FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR ALT.TALK.ROYALTY
-- ROYAL & NOBLE FAMILIES OF THE WORLD --
SUMMARY:
This monthly posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) and their answers and other useful information about royal
and noble families of the world, excluding Britain's royal and
noble families. (The British Royal & Noble Families FAQ can be
found at http://www.heraldica.org/faqs/britfaq.html) It should
be read by anyone who wishes to post to the alt.talk.royalty
newsgroup.
A separate posting lists only the changes made during the
last month to this document: http://tinyurl.com/ymaapk.
Note: the FAQ contains European characters (accented letters) which
may not show on your browser/newsreader or may show garbled
characters. Ask your Internet Service Provider for an "8-bit clean
feed" if you have this problem.
Last updated:
For comments, additions, or suggestions,
please contact the maintainer François Velde
(http://www.heraldica.org/contact.html).
Table of Contents:
Part I: Introduction
- What is alt.talk.royalty?
- How do I access alt.talk.royalty?
- Welcome to alt.talk.royalty!
- History of the alt.talk.royalty FAQ
- Basic newsgroup "netiquette".
- What kind of postings are appropriate in alt.talk.royalty?
- Examples of "good" and "bad" posts.
- Are there archives where I can find older posts on a subject?
- What other newsgroups and chat groups are there?
- Can I sell or advertise in this newsgroup?
- Where can I get the latest version of the FAQ?
Part II: Royal Families of the World
- Are there other monarchies in the world besides England?
- Who are the members of the European royal families?
- What are the dynastic names of the European royal families?
- Lines of succession to the current European Thrones.
- Laws of succession for the current European monarchies.
- Lines of succession to the current non-European Thrones.
- What are the differences between HRH, HH and HSH?
- What are the styles and titles of the world's current monarchs?
- What are the full titles of the current European monarchs?
- Formerly-reigning monarchs and present-day claimants in Europe
and the Americas since 1849.
- When did the world's current monarchs succeed?
- Birthdays of the world's current monarchs.
- Official Birthdays and National Holidays.
- Royal Landmarks (Places of Interest).
- What are the addresses of the world's current monarchs?
- How are the Reuss princes numbered and why are they all named Heinrich?
- What happens when a king dies and his widow is pregnant?
Part III: Nobility
- What does it mean to be a noble?
- What does it mean to be a German noble?
Part IV: Resources
- On-line Sources of Information
- Useful Addresses
- Electronic (on-line) Magazines
- Bibliography
- Lexicon
Part I: Introduction
1. What is alt.talk.royalty?
alt.talk.royalty is an unmoderated newsgroup created for the purpose of discussion of
all aspects of royalty and nobility of any time period anywhere in the world. There is no
mailing list gated to this group. Please remember that one cannot subscribe to or
unsubscribe from alt.talk.royalty via a mailing list, as is the case, e.g.,
for soc.genealogy.medieval.
alt.talk.royalty was first proposed in December 1994 and was created in February
1995 (according to:
ftp://ftp.uu.net/usenet/control/alt/alt.talk.royalty)
Despite the FAQ compiler's efforts, it has not been determined who began
alt.talk.royalty nor who is responsible for composing its charter.
The charter states: "The group is oriented to discussion of royalty and nobility of all
nationalities, both present day and historical. Discussions of the British royal family, the
possibility of a restored Russian monarchy, Henry VIII's foibles, and the forms of address
used in the Spanish court would all be appropriate. Advertising and commercialism are
not welcome, especially since everyone knows that involvement in retail commerce results
in attainder!"
All those who have access to alt.talk.royalty and are interested in royalty and nobility
are encouraged to participate. (Before interested individuals "discovered" alt.talk.royalty
and began posting to it regularly, they posted their questions in rec.heraldry.) The scope
of the group encompasses topics such as the sovereigns or rulers of nations, royal and
noble genealogies, vital statistics (births, marriages, deaths), lines of succession, royal
residences, biographies, current events, pretenders or claimants to thrones, mistresses
and illegitimate children, so on and so forth.
alt.talk.royalty is not here for the glorification of royalty. All views, positive, negative
and in-between, are permitted. We are here to talk about royalty and nobility. You
will find, however, most people who post to alt.talk.royalty talk in favor of
royalty and that they are not anti-royalist. You can express anti-royalist sentiments,
but it is a fair assumption that you will get a heated and vociferous response. Royalty
discussions can bring out the best and the worst in people; they engender strong emotions
and opinions.
alt.talk.royalty has in its midst authors, genealogists, historians, journalists and
other such posters (and lurkers). Some of our members post to the group while others prefer
to lurk. Our members are international: as of this edition of the FAQ, the majority are
from the United States, while the rest are from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France,
Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Back to Table of Contents
2. How do I access alt.talk.royalty?
alt.talk.royalty is an Internet (or Usenet) newsgroup. To access it, you need a
"client" (software application) on your computer and access to a "news (or Usenet) server".
The client will connect to the server, retrieve the posts, and send your own replies.
The server will then disseminate your posts to the rest of the world.
If you have access to the Web, your web browser can serve as client, and you can access
a server over the Web. See Yahoo directory for "Usenet servers" for a list.
Google Groups (http://groups.google.com) also
offers access.
Alternatively, contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and ask them if they have a
news server and what software they provide to connect to it. Again, your web browser
can serve as a news client to connect to the news server.
Back to Table of Contents
3. Welcome to alt.talk.royalty!
This purpose of this chapter is to provide useful information for new members of
alt.talk.royalty. First-time users, or even those who've been here a few times, have
found the newsgroup's atmosphere intimidating. When posting for the first time, some
people find themselves the object of criticism or downright abuse. The new-to-the-group
poster might not understand that that kind of behavior happens with regularity in newsgroups.
And so, at the suggestion of some alt.talk.royalty regulars, the FAQ compiler and
maintainer has developed this section which will hopefully explain the personalities of the
regular members as well as provide tips on how to "survive" in alt.talk.royalty.
One of the first things that is noticeable about alt.talk.royalty is that it has a dual
personality. Some days, it has a pleasant, quiet, stress-free atmosphere, while on other
days it can be testy, noisy and combative. Some days, it can be academic and instructive
in tone, yet gossipy and disruptive on other days. It has been suggested that, generally
speaking, the male members of alt.talk.royalty are competitive (with some positively
thriving on this), while the female members seem cooperative. For the most part,
alt.talk.royalty's members are pro-royalty/monarchy. What sets us apart are our
personal perspectives and biases.
alt.talk.royalty has quite an interesting mix of people. While we can't tell you about the
lurkers (they obviously prefer to remain anonymous), we can tell you about those who
post with some regularity. There are authors (Greg King, author of
The Last Empress;
Marlene Koenig, author under the name of Marlene A. Eilers, of Queen Victoria's
Descendants; Peter Kurth, author of Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson;
Ted Rosvall, author of Bernadotte-Attlingar; William Addams Reitwiesner, author of
The American Ancestors and Relatives of Lady Diana Frances Spencer, Guy Stair
Sainty, author of The Orders of Chivalry and Merit of the Bourbon Two
Sicilies
Dynasty, Daniel Willis, author under the name of Daniel Brewer-Ward of
The House of
Habsburg: a genealogy of the descendants of Empress Maria Theresia), art dealer
(Guy Stair Sainty), author (Grant Hayter-Menzies), lawyer (Patrick Cracroft-
Brennan), librarian (Noel McFerran), medical doctor (Sam Dotson), university professors
(Stephen Stillwell, Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard, and Jeffrey
Taliaferro, the last two political scientists), some who share ancestors with royalty
or are descendants of royalty (Frank Johansen and Grant Menzies), and even an aristocrat
or two (Gilbert von Studnitz and Eric von Ehrenberg). Of course, there are also the average,
everyday type of person who posts to alt.talk.royalty.
If one observes alt.talk.royalty for some time, individual types become obvious and one
finds that they usually view and respond about royalty/monarchy in a predictable way.
For example, there are the absolute monarchists (Louis Epstein, Noel McFerran), the
genealogists (Sam Dotson, Marlene Koenig, Steven Lavallee, William Addams Reitwiesner,
Darren Shelton, Paul Theroff, Daniel Willis), the historians (François Velde), the
legalists (Paul Johnson, Guy Stair Sainty), the legitimists (Dimitry Macedonsky), so on and
so on. One can continue to categorize alt.talk.royalty's members into those types
who enjoy the gossip/daily lives aspect of royalty, those whose only interest is the British
royal family enthusiasts (with a subset focussed on Diana, Princess of Wales), those who
view royalty from a religious aspect, from a political aspect, so on and so forth.
Some of alt.talk.royalty's members use an alias, but most post under their real names.
Some posters have obvious favorite areas and share willingly their knowledge. Other
posters are more generalists, but share their knowledge with the same generosity. Some
posters will only post or reply when their favorite topic comes up for discussion. Other
posters will reply to just about everything and anything. Some of the regulars always
provide references for their replies which can annoy some people, while others feel it
useful and informative. Other posters never cite their sources. Some posters reply to
questions succinctly while others provide mini-essays. Some posters will point out spelling
and grammar errors while others never do so. Some posters reply to others in a light-
hearted way while others are business-like. Some posters will criticize another member's
question for whatever reason, while other posters will reply kindly and helpfully. Some
posters have strong beliefs and won't budge an inch when discussing a particular topic,
while others seem flexible and willing to see other points of view. Lastly, some of the
nastier posters (and they are only a handful, thankfully) almost always use foul language,
are rude and hurtful and seem to be in alt.talk.royalty only to disrupt the group.
New members and not-so-new ones will probably realize at this point that given these
types of personalities, it would not be easy to post with confidence in alt.talk.royalty.
The FAQ compiler and maintainer has received emails from people who feel they've
been poorly treated by the regulars. Because of this, they chose to lurk instead of posting
in the group or vow never to return to alt.talk.royalty. Some posters almost always
behave in a certain way and their criticisms shouldn't be taken personally because that is
how they behave to just about everyone. It is almost guaranteed that when a person posts
to a newsgroup he or she will eventually be criticized or abused. Please don't be
intimidated by the bad manners of some and leave alt.talk.royalty too soon. There are
lots of us who welcome newcomers and we appreciate your ideas and input!
Back to Table of Contents
4. History of the alt.talk.royalty FAQ
There was talk in early 1996 of creating a FAQ for alt.talk.royalty and some work
for one had been started by members of the group. It did not materialize into a finished
product, however. A few months later, in August 1996, another member of the group
(Mark Odegard) posted a titles FAQ to the group. It was called "A Glossary of
European Noble, Princely, Royal, and Imperial Titles". (It can now be found on the
WWW at:
http://www.heraldica.org/topics/odegard/titlefaq.htm.)
Nonetheless, alt.talk.royalty remained without a general, all-purpose FAQ until May 1997.
At that time, a rough draft version of a FAQ was posted to the group; it had been created
by Yvonne Demoskoff with the help of several members. A number of additions, corrections
and suggestions were made over the next few months and by November 1997 the rough
draft was replaced with an official first version.
In June 1998, the FAQ was posted once again to the newsgroup but this time it was in two
distinct parts: one was called the Brit-FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions for alt.talk.royalty -
British Royal & Noble Families) and the other was called the non-Brit-FAQ (Frequently
Asked Questions for alt.talk.royalty - Non-British Royal & Noble Families).
In August 1998, François Velde took over the maintenance of the various alt.talk.royalty
FAQs.
Back to Table of Contents
5. Basic newsgroup "netiquette".
Before posting to any Usenet group, please read the introductory articles in the
newsgroup news.announce.newusers. There, Emily Postnews will help you through
some netiquette you need to know before posting.
We highly recommend "lurking", that is, reading messages without posting anything for a
few weeks so that you get an idea of how people typically phrase their postings. This will
also give you an idea of the flow of the newsgroup, the personalities of the regulars, and
the like. The easiest way to learn how to post in a.t.r. is to watch how others do it. Start
by reading the posts and try to figure out what people are doing and why. After a few
weeks, you will start to understand why certain things are done and what things shouldn't
be done.
Occasionally, you will see trolls (strong worded postings intended only to provoke a lot
of replies), flames and off-topic posts. The best way to deal with these kinds of postings
is to ignore them. If your newsreader program allows the use of a kill-file make use of it
to filter out undesirable postings. Alternatively, if you see a blatantly offensive message,
do not respond with another post. Instead, send a strong complaint to
<postmaster@posters.site> and <abuse@posters.site>.
One last point to remember concerning inappropriate behavior: our newsgroup, in
common with other newsgroups, has its share of people who seek to disrupt the group
collectively and/or its posters individually. alt.talk.royalty and its FAQ might not have
an official policy as to how one should deal with such disruptive behavior, but it can
suggest the following: DNFTEC. This stands for "Do Not Feed The Energy
Creature". An energy creature's favorite feeding tactic is to try to hurt people's feelings
or get them angry. The Energy Creature can then feed off the pain and anger it has
generated. Its second favorite tactic is to hurt one person or the group's feelings while
gathering the sympathy of others. That way, when the injured party lashes back, others
will jump to the Energy Creature's defense. The Energy Creature feeds off the attention
and the negative energy generated by the people fighting. Newsgroups will never be
completely rid of such obnoxious, offensive and ill-mannered beings, but much can be
done to keep the situation under control by remembering this simple formula: DNFTEC.
If the Energy Creature gets a response, it gets stronger. If it is ignored, it will eventually
weaken, wither and go away. Remember: do not to feed the energy creatures.
Back to Table of Contents
6. What kind of postings are appropriate in alt.talk.royalty?
We are an unmoderated newsgroup. The only things not allowed here are things
prohibited by Usenet protocol, such as spams (the posting of off-topic material to many
Usenet groups) and illegal postings (e.g. chain letters, sending non-exportable things,
threatening to kill people). However, inappropriate topics or posts are those which are
completely unrelated to royalty and nobility.
Attachments, whether they are text (batch files, system files) or binaries (audio, video,
pictures such as .JPGs, .GIFs, .TIFs and the like, programs, and "web" files such as
HTML, HTM, SHTML) are also inappropriate. Binaries must be kept in groups with
binaries in the name; they cannot appear in alt.talk.royalty. If news administrators find
binaries in a.t.r., they could kill the group and move it to the alt.binaries section. A better
way of dealing with binaries is to post the binary in a binaries group and to write a note in
a.t.r. telling the group where the particular binary can be found. In other words, do not
post anything other than plain text in our non-binary newsgroup.
Posts which refer to royalty and nobility in a negative way (such as suggesting that one
monarchy in particular, or all monarchies in general should be overthrown), while not
off-topic, will usually get no response. Most of the posters in alt.talk.royalty are fully
aware of the strengths and weaknesses of hereditary systems, and are participating in this
newsgroup to explore the intricacies of these systems, rather than to engage in flamewars
with persons who are opposed to the idea of these systems.
Patently offensive remarks are inappropriate.
Back to Table of Contents
7. Examples of "good" and "bad" posts.
Let's begin with "bad" posts:
-
"Please tell me EVERYTHING about Princess Diana."
"I need to know ALL the people in line to the British throne; my homework is due
tomorrow!"
"I'm looking for information about the kings of England."
-
-- these types of posts are usually met with well deserved sarcasm or risk being
completely ignored
-
"So-and-so is an idiot and should be shot!"
-
-- personal comments or attacks on a.t.r. members have no place in a royalty newsgroup;
take it to private e-mail, if you must
-
"This is a test."
-
-- there isn't any reason to test alt.talk.royalty, the system works fine. If you have to
test something, do it in a group with 'test' in it such as alt.test or misc.test.
And now "good" posts:
-
"Who succeeded King George II?"
-
"Why does Queen Elizabeth II celebrate her birthday in April and in June?"
-
"Where is King Henry VIII buried?"
-
"Can someone tell me how King George V and Tsar Nicholas II are related?"
(these "bad" and "good" posts are examples only and will not be necessarily found in
the FAQ)
Points to Remember:
- when the topic in a post has changed, please reflect that in the subject heading by
indicating the new subject and including a reference to the old subject heading
- we suggest reading all the existing responses to a query before posting one's own
response; maybe the question has already been answered, and the name of the game is
not to show off how much one knows
- people don't like to read things again and again; therefore, try to avoid large quotes;
quote only what you respond to
- please keep the lines of your messages to under 70 characters; long lines will overflow
when quoted by others and become very difficult to read
- remember, it is generally considered rude to post private e-mail correspondence
without the permission of the author of that mail
- be careful about infringing upon copyrights and licenses; when quoting, do not use
more of the work than is necessary to make your commentary; for more information on
copyright, read "Copyright Myths FAQ: 10 big myths about copyright explained" found
at the following URL: http://www.clari.net/brad/copymyths.html
- posts may be in any language, but will probably be understood by the largest audience
if in English
Back to Table of Contents
8. Are there archives where I can find older posts on a subject?
Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not keep posts for more than one or
two weeks. Therefore, to find older posts, head over to the WWW and check out
"Google Groups" (formerly known as Deja News) at:
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_ugroup=alt.talk.royalty
Once there, you will be able to search old posts back to April 1995.
