William of Jumièges (born c. 1000 - died after 1070) (french: Guillaume de Jumièges) was a contemporary of the events of 1066, and one of the earliest writers on the subject of the

Norman conquest of England The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Normans, Norman, Duchy of Brittany, Breton, County of Flanders, Flemish, and Kingdom of France, French troops, ...

. He is himself a shadowy figure, only known by his dedicatory letter to

William the Conqueror William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first House of Normandy, Norman List of English monarchs#House of Norman ...

as a monk of

Jumièges Jumièges () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in north-western France. Geography A forestry and farming village situated in a meander of the river Seine, some west of Rouen, at the junction of the D 65 and th ...

. Since he also mentions that he was an eyewitness of some events from the reign of Duke Richard III (1026-7), it seems reasonable to assume that he was born some time about the year 1000. He probably entered the monastery during the first quarter of the eleventh century and received his education from Thierry de Mathonville. According to

Orderic Vitalis Orderic Vitalis ( la, Ordericus Vitalis; 16 February 1075 – ) was an English chronicler and Benedictine monk who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th- and 12th-century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. Modern historia ...

, William's nickname was "Calculus". The meaning behind this nickname is unknown. His death, after 1070, is unrecorded. He was a Norman writing from a Norman point of view. Although only a monk with evidently no military training, he wrote with pride in the accomplishments of his people. William of Jumièges was the original compiler of the history known as the ''

Gesta Normannorum Ducum ''Gesta Normannorum Ducum'' (''Deeds of the Norman Dukes'') is a chronicle originally created by the monk William of Jumièges just before 1060. In 1070 William I had William of Jumièges extend the work to detail his rights to the throne of Engl ...

'' ("Deeds of the Dukes of the Normans"), written in about 1070. This was built upon the framework of an earlier history compiled by

Dudo of Saint-Quentin Dudo, or Dudon, was a Picard historian, and dean of Saint-Quentin, where he was born about 965. Sent in 986 by Albert I, Count of Vermandois, on an errand to Richard I, Duke of Normandy, he succeeded in his mission, and, having made a very favor ...

, ''De moribus et actis primorum Normannorum ducum'', between c. 996 and c. 1015. This work was commissioned by Duke Richard I, and "was renewed by his half-brother, Count

Rodulf of Ivry Rodulf of Ivry (Rodolf, Raoul, comte d'Ivry) (died c. 1015) was a Norman noble, and regent of Normandy during the minority of Richard II. Life Rodolf was the son of Eperleng, a rich owner of several mills at Vaudreuil, and of his wife Sprota, w ...

, and his son Duke Richard II (996-1026)... Dudo's work was taken up by William of Jumièges in the 1050s, who revised, abbreviated and updated his ''De moribus'' and added an account of the reigns of Dukes Richard II, Richard III (1026-7),

Robert I Robert I may refer to: *Robert I, Duke of Neustria (697–748) *Robert I of France (866–923), King of France, 922–923, rebelled against Charles the Simple *Rollo, Duke of Normandy (c. 846 – c. 930; reigned 911–927) * Robert I Archbishop of ...

(1027-35), and William II illiam the Conqueror" He finished this by 1060 but added to it later when William the Conqueror had become king of

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, bringing events up to 1070. The ''Gesta Normannorum Ducum'' was later expanded by the 12th-century monkish chroniclers Orderic Vitalis and

Robert of Torigni Robert of Torigni (also known as Roburtus de Monte) (c. 1110–1186) was a Norman monk, prior, abbot and twelfth century chronicler. Religious life Robert was born at Torigni-sur-Vire, Normandy c. 1110 most probably to an aristocratic family but ...

Sources

*''The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni'', edited and translated by Elisabeth M. C. Van Houts, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1995. *''The Battle of Hastings, Interpretations and Sources'', edited by Stephen Morillo, The Boydell Press, 1996.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:William of Jumieges 11th-century Normans Norman monks 1000s births 11th-century deaths Year of birth uncertain Year of death unknown 11th-century French historians Norman conquest of England English Christian monks 11th-century English historians 11th-century Latin writers