas Lady Hay by marriage Lord Hay of Yester.
Henry Sinclair 3rd Lord Sinclair [aged 48] was killed. His son William succeeded 4th Lord Sinclair.
James Stewart 1st Lord of Traquair [aged 33] was killed. His son William [aged 7] succeeded 2nd Lord Traquair.
John Maxwell 4th Lord Maxwell [aged 57] was killed. His son Robert [aged 20] succeeded 5th Lord Maxwell.
George Home 4th Lord Home and John Stewart 2nd Earl Atholl [aged 38] fought.
William Graham 1st Earl Montrose [aged 49] was killed. His son William [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Earl Montrose.
Robert Erskine 4th Lord Erskine 16th Earl of Mar was killed. His son John [aged 26] de jure 17th Earl Mar, Lord Erskine.
Thomas Stewart 2nd Lord Innermeath [aged 52] was killed. His son Richard succeeded 3rd Lord Innermeath.
Robert Crichton 2nd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar [aged 41] was killed. His son Robert [aged 22] succeeded 3rd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar
Father and son William Rollo [aged 59] and Robert Rollo 5th of Duncrub [aged 34], brothers David Lyon of Cossins, William Lyon and George Lyon were killed. John Somerville 1st of Cambusnethan [aged 55], William Keith of Inverugie [aged 43], David Wemyss of Wemyss [aged 40], Robert Keith Master of Marischal [aged 30], Guiscard Harbottle [aged 28], John Erskine, David Home [aged 22], Andrew Stewart 1st Lord Avondale [aged 43], Archibald Campbell 2nd Earl Argyll [aged 64], Robert Douglas of Lochleven [aged 89] were killed. William Murray [aged 43], Colin Oliphant [aged 26], William Ruthven [aged 33], George Douglas [aged 44] and William Douglas [aged 42] were killed. Walter Lindsay of Arden and Walter Lindsay [aged 33] were killed.
On 20th November 1518 [his father] Marmaduke Constable [aged 61] died after swallowing a frog while drinking a glass of water. He was buried at Church of St Oswald, Flamborough. His tomb in Flamborough church is described by a writer in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' of 1753 (p. 456): 'This epitaph is written on a copper plate fixed into a large stone, which is placed upon a large stone coffin or chest in which the body was reposited, and beside it is the upper part of a skeleton in stone; the ribs project greatly and the breast is laid open, in the inner side of which appears what by tradition is held to be a toad at the heart (of which he was supposed to die), but it bears little or no resemblance of a toad.' The brass has now been separated from the coin and skeleton, and their connection with each other forgotten (Prickett, Bridlinqton, p. 187).
Here lieth Marmaduke Constable of Flaymburght, knight,
Who made adventure into France for the right of the same;
Passed over with King Edward the Fourth, that noble knight,
And also with noble King Harry the Seventh of that name.
He was also at Barvik at the winning of the same
And by King Edward chosen captain then first of any on,
And ruled and governed there his time without
But for all that, as ye see, he lieth under this
At Brankiston Field [Flodden], where the King of Scots was slain
He then being of the age of threescore and ten,
With the good Duke of Norfolk that journey he hath ta'en
And couragely advanced himself among other there and then,
The king being in France with great number of English men.
He, nothing heeding his age there, but Jeoparde him as one
With his sons, brethren, servants, and kinsmen,
But now, as ye see, he lieth under this stone.
Around 1520 [his son] Robert Constable [aged 26] and [his daughter-in-law] Katherine Manners [aged 10] were married. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In June 1520 Henry VIII [aged 28] hosted Field of the Cloth of Gold at Balinghem [Map].
Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset [aged 42] carried the Sword of State.
Bishop John Stokesley [aged 45] attended as Henry VIII's chaplain.
Edmund Braye 1st Baron Braye [aged 36], Gruffydd ap Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth [aged 42], Anthony Poyntz [aged 40], William Coffin [aged 25], William "Great" Courtenay [aged 43], Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex [aged 37], William Paston [aged 41], William Denys [aged 50], Richard Cecil [aged 25], William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton [aged 37], Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland [aged 22], John Mordaunt 1st Baron Mordaunt [aged 40], Henry Guildford [aged 31], Marmaduke Constable [aged 40], William Compton [aged 38], William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy [aged 42], Thomas Cheney [aged 35], Henry Willoughby [aged 69], John Rodney [aged 59], John Marney 2nd Baron Marney [aged 36], William Sidney [aged 38], John de Vere 14th Earl of Oxford [aged 20], John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford [aged 49], Edmund Walsingham [aged 40], William Skeffington [aged 55] and Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West [aged 63] attended.