This is also a good starting point to see what questions have
already been asked in our newsgroup. It's possible that your
particular question has already been asked.
Back to Table of Contents
9. What other newsgroups and chat groups are there?
Some newsgroups that deal with royalty and/or related subjects are:
- alt.gossip.royalty
- rec.heraldry (discussions of coats of arms and of the honors they can depict)
- soc.genealogy.medieval (discussions of genealogy, royal or otherwise, mainly of
the Middle Ages)
- soc.history
- soc.history.ancient
- soc.history.medieval
N.B.: not all ISPs carry "alt." and "clari." newsgroups; however, they can be accessed
by visiting the Google Groups web site at:
http://groups.google.com
We suggest that you find out more about these newsgroups by reading their FAQs,
if available, or by lurking, so that you post your queries in the appropriate group and
not haphazardly cross-post to all of them.
America Online (AOL) features chat groups about royalty for its members. The royalty
chats meet almost daily and the topics range from discussions about the late Diana, Princess
of Wales to the Romanovs to the Tudors.
Back to Table of Contents
10. Can I sell or advertise in this newsgroup?
Usenet procedures heavily discourage advertising in newsgroups not specifically designed
for commerce. Having said that, one-time offers to sell or buy books, and such, about
royalty and nobility, will be tolerated. Those who wish to regularly advertise
should post their messages in the appropriate newsgroups (for example,
alt.genealogy.marketplace).
Back to Table of Contents
11. Where can I get the latest version of this FAQ?
You can obtain the latest version of the FAQ by visiting its web site at:
http://www.heraldica.org/faqs/atrfaq.html
Back to Table of Contents
Part II: Royal Families of the World
We're glad you asked this question because it certainly seems to
many people that the United Kingdom (aka England) has the monopoly
on "royalty" and "royal family". The U.K. is but one of twenty-nine
monarchies left today. Note that this list does not include
Commonwealth monarchies where King Charles III is a monarch of
an independent monarchy (such as Canada or Australia, for example)
nor does it include Vatican City (The Holy See).
- EUROPE
- Grand Duchy:
- Kingdoms:
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- Principalities:
- AFRICA
- Kingdoms:
- Lesotho
- Morocco
- Swaziland
- ASIA
- Elected Monarchy:
- Empire:
- Kingdoms:
- Sultanate:
- MIDDLE EAST
- Emirates:
- Kingdoms:
- Bahrain (since 14/2/2002)
- Jordan
- Saudi Arabia
- Sultanate:
- OCEANIA
Notes
- Andorra is a co-principality, under the suzerainty of the
President of France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel. Since
1993, these positions are almost purely honorary and they
are considered titular Heads of States.
- Malaysia is a federation consisting of thirteen states: Johore,
Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak,
Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Trengganu. Its Head of State
(or, Supreme Head of Malaysia) is a monarch who is elected for
a five-year term by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of
the states.
- The United Arab Emirates became independent of the United
Kingdom in 1971. They consist of seven sheikhdoms: Abu Dhabi,
Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ajman, Fujairah.
The Head of State is an elected President chosen from one of
the hereditary rulers of the seven emirates.
Back to Table of Contents
Conflicting information has been received as to who are official
members of these royal families, therefore, if anyone will be
suggesting additions or corrections, the FAQ maintainer would be
grateful if a source of information would be provided.
- Belgium:
-
HM The King, his wife, their children, his brother and sister
with their spouses and children, HM King Albert II, HM Queen Paola,
HM Queen Fabiola
- Denmark:
-
HM The Queen, her husband, their sons and grandchildren, their
daughters-in-law, Princess Benedikte, her children, Princess Elisabeth
- Liechtenstein:
-
HSH Prince Hans Adam II, his wife, their children, their
grandchildren, Prince Philipp, his wife, their sons, Prince
Nikolaus, his wife, their children
- Luxembourg:
-
HRH Grand Duke Henri, his wife, their children, HRH (the former) Grand Duke Jean,
his children
- Monaco:
-
HSH Prince Albert II, his sisters, Princess Antoinette
- Netherlands:
-
A distinction is made between the royal house ( head of state,
the former head of state, the members of the royal family in
line for the throne with degree of relationship no more than two, and their spouses) and the royal family.
The royal house consists of HM The King, HM the Queen,
his mother (HRH Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, formerly
reigning queen), their children, his brother
Constantijn and his spouse;
HRH Princess Margriet and her husband.
- Norway:
-
A distinction is made between the royal house (sovereign and
spouse, heir apparent and spouse, princes and princesses
entitled to the style of Royal Highness) and the royal family
(other descendants of the King and Queen and their spouses,
siblings of the King and their spouses). Thus, the royal house
consists of HM King Harald, HM Queen Sonja, HRH Crown Prince Haakon,
HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit and HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
The royal family includes in addition Prince Sverre Magnus, Princess Märtha
Louise, Ari Behn, their children Maud Angelica and Leah Isadora Behn,
Princess Ragnhild Mrs. Lorentzen, Erling Sven Lorentzen, Princess Astrid,
Mrs. Ferner and Johan Martin Ferner.
- Spain:
-
HM The King, his wife, their children, his sisters (Infanta Pilar,
Duchess of Badajoz, Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria), Infante
Don Carlos de Borbón (first cousin of the king).
- Sweden:
-
HM The King, his wife, their children, HRH Princess Lilian, Duchess
of Halland, Princess Birgitta
Back to Table of Contents
The dynastic names for the European royal families are taken from
Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume I, 1977. Other possibly
correct dynastic names will be indicated in parentheses.
- Belgium:
-
House of Wettin (Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)
- Denmark:
-
House of Glücksborg
(cadet line of the house of Oldenborg, on the throne since 1863)
(the house of Oldenborg had been on the throne since 1448)
- Liechtenstein:
-
House of Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg:
-
House of Nassau
- Monaco:
-
House of Grimaldi
- Netherlands:
-
House of Orange-Nassau (van Oranje-Nassau)
- Norway:
-
House of Glücksburg
- Spain:
-
House of Borbón
- Sweden:
-
House of Bernadotte
Back to Table of Contents
The following lines of succession are limited to the first ten or
less people in line of succession of the present European thrones.
Each person's relationship is
indicated by one or two letters (s=son, d=daughter, b=brother, ss=sister,
u=uncle, a=aunt, fc=first cousin, sc=second cousin) followed by a
digit (0 stands for the current sovereign). For example, s0 means
son of the current sovereign, d4 means daughter of person 4 on the
list.
Belgium
- HRH Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, duchess of Brabant (b. 2001, d0)
- HRH Prince Gabriel of Belgium (b. 2003, s0)
- HRH Prince Emmanuel of Belgium (b. 2005, s0)
- HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium (b. 1962, ss0)
- Amadeo of Habsburg-Lorraine, Prince of Belgium, Prince Imperial
and Archduke of Austria-Este, Prince Royal of Hungary and
Bohemia (b. 1986, s4)
- Maria Laura of Habsburg-Lorraine, Princess of Belgium, Princess
Imperial and Archduchess of Austria-Este, Princess Royal of
Hungary and Bohemia (b. 1988, d4)
- Joachim of Habsburg-Lorraine, Prince of Belgium, Prince Imperial
and Archduke of Austria-Este, Prince Royal of Hungary and
Bohemia (b. 1991, s4)
- Louisa Maria of Habsburg-Lorraine, Princess of Belgium, Princess
Imperial and Archduchess of Austria-Este, Princess Royal of
Hungary and Bohemia (b. 1995, d4)
- Laeticia Maria of Habsburg-Lorraine, Princess of Belgium, Princess
Imperial and Archduchess of Austria-Este, Princess Royal of
Hungary and Bohemia (b. 2003, d4)
- HRH Prince Laurent of Belgium (b. 1963, b0)
- HRH Princess Louise of Belgium (b. 2004, d10)
- HRH Prince Nicolas of Belgium (b. 2005, s10)
- HRH Prince Aymeric of Belgium (b. 2005, s10)
Denmark
- HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (b. 1968, s0)
- HRH Prince Christian of Denmark (b. 2005, s1)
- HRH Princess Isabella of Denmark (b. 2007, d1)
- HRH Prince Vincent (b. 2011, s1)
- HRH Princess Josephine (b. 2011, d1)
- HRH Prince Joachim of Denmark (b. 1969, s0)
- HH Prince Nikolai of Denmark (b. 28-8-1999, s6)
- HH Prince Felix of Denmark (b. 22-7-2002, s6)
- HH Prince Henrik of Denmark (b. 4-5-2009, s6)
- HH Princess NN (b. 24-01-2012, d6)
- HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark (b. 1944, ss0)
- HH Princess Elisabeth of Denmark (b. 1935, fc0)
(For more on the law of succession in Denmark, see the essay by
Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard at
http://www.hoelseth.com/royalty/denmark/dk-suc-law.html.)
Liechtenstein
- HSH Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein (b. 1968)
- HSH Prince Joseph-Wenzel of Liechtenstein (b. 1995)
- HSH Prince Georg of Liechtenstein (b. 1999)
- HSH Prince Nikolaus Sebastian of Liechtenstein (b. 2000)
- HSH Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein (b. 1969)
- HSH Prince Alfons of Liechtenstein (b. 2001)
- HSH Prince Constantin of Liechtenstein (b. 1972)
- HSH Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein (b. 1946)
- HSH Prince Alexander of Liechtenstein (b. 1972)
- HSH Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein (b. 1974)
- HSH Prince Rudolf of Liechtenstein (b. 1975)
- HSH Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (b. 1947)
- HSH Prince Josef-Emanuel of Liechtenstein (b. 1989)
Luxembourg
- HRH Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg (b. 1981, s0)
- HRH Prince Felix of Luxembourg (b. 1984, s0)
- HRH Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg (b. 1991, d0)
- HRH Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg (b. 1992, s0)
Monaco
- HRH Princess of Hanover [Caroline] (b. 1957, ss0)
- Andrea Casiraghi (b. 1984, s1)
- Pierre Casiraghi (b. 1987, s1)
- Charlotte Casiraghi (b. 1986, d1)
- HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover (b. 1999, d1)
- HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco (b. 1965, ss0)
- Louis Ducruet (b. 1992, s6)
- Pauline Ducruet (b. 1994, d6)
Netherlands
- HRH Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange, Princess of
Orange-Nassau (b. 2003, d0)
- HRH Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau
(b. 2005, d0)
- HRH Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau
(b. 2007, d0)
- HRH Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, Prince of
Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg (b. 1969, b0)
- Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouw van Amsberg (b. 2002, d4)
- Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg (b. 2004, s4)
- Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouw van Amsberg (b. 2006, d4)
- HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Princess of
Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld (b. 1943, aunt0)
Norway
- HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (b. 1973, s0)
- HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (b. 2004, d1)
- Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway (b. 2005, s1)
- Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (b. 1971, d0)
- Maud Angelica Behn (b. 2003, d4)
- Leah Isadora Behn (b. 2005, d4)
- Emma Tallulah Behn (b. 2008, d4)
Spain
- HRH Infante Felipe of Spain, Prince of Asturias (b. 1968, s0)
- HRH Infanta Leonor of Spain (b. 2005, d1)
- HRH Infanta Sofia of Spain (b. 2007, d1)
- HRH Infanta Elena of Spain, Duchess of Lugo (b. 1963, d0)
- HE Felipe de Marichalar y de Borbón (b. 1998, s4)
- HE Victoria Federica de Marichalar y de Borbón (b. 2000, d4)
- HRH Infanta Cristina of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca
(b. 1965, d0)
- HE Juan Urdangarin y de Borbón (b. 1999, s7)
- HE Pablo Urdangarin y de Borbón (b. 2000, s7)
- HE Miguel Urdangarin y de Borbón (b. 2002, s7)
- HE Irene Urdangarin y de Borbón (b. 2005, d7)
Sweden
- HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland
(b. 1977, d0)
- HRH Princess Estelle of Sweden (b. 2012, d1)
- HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Duke of Värmland (b. 1979, s0)
- HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and
Gästrikland (b. 1982, d0)
Back to Table of Contents
Sources: Le Petit Gotha (1993) and the "International
Constitutional Law" website at:
http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/home.html
Belgium
- religion:
- marriage must be with consent of:
the King
- must contract a lawful marriage:
- type of succession law:
Cognatic (Absolute) Primogeniture (see note)
in effect since 1991 (applicable to the descent of King Albert II;
formerly, Salic Law)
Denmark
(Constitution, latest revision 1953; law of succession to the
throne, 27 March 1953; revised June 14, 2009).
- religion:
Lutheran Evangelical Church (for the King, Const. II.6)
- marriage must be with consent of:
the Parliament (for the monarch)
the Sovereign with the Council of Ministers (for all other
eventual heirs)
- must contract a lawful marriage:
yes
- type of succession law:
Cognatic (Absolute) Primogeniture (see note)
(was semi-Salic from 1660 to 1863, Salic from 1863 to 1953, primogeniture from 1953 to 2009)
Liechtenstein
- religion:
Roman Catholic (for the Sovereign Prince)
- marriage must be with consent of:
the Sovereign Prince
- must contract a lawful marriage:
yes
- type of succession law:
Semi-Salic Law (see note)
Luxembourg
- religion:
- marriage must be with consent of:
the Grand Duke (for the princes of the family)
- must contract a lawful marriage:
- type of succession law:
Absolute Primogeniture (since 2011; previously Semi-Salic Law)
Monaco
(Constitution of 17 Dec 1962, revised 2 Apr 2002; House laws
of May 15, 1882 modified by ordonnances of 30 and 31 Oct 1918
and 1959)
- religion:
- marriage must be with consent of:
the Sovereign Prince (however, if a prince or princess
marries without the consent of the Sovereign Prince,
no children are born and the marriage is dissolved, then
the prince recovers dynastic rights)
- must contract a lawful marriage:
- other:
- The crown is hereditary in the legitimate issue of the previous
prince, or failing that, in the issue of his or her siblings;
in the absence of heir, the Crown Council appoints a collateral
heir who must be of monegasque citizenship.
- type of succession law:
Primogeniture (see note)
Netherlands
- religion:
- marriage must be with consent of:
the Parliament
- must contract a lawful marriage:
- type of succession law:
Cognatic (Absolute) Primogeniture (see note)
in effect since 1983
- other:
- the degrees of relationship between a new monarch and the
predecessor cannot be more than 3.
Norway
- religion:
Evangelical Lutheran faith (the King must always belong to
this faith)
- marriage must be with consent of:
the King
- must contract a lawful marriage:
- other:
- a royal prince cannot accept the crown of another country
unless he first seeks the consent of Parliament
- type of succession law:
Cognatic (Absolute) Primogeniture (see note)
in effect since 1990 & beginning with descendants of Crown
Prince Haakon (b. 1973) with an exception made for Princess
Märtha Louise so as to not displace her younger brother which
is what happened in Sweden in 1980 (formerly, Salic Law)
Spain
- religion:
- marriage cannot occur against express prohibition of:
the King and the Parliament (for all those who have a right to
the succession)
- must contract a lawful marriage:
must also be a Roman Catholic marriage
- type of succession law:
Primogeniture (see note)
Sweden
- religion:
Lutheran (for the King & princes of the royal family)
- marriage must be with consent of:
the King with the advice of the Council of Ministers
(for princes & princesses)
- must contract a lawful marriage:
- type of succession law:
Cognatic (Absolute) Primogeniture (see note)
in effect since 1980 (formerly, Salic Law)
Notes On Types of Laws of Succession
- Salic Law (a.k.a. agnatic):
-
- the law "which entirely excludes females from the hereditary
succession" (The Monarchy and the Constitution, by Vernon
Bogdanor, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995, page 42)
- applicable to Albania, Bulgaria, France (Royal; Empire), Italy,
Montenegro, Parma, Prussia (and German Empire), Roumania,
Yugoslavia
- Semi-Salic Law:
-
- in which the succession is reserved firstly to all the male
dynastic descendants of all the eligible branches by order of
primogeniture, then upon total extinction of these male
descendants to the eldest of the dynastic female descendants
- applicable to Liechtenstein, Luxembourg; also
applicable to Austria, Bavaria, Hanover, Russia, Saxony,
Tuscany, Two Sicilies, Württemberg
- Primogeniture:
-
- the law in which "male heirs take precedence over female, with
children representing their deceased ancestors; and under the
rule of primogeniture, the older son precedes the younger"
(The Monarchy and the Constitution, by Vernon Bogdanor, Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1995, page 42)
- applicable to Monaco, Spain, United Kingdom; also applicable
to Brazil, Greece, Portugal
- Cognatic (absolute) Primogeniture:
-
- the law in which "the right of succession passes to the eldest
child of the sovereign, regardless of gender, females enjoying
the same right of succession as males" (The Monarchy and the
Constitution, by Vernon Bogdanor, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995,
page 42)
- applicable to Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
Back to Table of Contents
This section was prepared using The International Who's Who,
1992-93, 56th edition, and Burke's Royal Families of the World,
Vol. II, 1980, with complements from the
Almanach de Bruxelles and C. Buyers's
Royal Ark. Although the people listed in the following lines
of succession are members of their respective families, it is not
always certain if these people actually hold a place in the line
of succession.
