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: Parr
Maternal Family Tree: Aoife ni Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188
1511 Birth and Death of Prince Henry
1520 Field of the Cloth of Gold
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton and Mary Salisbury were married.
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland.
Before 1476 [his father] William Parr [aged 41] and [his mother] Elizabeth Fitzhugh Baroness Vaux Harrowden were married. They were fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Around 1483 William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton was born to [his father] William Parr [aged 49] and [his mother] Elizabeth Fitzhugh Baroness Vaux Harrowden. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England.
In February 1484 [his father] William Parr [aged 50] died.
Before 1490 [his step-father] Nicholas Vaux 1st Baron Vaux Harrowden [aged 29] and [his mother] Elizabeth Fitzhugh Baroness Vaux Harrowden were married. She by marriage Baroness Vaux Harrowden.
Around 1500 [his daughter] Mary Parr was born to William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton [aged 17] and Mary Salisbury [aged 27]. She married in or before 1520 her fourth cousin once removed Thomas Tresham and had issue.
Around 1505 [his daughter] Elizabeth Parr was born to William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton [aged 22] and Mary Salisbury [aged 32]. She married 1527 Nicholas Woodhull.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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After 1508 [his son-in-law] John Digby and [his daughter] Anne Parr were married.
On 29th January 1508 [his mother] Elizabeth Fitzhugh Baroness Vaux Harrowden died.
In February 1511 Henry VIII [aged 19] celebrated the birth of his son by holding a magnificent tournament at Westminster [Map]. The challengers included Henry VIII who fought as Cuere Loyall, Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter [aged 15] as Bon Vouloir, Edward Neville [aged 40] as Joyeulx Penser, Thomas Knyvet [aged 26] as Valiant Desyr and Thomas Tyrrell.
On Day 1 of the tournament the Answerers included: William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton [aged 28], Henry Grey 4th Earl Kent [aged 16], Thomas Cheney [aged 26], Richard Blount and Robert Morton.
On Day 2 of the tournament the Answerers included: Richard Tempest of Bracewell [aged 31], Thomas Lucy, Henry Guildford [aged 22], Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk [aged 27], Thomas Boleyn 1st Earl Wiltshire and Ormonde [aged 34], Richard Grey, Leonard Grey 1st Viscount Grane [aged 32], Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 38], Edmund Howard [aged 33] and Henry Stafford 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 32].
In or before 1520 [his son-in-law] Thomas Tresham [aged 20] and [his daughter] Mary Parr [aged 19] were married. They were fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1520 [his daughter] Margaret Parr was born to William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton [aged 37] and Mary Salisbury [aged 47]. She married 5th July 1551 Richard Perry.
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.
In 1527 [his son-in-law] Nicholas Woodhull [aged 45] and [his daughter] Elizabeth Parr [aged 22] were married. The difference in their ages was 23 years.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1528. 22nd July 1528. R. O. 4547. Magnus to Wolsey.
The King has written to my lord of Richmond for two stewardships in the Duke's gift by the death of Sir William Compton [deceased];—the one of Canforde and Corffe, and my Lord's lands in Dorsetshire, fee 100s.; the other of my Lord's lands in Somersetshire, fee £6 13s. 4d.;—which he wishes given to Sir Giles Strangwisshe [aged 42] and Sir Edw. Seymour [aged 28]. The King's letters mention only the first office, which cannot well be given to two persons. Sir Edw. Seymour writes that both are intended for him. My Lord, however, had already given the stewardship of Canford and Corffe to Sir Will. Parre [aged 45], his chamberlain, and of the Somersetshire lands to Geo. Cotton [aged 23]. Encloses copy of my Lord's letter. The sweating sickness is bad in these parts, and has carried off two of Mr. Holgill's company, the surveyor of Wolsey's lands, who was at Beverley. The Duke [aged 9] has removed hither from Pontefract. Sheriff Hutton [Map], 22 July. Signed.
P. 1. Add.: To my lord Legate. Endd.
In 1531 [his daughter] Elizabeth Parr [aged 26] died.
On 23rd December 1543 Henry VIII [aged 52] enobled his new wife's [aged 31] brother [aged 31] and uncle [aged 60] at ceremony in the Presence Chamber, Hampton Court Palace [Map]. Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk [aged 26] and Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby [aged 34] were present. Christopher Barker read the Patents.
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton was created 1st Baron Parr of Horton. William was sixty with five daughters. He died four years later at which time the Barony became extinct.
William Parr 1st Marquess Northampton was created 1st Earl Essex. His estranged wife Anne Bourchier 7th Baroness Bourchier [aged 26] was daughter of the last Earl of Essex of the Fifth Creation. A somewhat curious choice given his wife had eloped the year previous year with John Lyngfield, the prior of Tandbridge, Surrey [Map], by whom she had an illegitimate child.
On 10th September 1547 William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton [aged 64] died. He was buried at Horton, Northamptonshire. Baron Parr of Horton extinct.
[his daughter] Anne Parr was born to William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton and Mary Salisbury. She married after 1508 John Digby.
[his daughter] Maud Parr was born to William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton and Mary Salisbury. She married Ralph Lane and had issue.
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 10 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 16 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 11 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 2 Grandfather: William Parr 
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Parr
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Ros 2nd Baron Ros Kendal 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Ros
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ros
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Latimer
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Latimer
GrandFather: Thomas Parr 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Crophull
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Crophull 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Theobald Verdun 2nd Lord Verdun 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Verdun Baroness Hussey 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Mortimer Lady Verdun 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Agnes Crophull 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Father: William Parr 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Tunstall
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Tunstall
GrandMother: Alice Tunstall
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Harrington 1st Baron Harington 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Harrington of Farleton
Great x 4 Grandmother: Juliana Barlingham
Great x 2 Grandfather: Nicholas Harrington of Hornby
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Banastre
Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabella Harrington
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel English
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton 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: Elizabeth Fitzhugh Baroness Vaux Harrowden 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