William of Jumièges (born c. 1000 – died after 1070) () 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, French people, French, Flemish people, Flemish, and Bretons, Breton troops, all led by the Du ...

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

William the Conqueror William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...

as a monk of Jumièges. 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 (; 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.Hollister ''Henry I'' p. 6 Working out of ...

, 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'' ("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 the 960s. He was an erudite scholar and he likely acquired his education in Liège or perhaps Laon. By 987, Dudo had become a canon at St Quentin, the abbacy of ...

, ''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, 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 o ...

(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 Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, 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 or Torigny (; –1186), also known as Robert of the Mont (; ; also Robertus de Monte Sancti Michaelis, in reference to the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel), was a Norman monk, prior, and abbot. He is most remembered for his chronicl ...

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 writers in Latin