Bahrain
- Sheikh Salman, Crown Prince, son of the King (b. 1969)
- oldest son of Sheikh Salman
- younger son of Sheikh Salman
- Sheikh Abdullah, son of the King (b. 1975)
- Sheikh Khalifa, son of the King (b. 1977)
Bhutan
son of the King (due to succeed in 2008) -->
Brunei
- HRH Crown Prince Haji al-Muhtadee Billah (b. 1977), eldest son
of the Sultan
Japan (see Note 1)
- HIH Crown Prince Naruhito (b. 1960), son of the Emperor
- HIH Prince Akishino (b. 1965), son of the Emperor
- HIH Prince Hisahito (b. 2006), son of Prince Akishino
- HIH Prince Hitachi (b. 1935), brother of the Emperor
- HIH Prince Mikasa (b. 1915), uncle of the Emperor
- HIH Prince Mikasa Tomohito (b. 1946), son of Prince Mikasa
- HIH Prince Katsura (b. 1948), son of Prince Mikasa
Jordan
The throne of the Kingdom is passed on through inheritance within
the dynasty of King Abdullah Ibn Al Hussein (first king and
great-grandfather of the present king Abdullah), in the direct
line of his male heirs. The King designated his eldest son
HRH Prince Hussein Ben Adbullah as Crown Prince on July 2, 2009.
The brother of the present king, Prince Hamzah, was Crown Prince
from Feb 7, 1999 to Nov 28, 2004.
- HRH Prince Hussein, Crown Prince (Jul 2, 2009) (b. Jun 28, 1994),
son of the King
Kuwait
- Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Crown Prince (from
7 Feb 2006) (b. 1937)
Lesotho
Malaysia
The Malaysian throne is elective and rotating among the rulers of
the member states of the Federation (see art. 38 of the
constitution of Malaysia).
Morocco
The Moroccan Crown and the constitutional rights thereof shall
be hereditary and handed down, from father to son, to descendants
in direct male line and by order of primogeniture among the offspring
of His Majesty King Hassan II, unless the King should, during his
lifetime, designate a successor among his sons apart from the eldest
one. In case of failing descendants in direct male line, the right
of succession to the Throne shall, under the same conditions, be
invested in the closest male in the collateral consanguinity.
(art. 20 of the constitution of 1996)
- HRH Prince Moulay Hassan (b. 2003), son of the King
- HRH Prince Moulay Rachid (b. 1970), brother of the King
Oman
Saudi Arabia (see Note 2)
- HRH Prince Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince (b. 1924?),
younger brother of the King
Swaziland
(see Note 3)
Thailand
- HRH Prince Vajiralongkorn, Crown Prince (from December 1972)
(b. 1952), son of the King
Tonga
- HRH Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka (b. 1959), brother of the King
United Arab Emirates
Notes:
-
1. the Imperial Household Law (1947) governs the succession;
only legitimate male descendants of an emperor can succeed;
type of succession law: Salic Law
-
2. in Saudi Arabia, no more than one heir is named at a time,
apparently
-
3. in Swaziland, the heir to the throne is only chosen after a
King's death from among his younger sons
Back to Table of Contents
Because the answer to this question is now formatted using tables,
which don't 'translate' well when viewed as a text document,
Part A - the Styles of Sovereigns, and Part B - the Styles of
Children of Sovereigns can be viewed at this URL:
http://www.heraldica.org/faqs/styles.html
Back to Table of Contents
The styles and titles of the world's current monarchs depend whether
they are sovereigns of a kingdom, a principality, a grand duchy,
an empire, etc...
- Bahrain:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: King (Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa)
- Belgium:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Philippe)
- Bhutan:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) (Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk)
- Brunei:
-
- type: sultanate
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: Sultan and Yang di Pertuan (Haji Hassanal Bolkiah)
- Cambodia:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Norodom Sihanouk)
- Denmark:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: Her Majesty (HM)
- title: The Queen (Margrethe II)
- Japan:
-
- type: empire
- style: His Imperial Majesty (HIM)
- title: The Emperor (Akihito)
- Jordan:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Abdallah)
- Kuwait:
-
- type: emirate
- style: His Highness (HH)
- title: Emir (Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah)
- Lesotho:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Letsie III)
- Liechtenstein:
-
- type: principality
- style: His Serene Highness (HSH)
- title: The Prince (Hans Adam II)
- Luxembourg:
-
- type: grand duchy
- style: His Royal Highness (HRH)
- title: The Grand Duke (Henri)
- Malaysia:
-
(see Note 1)
- type: federation of states
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: Supreme Head of State (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) (Ja'afar)
- Monaco:
-
- type: principality
- style: His Serene Highness (HSH)
- title: The Prince (Albert II)
- Morocco:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Mohammed VI)
- Netherlands
-
:
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Willem-Alexander)
- Norway:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Harald V)
- Oman:
-
- type: sultanate
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: Sultan (Qaboos bin Said)
- Qatar:
-
- type: emirate
- style: His Highness (HH)
- title: Emir (Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani)
- Saudi Arabia:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Abdullah)
- Spain:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Juan Carlos I)
- Swaziland:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Mswati III)
- Sweden:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Carl XVI Gustaf)
- Thailand:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (Bhumibol)
- Tonga:
-
- type: kingdom
- style: His Majesty (HM)
- title: The King (King Siaosi Tupou V)
- United Arab Emirates:
-
(see Note 2)
- type: emirate
- style: His Highness (HH)
- title: President (Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan)
Notes:
-
1.
The nine Hereditary Malay rulers are as follows:
- Raja of Perlis and Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia: Tuanku Syed SIRAJUDDIN
Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, born 16 May 1943, acceded 17 April
2000 (on the death of his father Tuanku Syed Putra Ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan
Jamalullail, who was 3rd Yang di-Pertuan Agong 1960-1965 and was ruling when
Malaya united with Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia in 1963); became 12th
Yang di-Pertuan Agong 12 Dec 2001.
- Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Tengku Idris Shah ibni Sultan Salahuddin Abdul
Aziz Shah (born 24 December 1945), acceded 22 Nov 2001 (on the death of his father
Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Alhaj,
who was 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1999 to his death).
- Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan MIZAN ZAINAL ABIDIN Ibni Almarhum Sultan
Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah, born 22 January 1962, acceded 15 May 1998
(grandson and second successor of Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Ibni
Al-Marhum Sultan Zainal Abidin, who was 4th Yang di-Pertuan Agong 1965-70).
Became Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong (vice-king) in April 1999.
- Sultan of Kedah: Al-Sultan Almu’tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj
ABDUL HALIM MU’ADZAM SHAH ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Badlishah, born 28 November
1927, acceded 14 July 1958; was 5th Yang di-Pertuan Agong 1970-1975.
- Sultan of Kelantan: Tuanku ISMAIL PETRA ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yahya Petra,
born 11 November 1949, acceded 30 March 1979 (on the death of his father
Tuanku Yahya Petra Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim, who was 6th Yang
di-Pertuan Agong 1975-1979).
- Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Haji AHMAD SHAH Al-Musta’in Billah ibni Al-Marhum
Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’Ayatuddin Al-Mu’adzam Shah, born 24th October 1930,
acceded 7 May 1974; was 7th Yang di-Pertuan Agong 1979-1984.
- Sultan of Johor: Sultan (MAHMUD) ISKANDAR Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan
Ismail, born 8 April 1932, acceded 11th May 1981; was 8th Yang di-Pertuan
Agong 1984-1989.
- Sultan of Perak: Paduka Seri Sultan AZLAN MUHIBBUDDIN SHAH ibni Almarhum
Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah, born 19 April 1928, acceded 3
February 1984; was 9th Yang di-Pertuan Agong 1989-1994.
- Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku JA’AFAR Ibni Almarhum
Tuanku Abdul Rahman, born 19 July 1922, acceded 19 April 1967 (son and
second successor of Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Muhammad, who
was the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya 1957-1960); was 10th Yang
di-Pertuan Agong 1994-1999; Negeri Sembilan is a federation of six
(originally nine) states but the throne is hereditary in this family.
Sources:
www.penerangan.gov.my
www.almanak.com.my
www.dreamwater.net/regiment/RoyalArk
-
2. The seven Emirs of the United Arab Emirates are as follows:
- Abu Dhabi: HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan al-Nahyan (President of
the U.A.E.), acceded 2004 on the death of his father Sheikh Zayed;
- Dubai: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum acceeded 2006 on
the death of his brother Maktoum (Vice President of the UAE)
- Sharjah: HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al-Qassimi, acceded 1972
after his brother Khalid was killed by forces loyal to their cousin
Saqr bin Sultan who had been deposed 1965 (Sharjah had been divided
in 1866 among the chief Sheikh's four sons into Sharjah, Ras
al-Khaimah, Kalba (absorbed into Sharjah 1952) and Dibba)
- Ras al-Khaimah: HH Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed al-Qassimi,
acceded 1948
- Umm al-Qaiwan: HH Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed al-Mualla, acceded
1981, his father had reigned since 1920s
- Ajman: HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al-Nuaimi, acceded 1981,
his father had reigned since 1920s
- Fujairah: HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed al-Sharqi, acceded 1974
Back to Table of Contents
- Belgium
-
HM Philippe, King of the Belgians, Prince of Belgium
(S.M. Philippe, Roi des Belges, prince de Belgique)
- Denmark
-
HM Margrethe II, by the Grace of God, Denmark's Queen
- Liechtenstein
-
HSH Hans Adam II, by the Grace of God, Sovereign Prince of
Liechtenstein, Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg
- Luxembourg
-
HRH Henri Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of
Nassau, Prince of Bourbon of Parma, Count Palatine of the Rhine,
Count of Sayn, of Königstein, of Katzenelnbogen, and of Dietz,
Burgrave of Hammerstein, Lord of Mahlberg, of Wiesbaden, of Idstein,
of Merenberg, of Limburg, of Eppstein.
Grand Duke Henri discontinued the use of the phrase "by the
grace of God".
- Monaco
-
HSH Albert II, Prince of Monaco, Duc de Valentinois, Marquis
des Baux, Comte de Carlades, Baron de Buis, Seigneur de Saint-Rémy,
Sire de Matignon, Comte de Thorigny, Baron de Saint-Lô, de la
Luthumière et de Hambye, Duc d'Estouteville, de Mazarin et de
Mayenne, Prince de Château-Porcien, Comte de Ferrette, de Belfort,
de Thann et de Rosemont, Baron d'Altkirch, Seigneur d'Isenheim,
Marquis de Chilly, Comte de Longjumeau, Baron de Massy, Marquis de
Guiscard
- Netherlands
-
HM Willem-Alexander, by the Grace of God, King of the Netherlands,
Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer Van Amsberg (etc...)
- Norway
-
HM Harald V, King of Norway
- Spain
-
HM Juan Carlos I, King of Spain (according to the 1978
Constitution; however, the titles borne by previous Kings of
Spain have not been abolished; thus: His Catholic Majesty
Juan Carlos, By the Grace of God, King of Spain, Castile, Leon,
Aragon, the Two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, Navarre, Granada, Toledo,
Valencia, Galicia, Mallorca, Menorca, Seville, Cardeñ;a, Cordoba,
Cocega, Murcia, Jaen, Algeria, Algernon, Gibraltar, the East and
West Indies, the Canary Islands, and the Oceanic Colonies,
Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant and Milan, Count
of Habsburg, Flanders, Tirol and Barcelona, Lord of Vizcaya and
Molina)
- Sweden
-
HM Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden
Back to Table of Contents
In this list, one will find first, the formerly-reigning monarch
or the present-day claimant [when known], and second, the year
when the monarchy ceased to reign.
In some instances, there are two claimants. The order in which
the two claimants are listed is determined randomly each time this
file is read.
Those who once reigned will be refered to as 'King N'.
Those who have never reigned (be they Crown Prince,
Hereditary Grand Duke, or only a claimant) will be refered to as
'Titular King N'. In the cases of Simeon II of Bulgaria and
Constantine II of the Hellenes (who have never abdicated) and
Michael of Roumania (who was forced to abdicate), it is correct
to continue to refer to them as King and incorrect to refer to
them as ex-King. According to the late Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that
Ilk: "A king who has not abdicated remains a king, even though his
power may not extend de facto over a former realm." (David
Williamson, Co-Editor of Debrett's Peerage, in a letter to the
editor of 'The Daily Telegraph' of 2 July 1987.) Even for kings
who have abdicated, the custom is that they continue to enjoy
their former styles.
- Albania
-
- Leka II, Titular King of the Albanians (b. 1982)
- 1946: when the monarchy was abolished
- Anhalt
-
- Eduard II, Titular Duke of Anhalt (b. 1941)
- 1918: when Prince Aribert of Anhalt, Regent of the Duchy of
Anhalt, abdicated in the name of Joachim Ernst, Duke
of Anhalt
- Austria
-
- Baden
-
- Maximilian (Max), Margrave of Baden (Maximilian, Titular Grand
Duke of Baden) (b. 1933)
- 1918: when Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Baden abdicated
- Bavaria
-
- Franz, Duke of Bavaria (Franz, Titular King of Bavaria) (b. 1933)
- 1918: when the throne was lost through the revolution
- Brazil
-
- rival claimants:
- 1889: when Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, was deposed following
a military uprising
- Brunswick
-
- Ernst August, Prince of Hanover (Ernst August, Titular Duke of
Brunswick) (b. 1954)
- 1918: when Ernst August, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg abdicated
(see also Hanover)
- Bulgaria
-
- Simeon II, King of the Bulgarians (b. 1937)
- 1946: when King Simeon II left the country, without having
abdicated, following a communist-rigged plebiscite
- France
-
Monarchy
- rival claimants:
- 1830: when Charles X abdicated following a revolution
- 1848: when Louis Philippe I abdicated following a revolution
Empire
- Charles, Prince Napoléon (Charles, Titular Emperor of the French)
(b. 1950)
- 1870: when Emperor Napoléon III was deposed
- Greece
-
- Constantine II, King of the Hellenes (b. 1940)
- 1974: when a plebiscite decided against the return of King
Constantine II (had been deposed in 1973)
- Hanover
-
- Ernst August, Prince of Hanover (Ernst August V, Titular King of
Hanover) (b. 1954)
- 1866: when Hanover was annexed to Prussia
(see also Brunswick)
- Hesse
-
(a) Hesse-Cassel
- Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse (Moritz, Titular Elector of Hesse)
(b. 1926)
- 1866: when Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Hesse lost his Throne
when the Electorate of Hesse was annexed to the Kingdom
of Prussia
(b) Hesse-Philippsthal
(not regnant after 1815)
- the line of Landgraves of H.-P. became extinct in 1925
(c) Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld
(not regnant after 1815)
- Wilhelm, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse (b. 1933)
(d) Hesse and by Rhine
- Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse (b. 1926) (had been adopted in 1960/
1961 by Ludwig V, Titular Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine)
- 1918: when Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine lost
his throne on the proclamation of the Republic of Hesse
(e) Hesse-Homburg
- the line of Landgraves of H.-H. became extinct in 1866
- Hohenzollern
-
(a) Hohenzollern-Hechingen
- Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of H.-H. ceded his sovereign rights
to the King of Prussia in December 1849
(b) Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
- Friedrich Wilhelm, Titular Prince of Hohenzollern (b. 1924)
- Karl Anton, Prince of H.-S., later Prince of H., ceded his
sovereign rights to the King of Prussia in December 1849
- Italy
-
- Victor Emanuel, Prince of Naples (Vittorio Emanuele IV, Titular
King of Italy) (b. 1937)
- 1946: when King Umberto II left the country (following a
referendum which showed a majority in favour of a republic)
- Lippe
-
(a) Lippe (-Detmold)
- the Princes of Lippe became extinct in the male line in 1905
(b) Lippe-Biesterfeld
- Friedrich Wilhelm, Titular Prince of Lippe (b. 1947)
- 1918: when Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe abdicated
- Mecklenburg
-
(a) Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
(Friedrich Franz V, Titular Grand Duke of M.-S.) (1910-2001)
The male line is now extinct; but see below
- 1918 (Nov): when Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of M.-S. renounced
the throne
(b) Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- same as M.-Schwerin since 1918
- 1918 (Feb): when the throne became vacant on the death of Adolf
Friedrich VI, Grand Duke of M.-S.
