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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Biography of Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal 1185-1223

Paternal Family Tree: Capet

On 23rd April 1185 Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal was born to [his father] Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal [aged 30] and [his mother] Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal at Coimbra.

On 6th December 1185 [his grandfather] Afonso "Conqueror Founder Great" I King Portugal [aged 76] died. His son [his father] Sancho [aged 31] succeeded I King Portugal and reigned for twenty six years.

In 1191 [his brother-in-law] Alfonso IX King Leon [aged 19] and [his sister] Theresa of Portugal Queen Consort Leon [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Leon. She the daughter of [his father] Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal [aged 36] and [his mother] Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal. He the son of Ferdinand II King Leon and [his aunt] Urraca Burgundy Queen Consort Leon [aged 43]. They were first cousins.

In 1206 Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal [aged 20] and Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of Alfonso VIII King Castile [aged 50] and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile [aged 44]. He the son of Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal [aged 51] and Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal. They were second cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 8th September 1209 [his son] Sancho "Pious" II King Portugal was born to Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal [aged 24] and [his wife] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 22]. He a great grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 5th May 1210 [his son] Alfonso III King Portugal was born to Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal [aged 25] and [his wife] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 22]. He a great grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. He married (1) 1239 his third cousin once removed Matilda Dammartin Queen Consort Portugal, daughter of Renaud Dammartin I Count Boulogne, Dammartin and Aumale and Ida Metz Countess Boulogne (2) 1253 his first cousin twice removed Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal and had issue.

In 1211 [his daughter] Leonor Burgundy was born to Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal [aged 25] and [his wife] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 23]. She a great granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Around 1211 [his daughter] Eleanor of Portugal Queen Consort Denmark was born to Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal [aged 25] and [his wife] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 23]. She a great granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She married 24th June 1229 Valdemar the Young King of Denmark.

On 26th March 1211 [his father] Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal [aged 56] died. His son Alfonso [aged 25] succeeded II King Portugal. [his wife] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 23] by marriage Queen Consort Portugal.

In 1214 [his brother-in-law] King Valdemar II of Denmark [aged 43] and [his sister] Berengaria Burgundy Queen Consort Denmark [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Denmark. The difference in their ages was 27 years. She the daughter of [his father] Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal and [his mother] Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal. He the son of Valdemar "Great" I King of Denmark and Sophia of Minsk.

In 1215 [his brother-in-law] Henry I King Castile [aged 10] and [his sister] Mafalda Burgundy Queen Consort Castile [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of [his father] Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal and [his mother] Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal. He the son of [his father-in-law] Alfonso VIII King Castile and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. They were second cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

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On 6th June 1217 [his brother-in-law] Henry I King Castile [aged 13] was killed by a tile falling of a roof. He was buried at Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas [Map]. His sister [his sister-in-law] Berengaria [aged 38] succeeded I Queen Castile.

On 31st August 1217 [his sister-in-law] Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile [aged 38] abdicated I King Castile. Her son Ferdinand [aged 18] succeeded III King Castile.

In 1218 [his son] Fernando Burgundy was born to Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal [aged 32] and [his wife] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 30]. He a great grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 3rd November 1220 [his wife] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal [aged 33] died.

On 27th March 1221 [his sister] Berengaria Burgundy Queen Consort Denmark [aged 23] died.

On 25th March 1223 Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal [aged 37] died at Coimbra. His son Sancho [aged 13] succeeded II King Portugal.

[his father] Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal and [his mother] Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Portugal. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Raymond V Count Barcelona. He the son of Afonso "Conqueror Founder Great" I King Portugal and Malfada Savoy Queen Consort Portugal. They were fifth cousins.