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 Monthermer is in Baronies of England Alphabetically, Baronies of England Chronologically, Succeeded Baronesses of England, Forfeit Baronies of England.
1462 Warwick becomes Kingmaker
14th April 1471 Battle of Barnet
1485 Queen Consort Anne Neville Dies
1499 Trial and Execution of Perkin Warbreck and Edward Earl of Warwick
Summary
4th March 1309. Ralph Monthermer 1st Earl of Gloucester and Hertford [aged 39] created.
5th April 1325. Son Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer [aged 23] succeeded.
24th June 1340. Daughter Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer succeeded. See Battle of Sluys.
1395. Son John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury [aged 45] succeeded.
7th January 1400. John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury forfeit. See Epiphany Rising.
1421. Son Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury [aged 32] restored.
3rd November 1428. Daughter Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury [aged 21] succeeded. See Siege of Orléans.
26th June 1462. Son Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury [aged 33] succeeded. See Warwick becomes Kingmaker.
14th April 1471. Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury forfeit. See 14th April 1471 Battle of Barnet.
16th March 1485. Grandson Edward "Last Plantagenet" York 17th Earl Warwick [aged 10] restored. See Queen Consort Anne Neville Dies.
28th November 1499. Edward "Last Plantagenet" York 17th Earl Warwick forfeit. See Trial and Execution of Perkin Warbreck and Edward Earl of Warwick.
1513. Sister Margaret York aka Pole Countess of Salisbury [aged 39] restored.
12th May 1539. Margaret York aka Pole Countess of Salisbury forfeit.
On 4th March 1309 Ralph Monthermer 1st Earl of Gloucester and Hertford [aged 39] was created 1st Baron Monthermer by writ of summons.
On 5th April 1325 Ralph Monthermer 1st Earl of Gloucester and Hertford [aged 55] died. Earl Gloucester, Earl Hertford extinct. His son Thomas [aged 23] succeeded 2nd Baron Monthermer.
Before 1340 Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer [aged 38] and Margaret Brewes Baroness Monthermer were married. She by marriage Baroness Monthermer. She the daughter of Peter Brewes Count Flanders. He the son of Ralph Monthermer 1st Earl of Gloucester and Hertford and Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford.
On 24th June 1340 King Edward III of England [aged 27] attacked the French fleet at anchor during the Battle of Sluys capturing more than 200 ships, killing around 18000 French. The English force included John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick [aged 24], William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton [aged 30], Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Masham [aged 27], William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby [aged 10], John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle [aged 22], Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford [aged 38], Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 30], Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny [aged 30], Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer [aged 32] and Richard Pembridge [aged 20].
Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer [aged 38] died from wounds. His daughter Margaret succeeded 3rd Baroness Monthermer.
Before 1350 John Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Baron Monthermer [aged 19] and Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer were married. She by marriage Baroness Montagu. He by marriage Baron Monthermer. He the son of William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury and Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury.
In 1395 Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer died. In 1395 Her son John [aged 45] succeeded 4th Baron Monthermer. Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury [aged 31] by marriage Baroness Monthermer.
On 7th January 1400 at Cirencester, Gloucestershire [Map] Ralph Lumley 1st Baron Lumley [aged 40] was beheaded by the townspeople following an unsuccessful attempt to seize the town. Baron Lumley forfeit.
Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey [aged 26] was beheaded. He had to forfeit the honours and estates he had gained after the arrests of Gloucester and Arundel: Duke Surrey extinct. He retained those he had received before: His brother Edmund [aged 16] succeeded 4th Earl Kent, 3rd Baron Holand, 8th Baron Wake of Liddell. He was buried, or re-buried, at his foundation Mount Grace Priory, North Yorkshire [Map].
John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury [aged 50] was captured, tried and beheaded. Earl Salisbury, Baron Montagu, Baron Montagu, Baron Monthermer forfeit.
Bernard Brocas [aged 46] was captured.
In 1421 Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury [aged 32] was restored 4th Earl Salisbury, 3rd Baron Montagu, 6th Baron Montagu, 5th Baron Monthermer although he had been styled Earl since 1409.
On 3rd November 1428 Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury [aged 40] died from wounds received at the Siege of Orléans. His daughter Alice [aged 21] succeeded 5th Countess Salisbury, 4th Baroness Montagu, 7th Baroness Montagu, 6th Baroness Monthermer. Richard Neville Earl Salisbury [aged 28] by marriage Earl Salisbury.