(c) Mecklenburg
- Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia (Georg Friedrich, Titular German Emperor,
King of Prussia, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg) (b. 1976)
by virtue of a 1442 succession pact, the claim to Mecklenburg reverted
to the margraves of Brandenburg on extinction of the dynasty in 2001
- Mexico
-
(House of Habsburg-Lorraine)
- 1867: when Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico was shot and the
country became a republic
- Modena
-
- 1860: when Francesco V, Duke of Modena lost his throne when
Modena was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia
- Montenegro
-
- Nicholas, Prince Petrovic-Njegos of Montenegro (Nicholas II,
Titular King of Montenegro) (b. 1944)
- 1918: when Montenegro was annexed to the Kingdom of the Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes (later, Yugoslavia)
- Nassau
-
- 1866: when Adolf, Duke of Nassau lost his throne when Nassau
was annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia (he later succeeded
as Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1890)
- Oldenburg
-
- Christian Nikolaus, Duke of Oldenburg (Christian Nikolaus, Titular Grand
Duke of Oldenburg) (b. 1955)
- 1918: when Friedrich August, Grand Duke of Oldenburg renounced
the throne
- Parma
-
- Carlos, Titular Duke of Parma (b. 1970)
- 1859: when the Duchy of Parma was annexed to the Kingdom of
Sardinia
- Portugal
-
- Duarte, Duke of Braganza (Duarte III, Titular King of Portugal
and the Algarves) (b. 1945)
- 1910: when King Manoel II lost the Throne through the revolution
- Prussia
-
- Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia (Georg Friedrich, Titular
German Emperor, King of Prussia) (b. 1976)
- 1918: when German Emperor Wilhelm II abdicated
(see also Mecklenburg)
- Reuss
-
I. Reuss Elder Line (Reuss-Greiz)
- 1918: when Heinrich XXIV, Prince Reuss zu Greiz renounced the
throne (the Elder Line of the House of Reuss became
extinct in 1927)
II. Reuss Younger Line
(a) Reuss-Schleiz
- Heinrich VIII, Titular Prince Reuss zu Schleiz (b. 1944)
- 1918: when Heinrich XXVII, Prince R. zu S. renounced the throne
(b) Reuss-Schleiz-Köstritz
- Heinrich IV, Titular Fürst Reuss (on his father's death 1946
but not fully recognized as such until 1962 with effect from 1953)
- Roumania
-
- Michael, King of Roumania (b. 1921)
- 1947: when King Michael was forced to abdicate
- Russia
-
- rival claimants:
- 1917: when Emperor Nicholas II abdicated
- Saxon duchies
-
(a) Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
- Michael-Benedict, Prince of S.-W.-E. (Titular Grand Duke of
S.-W.-E.) (b. 1946)
- 1918: when Wilhelm Ernst, Grand Duke of S.-W.-E. lost the throne
(b) Saxe-Meiningen
- Friedrich-Konrad, Titular Duke of S.-M. (b. 1952)
- 1918: when Bernhard III, Duke of S.-M. abdicated
(c) Saxe-Altenburg
- the Ducal House of Saxe-Altenburg became extinct in 1991
- 1918: when Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg renounced the throne
(d) Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
- Andreas, Titular Duke of S.-C. and G. (b. 1943)
- 1918: when Karl Eduard, Duke of S.-C. and G. abdicated
- Royal Saxony
-
- Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen (Maria Emanuel, Titular King
of Saxony) (b. 1926)
- 1918: when King Friedrich August III renounced the Throne
- Schaumburg-Lippe
-
- Alexander Christian, Titular Prince of S.-L. (b. 1958)
- 1918: when Adolf II, Prince of S.-L. renounced the throne
- Schleswig-Holstein
-
(present Glücksburg branch
not regnant since the 17th c. but listed because of its branches
in Russia, Oldenburg and Denmark)
(a) Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
- 1931: when the Augustenburg line of the family became extinct
(b) Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
- Christoph, Prince of S.-H.-S.-G. (Christoph, Titular Duke of
S.-H.-S.-G.) (b. 1949)
- Schwarzburg
-
(a) Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen
- 1909: when the male line of S.-S. became extinct
(b) Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
- 1918: when Gunther, Prince of S. abdicated
- 1971: the Princely House of Schwarzburg became extinct in male line
Note: Schwarzburg had semi-Salic succession, so a potential claimant would be
Friedrich Magnus, Graf zu Solms- Wildenfels, (b. 1927)
- Tuscany
-
- Sigismund, Titular Grand Duke of Tuscany (b. 1966) (see Note 2)
- 1860: when Ferdinando IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany lost his throne
when Tuscany was united to the Kingdom of Sardinia
- Two Sicilies
-
- rival claimants:
- 1860: when The Two Sicilies were annexed to the new Kingdom of
Italy
- Waldeck and Pyrmont
-
- Wittekind, Titular Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b. 1936)
- 1918: when Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont abdicated
- Württemberg
-
- Carl, Duke of Württemberg (Carl II, Titular King of Württemberg)
(b. 1936)
- 1918: when King Wilhelm II abdicated
- Yugoslavia
-
- Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia (Alexander II, Titular King
of Yugoslavia) (b. 1945)
- 1945: when the monarchy was abolished
Notes:
- On 31 May 1961, by written declaration, Archduke Otto renounced
his rights to the Austrian throne as well as his membership in
the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and declared himself to be a
citizen of Austria. This 'political fiction' was done for
the benefit of the Austrian republic and to allow Otto to
journey to Austria whenever he so wished. This "renunciation"
was viewed as such and understood for what it was by the members
of the Imperial family. (Les Manuscrits du C.E.D.R.E.: L'Empire
d'Autriche, volume III, 1991, page 69.)
-
On 12 April 1994, Leopold III, Titular Grand Duke of Tuscany,
abdicated as Titular Grand Duke in favor of his
elder son, Archduke Sigismund; his civil remarriage after a
divorce conflicted with heading the Roman Catholic order of
St. Stephen.
Back to Table of Contents
Here are the dates of succession of the world's presently
reigning monarchs:
- Bahrain
-
- Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded upon the death
of his father Shaikh Isa bin Sulman al-Khalifa on 6 March 1999.
The constitution promulgated on 14 Feb 2002 defines Bahrain to
be a kingdom.
- Belgium
-
- King Philippe succeeded upon the abdication of his father
King Albert II on 21 July 2013
- Bhutan
-
- Druk Gyalpo ("Dragon King") Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk succeeded
upon the abdication of his father Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk
on 14 Dec 2006 (crowned 2 June 1974)
- Brunei
-
- Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah succeeded upon the abdication of his
father Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien III on 4 October 1967
(crowned 1 August 1968)
- Cambodia
-
- King Norodom Sihamoni was elevated to the throne on Oct 14, 2004
following the abdication of his father King Norodom Sihanouk
- Denmark
-
- Queen Margrethe II succeeded upon the death of her father King
Frederik IX on 14 January 1972
- Japan
-
- Emperor Akihito succeed upon the death of his father Emperor
Hirohito (known posthumously as Emperor Showa) on 7 January
1989 (crowned 12 November 1990)
- Jordan
-
- King Abdullah succeeded upon the death of his father King
Hussein on 7 February 1999
- Kuwait
-
- Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah succeeded Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah on the latter's deposition/abdication on Jan 24,
2006
- Lesotho
-
- King Letsie III succeeded as King on 7 February 1996 following
death of his father King Moshoeshoe (on 15 January 1996)
current reign (crowned 31 October 1997)
N.B.: King Letsie III had previously been King from November
1990 to January 1995
- Liechtenstein
-
- Prince Hans Adam II succeeded upon the death of his father
Prince Franz Josef II on 13 November 1989
- Luxembourg
-
- Grand Duke Henri succeeded upon the abdication of his father
Grand Duke Jean on 7 October 2000
- Malaysia
-
- Sultan Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalulla was installed as
Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) on 12 Dec 2001
- Monaco
-
- Prince Albert II succeeded upon the death of his father
Prince Rainier III on 6 Apr 2005
- Morocco
-
- King Mohammed VI succeeded upon the death of his father King
Hassan II on 23 July 1999
- Nepal
-
The monarchy was abolished May 28, 2008.
- Netherlands
-
- King Willem-Alexander succeeded upon the abdication of his mother Queen
Beatrix on 30 April 2013
- Norway
-
- King Harald V succeeded upon the death of his father King Olav
on 17 January 1991 (sworn in on 21 January 1991; consecration
on 23 June 1991)
- Oman
-
- Sultan Qaboos assumed power after deposing his father Sultan
Said bin Taimur on 23 July 1970
- Qatar
-
- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani succeeded upon the abdication of hiS
father Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on 25 June 2012
- Saudi Arabia
-
- King Abdullah succeeded upon the death of his brother King Fahd
on 1 August 2005
- Spain
-
- King Juan Carlos I was proclaimed king following the death of
Generalissimo Francisco Franco, Chief of State, on 22 November
1975
N.B.: at this time, King Juan Carlos's father, Don Juan, Count
of Barcelona, was de jure King of Spain; it wasn't until
14 May 1977 that Don Juan renounced his rights
- Swaziland
-
- King Mswati III was installed as ruler on 25 April 1986 (his
father King Sobhuza II died on 21 August 1982)
- Sweden
-
- King Carl XVI Gustaf succeeded upon the death of his grandfather
King Gustaf VI Adolf on 15 September 1973
- Thailand
-
- King Bhumibol succeeded upon the death of his brother King Ananda
Mahidol on 9 June 1946 (crowned 5 May 1950)
- Tonga
-
- King Siaosi Tupou V succeeded upon the death of his father
King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV on September 10, 2006
- United arab emirates
-
- Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan an-Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, took office
as President of the U.A.E. on 3 November 2004
I
Back to Table of Contents
See also
Netty's Royalty Page which also has
anniversaries and birthdays of close relatives.
- January:
-
5 - Juan Carlos I, King of Spain (b. 1938)
28 - Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (b. 1950)
30 - Abdullah, King of Jordan (b. 1962)
- February:
-
14 - Hans Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein (b. 1945)
21 - Harald V, King of Norway (b. 1937)
21 - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, King of Bhutan (b. 1980)
- March:
-
14 - Albert II, Prince of Monaco (b. 1958)
- April:
-
16 - Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark (b. 1940)
16 - Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (b. 1955)
19 - Mswati III, King of Swaziland (b. 1968)
27 - King Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands (b. 1967)
30 - Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden (b. 1946)
- May:
-
4 - King Siaosi Tupou V, king of Tonga
16 - Sultan Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, king of Malaysia
(b. 1943)
- June:
-
3 - Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, sheikh of Qatar (b. 1980)
6 - Albert II, King of the Belgians (b. 1934)
- July:
-
15 - Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei (b. 1946)
17 - Letsie III, King of Lesotho (b. 1963)
- August:
-
21 - King Mohammed VI of Morocco (b. 1963)
- September:
-
- October:
-
31 - Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia (b. 1922)
- November:
-
18 - Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman (b. 1940)
- December:
-
5 - Bhumibol, King of Thailand (b. 1927)
23 - Akihito, Emperor of Japan (b. 1933)
N.B.: the following monarchs are not shown because of incomplete
dates of birth: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (b. 1924),
President Sheikh Khalifa of the United Arab Emirates,
Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait
Back to Table of Contents
Some monarchs have both a real birthday and an official birthday,
that is, a birthday which is celebrated publicly on a day other
than their day of birth. Not all monarchs have an official birthday.
- Andorra
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 8 September
- Bahrain
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 16 December
- Belgium
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 21 July
- Bhutan
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday:
17 December
- Brunei
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 23 February
15 July (Sultan's Birthday)
- Cambodia
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 9 January
- Denmark
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 16 April (which coincides with the Queen's real
birthday)
- Japan
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 23 December (the Emperor's real birthday)
- Jordan
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 14 November (the King's real birthday)
- Kuwait
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 25 February
- Lesotho
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 2 May (King's Birthday)
- Liechtenstein
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 15 August
- Luxembourg
-
- official birthday: 23 June
- national holiday: 23 June
- Malaysia
-
- official birthday: 3 June (the Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
- national birthday: 31 August
- Monaco
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 19 November (Fête du Prince)
- Morocco
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 23 July (Festival of the Throne,
anniversary of King Mohammed's accession)
- Netherlands
-
- national holiday: 27 April (King's Day; also the King's actual birthday)
- Norway
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 17 May
- Oman
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 18 November
19 November (Birthday of the Sultan)
- Qatar
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 27 June (anniversary of the Emir's accession)
3 September
- Saudi Arabia
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 23 September
- Spain
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 12 October
- Swaziland
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 19 April (Birthday of King Mswati)
- Sweden
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 6 June
- Thailand
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 5 December (King's Birthday)
- Tonga
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 4 May (The King's Birthday)
- United Arab Emirates
-
- official birthday:
- national holiday: 2 December
Back to Table of Contents
Eric-Jan Noomen, a member of a.t.r., prepared a list of royal
landmarks in 1996. He posted his list to our newsgroup in the
spring of 1997 and a revised version of the list can now be found
as a separate part of a.t.r.'s FAQ at this URL:
http://www.heraldica.org/faqs/landmark.html
Back to Table of Contents
Before dealing with the addresses, the FAQ wishes to state that it
realises some people chafe at etiquette, protocol and conventions.
The FAQ does not wish to tell how one must deal with royal
correspondence; rather, it suggests the following points:
- it is always correct and in good taste to address one's letter
and envelope to the Private Secretary (or Equerry or
Lady-in-Waiting) to monarchs or other members of royal families
- in Scandinavia, where things are less formal, generally speaking,
one may address one's letter directly to the Sovereign depending
on the nature of one's letter (e.g.: letters of a personal
nature); when writing "business-type" letters, addressing such
correspondence to the P.S. is preferable
- when writing to Private Secretaries, the letter and envelope are
written to the Private Secretary by office, not by name
- for those who wish, reading Debrett's Correct Form, or Titles and
Forms of Address, or even appropriate chapters within etiquette
books such as Emily Post's Etiquette and The Amy Vanderbilt
Complete Book of Etiquette will be of help
ADDRESSES OF SELECTED MONARCHS:
- Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan, Sheikh of Abu Dhabi
Amiri Palace
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- HM Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, King of Bahrain
Rifa'a Palace
Manama, Bahrain
- The Private Secretary to HM The King
Palais de Bruxelles
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
- HM Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, King of Bhutan
The Royal Palace
Thimphu, Bhutan
- HM Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei
Istana Darul Hana
Brunei
- HM Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia
Khemarindra Palace
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- The Private Secretary to HM The Queen
Amalienborg
DK-1257 Copenhagen K., Denmark
- Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Sheikh of Dubai
The Royal Palace
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- HIM The Emperor of Japan
The Imperial Palace
1-1 Chiyoda
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Japan
- HM Abdullah, King of Jordan
The Royal Palace
Amman, Jordan
- HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait
Sief Palace
Amiry Diwan, Kuwait
- The Private Secretary to HSH The Prince
Schloss Vaduz
FL-9490 Vaduz
Liechtenstein
- The Private Secretary to HRH The Grand Duke
Schloss Berg
L-2013 Colmar Berg, Luxembourg
- The Private Secretary to HSH The Prince
Palais de Monaco
Boîte Postale 518
MC-98015 Monaco-Ville, Monaco
- HM Mohammed VI, King of Morocco
The Royal Palace
Rabat, Morocco
- HM The King of the Netherlands
Noordeinde 68
2514 GL 's-Gravenhage
The Netherlands
-
The Private Secretary to HM The King
The Royal Court
NO-0010 Oslo, Norway
- Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman
The Palace
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Sheikh of Qatar
The Royal Palace
Doha, Qatar
- HM Abdullah, King of Saudi Arabia
Royal Diwan
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- The Private Secretary to HM The King
Palacio de la Zarzuela
El Pardo
E-28048 Madrid, Spain
- The Private Secretary to HM The King
The Royal Palace
S-111 30 Stockholm, Sweden
- HM Bhumibol, King of Thailand
Chitralada Villa
Bangkok, Thailand
- HM Siaosi Tupou V, King of Tonga
The Palace
P.O. Box 6
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
- Rashid bin Ahmed al-Mu'alla, Sheikh of Uum Al-Qaiwain
The Ruler's Palace
Uum Al-Qaiwain, United Arab Emirates
Back to Table of Contents
[thanks to William Addams Reitwiesner for letting me adapt his post
about the Reuss princes; this post has appeared in alt.talk.royalty
on a number of ocassions - November 1995, April 1997 and July 1998 ]
There's been a lot of confusion about the Reuss family, especially
about how their male members, all of whom are named "Heinrich", are
numbered. Here are the facts, based on Isenburg's Europäische
Stammtafeln, Band I, Tafel 163-174.
The Reuss family divided into two branches, the senior descended
from Heinrich XIV (1506-1572) and the junior descended from his
youngest half-brother Heinrich XVI (1530-1572).
Senior Branch
Starting with Heinrich XIV (1506-1572), who was renumbered as
Heinrich I, *every* male in the senior line numbered his sons
Heinrich I, Heinrich II, Heinrich III, etc. After a while this got
clumsy, and starting in about 1640 the entire Senior Branch started
numbering its Heinrichs sequentially, based on birth order *within
the Branch*, not within the sibship. This continued through 1678
with the birth of Heinrich XVI, and the next birth, in 1693, was
Heinrich I. This sequence continued through the entire Senior
Branch, which didn't have very many males, down to 1878 with the
birth of Heinrich XXIV, the last male of the Senior Branch, who died
unmarried in 1927. This Senior Branch is also called "Reuss-Greiz",
and a sister of this Heinrich XXIV was Hermine, second wife of
Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Junior Branch
Heinrich XVI died in 1572 leaving daughters and a pregnant wife.
This turned out to be a son, Heinrich Posthumous (1572-1635).
