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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Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire is in Baronies of England Alphabetically, Baronies of England Chronologically, Extant Baronies of England.
Summary
1703. Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Baron Conway (age 23) created.
3rd February 1732. Son Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Marquess Hertford (age 13) succeeded.
14th June 1794. Son Francis Ingram Seymour-Conway 2nd Marquess Hertford (age 51) succeeded.
28th June 1822. Son Francis Charles Seymour-Conway 3rd Marquess Hertford (age 45) succeeded.
1st March 1842. Son Richard Seymour-Conway 4th Marquess Hertford (age 42) succeeded.
25th August 1870. Second Cousin Francis George Hugh Seymour-Conway 5th Marquess Hertford (age 58) succeeded.
25th January 1884. Son Hugh de Grey Seymour-Conway 6th Marquess Hertford (age 40) succeeded.
23rd March 1912. Son George Francis Alexander Seymour 7th Marquess Hertford (age 41) succeeded.
1940. Nephew Hugh Seymour 8th Marquess Hertford (age 9) succeeded.
22nd December 1997. Son Henry Seymour 9th Marquess of Hertford (age 39) succeeded.
In 1703 Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Baron Conway (age 23) was created 1st Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire.
On 3rd February 1732 Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Baron Conway (age 52) died at Lisburn, Antrim. His son Francis (age 13) succeeded 2nd Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 2nd Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim.
On 14th June 1794 Francis Seymour-Conway 1st Marquess Hertford (age 75) died. His son Francis (age 51) succeeded 2nd Marquess Hertford, 2nd Earl Hertford, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth, 2nd Viscount Beauchamp, 3rd Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 3rd Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim. Isabella Anne Ingram Marchioness Hertford (age 35) by marriage Marchioness Hertford. The estate was worth £70000 a year, and included Ragley Hall, Alcester, Sudbourne Hall, Sudbourne and estates in Ireland.
On 28th June 1822 Francis Ingram Seymour-Conway 2nd Marquess Hertford (age 79) died at Hertford aka Manchester House Manchester Square Marylebone. His son Francis (age 45) succeeded 3rd Marquess Hertford, 3rd Earl Hertford, 3rd Earl of Yarmouth, 3rd Viscount Beauchamp, 4th Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 4th Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim.
On 1st March 1842 Francis Charles Seymour-Conway 3rd Marquess Hertford (age 64) died. His son Richard (age 42) succeeded 4th Marquess Hertford, 4th Earl Hertford, 4th Earl of Yarmouth, 4th Viscount Beauchamp, 5th Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 5th Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim.
On 25th August 1870 Richard Seymour-Conway 4th Marquess Hertford (age 70) died in Paris [Map]. His second cousin Francis (age 58) succeeded 5th Marquess Hertford, 5th Earl Hertford, 5th Earl of Yarmouth, 5th Viscount Beauchamp, 6th Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 6th Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim. Frances Elizabeth Anson Marchioness Hertford (age 60) by marriage Marchioness Hertford.
On 25th January 1884 Francis George Hugh Seymour-Conway 5th Marquess Hertford (age 71) died. His son Hugh (age 40) succeeded 6th Marquess Hertford, 6th Earl Hertford, 6th Earl of Yarmouth, 6th Viscount Beauchamp, 7th Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 7th Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim. Mary Hood Marchioness Hertford (age 37) by marriage Marchioness Hertford.
On 23rd March 1912 Hugh de Grey Seymour-Conway 6th Marquess Hertford (age 68) died. His son George (age 41) succeeded 7th Marquess Hertford, 7th Earl Hertford, 7th Earl of Yarmouth, 7th Viscount Beauchamp, 8th Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 8th Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim.
In 1940 George Francis Alexander Seymour 7th Marquess Hertford (age 69) died. His nephew Hugh (age 9) succeeded 8th Marquess Hertford, 8th Earl Hertford, 8th Earl of Yarmouth, 8th Viscount Beauchamp, 9th Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 9th Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 22nd December 1997 Hugh Seymour 8th Marquess Hertford (age 67) died. His son Henry (age 39) succeeded 9th Marquess Hertford, 9th Earl Hertford, 9th Earl of Yarmouth, 9th Viscount Beauchamp, 10th Baron Conway of Ragley in Warwickshire, 10th Baron Conway of Killultagh in Antrim.