Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Earl Montgomery is in Earldoms of England Alphabetically, Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extant Earldoms of England.
Summary
1605. Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery [aged 20] created. See Marriage of Philip Herbert and Susan Howard.
23rd January 1650. Son Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery [aged 29] succeeded.
11th December 1669. Son William Herbert 6th Earl Pembroke 3rd Earl Montgomery [aged 28] succeeded.
8th July 1674. Half Brother Philip "Infamous Earl" Herbert 7th Earl Pembroke 4th Earl Montgomery [aged 22] succeeded.
28th August 1683. Brother Thomas Herbert 8th Earl Pembroke 5th Earl Montgomery [aged 27] succeeded.
22nd January 1733. Son Henry Herbert 6th Earl Montgomery 9th Earl Pembroke [aged 39] succeeded.
9th January 1749. Son Henry Herbert 10th Earl Pembroke 7th Earl Montgomery [aged 14] succeeded.
26th January 1794. Son George Augustus Herbert 11th Earl Pembroke 8th Earl Montgomery [aged 34] succeeded.
26th October 1827. Son Robert Henry Herbert 12th Earl Pembroke 9th Earl Montgomery [aged 36] succeeded.
25th April 1862. Nephew George Robert Charles Herbert 13th Earl Pembroke 10th Earl Montgomery [aged 11] succeeded.
3rd May 1895. Brother Sidney Herbert 14th Earl Pembroke 11th Earl Montgomery [aged 42] succeeded.
30th March 1913. Son Reginald Herbert 15th Earl Pembroke 12th Earl Montgomery [aged 32] succeeded.
13th January 1960. Son Sidney Herbert 16th Earl of Pembroke, 13th Earl of Montgomery [aged 54] succeeded.
16th March 1969. Son Henry Herbert 17th Earl of Pembroke, 14th Earl of Montgomery [aged 29] succeeded.
7th October 2003. Son William Herbert 18th Earl of Pembroke, 15th Earl of Montgomery [aged 25] succeeded.
In 1605 Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery [aged 20] was created 1st Earl Montgomery. Susan Vere Countess Montgomery [aged 17] by marriage Countess Montgomery.
Before 1650 Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery [aged 28] and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. He the son of Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery [aged 65] and Susan Vere Countess Montgomery.
On 23rd January 1650 Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery [aged 65] died at Whitehall Palace [Map]. He was buried at Salisbury Cathedral [Map]. His son Philip [aged 29] succeeded 5th Earl Pembroke, 2nd Earl Montgomery.
On 11th December 1669 Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery [aged 48] died. His son William [aged 28] succeeded 6th Earl Pembroke, 3rd Earl Montgomery.
On 8th July 1674 William Herbert 6th Earl Pembroke 3rd Earl Montgomery [aged 33] died. His half brother Philip [aged 22] succeeded 7th Earl Pembroke, 4th Earl Montgomery.
On 17th December 1674 Philip "Infamous Earl" Herbert 7th Earl Pembroke 4th Earl Montgomery [aged 22] and Henrietta Kéroualle Countess Pembroke and Montgomery were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. He the son of Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 53].
On 28th August 1683 Philip "Infamous Earl" Herbert 7th Earl Pembroke 4th Earl Montgomery [aged 31] died. He was buried at Salisbury Cathedral [Map]. His brother Thomas [aged 27] succeeded 8th Earl Pembroke, 5th Earl Montgomery.
In 1684 Thomas Herbert 8th Earl Pembroke 5th Earl Montgomery [aged 28] and Margaret Sawyer Countess Pembroke and Montgomery were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. He the son of Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery.
In 1708 Thomas Herbert 8th Earl Pembroke 5th Earl Montgomery [aged 52] and Barabra Slingsby [aged 40] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. Her third marriage. He the son of Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery.
After 1st August 1721 Thomas Herbert 8th Earl Pembroke 5th Earl Montgomery [aged 65] and Mary Howe Countess Pembroke and Montgomery were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. He the son of Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery. They were fourth cousin twice removed.
On 22nd January 1733 Thomas Herbert 8th Earl Pembroke 5th Earl Montgomery [aged 77] died. His son Henry [aged 39] succeeded 6th Earl Montgomery, 9th Earl Pembroke.
