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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Earl Ashburham is in Earl.
On 14th May 1730 John Ashburnham 1st Earl Ashburnham [aged 43] was created 1st Earl Ashburham. Jemima Grey Countess Ashburham [aged 31] by marriage Countess Ashburham.
On 10th March 1737 John Ashburnham 1st Earl Ashburnham [aged 49] died. He was buried at St Peter's Church, Ashburnham [Map]. His son John [aged 12] succeeded 2nd Earl Ashburham, 4th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex
On 25th June 1756 John Ashburnham 2nd Earl Ashburnham [aged 31] and Elizabeth Crowley Countess Ashburham were married. She by marriage Countess Ashburham. He the son of John Ashburnham 1st Earl Ashburnham and Jemima Grey Countess Ashburham.
On 8th April 1812 John Ashburnham 2nd Earl Ashburnham [aged 87] died. His son George [aged 51] succeeded 3rd Earl Ashburham, 5th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex. Charlotte Percy Countess Ashburham [aged 36] by marriage Countess Ashburham.
On 27th October 1830 George Ashburnham 3rd Earl Ashburnham [aged 69] died. His son Bertram [aged 32] succeeded 4th Earl Ashburham, 6th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex.
In 1840 Bertram Ashburnham 4th Earl Ashburnham [aged 42] and Katherine Charlotte Baillie Countess Ashburnham [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Ashburham. They had four daughters and seven sons. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of George Ashburnham 3rd Earl Ashburnham and Charlotte Percy Countess Ashburham [aged 64].
On 22nd June 1878 Bertram Ashburnham 4th Earl Ashburnham [aged 80] died. His son Bertram [aged 37] succeeded 5th Earl Ashburham, 7th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex.
In 1888 Bertram Ashburnham 5th Earl Ashburnham [aged 47] and Emily Chapman Countess Asburnham were married. She by marriage Countess Ashburham. He the son of Bertram Ashburnham 4th Earl Ashburnham and Katherine Charlotte Baillie Countess Ashburnham [aged 68].
On 15th January 1913 Bertram Ashburnham 5th Earl Ashburnham [aged 72] died in Paris. His brother Thomas [aged 57] succeeded 6th Earl Ashburham, 8th Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 12th May 1924 Thomas Ashburnham 6th Earl Ashburnham [aged 69] died. He was buried at St Peter's Church, Ashburnham [Map]. Earl Ashburham, Baron Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex extinct.