author
Pictaviensis Gulielmus
A Norman priest and chronicler, he is best remembered for writing one of the most important near-contemporary accounts of William the Conqueror and the Norman conquest of England. His work offers a rare firsthand window into the politics, warfare, and court life of the 11th century.
1 Audiobook
Histoire des ducs de Normandie, suivie de: Vie de Guillaume le Conquérant
by of Jumièges William, Pictaviensis Gulielmus
About the author
After first living as a knight, he studied at Poitiers and later entered the Church. He became chaplain to William the Conqueror and also served as archdeacon of Lisieux, placing him close to the center of Norman power.
He is known above all for the Gesta Guillelmi (The Deeds of William), an unfinished Latin biography of William the Conqueror. Because he wrote so near the events of 1066 and the years around them, his chronicle remains a major source for historians studying the Norman conquest.
Like many medieval court writers, he wrote in praise of the ruler he served, so modern readers often approach his account with both interest and caution. Even so, his narrative is valued for its detail, energy, and closeness to one of the most famous turning points in medieval English history.