Source: WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum

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Description

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni

Source Information
Author William of Jumièges
Source Title Gesta Normannorum Ducum
Language Latin
Scholarly Source Dating 1050 x 1070

Notes

Redaction C by William of Jumièges
Redaction α
Redaction A
Redaction B
Redaction D
Redaction E by Orderic Vitalis
Redaction F by Robert of Torigni

Edition(s)

Editor Article or Book Title Journal or Pub.Loc. Date pp.
Go to The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni Elizabeth M. C. van Houts The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni Oxford 1992  

Translation(s)

Editor Article or Book Title Journal or Pub.Loc. Date pp.
Elizabeth M. C. van Houts The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni Oxford 1992  

Event/Transaction List

Factoid Type Source Reference Short Description
1 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  II.1 When Athelstan (Guthrum 1), king of that kingdom, heard this [news concerning the landing of the Danes], he immediately sent messengers with a request for peace, and obtained it; they were bound together by a mutual pact of firm and indissoluble friendship. After the Danes had asked him to support their expedition, they gathered a large army of men in a short time.
2 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  II.7(13) Messengers of Athelstan (Guthrum 1), king of the English, arrived, begging Rollo 1 to come immediately to his support, for some rebels, conspiring against him, had taken up arms. [Rollo 1] set off to attack the English. As soon as he arrived he put down the rebels with vigour, took hostages, and set them at the king's feet. Thereupon he again selected a large number of young men and returned to France, laden with rich gifts presented to him by the king.
3 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  III.4 Æthelstan 18 sent messengers to [William 7] with many gifts and begged him to make effort to restore his nephew Louis 5 to the French throne... The duke [William 7] gladly conceded Æthelstan 18's wishes.
4 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  III.4 Eadgifu 3 and Louis 5 sought refuge with King Æthelstan 18 after Louis 5's father [Charles 5] had been captured in an ambush by the Franks.
5 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  IV.18 Alfred 54 was treacherously slain by Earl Godwine 51.
6 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.4 William of Jumièges claims that Æthelred 32 sent ships with a great and well-equipped army to Normandy in order to devastate the land by robbery and fire, with the exception of Mont-St-Michel... and that they should conquer the duchy [of Normandy], capture Duke Richard 2... and return with him alive to England. Nigel 1 with his knights, together with a multitude of common people, launched an unexpected attack upon the English and slaughtered many of them. Those who returned to Æthelred 32 told him their story, making him blush and feel deeply ashamed.
7 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.6 Æthelred 32 in a sudden fury gave orders to murder the Danes who lived throughout of the kingdom [of England]. Some managed to take hold of a ship and flee to Denmark to Swein 1, who, together with his magnates, decreed to seek vengeance.
8 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.7 As Swein 1 was triumphantly advancing from Yorkshire southwards, King Æthelred 32, who at that time was at Winchester and who found himself completely deserted by the English, dug up his treasure from the earth and went with his wife [Emma 2] and sons, Edward 15 and Alfred 54, to Duke Richard 2 of Normandy, where he was suitably welcomed.
9 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.8 Swein 1 was struck by a sudden illness and died while dealing with the kingdom's affairs at London.
10 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.8 The Danes embalmed [Swein 1's] body and carried it aboard one of the ships and with great haste sailed back to bury him in Denmark.
11 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.8; VI.9(10) Having heard of Swein 1's death, Æthelred 32 prepared everything in order to sail to his kingdom [of England] with his wife [Emma 2], leaving his sons Edward 15 and Alfred 54 behind with their uncle [Richard 2].
12 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.8 King Cnut 3 sailed his ships over to England. He made for the River Thames and went swiftly up it to the region of London. He and his men [Anonymi 2297] disembarked from their ships and encountered the English [Anonymi 1764], who had gathered together from all over the country at Ashdon [Ashingdon], to inflict upon them a bloody defeat.
13 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.9 Cnut 3 besieged London from all sides.
14 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.9 Inside the city [of London] Æthelred 32 fell seriously ill and with the sickness growing worse he died not long afterwards.
15 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.9 [Cnut 3] consulted the members of his council and took steps to safeguard the future. He took Queen Emma 2 from the city [of London] and married her a few days later according to the Christian rite. In return for her he handed over her weight in gold and silver to the army.