William Carey [aged 20] jousted.
William Sandys 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne [aged 50] organised.
Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford [aged 15] attended.
Thomas Brooke 8th Baron Cobham [aged 50], Robert Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby 10th Baron Latimer [aged 48], Anthony Wingfield [aged 33], William Scott [aged 61], Thomas Wriothesley [aged 32], Bishop Thomas Ruthall [aged 48], Margaret Dymoke aka Mistress Coffin [aged 20] and Edward Chamberlayne [aged 36] were present.
On 4th October 1540 [his wife] Barbara Sothill [aged 66] died. She was buried at Church of St Everild Everingham.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 14th September 1545 Marmaduke Constable [aged 65] died. He was buried at Church of St Everild Everingham.
[his son] William Constable was born to Marmaduke Constable and Barbara Sothill.
[his daughter] Everild Constable was born to Marmaduke Constable and Barbara Sothill.
King Edward III of England 1312-1377
John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster 1340-1399
Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 1364-1425
Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland 1379-1440
John Neville 3rd Baron Neville of Raby 1337-1388
Maud Percy Baroness Neville Raby
Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 1407-1462
Richard Neville Earl Salisbury 1400-1460
Kings Wessex: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 11 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 17 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 12 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 4 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 20 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 14 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 18 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Marmaduke Constable 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Constable 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Zouche 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Marmaduke Constable 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Skipwith
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Skipwith
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Constable 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Cumberworth
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catharine Cumberworth
GrandFather: Robert Constable 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Gascoigne VI
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Gascoigne VII
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Gascoigne
Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnes Frank
Great x 1 Grandmother: Agnes Gascoigne
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Pickering
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Pickering
Father: Marmaduke Constable 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Wentworth 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Wentworth
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Hooton
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Wentworth
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Tyas
Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Wentworth
Great x 2 Grandmother: Agnes Dronsfield
GrandMother: Agnes Wentworth 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Despencer 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Despencer 1st Baron Despencer 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip Despencer 2nd Baron Despencer 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Unknown Baroness Despencer
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margery Despencer 3rd Baroness Despencer, Baroness Ros 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Tiptoft 2nd Baron Tibetot 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Tiptoft 3rd Baron Tibetot 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Badlesmere Baroness Tibetot 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tiptoft Baroness Despencer 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Deincourt 2nd Baron Deincourt
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Deincourt Baroness Tibetot 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Millicent Zouche Baroness Deincourt 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Marmaduke Constable 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Fitzhugh 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Fitzhugh 2nd Baron Fitzhugh
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Fitzhugh 3rd Baron Fitzhugh
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Masham 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Scrope Baroness Fitzhugh
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Unknown
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Fitzhugh 4th Baron Fitzhugh 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Grey 1st Baron Grey 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Grey 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Avice Marmion Baroness Grey Rotherfield 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Grey Baroness Fitzhugh 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandFather: Henry Fitzhugh 5th Baron Fitzhugh 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Willoughby 3rd Baron Willoughby 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Willoughby 4th Baron Willoughby 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Ufford Baroness Willoughby of Eresby 
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Willoughby 5th Baron Willoughby 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Zouche 2nd Baron Zouche Harringworth 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margery Zouche Baroness Willoughby of Eresby 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ros Baroness Zouche Harringworth 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margery Willoughby Baroness Fitzhugh 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Strange 4th Baron Strange Knockin 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Strange 5th Baron Strange Knockin 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Ightham Baroness Strange Knockin 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Lucy Strange Baroness Willoughby Eresby 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Fitzalan 2nd or 9th Earl of Arundel 
4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Aline Fitzalan Baroness Strange Knockin 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Warenne Countess Arundel 
Mother: Margery Fitzhugh 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 2nd Baron Neville of Raby 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Neville of Raby 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Audley Baroness Greystoke and Neville 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 10th and 2nd Baron Percy 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Percy Baroness Neville Raby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Idonia Clifford Baroness Percy 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Neville Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Edward III of England Son of King Edward II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland 
Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Giles "Payne" Roet 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster
GrandMother: Alice Neville Baroness Fitzhugh 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Baron Monthermer 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer 
Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Adam Francis
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Holland 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey 
Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England