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The place to learn about your ancestors and family history |
Royal Lineage
Family History Research
Family History Research
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The Family History Research site presents:
“Family Histories of the Royal Monarchs” By: Mark D. Jordan
This series of family history charts shows the ancestors and descendants of royal monarchs of Britain. The story becomes complex as cousin married cousin, sons dethroned fathers, and mothers and fathers married multiple times producing a fair number of step-children and half-brothers or half-sisters. There is no easy way to see or present the overall picture of the flow of the British monarchy (Royal Lineage). It is not a straight linear flow. The charts herein are presented in chronological order as best as possible. They are not yet all complete and will grow as time permits.
The life of the Royal Monarchs has been fascinating for many people. Every child has fantasized what it might be like to be in a royal line and living in a king or queen’s castle. Many of us as adults still think about it and have a fascination with movies depicting royalty. This is as close as we can get to the real thing. But the British monarchy was not always a pleasant place to be.
What was it like to be a king or queen? We must keep in mind that the monarchy as an institution is not to be considered as respectable as we might imagine. Many of the royals were inept, fools, hated by the populace or oppressive. In most reigns the monarchy has had fierce critics and been accused of causing more problems than not. Still, for most, the monarchy has been the symbol for nations or the foundation for political life. For centuries people have stamped images of the king or queen on coins, called highways the King’s Highway, called playing cards Kings or Queens, named ships after royals and used the word “king” to mean large. Kings and queens have remained a popular and respected subject even as they were buffeted on all sides by religious, political and personal persecutions.
Although the actual power of the British monarchy has decreased over the centuries, it is still a morbid fascination to some and an obsession to others. The British monarchy is both an institution and a person, a very unusual combination. No other institution is like it. Only one person at a time is the actual sovereign, but that royal sovereign can put his or her stamp on the entire institution and change the way it is viewed and treated. It is a delicate balance of power and one that takes place under the public eye.
We hope these family history charts can someday help the genealogy users of this family history site to find their own connection into a British royal monarchy line. Only then will you be able to sit back with delight and know you are descended from royalty. |
