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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Marquis of France is in France Nobility.
In 1194 Raymond Count of Toulouse [aged 37] succeeded Marquess Provence. Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily [aged 28] by marriage Marchioness Provence.
Joan Rouerge Marquess Provence was appointed Marquess Provence.
In 1195 Philip Flanders I Marquis Namur [aged 20] was appointed I Marquis Namur.
In 1212 Philip Courtenay Marquis Namur [aged 17] was appointed Marquis Namur.
In 1325 William "Rich" Dampierre I Marquis Namur [aged 1] and Catherine Countess Eu and Guînes [aged 1] were married. She by marriage Marchioness Namur. He the son of John Dampierre I Marquis Namur [aged 58] and Marie Artois.
On 26th January 1330 John Dampierre I Marquis Namur [aged 63] died. His son John [aged 19] succeeded II Marquis Namur.
On 12th March 1336 Guy Dampierre II Count Namur [aged 24] was killed in a tournament. His brother Philip [aged 17] succeeded III Marquis Namur.
In September 1337 Philip Dampierre III Marquis Namur [aged 18] was murdered by the people of Famagusta after he and his companions caused trouble of some kind. He was buried in the Franciscan church in Famagusta. His brother William [aged 13] succeeded Marquis Namur, Count Namur.
On 13th February 1348 William "Rich" Dampierre I Marquis Namur [aged 24] and Jeanne Beaumont Count Soissons, Blois, Chatillon and Namur [aged 25] were married. He by marriage Marquis Namur. She the daughter of John Beaumont Count Soissons [aged 60] and Margaret Nesle Countess Soissons [aged 43]. He the son of John Dampierre I Marquis Namur and Marie Artois. They were second cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Stephen I England.
John Dampierre I Marquis Namur was appointed I Marquis Namur.
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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Henry Courtenay Marquis Namur was appointed Marquis Namur.