Heinrich Posthumous had ten sons, Heinrich I through Heinrich X.
The grandsons of Heinrich Posthumous started a new sequence with
Heinrich I in 1639. This sequence continued for the entire Junior
Branch through the birth of Heinrich XXIX in 1699. A new sequence
for the Junior Branch started with Heinrich I in 1695 (okay, so it
got a little out of order) and continued through the birth of
Heinrich LXXV in 1800, then a new sequence started with Heinrich I
in 1803 and continued through Heinrich XLVII in 1897. The current
sequence started with Heinrich I in 1910 and continues through at
least Heinrich XXVI, born in 1988. Territories in this Junior
Branch include "Reuss-Gera" (extinct in 1802), "Reuss-Schleiz"
(extinct apparently in 1945), "Reuss-Lobenstein" (extinct in 1824),
"Reuss-Ebersdorf" (extinct in 1853, Queen Victoria's grandmother
was one of these), and Reuss-Köstritz, which itself was divided
into three branches (the oldest extinct in 1878 and the younger
two still survive). The numbering has never gone higher than
Heinrich LXXV (who died age one year, but Heinrich LXXIV lived to
be 87). Heinrich Licco is son of a marriage which at various times
was considered to be morganatic, which is why (in my opinion) his
name is not standard. The family compact of 1887 didn't make the
Counts of Plauen "ebenbürtig", it actually un-"ebenbürtig"-ed
them (what with the marriage of Heinrich LXIX to Matilda Locke
being considered "ebenbürtig" I guess they had to draw the line
somewhere), which is why (in my opinion) they and their descendants'
names are not standard (even though some of them get numbers).
Back to Table of Contents
It depends on the applicable law of succession. If, under that law, there
was an heir apparent at the time of death, than that heir immediately succeeds.
If there was only an heir presumptive, then in all likelihood a regency of some
kind would be put in place until the birth of the child; a conceivable alternative
being a "conditional proclamation" of the heir presumptive (see the Brit-FAQ 2.44).
The situation is rarely, if ever, explicitly foreseen in succession laws.
Specifically:
- If the deceased king already has at least one son, then, under
any existing succession law, the son would immediately succeed.
- If he has
no son but at least one daughter, and if absolute primogeniture is the rule,
then the eldest one would immediately succeed.
- In all other cases, the unborn child could displace existing heirs presumptive.
There are several historical examples:
- In 1316, Louis X of France died leaving a daughter and a pregnant widow.
The daughter was not called to succeed, but the brother of the deceased became
regent until the birth of a son, known as Jean I, who died within days. The regent
succeeded him as Philip V.
- In 1328, Charles IV of France died leaving a daughter and a pregnant
widow. Again, the daughter was excluded, and the heir presumptive Philip of Valois
became regent, until the birth of a daughter, after which he was retroactively made
king from the death of his predecessor.
- In 1885, Alfonso XII of Spain died leaving two daughters and a pregnant widow.
The succession law was mixed primogeniture (preference to males). The widow became
regent until the birth of a son, who became Alfonso XIII.
The case may be paradoxical in the face of such maxims as "the king is
dead, long live the king" and the notion of absolute continuity of the
throne. In both instances, the throne was vacant for several months.
Such a vacancy was avoided in the rather exotic case of Shapur II,
Sassanid king of Persia, crowned while in his mother's womb in 309 AD
(after magi had assured that the child would be a boy).
Part III: Nobility
(I hope readers of the FAQ will bear in mind that this answer cannot
enumerate the history, laws or succession rules of every country or
title. There are exceptions to every rule on the nobility, and the
objective of this section is to provide broad guidelines.)
Nobility is, historically, a legally defined status, largely
inherited once acquired, and enjoying once extensive privileges
which, in modern Europe, have been reduced (except see British
sub-FAQ) to nominal membership in the noble class with or without a
hereditary title in, e.g., BeNeLux, Denmark, Spain and Sweden.
The nobility has been abolished, with varying degrees of
governmental tolerance for continued use of once noble attributes,
in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. Titles (not
nobility) are recognized and protected in France. Titles exist
as part of the surname in Germany. Titles are not indigenous to
or not permitted in Austria, the Balkans, Greece, Norway, Poland,
Switzerland or former constituent states of the Soviet Union.
The most common titles associated with nobility in Europe were, in
descending order Prince, Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Baron,
Knight and Noble, although some countries had more titles, some
fewer. In Belgium, France, Portugal and Spain peers were the category
of highest nobles; although most dukes were peers, some peers held
lower titles.
Except for peers, titles indicated official rank, but not
substantially different privileges. In fact, the majority of Europe's
nobles never held hereditary titles. Even in countries where many
did, it was often the longevity of a family's membership in the
noble class and/or history of court/military service and/or wealth
which was of greater importance in assessing its status than any
legal title.
Evaluating titles across boundaries is virtually impossible, not only
because they were bestowed more liberally in some countries than in
others, but because their rules of descent and attached privileges
also varied.
In France, Portugal, Scandinavia and Spain, the rank of prince
was limited to members of the reigning dynasty, but the title was
also sometimes borne by non-royal nobles in the Balkan countries,
Bohemia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Russia. In
Scandinavia, "duke" usually implies royal kinship and in Germany, semi-
sovereign rank, but until the 16th century, dukes were mostly great
land-owning nobles in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain who often
were equal to or outranked princes, especially in Italy.
Counts, were originally companions of or regional governors appointed
by the Holy Roman Emperor or by kings. In Germany many of these
"grafen" retained semi-sovereign status (Reichsstand), acknowledging
only nominally the authority of the Emperor and inflating their
dignity with prefixes (e.g. margrave, landgrave, palsgrave, etc.)
and their number by eschewing primogeniture. But most European counts
were vassals of greater princes, even within the Empire (i.e. Austria,
Bohemia, Hungary, northern Italy and Poland) where titles were mostly
granted by the Emperor until the 19th century, transmissible to males
and females through the male line.
It was not rare for sovereigns to grant hereditary titles to subjects
of other realms, which honors conferred no legal rank in the
recipient's country. That did not stop the Emperor from living in
Vienna while making princes or counts of Bohemians, Dalmatians,
Hungarians, Lithuanians and Poles. (Nearly all titles of baron in
Poland were foreign.) The King of Spain recognized only his heir
apparent as a prince in Madrid, but he created scores of them in
Naples and Sicily and dozens more in Belgium.
In Scandinavia, there were few counts before the 17th century. In
Russia, there weren't any counts until Peter the Great's reign from
1682 to 1725. Countships and baronies were distributed more
sparingly in the North, sometimes descending to all children and
sometime by masculine primogeniture.
In Latin countries, the titles of Marquis, Count, Viscount and
Baron descended according to primogeniture, although in Italy some
also descended to the entire male-line. In Spain, Marques was the
most common title; in Portugal, Vizconde; and in Italy, Conte.
The Spanish grandee is equivalent to the French peer, ranking above
all other Spanish nobles regardless of title. But Spain is unique
inasmuch as men are far less favored over women than in most
nobilities. Titles descend to daughters or sisters before being
heritable by more distant male kinsmen. A holder of multiple titles
is not bound by primogeniture, but may distribute them among children.
The husband of a duquesa or vizcondesa is a duque or vizconde.
Below the rank of baron, in Germany there was the knight (Ritter),
lord (Herr), nobleman (Edler) and untitled noble who usually took
the predicate "von" or the higher one of "zu" which implied continued
possession of the family seat. Note that lord (Herr) was used as a
title, especially in Bohemia, but for many many years it was just a
designation of an untitled noble. The Netherlands has the Jonkheer
(strictly speaking a predicate rather than a title) below the Ridder,
while Belgium has the chevalier.
Italy's lower titles are Cavaliere, Nobili, Patrician and Coscritto.
Hungary, Bohemia and Poland all have Counts but nearly all titles
of baron were foreign. Russia had princes and counts, and hundred of
barons. Ranking below them were the dvorianstvo (untitled nobles).
Back to Table of Contents
The answer to this question is taken from an article written by
Gilbert von Studnitz in "Der Blumenbaum", a publication of the
Sacramento German Genealogy Society, Vol. 9, number 4, April-June
1992. Gilbert, an a.t.r. member, has graciously given his permission
for a revised version of this article to be used in the a.t.r. FAQ.
The German Nobility
Copyright © 1992 by Gilbert von Studnitz
The German system of nobility, as indeed the European system in
general, is quite different from the English system with which most
Americans are familiar. The English have a peerage system and not
an extensive system of nobility, though their squires or landed
gentry would tend to be the closest thing. In England only the
eldest son usually inherits the title and the rest are considered
commoners, though they may bear "courtesy titles" if their father
has more than one, or may be called "Lord" or "Lady" without
actually being one.
The German nobility is divided into two major divisions, that of
the lower (niedriger Adel) and the high (hoher Adel). It is further
divided into the ancient nobility (Uradel) and the newer nobility
(commonly known as Briefadel, or literally nobility by
letter-cachet, but also including other groups.) The Uradel may be
of either the lower or high nobility, but the Briefadel is almost
always of the lower.
In Germany, all legitimate children of a nobleman become nobles
themselves, and most titles pass onto all the children with few
exceptions. All the children of sovereigns did not, of course,
become kings or electors, but did become princes or princesses. In
the last decades of the German Empire, in imitation of the English
system, a few families were ennobled with titles that passed on
only to the eldest son, the remainder retaining either their
father's former title (which he also still carried) or just
untitled nobility.
The hereditary and legal privileges of the nobility as the first
class of the realm ended in August of 1919 when the Constitution
of the so-called Weimar Republic came into force. The laws that
concerned the nobility for some one thousand years before 1919
stated that hereditary nobility could only be passed on through
legitimate biological descent from a noble father but not through
adoption and especially not through purchase. When non-nobles were
adopted the family name could be carried by the adoptee, but none
of the noble designations of the family (such as a title or the
"von".) If such an adoptee wished to become noble, he or she had to
apply to their sovereign for such status in the same manner as any
other subject. An exemption to this was and is still made by the
"legitimatio per matrimonium subsequens", which allowed the
legitimation of children born out of wedlock after the marriage of
their noble parents. By this the children became full hereditary
nobles, though some social stigma still remained.
Since 1919, according to the German republican government, the
nobility no longer exists as a legal entity. Nevertheless, the
titles and noble designations of the nobility have not been
abolished, as they have in Austria, and may still be carried.
Legally they are now merely parts of the family name and in theory
convey no status. Following this rule all children of, for example,
a Count von Beust, whether male or female, would have the family
name Count von Beust. Similarly your could find ladies named
Elisabeth Duke of Saxony or Luise Prince of Prussia. A woman
married to the Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden would, in law, also
be named Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, as would all their
children. To avoid making all this seem too ridiculous the German
government ignores much of its own law and allows the wives and
children of nobles to take the gender-specific titles appropriate
to their sex.
Another example of society ignoring the 1919 law and following
traditional practice is that in all German telephone books a person
named, for instance, Baron von Richthofen would be listed under a
"R" for Richthofen rather than a "v" for "von" or a "B" for "Baron".
The U.S. telephone books are (unwittingly) more compliant with
current German legal writ by listing all persons with a "von"
under "v".
The 1919 law also causes difficulties in the case of children
inheriting senior titles of their fathers. For example, in certain
families only the senior member is a count, and the rest are
untitled nobles. For a child to use the inherited title of "count"
upon his father's death would involve a court petition for a name
change, which is not always granted when the judge or magistrate
has an anti-noble bias.
Current law allows a person adopted by a noble to use the noble
family name, and since the title is considered part of the name,
that is also conveyed by adoption. It should be noted that the
German nobility never acknowledges such persons to be noble, no
matter what they call themselves.
Those persons who claim nobility through adoption or purchase,
such as the notorious Claus von Bülow, the Nazi foreign minister
von Ribbentrop, or Zsa-Zsa Gabor's husband who uses a Saxon
princely title, are not recognized as part of the historical
nobility and are no more members of that class than anyone else
claiming a status to which they are not entitled. Most such persons
are essentially deluding themselves while trying to fool others.
The basic designation of the nobility is the predicate "von", which
the vast majority of German nobles carry. There are a small number
of noble houses, almost exclusively of the Uradel, which have never
used the "von" or any other noble predicate, but are nevertheless
of fully equal standing with those that do.
In northern and eastern Germany there are a substantial number of
families (such as the von Kranichfelds) that use the "von" as
designations of the towns where they come from (as is the case with
most older noble families) but have never been noble and make no
pretense to be so.
A few noble houses use "von und zu", meaning they are not only from
the place mentioned but still retain it. Another Uradel house is
named "aus dem Winckel" instead of "von dem Winckel" but having the
same meaning. Other noble predicates sometimes seen are "von dem",
"von der", or "vom". "Van" is not used by German nobles but is
Dutch or Flemish and does not usually connote nobility in those
countries.
As a way of differentiating themselves from non-nobles, the
aristocracy of northern Germany in most cases uses the abbreviation
"v.", instead of writing out the "von", while still pronouncing the
whole word. The southern Germans most often write out the "von".
It is always spelled with a small "v" unless it would be
grammatically incorrect, such as in the beginning of a sentence.
Notwithstanding regional preferences, the "Bible" of the nobility,
the Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels (Genealogical Handbook of the
Nobility), published by C. A. Starke in Limburg/Lahn, uses the "v."
to designate nobles and spells out the "von" for non-noble families
or individual non-nobles within aristocratic families. This
handbook, colloquially known as the "Gotha" for it's predecessor
the Almanach de Gotha (in German, Gothaisches Hofkalendar) attempts
a comprehensive listing of all German noble houses currently or
recently in existence and comes out in several volumes on a yearly
basis, listing all living members of a family and all those deceased
since the last edition. The handbook is divided into several series
with the binding in different colors: Royal & Princely houses,
Counts, Barons, Untitled nobles, and Family histories. Within these
series the families are, except since recently the Counts and
Barons, divided into Uradel or Briefadel.
The advantage of having these books is obvious: there is a wealth
of genealogical information, and as it lists addresses, many
potential contacts can be found. It is also a way of being able to
investigate people's claims to noble status, though this kind of
checking is not considered "gentlemanly". The listing are thorough
and are checked for accuracy, though they depend to a large degree
on the individual's honesty in telling the truth about themselves.
Not every German noble family is included, as most often the family
concerned must contribute financially to its inclusion, or the
family may be too small, poor, or unwilling to warrant repeated
updating. For instance, my own family, with some 70 members,
appeared lastly in 1985 and will do so again in 1999, but that of
my grandmother, von Bulmerincq, has not appeared since 1936. The
current series of books has been published since 1951, and is
available at a number of larger libraries.
German nobles, especially the Uradel, have a particular class
consciousness and consider themselves interrelated and cousins even
if they don't know exactly how. Often in the case of the ancient
families this is correct due to centuries of intermarriage. All
members of the Uradel are considered by themselves to be of the
same status, whether they are untitled, barons, counts, or whatever
else they may be. The particular title of a person is far less
important among the nobility than the age and standing of the
family. This is particularly true as a number of old families have
branches of various levels. For instance, the Counts, Barons, and
untitled von Bothmers are all part of the same family. The Uradel
also tend to look down on the Briefadel as parvenus, even when the
Briefadel may have been noble for centuries. I recall visiting a
cousin on the Lüneburger Heath in Lower Saxony who had a brass
plate on his front door stating "Liferanten und Briefadel zur
Hintertuer", meaning "Deliveries and Briefadel to the rear
entrance". Though meant as a joke, there was still a bit of
seriousness behind it.
Uradel
This oldest level of the nobility is made up of those houses which
by no later than 1400 were members of the knightly class, or
patricians of a free Imperial city such as Frankfurt/Main. Most
often these houses are counted as noble since "time immemorial" as
at their first appearance in written records they were already
noble. The families that make up this segment of the nobility
usually descend from the knights or most important warriors of a
sovereign that were the basis of his fighting force, or more rarely
from a senior civil official of the time. The Uradel often had
legal privileges over the newer nobility certifying their higher
standing, such as in the Nobles Law of the Kingdom of Saxony of
1902. There are far fewer Uradel families still in existence than
Briefadel due to the fact that families die out over the centuries
and no Uradel has been created in almost 600 years.
Briefadel
This level of the nobility is made up of those houses which were
ennobled since the beginning of the 15th Century through the end of
the German or Austrian Empires in 1918. There were widely differing
prerequisites for this level of the nobility, though most often
military or civil service to the sovereign were the qualities most
valued. The Briefadel includes houses ennobled or recognized as
noble by the Emperor or one of the sovereigns of the high nobility.
Also included are patricians of the free Imperial cities and
non-German noble houses that immigrated over the centuries, such as
the Counts von Polier from France or the Herren von Zerboni di
Sposetti from Italy.