16 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  V.9 Despairing of relief, since they had long suffered from hunger, the Londoners (Anonymi 10038) of their own accord opened the gates of the city and surrendered with all they had to the king (Cnut 3).
17 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VI.9(10) Robert 4 sent envoys to Cnut 3 with the request to return Edward 15 and Alfred 54 from their long exile and to restore to them what was their for the love of him. King Cnut 3 rejected these sound warnings and sent back the envoys empty-handed. Robert 4 formed a great fleet to be sent to England, but a storm drove the ships to the island of Jersey. William of Jumièges claims this was an act of God since He wanted Edward 15 to reign in the future without bloodshed.
18 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VI.10(11) William of Jumièges claims that Cnut 3 sent envoys to duke Robert 4 [to Normandy] with the message that he was willing to return half the kingdom of England to the sons of King Æthelred 32 [Edward 15 and Alfred 54] and to settle peace for his lifetime, because he was seriously ill.
19 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.5(8) Cnut 3, king of the English, died.
20 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.5(8) Cnut 3 died and was succeeded by Harold 5, his son by his concubine Ælfgifu 1.
21 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.5(8) When King Edward 15, how lived at that time in the duke [William 1's] household, heard of [Cnut 3's] long-desired death, he immediately sailed with forty ships full of soldiers to Southampton, where he met an innumerable multitude of Englishmen ready to join battle with him. He started to fight against them the minute he came on land and swiftly sent a considerable part of their number to their death. As a victor he and his men then returned to their ships. Seeing, however, that he could not possibly obtain the kingdom of the English without a larger army, Edward 15 turned the fleet about and, richly laden with booty, sailed back to Normandy.
22 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Alfred 54 went with considerable military force to the post of Wissant and crossed from there to Dover.
23 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Alfred 54 penetrated into the heartland of the kingdom [of England] and came up against Earl Godwine 51, who first welcomed him as a friend, but that same night turned into a traitor like Judas. For, although Godwine 51 had given him the kiss of peace and had had a meal with him, in the middle of the night he had him bound with his hands behind his back and sent with some of his followers to King Harold 5 in London. His other soldiers were either dispersed about the kingdom or shamefully slain.
24 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) As soon as Harold 5 set eyes on Alfred 54 he ordered his companions to be beheaded and Alfred 54 to be taken to Ely to be blinded. Thus the most noble and good Alfred 54 died unjustly.
25 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) The most noble and good Alfred 54 died unjustly.
26 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Not long after Alfred 54's death Harold 5 died.
27 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Harold 5 was succeeded by his brother Harthacnut 1, who returned from Denmark.
28 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Soon after [Harthacnut 1] was established as king, he summoned his brother Edward 15 from Normandy to come and live with him.
29 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) In less than two years after becoming the King, Harthacnut 1 died.
30 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Harthacnut 1 died, leaving Edward 15 as heir to the whole kingdom.
31 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Harthacnut 1 died, leaving Edward 15 as heir to the whole kingdom.
32 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Godwine 51 was the most powerful earl in England and strenuously held sway over a great part of the English realm, which he had obtained either from his noble ancestors or by violence and corruption.
33 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Edward 15 fearing harm from the power of such a great man [as Godwine 51], of from his usual guile, consulted the Normans whose loyal support strengthened him. He willingly forgave Godwine 51 the shameful murder of his brother Alfred 54, and in order to maintain a perpetually strong and affectionate bond between them, he married Godwine 51's daughter Edith (Eadgyth 3), if only in name. It is said that actually both always remained virgin.
34 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Eadgyth 3 remained virgin in her marriage to Edward 15.
35 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Edward 15 remained virgin in his marriage to Eadgyth 3.
36 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.6(9) Edward 15 happily ruled the realm of the English for almost twenty-three years.