Before 26th June 1462 Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury [aged 55] died. Her son Richard [aged 33] succeeded 6th Earl Salisbury, 5th Baron Montagu, 8th Baron Montagu, 7th Baron Monthermer adding to the earldom of Warwick he had already acquired through his wife some fourteen years previously. The combined earldoms of Warwick and Salisbury made Warwick the second most powerful man in the Kingdom making him Kingmaker. The date based on an entry in the Patent Rolls in which he is referred to as "Richard, Earl of Warwick and Salisbury".
On 14th April 1471 Edward IV [aged 28] commanded at the Battle of Barnet supported by his brothers George [aged 21] and Richard [aged 18], John Babington [aged 48], Wiliam Hastings [aged 40] (commanded), Ralph Hastings, William Norreys [aged 30], William Parr [aged 37], John Savage [aged 49], William Bourchier Viscount Bourchier [aged 41], Thomas St Leger [aged 31], John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet [aged 45], Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough [aged 40], John Scott [aged 48] and Thomas Strickland.
The Yorkists William Blount [aged 29], Humphrey Bourchier [aged 36], Henry Stafford [aged 46] and Thomas Parr were killed.
Humphrey Bourchier 1st Baron Cromwell [aged 40], was killed. Baron Cromwell extinct.
The Lancastrians...
Warwick the Kingmaker [aged 42] was killed. Earl Salisbury, Baron Montagu, Baron Montagu and Baron Monthermer forfeit on the assumption he was attainted either before or after his death; the date of his attainder is unknown. If not attainted the titles may have been abeyant between his two daughters Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence [aged 19] and Anne Neville Queen Consort England [aged 14].
John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 40] was killed. Marquess Montagu, Baron Montagu forfeit; unclear as to when he was attainted. He was buried at Bisham Abbey [Map].
William Tyrrell was killed.
William Fiennes 2nd Baron Saye and Sele [aged 43] was killed. His son Henry [aged 25] succeeded 3rd Baron Saye and Sele. Anne Harcourt Baroness Saye and Sele by marriage Baroness Saye and Sele.
Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter [aged 40] commanded the left flank, was badly wounded and left for dead, Henry Stafford and John Paston [aged 27] were wounded, John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford [aged 28] commanded, and John Paston [aged 29] and William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont [aged 33] fought.
Robert Harleston [aged 36] was killed.
Thomas Hen Salusbury [aged 62] was killed.
Thomas Tresham [aged 51] escaped but was subsequently captured and executed on the 6th of May 1471.
On 16th March 1485 Anne Neville Queen Consort England [aged 28] died at Westminster Palace [Map]. Probably of tuberculosis. The day she died there was an eclipse of the sun; a bad omen to some. There were rumours of foul play.
Edward "Last Plantagenet" York 17th Earl Warwick [aged 10] was restored 6th Baron Montagu, 9th Baron Montagu, 8th Baron Monthermer
On 28th November 1499 Edward "Last Plantagenet" York 17th Earl Warwick [aged 24] was executed at Tower Hill [Map]. Earl Warwick, Baron Montagu, Baron Montagu, Baron Monthermer forfeit.
Documentation held in Spain apparently describes Catherine of Aragon's [aged 13] parents Ferdinand II King Aragon [aged 47] and Isabella Queen Castile [aged 48] expressing concern that Edward "Last Plantagenet" York 17th Earl Warwick was a potential claimant to throne, and being reluctant for their daughter to marry Arthur Prince of Wales [aged 13] whilst there was a threat to his accession causing King Henry VII of England and Ireland [aged 42] to use Perkin Warbreck's [deceased] attempted escape with Edward "Last Plantagenet" York 17th Earl Warwick as a means to an end.
In 1513 Margaret York aka Pole Countess of Salisbury [aged 39] was restored 7th Baroness Montagu, 10th Baroness Montagu, 9th Baroness Monthermer.
On 12th May 1539 Margaret Pole Countess Salsbury [aged 65] was attainted. Earl Salisbury, Baron Montagu, Baron Montagu, Baron Monthermer forfeit.
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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On 14th May 1790 Stephen Moore 1st Earl Mount Cashell [aged 59] died. His son Stephen [aged 20] succeeded 2nd Earl Mount Cashell. Margaret King Baroness Monthermer [aged 17] by marriage Baroness Monthermer.