High Nobility
The High Nobility is made up of those families that had
Reichsstandschaft, or had a seat in the Parliament of the Holy
Roman Empire. These seats were reserved for sovereign houses. These
families were also Reichsunmittelbar, or in a feudal sense holding
their lands directly from the Holy Roman Emperor, who for four
centuries, until the end of the empire in 1806, came from the
house of Habsburg. In essence, these families were rulers of their
own countries, often in times of a weak emperor paying only lip
service to their subservience to him. Their relationship to the
emperor was then much like that of today's Commonwealth rulers to
the British Queen. Even in times of a strong emperor he was to
them more like a chairman of the board rather than a ruler. Up to
the early 19th Century, there were some baronial and untitled
families that held lands directly of the emperor, so essentially
being their own rulers, but had no seat in the Parliament, thus
being members of the lower nobility. Many families of the high
nobility have house laws applicable to their members. Often these
laws do not allow marriage outside their ranks, even to the lower
nobility which would be considered a morganatic alliance. Even
today, the children of a member of the high nobility who marries
morganatically become members of the lower nobility.
Ranks of the High Nobility
Within this division of the nobility the highest title is Emperor,
or Kaiser, deriving from Caesar in Latin. Through most of German
history, there was only one of these, the Holy Roman Emperor of the
German Nation, lasting from the crowning of Charlemagne in the year
800 through the renunciation of the last emperor, Franz II, in 1806
under the influence of Napoleon, who by then had proclaimed himself
Emperor of the French. Kaiser Franz had already declared himself
Emperor of Austria, as Franz I, in 1804. In essence, the emperor
just changed his title so as to more accurately reflect the
political realities of the time.
A second German empire was established in 1871 after the victory of
the German states over Napoleon III, when King Wilhelm I of Prussia
was proclaimed German Emperor. He was never titled Emperor of
Germany, as this nation was not a unitary state but a federation of
monarchies and free city-states with quasi-republican governments.
The title of German Emperor was always carried in conjunction with
that of King of Prussia, and he was addressed as Kaiserliche und
Königliche Majestät (Imperial and Royal Majesty). The Austrian
Emperor, based to a large degree upon his position as King of
Hungary, was addressed as Apostolic Majesty.
Both German and Austrian empires ceased to exist after World War I,
and the imperial titles have not been carried since the last
emperors died (Wilhelm II of Germany in 1941, Karl of Austria in
1922). The last empress, Zita of Austria, died in 1989.
The children of the German emperor were Princes of Prussia (not
Germany) and royal highnesses, except the eldest, who was German
Kronprinz (Crown Prince) and addressed as Imperial and Royal
Highness. The current heir to the throne is titled the, rather than
a, Prince of Prussia, and is the only one in Germany still
addressed as Imperial & Royal Highness. The children of the
Austrian emperor were titled Archdukes or Archduchesses of Austria
rather than princes, and called Imperial & Royal Highnesses.
Next we come to König and Königin, or King and Queen, which was
carried by the rulers of the larger German states (Bavaria,
Hanover, Prussia, Saxony, Württemberg, ). They were addressed as
Majesty, and their children, princes or princesses, as Royal
Highnesses.
After these came the Grossherzog, or Grand Duke, who were styled
royal highness, and were rulers of somewhat smaller states, such
as the two Mecklenburgs or Luxemburg (which until 1918 was
considered a German state). The heir to these thrones was known
as an Erbgrossherzog, or hereditary grand duke, and the other
children were princes or princesses. Additionally in the Saxon
kingdom, grand duchy, and duchies, all the children of the ruler
were also styled dukes or duchesses.
The next level is that of Herzog, or Duke, who was normally styled
Highness.
Kurfürst, or Elector in English, ranked with a Duke. The electors
were originally the greatest lords of the Holy Roman Empire, both
temporal and spiritual, who elected the Emperor before the throne
became hereditary. They later became sovereigns no different from
the rest. The last ruling Elector, Hesse-Cassel, lost his throne
to Prussia in 1866.
Landgraf (Landgrave), Markgraf (Margrave), and Pfalzgraf (Palsgrave
or Count Palatine) ranked somewhat with a Duke and are usually
considered higher than a Fürst. All sovereigns of this rank were
eventually "promoted" to higher titles, but the titles were
sometimes used instead of crown prince for their states, and are
currently used for the Heads of the Houses of Baden, Hesse and
Saxony. Depending on circumstances, they could be styled Royal
Highness or simply Highness. In the Middle Ages, some sovereigns
were Burggrafs, or Burgraves, but all these took higher titles
early on and Burggraf became a title and sometimes function, like
Wildgraf, of the lower nobility.
Next follows Fürst (for which there is no good translation in
English, but which is confusingly called Prince). These are styled
Durchlaucht, translated as Serene Highness. Children of dukes,
kurfürsts, and fürsts were all princes or princesses. In the
third generation their descendants sometimes become counts, except
for the ruling line, which retains the princely title.
The last category of the high nobility still in existence is that
of Graf, or Count. The last sovereigns of this rank ceased ruling
after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. They are styled Erlaucht, or
Illustrious Highness. Their children are all counts or countesses.
A former somewhat higher rank of gefürsteter graf, or princely
count, no longer exists.
Among all the higher nobility the idea of Ebenbürgtigkeit exists,
meaning all of them, no matter what the title, are considered of
equal birth and standing.
Ranks of the Lower Nobility
Very often a certain level of income, wealth, or social standing
was necessary for appointment to these ranks, so as to demonstrate
the ability of the person ennobled to maintain himself at a proper
level.
The highest rank of the non-sovereign nobility is Duke, a title
almost never given them and then only "ad personam", or much like
an English life peer. An example is Otto von Bismarck as Duke of
Lauenburg. He was styled Serene Highness.
The highest rank that normally was part of the lower nobility is
Fürst. This title, like Duke, was given to them only in the last
centuries of the monarchy. Their children were rarely princes, but
more usually counts or barons, depending on what was the original
title of the Fürst.
Next in rank is Count, which in modern times could be given
primogeniture (inherited only by the eldest son), but was usually
given to all the children of the new count. A very few houses also
carry the title Burggraf which is approximately equivalent to Count.
Baron follows, which is almost always called Freiherr in Germany,
but given as Baron to the Germans of the Baltic regions. For many
years it was in dispute whether Baron was equivalent to Freiherr
(which was deemed "better"), but this was settled in the last
century in an affirmative manner. The wife of a Freiherr is a
Freifrau, the daughter a Freiherrin. This last title is sometimes
abbreviated Freiin. The wife of a Baron is a Baronin, the daughter
a Baronesse. Another variant of this rank is called Edler Herr, or
Edle Herrin for females, which is borne by only a few very old
families (such as the Gans zu Putlitz).
The last level is that of the untitled nobility, which nevertheless
includes some titled families. Normally an untitled noble is
addressed as Herr, in this context meaning Lord.
In former times untitled nobles, especially those from the eastern
regions, were addressed as Junker, a title still in usage in the
Netherlands as Jonkheer. It is no longer normally used in Germany.
In Bavaria and especially Austria, the hereditary title of Ritter
(Knight) was given to families, but they were still considered part
of the untitled nobility. Much the same applies to the title of
Edler, which is mainly northern and central German. While the wife
and daughters of an Edler were titled Edle, the wife of a Ritter
was called a Frau (in this sense Lady) and not Ritterin.
Though the formal power of the German nobility is gone, it still
remains a considerable social force. After the debacle of World
War II, the aristocracy gradually reformed in groups based on
religious affiliation or province of origin. For well over 30 years,
these groups have been affiliated as the "Vereinigung der Deutschen
Adelsverbaende" and published the monthly "Deutsches Adelsblatt" in
the small town of Westerbrak (now part of Kirchbrak). The legalistic
"Deutsches Adelsrechtsausschuss" was set up, composed of members
from various noble and chivalric organizations, to determine in
questionable cases who belongs to the nobility or if a person has
a right to a noble title he claims. Only if there is a positive
judgment by this organization can someone join one of the nobles'
associations or have their family listed in the Gotha.
It has been estimated that there are some 40,000 nobles of all ranks
in Germany today.
Back to Table of Contents
Part IV: Resources
It is amazing what one can find on-line about royalty, nobility
and related topics. The following sites are but a sampling of what
one can discover while surfing the 'Net. This list is not meant to
be definitive; rather it is a starting point for research. Most of
the following sites are in English, although some are in other
languages. The FAQ compiler and maintainer does not make any
judgements as to the contents or opinions found at these sites. If
you are using the World Wide Web (aka WWW, W3, Mosaic, Netscape,
Lynx), you can reach these pages at the following URLs:
Existing Monarchies
- General:
-
http://www.hoelseth.com/royalty/royalty.html
Dag Hoelseth's Royal Corner, with many links as well as a
collection of constitutional and legal documents pertaining
to various monarchies.
- Andorra:
-
http://www.sigma.net/fafhrd/andorra/index.htm
- Bahrain:
-
http://www.bahrain.gov.bh/English/Royal/Royal.asp
- Belgium:
-
http://www.monarchie.be/
- Denmark:
-
http://www.kongehuset.dk/ (official site)
http://www.um.dk/english/danmark/om_danmark/queen.html
- Japan:
-
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/3953
- Jordan:
-
http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/
http://www.jordanview.net/ (official site)
- Liechtenstein:
-
http://www.news.li/fam/index.htm
- Luxembourg:
-
http://www.gouvernement.lu/gouv/fr/doss/savoirlu/famgdduc.html (official site of the grand-duchy; in French)
http://www.luxcentral.com/LuxDukes.html
- Monaco:
-
http://www.monaco.mc/monaco/700ans/index.html
http://www.monaco.gouv.mc/ (in French)
- Netherlands:
-
http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/ (official site)
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kvenjb/gennl.htm
- Norway:
-
http://www.kongehuset.no/
- Oman:
-
http://www.msdg.com/oman/index.htm
- Perak:
-
http://www.perak.gov.my/perak_250696/june/html/sultan1.html
- Saudi Arabia:
-
http://www.saudi.net/gov_profile/profile_king.html
- Spain:
-
http://www.casareal.es/ (official site)
http://www.DocuWeb.ca/SiSpain/english/politics/royal/index.html
- Swaziland:
-
http://www.pitt.edu/~tgsst10/swaziland.html
- Sweden:
-
http://www.royalcourt.se/ (official site)
- Thailand:
-
http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/rama9/
http://kanchanapisek.or.th/biography/index.en.html
- Tonga:
-
http://palaceoffice.gov.to/
- United Arab Emirates:
-
http://www.uae.org.ae/History/zayed.html
Other Royal Houses
- Afghanistan:
-
http://www.zaher-shah.fr.fm
- Albania:
-
http://www.kwtelecom.com/heraldry/albania.html
- Austria:
-
http://otto.twschwarzer.de
- Bavaria:
-
http://www.munichfound.de/issues/1996/11/articles/HEIR.html
- Brazil:
-
http://www.arsa.com/monarquia/
- Bulgaria:
-
http://www.seker.es/simeon/reybul.html
- France (Royal, duc d'Anjou):
- http://www.royaute.org/
- France (Royal, comte de Paris):
- http://www.royaute-france.com/
- France (Imperial):
-
http://www.napoleon.org
- Hannover:
-
http://www.welfen.de/
- Iran:
-
http://www.irancmi.org
- Mexico:
-
http://www.casaimperial.org/
- Portugal:
-
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/9734/
http://www.portugal-pt.com/JuventudeLusitana/english.htm
- Prussia:
-
http://www.preussen.de/
- Yugoslavia:
-
http://www.royalfamily.org/
Other Sites
- Aga Khan & Family:
-
The Aga Khan Development Network
http://www.akdn.org/
- Albanian Royal Court:
-
http://www.french-market.com/albania/
- Alexander Palace Time Machine:
-
http://alexanderpalace.org/palace/
- Almanach de Bruxelles:
-
http://www.almanach.be/central.html
- Almanach de la Cour:
-
http://www.chivalricorders.org/index3.htm
- Brigitte's Royal & Nobility Genealogy:
-
http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal00.htm
- Caltrap's Corner:
-
http://www.caltraps-corner.com
- Charlotte's Web: Roots - Noble & Royal Genealogies:
-
http://www.charweb.org/gen/noblesse.html
- Christine's Royal Families Page:
-
http://wwwedu.cs.utwente.nl/~kersten/royal.html
- The Crown of Russian Empire:
-
http://www.cs.msu.su/heraldry/
- Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet - Royalty and Nobility:
-
http://www.oz.net/~cyndihow/royalty.htm
- The Database of the Saudi Arabian Royal Family:
-
http://www.ardaman.com/
- De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors:
-
http://www.salve.edu/~dimaiom/deimprom.html
- The European History Web Page:
-
http://www.eurohistory.com
- European Royal Houses:
-
http://www.chivalricorders.org/royalty/index.htm
- The EuroStamm Home Page:
-
http://members.aol.com/eurostamm/index.html
- Federazione Monarchica Italiana:
-
http://www.vol.it/fede_monarc/
- Fundación Príncipe de Asturias:
-
http://www.fpa.es/
- Genealogical Gleanings (Royalty from Cambodia, Fiji, Tonga,
Hawaii, Africa and India):
-
http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy
- German Nobility Database:
-
http://www8.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/html/ww-person.html
- A Glossary of European Noble, Princely, Royal, and Imperial
Titles (aka Mark Odegard's Titles FAQ):
-
http://www.heraldica.org/topics/odegard/titlefaq.htm
- A Glossary of Titles in 35 languages by Alexander Kirschnig
-
http://www.heraldica.org/faqs/titel.htm
- Habsburg Pages:
-
http://otto.twschwarzer.de
- Habsburg Biographies:
-
http://www.booksatoz.com/antiquesatoz/habsburg/habsburg.htm
- Heraldica: François Velde's Heraldry Site:
-
http://www.heraldica.org/
- International Constitutional Law:
-
http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/index.html
- Internet Gotha:
-
http://www8.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/cgi-bin/stoyan/wwp/LANG=engl/?gotha
- Japan, Inc.: The Emperor System and Japan's Royal Family:
-
http://www.vikingphoenix.com/public/JapanIncorporated/postwar/japemps.htm
- Juventude Lusitana (a Portuguese monarchist site):
-
http://www.portugal-pt.com/JuventudeLusitana/english.htm
- Marivi's Royalty Page:
-
http://www.serv.net/~marivim/royalty.html
- The Medici of Florence:
-
http://www.arca.net/tourism/florence/medici.htm
- Monarchy Home Page:
-
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3417/monarchy.html
- Monarchie weltweit:
-
http://home.wtal.de/monarchie/links.htm
- Napoleon Bonaparte:
-
http://www.mindspring.com/~csr/napoleon/napoleon.htm
- Paul Theroff's Royal Genealogy Site:
-
http://www.angelfire.com/realm/gotha/index.html
- Paul Theroff's Online Gotha:
-
http://www.angelfire.com/realm/gotha/gotha/gotha.htm
- Queen Marie of Romania, Papers:
-
http://www.library.kent.edu/speccoll/women/queen.html
- Roberto Ortiz de Zarate's Political Datasets (a web site containing
a current list of heads of state & heads of government):
-
http://web.jet.es/ziaorarr
- The Royal Ark: Royal and Ruling Houses of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas
-
http://www.dreamwater.net/regiment/RoyalArk/royalark.htm
- Royal Descents of famous people:
-
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/users/mh10006/FamTree/famous.royal.html
- Royal Families of the World:
-
http://www.royalfamily.com/
- Royal Houses - Where They Have Been Reigning and When:
-
http://www.users.wineasy.se/elias/houses.htm
- Royal & Noble Lineages:
-
http://www.uq.edu.au/~zzhsoszy/index.html
- Royal Network:
-
http://www.royalnetwork.com/
- Royal Russia:
-
http://angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/index.html
- Royalist's Home Page:
-
http://www.themonarchist.com
- The Royalty in History Site:
-
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kvenjb/kings.htm
- Rulers (heads of state & heads of government):
-
http://www.rulers.org
- Rulers of Bulgaria:
-
http://www.bulgaria.com/history/rulers/
- Spanish Nobiliary Regulations:
-
http://www.ChivalricOrders.org/nobility/spanoble.htm
- The U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library:
-
(constitutions of most of the countries in the world)
http://law.house.gov/1.htm
Back to Table of Contents
I - Associations:
- The Monarchist League
-
BM Monarchist
London WC1N 3XX
United Kingdom
URL: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7993
(you will find addresses of other leagues and associations at this website)
- The Monarchist League in Australia
-
P.O. Box 1068
Double Bay, NSW 2028
Australia
e-mail: Phillip_Benwell@monarchist.org.au
URL: http://www.monarchist.org.au
- The Constantian Society
-
(a monarchist organization with educational goals and activities)
URL: http://www.put.com/~monarchy/
II - Mail Order:
- Hatchards
-
Attention: Robin Piguet
187 Piccadilly
London, W1V 9DA
United Kingdom
e-mail:
187picc@hatchards.co.uk
- Heraldry Today
-
Parliament Piece
Ramsbury, Wiltshire SN8 2QH
United Kingdom
e-mail:
heraldry@heraldrytoday.co.uk
URL:
http://www.heraldrytoday.co.uk
(specialists for books on genealogy, heraldry and royalty)
- International Historic Films, Inc.
-
Dept. S
P.O. Box 29035
Chicago, IL 60629
U.S.A.