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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On 28th August 1733 Henry Herbert 6th Earl Montgomery 9th Earl Pembroke [aged 40] and Mary Fitzwilliam Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 25] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. He the son of Thomas Herbert 8th Earl Pembroke 5th Earl Montgomery and Margaret Sawyer Countess Pembroke and Montgomery. They were half sixth cousins.
On 9th January 1749 Henry Herbert 6th Earl Montgomery 9th Earl Pembroke [aged 55] died at Pembroke House Whitehall Palace. His son Henry [aged 14] succeeded 10th Earl Pembroke, 7th Earl Montgomery.
On 23rd March 1756 Henry Herbert 10th Earl Pembroke 7th Earl Montgomery [aged 21] and Elizabeth Spencer Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. She the daughter of Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 49] and Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough [aged 43]. He the son of Henry Herbert 6th Earl Montgomery 9th Earl Pembroke and Mary Fitzwilliam Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 48]. They were fourth cousin twice removed.
On 26th January 1794 Henry Herbert 10th Earl Pembroke 7th Earl Montgomery [aged 59] died. His son George [aged 34] succeeded 11th Earl Pembroke8th Earl Montgomery.
On 25th January 1808 George Augustus Herbert 11th Earl Pembroke 8th Earl Montgomery [aged 48] and Yekaterina Semyonovna Vorontsova Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 23] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. The difference in their ages was 25 years. He the son of Henry Herbert 10th Earl Pembroke 7th Earl Montgomery and Elizabeth Spencer Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 70].
On 26th October 1827 George Augustus Herbert 11th Earl Pembroke 8th Earl Montgomery [aged 68] died. His son Robert [aged 36] succeeded 12th Earl Pembroke, 9th Earl Montgomery.
On 25th April 1862 Robert Henry Herbert 12th Earl Pembroke 9th Earl Montgomery [aged 70] died. His nephew George [aged 11] succeeded 13th Earl Pembroke, 10th Earl Montgomery.
On 8th May 1877 George Robert Charles Herbert 13th Earl Pembroke 10th Earl Montgomery [aged 26] and Gertrude Frances Chetwynd-Talbot Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 37] were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. She the daughter of Henry John Chetwynd-Talbot 3rd Earl Talbot 18th Earl of Shrewsbury and Sarah Elizabeth Beresford Countess Talbot Shrewsbury Waterford [aged 69].
On 3rd May 1895 George Robert Charles Herbert 13th Earl Pembroke 10th Earl Montgomery [aged 44] died in Frankfurt. His brother Sidney [aged 42] succeeded 14th Earl Pembroke, 11th Earl Montgomery, 3rd Baron Herbert Lea. Beatrix Louisa Lambton Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 36] by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery.
On 30th March 1913 Sidney Herbert 14th Earl Pembroke 11th Earl Montgomery [aged 60] died in Rome, Italy [Map]. His son Reginald [aged 32] succeeded 15th Earl Pembroke, 12th Earl Montgomery, 4th Baron Herbert Lea. Beatrice Eleanor Paget Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 29] by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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On 13th January 1960 Reginald Herbert 15th Earl Pembroke 12th Earl Montgomery [aged 79] died. His son Sidney [aged 54] succeeded 16th Earl Pembroke, 13th Earl Montgomery, 5th Baron Herbert Lea.
On 16th March 1969 Sidney Herbert 16th Earl of Pembroke, 13th Earl of Montgomery [aged 63] died. His son Henry [aged 29] succeeded 17th Earl Pembroke, 14th Earl Montgomery, 6th Baron Herbert Lea. Clare Pelly Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery.
In 1988 Henry Herbert 17th Earl of Pembroke, 14th Earl of Montgomery [aged 48] and Miranda Kendall Oram Countess Pembroke and Montgomery were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke, Countess Montgomery. He the son of Sidney Herbert 16th Earl of Pembroke, 13th Earl of Montgomery and Mary Dorothea Hope Countess Pembroke and Montgomery.
On 7th October 2003 Henry Herbert 17th Earl of Pembroke, 14th Earl of Montgomery [aged 64] died. His son William [aged 25] succeeded 18th Earl Pembroke, 15th Earl Montgomery, 7th Baron Herbert Lea