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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MP Morpeth is in Member Parliament.
In 1572 Richard Drake (age 37) was elected MP Morpeth.
In 1626 John Bankes (age 37) was elected MP Morpeth.
In November 1640 John Fenwick (age 38) was elected MP Morpeth.
In 1666 Edward Howard 2nd Earl Carlisle (age 19) was elected MP Morpeth.
In 1701 John Delaval 3rd Baronet (age 46) was elected MP Morpeth which seat he held until 1702.
In 1710 Christopher Wandesford 2nd Viscount Castlecomer (age 25) was elected MP Morpeth which seat he held until 1713.
In 1713 John Germain 1st Baronet (age 62) was elected MP Morpeth.
In 1717 George Carpenter 2nd Baron Carpenter (age 22) was elected MP Morpeth.
In 1774 William Byron 5th Baron Byron (age 51) contested MP Morpeth on the Carlisle interest. He was defeated, but seated as Member of Parliament on petition on 28 January 1775. There is no record of any vote or speech by him in the eighteen months he was in Parliament.
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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In 1796 William Huskisson (age 25) was elected MP Morpeth.
In 1806 William Howard (age 24) was elected MP Morpeth.
In 1826 George Howard 7th Earl Carlisle (age 23) was elected MP Morpeth which seat he held until 1830.