(videos of such categories as 'British Heritage' and 'European Royals' for sale)
URL:
http://www.viamall.com/ihf/index.html
- Librairie des Editions Christian
-
14, rue Littré
75006 Paris, France
URL:
http://www.karolus.org/christian/index.htm
- Rainy Day Books
-
P.O. Box 775
Route 119
Fitzwilliam, NH 03447
U.S.A.
- Rosemary Bennett Rare Books
-
1077 SW13th Avenue
Albany, OR 97321
U.S.A.
(specializing in books about royalty; write for free brochure)
- Rosvall Royal Books
-
Enasen-Falekvarna
S-52191 Falköping
Sweden
e-mail:
ted.rosvall@falköping.mail.telia.com
(new and antiquarian royal books in various languages)
III - Periodicals:
- C.E.D.R.E. (Cercle d'Etudes des dynasties royales européennes)
-
12, allée des Jonquilles
F-60260 Lamorlaye, France
(quarterly bulletins, in French, about various royal and noble families)
- Deutsches Adelsblatt GmbH
- Westerbrak 10
37619 Kirchbrak
Germany
(monthly publication, in German, of the Vereinigung der
Deutschen Adelsverbaende)
- The European Royalty History Journal
-
(six issues per year)
Eurohistory.com
110 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
U.S.A.
Phone: (510) 839-4676
Fax: (510) 839-4645
e-mail: books@eurohistory.com
URL:
http://www.eurohistory.com/journal.html
- Journal of Royal & Noble Genealogy: An International Journal of the Augustan Society,
Inc.
-
The Augustan Society, Inc.
P.O. Box P
Torrance, CA 90508-0210
U.S.A.
- Majesty Magazine
-
P.O. Box 301069
Escondido, CA 92030
U.S.A.
(for American and Canadian subscriptions)
Majesty Subscriptions
Tower House, Sovereign Park, Lathkill Street
Market Halborough
Leicester LE16 9EF
United Kingdom
(for UK and overseas subscriptions)
(a monthly magazine focussing on royal families)
- Point de Vue
-
Service Abonnement
70, rue Compans
F-75019 Paris, France
(a weekly magazine focussing on British and European royalty and nobility, in French)
- Royal Book News
-
Marlene Koenig
5590 Jowett Court
Alexandria, VA 22315
U.S.A.
(bi-monthly newsletter for and about royal books)
e-mail:
makoenig@delphi.com
- Royalty
-
P.O. Box 3278
803 Finchley Road
London NW11 8DP
United Kingdom
(a monthly magazine, similar to Majesty magazine)
- Royalty Digest
-
Church Street
Ticehurst, East Sussex TN57 AA
United Kingdom
(a monthly magazine available on subscription)
IV - Publishers:
- abiszet Bücher-service GmbH
- Geschäftsführer: Dipl.-Volkswirt
Ulrich Kraus
Oberländerstr. 21
D-93051 Regensburg
Germany
e-mail: uk@a-zet.de
URL: http://www.a-zet.de
- C.A.Starke Verlag
-
Frankfurterstrasse 51/53
D-65549 Limburg/Lahn
Germany
e-mail: starkeverlag@t-online.de
URL: http://www.edition-digital.com/starkeverlag/index.html
- Verlag Degener & Co.
- Postfach 1360
D-91403 Neustadt/Aisch
Germany
e-mail: degener@waldenfont.com
URL: http://www.waldenfont.com/degener/
Back to Table of Contents
This section features a selection of electronic, or on-line,
magazines that occasionally feature articles about members
of royal or noble families. For non-electronic magazines,
please see "Periodicals" in Part IV: 2. Useful Addresses.
- ABC Electronico (Spanish-language)
- http://www.abc.es
- Aftonbladet (Swedish-language)
- http://www.aftonbladet.se
- Hola/Hello (Spanish- and English-language)
- http://www.hola.es
- Monaco Actualité (French-language)
- http://www.monaco.mc/actualite/index.html
- Paris Match (French-language)
- http://www.parismatch.com
- tuSpain (English-language)
- http://tuspain.com/index.html
Back to Table of Contents
The bibliography is divided into three sections:
- Biographies, Histories & Related Works
- Genealogies & Related Works
- General
Each of the sections are divided into nine language categories in
the following order: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German,
Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish.
Danish-Language Books:
-
Bramsen, Bo. Huset Glücksborg, 2 Vols., 1992
-
Buchwaldt, Randi. Prinsesse Benedikte: Prinsessen i midten.
Copenhagen: Forenede Udgivere, 1994
-
Wolden-Raethinge, Anne. Dronning I Danmark: Margrethe den Anden
fortaeller om sit liv. Photos by Georg Oddner. Gyldendal, 1989
Dutch-Language Books:
-
Ditzhuyzen, Reina van. Oranje-Nassau: een biografisch
woordenboek. Haarlem: Becht, 1992 [biographical & genealogical
dictionary of the Royal House of Nassau]
-
Ruizendaal, Willem. Nassau & Oranje: 600 jaar geschiedenis van
ons vorstenhuis van Engelbert I tot Willem-Alexander. Baarn:
Tirion, 1995
-
Schenk, M.G. Een Eeuw Vorstinnen: Honderd Jaar Vrouwen op de
Nederlandse Troon. Amsterdam: De Boekerig, 1989
English-Language Books:
-
The European Royal Families. St. Gallen, Switzerland: Editions
Norden, 1993
-
Great Dynasties: Capets, Hohenstaufens, Plantagenets, Hapsburgs,
Valois, Stuarts, Tudors, Bourbons of France, Romanovs, Braganzas,
Bourbons of Spain, Hohenzollerns, House of Savoy, House of
Hanover-Windsor, Bourbons of Naples, Bonapartes. New York:
Mayflower Books, 1979
-
Alderson, A.D. The Structure of the Ottoman Dynasty. Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1956 [Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1982]
-
Aronson, Theo. Defiant Dynasty: the Coburgs of Belgium.
Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1968 [alternate title: The Coburgs
of Belgium. London: Cassell, 1969]
-
-----. A Family of Kings: the descendants of Christian IX of
Denmark. London: Cassell, 1976
-
-----. Grandmama of Europe: the crowned descendants of Queen
Victoria. London: Cassell, 1973
-
-----. The Kaisers. London: Cassell, 1971 [Indianapolis:
Bobbs-Merrill, 1971]
-
-----. Royal Vendetta: the crown of Spain, 1829-1965.
Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1966 [London: Oldbourne, 1967]
-
Behr, Edward. Hirohito: behind the myth. London: Hamish
Hamilton Ltd.; New York: Villard Books, 1989 [New York: Vintage
Books, 1990]
-
Bennett, Daphne. Vicky: Princess Royal of England and German
Empress. London: Collins, Harvill, 1971 [New York: St. Martin's
Press, 1971]
-
Bergamini, John D. The Spanish Bourbons: the history of a tenacious
dynasty. New York: Putnam, 1974
-
-----. The Tragic Dynasty: a history of the Romanovs. New York:
Putnam, 1969 [New York: Putnam, 1972]
-
Bjaaland, Patricia C. The Norwegian Royal Family. Oslo: TANO, 1986
-
Blankenship, Gayle King. Royal and Noble Familes of Medieval
Europe. Poquoson, VA: G.K. Blankenship, 1993
-
Bokhanov, Alexander, ... et. al. The Romanovs: love, power &
tragedy. (translated by Lyudmila Xenofontova). London: Leppi, 1993
-
Boulay, Laure & Françoise Jaudel. There are Still Kings: The ten
royal families of Europe. New York: Clarkson N. Potter Inc., 1984
-
Brewster, Hugh. Anastasia's Album. New York: Hyperion Books for
Children,1996
-
Chapman-Huston, Desmond. Ludwig II. New York: Dorset Press, 1990
-
Chavchavadze, David, Prince. The Grand Dukes. New York: Atlantic
International Publications, 1990
-
Chichibu, HIH Princess (Setsuko). The Silver Drum: an imperial
memoir. (translated by Dorothy Britton). Kent, Conn.: Global
Books, 1996
-
Constant, Stephen. Foxy Ferdinand, 1861-1948, Tsar of Bulgaria.
London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1979 [New York: Franklin Watts, 1980]
-
Crewe, Quentin. The Last Maharaja: a biography of Sawai Man
Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur. London: M. Joseph, 1985
-
Curley, Walter J.P., Jr. Monarchs-in-Waiting. New York: Dodd,
Mead and Company, 1973 [alternate title: Monarchs in Waiting.
London: Hutchinson, 1975]
-
Davis, Reginald. Royal Families of the World. London: Collins, 1978
-
-----. The Royal Family of Thailand. London: Nicholas Publications,
1981
-
Diesbach, Ghislain de. Secrets of the Gotha. New York: Meredith
Press, 1968
-
Dimitroff, Pashanko. Boris III of Bulgaria: Toiler Citizen King.
1986 [Bulgarian title: Boris III, ëtìsar na Bulgariëiìa, 1894-1943,
published 1990]
-
Duff, David. Hessian Tapestry. London: Muller, 1967 [Newton Abbot
[Eng.]; North Pomfret, Vt.: David & Charles, 1979]
-
Edwards, Anne. The Grimaldis of Monaco. New York: Morrow, 1992
-
-----. Throne of Gold: the lives of the Aga Khans. New York:
Morrow, 1995
-
Erickson, Carolly. Great Catherine. New York: Crown Publishers,
1994 [New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1995]
-
Fenyvesi, Charles. Splendor in Exile: The ex-majesties of Europe.
Washington, D.C.: New Republic Books, 1979
-
Finestone, Jeffrey. The Royal Family of Thailand: the descendants
of King Chulalongkorn. Bangkok: Phitsanulok Pub. Co., 1989
-
Fujitani, Takashi. Splendid Monarchy: power and pagentry in
modern Japan. Berkley: University of California Press, 1996
-
Grabbe, Alexander, Count. The Private World of the Last Tsar: in
the photographs and notes of General Count Alexander Grabbe.
(edited by Paul and Beatrice Grabbe). Boston: Little, Brown, 1984
-
Greve, Tim. Haakon VII of Norway: founder of a new monarchy.
(translated from the Norwegian and edited by Thomas Kingston Derry),
London: Hurst, 1983
Hall, Trevor. The Golden Age of Royalty: photography from
1858-1930. New Malden, Surrey, England: Colour Library, 1981
[Secaucus, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, Inc., 1981]
-
Hohenzollern, Paul of. King Carol II: a life of my grandfather.
London. Methuen, 1988
-
Judd, Denis. Eclipse of Kings: European monarchies in the Twentieth
Century. London: Book Club Associates, 1976 [New York: Stein and
Day, 1976]
-
King, Greg. The Last Empress: the Life and Times of Alexandra
Feodorovna, Tsarina of Russia. New York: Carol Pub. Group, 1994
-
Kurth, Peter. Anastasia: the riddle of Anna Anderson. Boston:
Little, Brown & Co., 1983
-
-----. Tsar: the lost world of Nicholas and Alexandra. Boston,
Toronto: Little, Brown & Co., 1995
-
Lacey, Robert. Aristocrats. London: Hutchinson, 1983 [Toronto:
McClelland & Stewart Limited, 1983]
-
-----. Grace. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1984 [Thorndike, Me.:
G.K. Hall; Bath, Avon, England: Chivers Press, 1995]
-
-----. The Kingdom. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1982
[history of Saudi Arabia]
-
Large, Stephen S. Emperor Hirohito and Showa Japan: a political
biography. London; New York: Routledge, 1992
-
Lebra, Takie Sugiyama. Above the Clouds: status culture of the
modern Japanese nobility. Berkeley: University of California Press,
1993
-
Marie, Princess of Greece. A Romanov Diary: the autobiography of
H.I. & R.H. Grand Duchess George. New York: Atlantic International
Publications, 1988
-
Massie, Robert K. Nicholas and Alexandra. New York: Atheneum, 1967
[London: Gollancz, 1967]
-
-----. Peter the Great: his life and world. New York: Knopf, 1980
[New York: Wings Books, 1991]
-
-----. The Romanov Family Album. London: Allen Lane, 1982 [New
York: The Vendome Press, 1982]
-
-----. The Romanovs: the final chapter. New York: Random House,
1995
-
Massie, Robert K. & Jeffrey Finestone. The Last Courts of Europe:
a royal family album, 1860-1914. London: J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd.,
1981 [New York: The Vendome Press, 1981]
-
Maylunas, Andrei & Sergei Mironenko. A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas
and Alexandra: their own story. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson,
1996 [New York: Doubleday, 1997]
-
Michael, Prince of Greece & Alan Palmer. The Royal House of
Greece. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1990
-
Michael, Prince of Greece & Andrei Maylunas. Nicholas and
Alexandra: the family albums. London: Tauris Parke Books, 1992
-
Mikos de Tarrodhaza, Charles, Teodoro Amerlinck y Zirion & David
Williamson. The Imperial House of Mexico: the house of Iturbe.
Petergate, York.: Quacks the Booklet Printer, 1994
-
Noel, Gerard. Ena: Spain's English Queen. London: Constable, 1984
-
Normington, Susan. Napoleon's Children. Dover, N.H.: A. Sutton, 1993
-
Pakula, Hannah. The Last Romantic: a biography of Queen Marie of
Romania. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1985
-
-----. An Uncommon Woman: The Empress Frederick, Daughter of
Queen Victoria, Wife of the Crown Prince of Prussia, Mother of
Kaiser Wilhelm. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995
-
Palmer, Alan. The Kaiser: warlord of the Second Reich. London:
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1978
-
-----. Twilight of the Habsburgs: the life and times of Emperor
Francis Joseph. New York: Grove Press, 1995
-
Papanicolaou, Lilika S. Frederica, Queen of the Hellenes: Mission
of a Modern Queen. San Gwann, Malta: Publishers Enterprises
Group (PEG) Ltd., 1994
-
Ponsonby Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. The Imperial House of
Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Fane Memorial Society, 1959.
-
Powell, Charles T. Juan Carlos of Spain: self-made monarch.
New York: St.Martin's Press, 1996
-
Powell, William. Saudi Arabia and its Royal Family. Secaucus, N.J.:
L. Stuart, 1982
-
Pratt, Michael, Lord. The Great Country Houses of Central Europe:
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland. New York: Abbeville Press, 1991
-
Pu-Yi, Emperor of China. From Emperor to Citizen. Oxford University
Press, 1990
-
Radzinsky, Edvard. The Last Tsar. New York: Doubleday, 1992
-
Raleigh, Donald J., ed., & compiled by A.A. Iskenderov. The
Emperors and Empresses of Russia: rediscovering the Romanovs.
Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe, 1996
-
Robyns, Gwen. Geraldine of the Albanians: the authorised biography.
London: Muller, Blond & White, 1987
-
Rowen, Herbert H. The Princes of Orange: the stadholders in the
Dutch Republic. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]; New York: Cambridge
University Press, 1988
-
Rubincam, Milton. America's Only Royal Family: genealogy of the
former Hawaiian ruling house. Washington, D.C.: National
Genealogical Society, 1968
-
Tantzos, G. Nicholas. The Inheritors of Alexander the Great:
an illustrated history. New York: Atlantic International
Publishers, 1986
-
-----. King by Chance: a biographical novel of King George I of
Greece,. Sutton, 1996
-
Viktoria Luise, Princess of Prussia. The Kaiser's Daughter.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1965
-
Villalonga, José Luis. The King. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson,
1995 [biography of King Juan Carlos of Spain]
-
Vorres, Ian. The Last Grand Duchess: Her Imperial Highness Grand
Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. London: Hutchinson, 1964 [New York:
Scribner, 1965]
-
Watson, Sophia. Marina: The story of a princess. London:
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1994
-
Williamson, David. Debrett's Kings and Queens of Europe.
Topsfield, Mass.: Salem House Publishers, 1986
-
Wolden-Raethinge, Anne. Queen in Denmark: Margrethe II talks
about her life. Photos by Georg Oddner. Gyldendal, 1989
French-Language Books:
-
Béarn, Stéphane. Les couronnes de l'exil. Paris: Balland, 1990
-
Behr, Edward. Hiro Hito: l'empereur ambigu. Paris: Robert Laffond,
1989
-
Boulay, Laure & Françoise Jaudel. Il est encore des rois. Paris:
Presses de la Cité, 1981
-
Brégeon, Jean-Joël. Les Grimaldi de Monaco. Paris: Criterion, 1991
-
Cannuyer, Christian. Belgique est leur nom: 160 ans d'histoire de
notre dynastie nationale, 1831-1991. Izegem, Belgique: Editions
Illustra, 1991
-
-----. Les maisons royales et souveraines d'Europe. Paris:
Editions Brépols, 1989
-
Colin, Gerty. Rois et reines de Belgique: l'histoire émouvante
des châtelains de Laeken. Paris: Presses de la Cité, 1993
-
Corti, Egon César, comte. Elisabeth d'Autriche: "Sissi". Paris:
Payot, 1987 [rep. ed.]