37 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) Harold 3 set out on his mission [to swear fealty to William 1], sailing across the sea, he landed in Ponthieu, where he fell into the hands of Guy 1, count of Abbeville, who instantly captured him and his men and threw him into prison. When [William 1] heard this he sent envoys and under pressure had [Harold 3] set free.
38 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) Edward 15 sent Harold 3, the greatest of all earls in his realm in wealth, honour and power, that he should swear fealty to [William 1] concerning his crown and, according to the Christian custom, pledge it with oaths.
39 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) Edward 15, having no heir, sent Robert 5, archbishop of Canterbury to the duke, William 1, to appoint him heir to the kingdom.
40 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) Harold 3 stayed with William 1 [in Normandy] for some time and took part in an expedition against the Bretons. Then he swore fealty to William 1 about the kingdom with many oaths and was sent back home with many gifts, although [Harold 3's] brother Wulfnoth 26 remained hostage at William 1's court.
41 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) William 1 promised that he would give Harold 3 his daughter Adelida 1 with half the kingdom of England.
42 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) Having completed his fortunate life, Edward 15 departed from this world in the year of the Lord 1065.
43 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) On Edward 15's death, Harold 3 immediately seized Edward 15's kingdom.
44 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) On Edward 15's death, Harold 3 immediately seized Edward 15's kingdom, thus perjuring the fealty he had sworn to the duke [William 1]. The duke then instantly dispatched messengers to Harold 3 urging him to renounce this act of folly and with worthy submission keep the faith which he had pledged with oath. But Harold 3 not only disdained to listen, he even unfaithfully turned all English people against him.
45 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.13(31) After Gruffudd 1, king of the Welsh, had been slain by the enemy's sword, Harold 3 married his beautiful widow Ealdgyth 2, daughter of the well-known Earl Ælfgar 46.
46 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.(32) William 1 sent Earl Tosti 2 to England, but Harold 3's fleet forcefully drove him away, so Tosti 2, prevented from entering England safely or returning to Normandy because of a contrary wind, went instead to King Harald 5 Fairhair of Norway and begged him for support as a suppliant. The king granted Tosti 2's request with pleasure.
47 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.(34) Meanwhile, when the Normans invaded the kingdom which Harold 3 had seized, Harold 3 was involved in a war against his brother Tosti 2 in which he slew his own brother as well as King Harald 5 of Norway who had come in support of Tosti 2. Almost all the Norwegian forces were slain by the English during this battle. Thereafter Harold 3 victoriously returned to London, but soon an envoy arrived with the news on the Norman invasion.
48 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.14 William 1 crossed the sea [from Normandy] and landed at Pevensey, where at one he built a strongly entrenched fortification. He entrusted it to his warriors and speedily went to Hastings, where he quickly raised another one. Harold 3, hastening to take him by surprise, gathered innumerable English forces and, riding through the night, arrived at the battlefield at dawn.
49 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.(35) Harold 3 was preparing for a fight with the Normans. However, his mother [Gytha 1] and his loyal friends tried to dissuade him from war. His brother Earl Gyrth 1 suggested that he would fight Duke William 1 since he had sworn no oath and owed nothing to him, while Harold 3 should wait for the outcome not to commit perjury. Harold 3 was enraged, he taunted Gyrth 1 and even insolently kicked his mother Gytha 1 who was trying to hold him back.
50 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.15 (36); VII.16 (37) Harold 3 was slain, pierced with mortal wounds. His and his people's deaths was God's retribution for the unjust murder of Alfred 54, King Edward 15's brother.
51 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.19(40) King Swein 5 arrived to England to support Anonymi 10039, who occupied and fortified York and appointed as their king a boy named Edgar 14, who descended from the same stock as King Edward 15. William 1 set out against them; Anonymi 10039 joined the battle outside the city walls of York and many were slain.
52 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VII.20(41) Two sons of King Harold 3 [Anonymi 10018] went with their household troops to the king of the Irish, called Diarmait 1, to ask his support. After a short but favourable stay in Ireland, where they gathered a large army, they returned to England with sixty-six ships ... and laid the country waste by robbery and fire. Forthwith Brian 1 came up against them and in the course of two battles fought in one day he defeated them.
53 Event WilliamofJumieges.Gesta Normannorum Ducum  VIII.10 In the same year [1100], so as to live lawfully, the king [Henry 5] married the venerable Matilda 3, daughter of Malcolm 5, king of Scotland, and Margaret 1.