-
Dayez-Burgeon, Pascal. La reine Astrid: histoire d'un mythe. Paris:
Criterion, 1995
-
Decaux, Alain. Monaco et ses princes: sept siècles d'histoire. 1997
-
Des Cars, Jean. Les châteaux fous de Louis II de Bavière. Paris:
Perrin, 1986
-
-----. Il était une fois Monaco: une famille, 700 ans d'histoire.
Paris: Editions du Rocher, 1996
-
Dugast Rouillé, Michel. Charles de Habsbourg, le dernier empereur
(1887-1922). Paris: J. Duculot, 1991
-
Edwards, Anne. Les Grimaldi: histoire d'une dynastie. Paris:
Editions Belfond, 1993
-
Eugénie, princesse de Grèce. Le Tsarévitch: enfant martyr. Paris:
Perrin, 1990
-
Ferrand, Jacques. Romanoff, album de famille. Paris: Librairie
Galignani, 1989 & 1990.
-
Foran de Saint-Bar, Thomas. Portrait d'un Roi: Pierre II de
Yougoslavie. Serg, 1973
-
Gauthier, Guy. Les aigles et les lions: histoire des monarchies
balkaniques de 1817 à 1974. Paris: Editions France-Empire, 1996
-
-----. Missy: reine de Roumanie. Paris: Editions France-Empire,
1994
-
Henri, Comte de Paris. Mémoires d'exil et de combats. Paris:
Atelier Marcel Jullian, 1979
-
Henri d'Orléans, prince de France, comte de Clermont. A mes fils.
Paris: Albin Michel, 1990
-
Isabelle, Comtesse de Paris. Mon bonheur de grand-mère. Paris:
Robert Laffont, 1995
-
-----. Tout m'est bonheur. Paris: Robert Laffont, 1978-1981
-
Kermina, Françoise. Bernadotte et Désirée Clary: le Béarnais et
la Marsaillaise, souverains de Suède. Paris: Perrin, 1991
-
Lafontaine, Paul. Notre Dynastie. 1991 [history & genealogy of
the Luxembourg dynasty]
-
Le Hête, Thierry. Les Capétiens, le livre du millénaire. Paris:
Editions Christian, 1987
-
Mension-Rigau, Eric. Aristocrates et grands bourgeois: éducation,
traditions, valeurs. Paris: Plon, 1994
-
Metzger, Laurent. Les sultanats de Malaisie: un régime monarchique
au vingtième siècle. Paris: Harmattan, 1994
-
Paul, prince de Hohenzollern-Roumanie. Carol II roi de Roumanie.
Paris: Denoël, 1990
-
Séguy, Philippe & Antoine Michelland. Fabiola: la reine blanche.
Paris: Bayard, 1995
-
Stephany, Pierre & Henri van Daele. Cinq Rois. 1989 [history of
Belgium's royal family]
-
Taubert-Natta, Bernard, baron & Georges Martin. Le sang des Bade.
La Ricamarie: G. Martin, 1982
-
Troyat, Henri. Alexandre II, le tsar libérateur. Paris:
Flammarion, 1990
-
Valynseele, Joseph. Les maréchaux de Napoléon III: leur
famille et leur descendance. Paris: Valynseele, 1980
-
Viguié-Desplaces, Philippe. Sa majesté le roi Michel de Roumanie,
le règne inachevé. Paris: Michel Lafon, 1982.
German-Language Books:
-
Brook-Shepherd, Gordon. Zita, die letzte Kaiserin. (translated
by Gunther Martin). Wien: Zsolnay, 1993
-
Brunswick, Duchess Viktoria Luise of. Deutschlands Letzte
Kaiserin. Goettingen: Goettinger Verlagsanstalt, 1971 [biography
of Empress Auguste Viktoria]
-
Cordfunke, E.H.P. Zita: Kaiserin von Österreich, Königin von
Ungarn. Vienna: Böhlau, 1986
-
Griesser-Pecar, Tamara. Zita: die Wahrheit uber Europas letzte
Kaiserin. Bergisch Gladbach: G. Lubbe, 1985
-
Praschl-Bichler, Gabriele. Das Familienalbum von Kaiser Franz
Joseph und Elisabeth. Wien: Ueberreuter, 1995
-
-----. Das Familienalbum von Kaiser Karl und Kaiserin Zita.
Wien: Ueberreuter, 1996
-
Prussia, Prince Louis-Ferdinand of. Die Geschichte meines
Lebens. Goettingen: Goettinger Verlagsanstalt, 1968 [autobiography
of Prince Louis-Ferdinand]
-
Ritthaler, Anton. Die Hohenzollern. Moers: Steiger, 1979
-
Schad, Martha. Bayerns Königinnen, Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich
Pustet, 1992
-
-----. Bayerns Königshaus: die Familiengeschichte der Wittlesbacher
in Bildern. Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich Pustet, 1994
-
-----. Das fürstliche Haus Thurn und Taxis: 300 Jahre Geschichte
in Bildern. Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich Pustet, 1996
-
Schubert, Ludwig and Rolf Seelman-Eggebert. Europas Königshäuser.
Koeln: vgs, 1991
-
von Schmettow, Dr. Count Matthias. Gedenkbuch des deutschen Adels.
Limburg/Lahn: C.A. Starke Verlag, 1967 [Nachtrag (addendum), 1980]
[memorial book of the German nobility; lists all nobles who fell
in W.W.II]
-
von Studnitz, Major-Gen. Benno. Kurzer Abriss der Familiengeschichte
derer von Studnitz. Breslau: C. Duelser, 1889 [von Studnitz family
history & genealogy]
-
Ziehr, Wilhelm. Europas Fürstenhäuser. Koeln: vgs, 1995
Italian-Language Books:
-
Bracalini, Romano & Maria Gabriella di Savoia & Michele Falzone
del Barbaráo. Casa Savoia: diario di una monarchia. Milano:
A. Mondadori,1996
Norwegian-Language Books:
-
Benkow, Jo. Olav: menneske og monark. Oslo: Gyldendal norsk
forlag, 1991
-
Benkow, Jo & A.B. Wilse. Haakon, Maud & Olav: Et minnealbum
i tekst og bilder. 1989
-
Greve, Tim. Haakon VII: menneske og monark. Oslo: Gyldendal, 1980
-
Möller, Arvid. Dronning Maud: et portrett. Oslo: J. W. Cappelens
forlag, 1992
-
-----. Kronprinsesse Märtha: hustru, mor, medmenneske. Oslo:
Cappelen, 1990
-
Rosenberg, Brita. Astrid: Prinsesse av Norge. 1988
Spanish-Language Books:
-
Anson, Luis María. Don Juan. Barcelona: Plaza y Janés Editores,
1994 [biography of Juan, Count of Barcelona, late father of King
Juan Carlos of Spain]
-
Balansó, Juan. La Casa Real de Espana. 1985
-
-----. La Familia Real y la familia irreal. Barcelona: Editorial
Planeta, 1992 [history & genealogy of the Spanish dynasty in all
its branches]
-
-----. La Familia Rival. Barcelona: Editorial Planeta, 1994
[history & genealogy of the Bourbon-Parma family]
-
Urbano, Pilar. La Reina. Barcelona: Plaza y Janes, 1996
[interviews with Queen Sofia of Spain]
-
Vilallonga, José Luis de. El Rey. Barcelona: Plaza y Janes, 1993
[biography of Juan Carlos, King of Spain]
Swedish-Language Books:
-
Hammarsten, Charles and Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg. Victoria:
Kronprinsessa av Sverige. 1995
Danish-Language Books:
- Aagaard, Bent. Kongernes Lysthus. Copenhagen: Hamlet, 1978
English-Language Books:
-
Burke's Royal Families of the World, Vol. 1, Europe and Latin
America, London: Burke's Publishing Co., 1977
-
Burke's Royal Families of the World, Vol. 2, Africa and the
Middle East, London: Burke's Publishing Co., 1980
-
A Genealogy of the Mohammedzai, the royal family of Afghanistan.
195-?
-
Royalty, Peerage & Nobility of Europe, 96th ed. of the Almanach
de la Noblesse de France (in English), 1997
-
Addington, A.C. The Royal House of Stuart: the descendants of
King James VI of Scotland, James I of England, 3 Vols. London:
Skilton, 1969-1976
-
Brewer-Ward, Daniel. The House of Habsburg: a genealogy of the
descendants of Empress Maria Theresia. Baltimore: Genealogical
Pub. Co., 1996
-
Broek, Pieter. A Genealogy of the Romanov Dynasty from the
Emperor Nicholas I to the present time. London: Noble House
Publications, 1994
-
Corfield, Justin J. The Royal Family of Cambodia. 2nd ed.
Melbourne, Australia: The Khmer Language and Culture Center, 1993
[descendants of King Ang Eng of Cambodia, 1779-1796]
-
Lake, Christopher. European Rulers 1060-1981: a cross-referenced
genealogy with 162 pedigrees. 1981
-
Louda, Jirí and Michael Maclagan. Heraldry of the Royal Families
of the World. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., Publishers,
1981 [alternate title: Lines of Succession: heraldry of the royal
families of the World. London: Macdonald; New York: Macmillan;
Toronto: Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1991]
-
McNaughton, Arnold. The Book of Kings: a royal genealogy.
New York: Quadrangle, 1973
-
Marquis of Ruvigny & Raineval. Titled Nobility of Europe: an
international peerage, or "Who's who", of the sovereigns, princes
and nobles of Europe. London: Harrison & Sons, 1914 [reprint ed.
London: Burke's Publishing Co., 1980]
-
Paget, Gerald. The Lineage and Ancestry of HRH Prince Charles,
Prince of Wales, 2 Vols. Edinburgh: Skilton, 1977
-
Reitwiesner, William Addams. The Lesbian Ancestors of Prince
Rainier of Monaco, Dr. Otto von Habsburg, Brooke Shields, and the
Marquis de Sade. Washington: W.A. Reitwiesner, 1995
-
-----. Matrilineal Descents of the European Royalty: a work in
progress. Washington, D.C.: W.A. Reitwiesner, 1993
French-Language Books:
-
Almanach de Gotha (various editions, from 1763 to 1944)
-
Etat présent de la maison de Bourbon, Quatrième Edition, 1991
Anselme, Le Père. Histoire Généalogique et Chronologique de la
Maison Royale de France, des Pairs, Grand Officiers de la Couronne
et de la Maison du Roy et des Anciens Barons du Royaume. Paris,
1726/32 [reprint 1991]
-
Badts de Cugnac, Chantal de & Guy Coutant de Saisseval. Le Petit
Gotha. Paris: Institut Henri V, 1993
-
Carretier, Christian. Les ancêtres de Louis XIV, 512 quartiers.
Paris: Editions Christian, 1981
-
Cuny, Hubert & Nicole Dreneau. Le Gotha français: état présent
des familles ducales et princières depuis 1940. Paris:
L'Intermédiaire des chercheurs et curieux, 1989
-
Dugast Rouillé, Michel. Descendance, ascendance de Charles et
Zita de Habsbourg, empereur et impératrice d'Autriche.
Saint-Herblain (France): CID Editions, 1995
-
Duroselle, Geneviève & Denys Prache. Les rois de France.
Paris: Hatier, 1995
-
Enache, Nicolas. La descendance de Marie Thérèse de Habsbourg,
reine de Hongrie et de Bohême. 1996
-
-----. La descendance de Pierre le Grand, tsar de Russie. Paris:
Sedopols, 1983
-
Ferrand, Jacques. Il est toujours des Romanov!: les Romanov en
1995. Paris: J. Ferrand, 1995
-
Gmeline, Patrick de. Dictionnaire de la noblesse russe. Paris:
Editions Contrepoint, 1978
-
Gouyé Martignac, Gérald & Michel Sementéry. La descendance de
Joséphine, impératrice des Français. Paris: Editions Christian, 1994
-
Huberty, Michel, et. al. L'Allemagne Dynastique: les quinzes
familles qui ont fait l'Empire, Tomes I à VIII. Le Perreux:
A. Giraud, 1976 -
-
Kerrebrouck, Patrick Van. La Maison de Bourbon, 1256-1987:
Nouvelle histoire généalogique de l'auguste Maison de France,
sept volumes, Villeneuve d'Ascq, 1987
-
Le Hête, Thierry. Les comtes Palatins de Bourgogne et leur
descendance agnatique: généalogie et histoire d'une dynastie
sur huit siècles (IXème-XVIIème siècle). La Bonneville-sur-Iton:
T. Le Hête, 1995
-
Manach, Daniel. La descendance de Louis-Philippe Ier, roi des
Français. Paris: Editions Christian, 1985
-
Parisot, Jacques & Nelly. La descendance de François-Joseph Ier,
empereur d'Autriche. Paris: Editions Christian, 1984.
-
-----. La descendance de Guillaume Ier, empereur allemand, roi de
Prusse. Paris: Editions Christian, 1987
-
Sementéry, Michel. La descendance de Nicolas Ier, roi de
Monténégro. Paris: Editions Christian, 1985
-
Toumanoff, Cyrille. Catalogue de la noblesse titrée de l'Empire
de Russie. Rome, 1982
-
-----. Les Dynasties de la Caucasie Chrétienne de l'Antiquité
jusqu'au XIXe Siècle. Rome, 1990
Tulard, Jean. Napoléon et la noblesse d'Empire: avec la liste
complète des membres de la noblesse impériale, 1808-1815.
Paris: Tallandier, 1979
German-Language Books:
-
Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels. Limburg/Lahn: C.A. Starke
(various editions, 1951- )
-
Europaische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der
europaieschen Staaten (begun by Wilhelm Karl, Prinz zu Isenburg,
continued by Frank, Baron Freytag von Loringhoven; new series by
Detlev Schwennicke) Marburg: Stargardt, 1978-
-
Kneschke, Prof. Dr. Ernst Heinrich. Neues allgemeines Deutsches
Adels-Lexicon (9 volumes). Leipzig: Friedrich Vogt, 1859-186-
[reprint Neustadt/Aisch: Verlag fuer Kunstreproduktionen Christoph
Schmidt, 1995] [comprehensive listing of all German noble families,
living and extinct]
-
Posse, Otto. Die Wettiner: Genealogie des Gesamthauses. Leipzig,
Berlin: Giesecke & Devrient, 1897 [reprint ed. Leipzig:
Zentralantiquariat Leipzig, 1994]
Italian-Language Books:
-
Libro d'Oro Della Nobilità Italiano, Rome: Collego Araldico
1990-94 (ed. XX)
Spanish-Language Books:
-
Elenco de Grandezas y Titulos Nobiliarios Españ;oles, Madrid:
Ediciones de la Revista Hidalguia, 1997
-
Sampedro, José Luis. La descendencia de don Alfonso XIII. 1991
-
Zorilla y Gonzales de Mendoz, Francisco Javier. Genealogia de la
casa de Borbon de Españ;a. Madrid: Editora Nacional, 1971
Swedish-Language Books:
-
Rosvall, Ted. Bernadotte-Ättlingar, Ted Rosvall, Falköping,
Sweden: Rosvall Royal Books, 1992
English-Language Books:
-
Constitutions of the Countries of the World: a series of updated
texts, constitutional chronologies and annotated bibliographies.
Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 1991. 19 volumes +
supplements
-
The Europa World Year Book, London, England: Europa Publications
Limited, 1989-
-
Gurney, Gene. Kingdoms of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa: an
illustrated encyclopedia of ruling monarchs from ancient times
to the present. New York: Crown Publishers, 1986
-
-----. Kingdoms of Europe: an illustrated encyclopedia of ruling
monarchs from ancient times to the present. New York: Crown
Publishers, 1982
-
Michael, Prince of Greece. Crown Jewels of Britain and Europe.
J.M. Dent, 1983 (Harper & Row, 1983; Crescent Books, 1986)
Motley, Mark. Becoming a French Aristocrat: the education of the
court nobility, 1580-1715. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University
Press, 1990
-
Pinches, John H. European Nobility and Heraldry: a comparative
study of the titles of nobility and their heraldic exterior
ornaments for each country, with historical notes. Ramsbury,
Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1994
-
Sainty, Guy Stair. The Orders of Chivalry and Merit of the Bourbon
Two Sicilies Dynasty. Madrid: S.M.O.C.S.G., 1989 [includes the
history & genealogy of the royal family of the Two Sicilies]
-
Tapsell, R.F. Monarchs, Rulers, Dynasties and Kingdoms of the
World. London: Thames & Huson, 1983
-
Twining, Lord. History of the Crown Jewels of Europe. Batsford,
1960
French-Language Books:
-
Texier, Alain. Qu'est-ce-que la noblesse?: annexes, textes et
décisions jurisprudentielles, planches de blasons, lexique de
droit nobiliaire, index pratique. Paris: Tallandier, 1988
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AUTHORED BY:
Yvonne Demoskoff
CONTRIBUTIONS BY:
Dag T. Hoelseth, Marlene Koenig, Noel S. McFerran, Eric-Jan
Noomen, William Addams Reitwiesner, Mark Anthony Rodriguez,
Gilbert von Studnitz and François Velde.
COPYRIGHT:
Copyright © 1998-
by François Velde. All rights reserved.
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