The ruling dynasty of which country is the youngest. Brief information about some famous surnames and dynasties of Europe. Great Renaissance

Despite the fact that we live in a world where there is more and more talk about democracy and electoral systems, dynastic traditions are still strong in many countries. All the dynasties of Europe are similar to each other. Moreover, each dynasty is special in its own way.

Windsors (Great Britain), since 1917

The youngest

British monarchs are genealogically representatives of the Hanoverian and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty, and more widely - the Wettins, who had estates in Hanover and Saxony.

During the First World War, King George V decided that it was wrong to be called in German and in 1917 a proclamation was issued according to which the descendants of Queen Victoria, representing the Hanoverian dynasty, and Prince Albert in the male line, British subjects, were declared members of the new House of Windsor, and in 1952, Elizabeth II improved the document in her favor, declaring members of the house and her descendants who are not descendants of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the male line. That is, de facto, from the point of view of a normal monarchical genealogy, Prince Charles and his descendants are not Windsors, the dynasty is interrupted by Elizabeth II, and they belong to the Glücksburg branch of the Oldenburg house, which rules in Denmark and Norway, because Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip is from there. By the way, the Russian Emperor Peter III and all his offspring in the male line, too - from the Oldenburg house by blood.

Bernadotte (Sweden), from 1810

The most revolutionary

The son of a lawyer from Gascony, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte chose a military career and became a general during french revolution. Relations with Napoleon did not work out from the very beginning, the ambitious Gascon considered himself better than Bonaparte, but he fought very successfully for the emperor. In 1810, the Swedes offered him to become the adopted son of a childless king, and, after he accepted Lutheranism, they approved him as crown prince, and soon as regent and de facto ruler of Sweden. He entered into an alliance with Russia and fought against the French in 1813-1814, personally led the troops. So the current ruler Carl XVI Gustav is very similar to the Gascon nose.

Glucksburgs (Denmark, Norway), since 1825

The most Russian

The full name of the dynasty is Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg aya. And they themselves are a branch of the Oldenburg house, the interweaving of the descendants of which is extremely complex, they ruled in Denmark, and in Norway, and in Greece, and in the Baltic states, and even under the name of the Romanovs - in Russia. The fact is that Peter III and his descendants, according to all dynastic rules, are just Glücksburg. In Denmark, the Glücksburgs are now represented by Margrethe II, and in Norway by Harald V.

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, from 1826

The most accommodating

The family of the dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha originates from the ancient German house of Wettin. As was customary in the 18th-19th centuries, the descendants of various German offshoots of the ancient ruling houses were actively used in dynastic marriages. And so the Saxe-Coburg-Gothas did not spare their offspring for the common cause. This tradition was first laid by Catherine II, who married her grandson Konstantin Pavlovich Duchess Juliana (in Russia - Anna).

Then Anna married her relative Leopold to the British Princess Charlotte, and his sister Victoria, married to Edward of Kent, gave birth to a daughter, Victoria, who would become the most famous British queen. And her son Prince Alfred (1844-1900), Duke of Edinburgh, married Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, sister of Alexander III. In 1893, the prince inherited the title of Duke of Coburg and it turned out that an Englishman and a Russian were at the head of the German family. Their granddaughter Princess Alix became the wife of Nicholas II. The Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty is genealogically now on the British throne and completely without any reservations - in Belgian in the person of Philippe Leopold Louis Marie.

Orange dynasty (Netherlands), from 1815

The most power-hungry

The descendants of the glorious Williams of Orange regained their influence in the Netherlands only after the final defeat of Napoleon, when the Congress of Vienna established monarchical rule there. The wife of the second king of the Netherlands, Willem II, was the sister of Alexander I and the daughter of Paul I, Anna Pavlovna, so the current king, Willem Alexander, is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Paul I. In addition, the modern royal family, although it continues to classify itself as part of the Orange dynasty, is actually the grandmother of Willem Alexander Juliana belongs to the House of Mecklenburg, and Queen Beatrix to the Westphalian princely house of Lippe. This dynasty can be called powerless because the three previous queens abdicated in favor of their descendants.

Parma Bourbons (Luxembourg), since 1964

The most seedy

On the whole, the Parma line of the Bourbons was at one time a rather famous and ambitious Italian dynasty, but it fell into almost complete decline with the loss of its fiefdoms in late XIX century. So she would have vegetated, being a more or less successful aristocratic family, but one of the offspring Felix married the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Charlotte of Orange. So the Parma Bourbons became the ruling dynasty of the dwarf state of Luxembourg and lead a modest life, raising children, protecting wildlife and preserving the Luxembourgish language. The status of an offshore zone and 200 banks per microcountry allows them not to think about their daily bread.

Liechtensteins (Liechtenstein), since 1607

most noble

For all the time of its richest history - the house has been known since the XII century - they did not get into big politics, perhaps because at the very beginning they realized that you can quickly part with everything. They acted slowly, prudently, helped the powerful of this world - far-sightedly put on the Habsburgs, created successful alliances, easily changed religion, now leading the Lutherans, then returning to Catholicism. Having received the status of imperial princes, the Liechtensteins did not seek to intermarry with alien surnames, they strengthened their dynastic ties within the Holy Roman Empire.

Actually, Liechtenstein was at first a secondary possession for them, which they acquired, since the emperor was their de jure overlord in order to enter the Reichstag and increase their political importance. Then they intermarried with the Habsburgs, who confirmed their homogeneity, and until now the Liechtensteins are distinguished by great attention to dynastic ties, marrying only with pillar nobles. It is worth adding to what has been said with the fact that GDP per capita in Liechtenstein is the second in the world after Qatar - 141,000 dollars a year. This is not least due to the fact that the tiny state is a tax haven, where different companies can hide from the taxes of their countries, but not only. Liechtenstein has a thriving high-tech industry.

Grimaldi (Monaco), from 1659

The most rootless

Grimaldi - one of the four clans that ruled the Republic of Genoa. Since there were constant skirmishes between the supporters of the pope's power, the Ghibellines, and the emperor, the Guelphs, in the 12th-14th centuries, Grimaldi had to periodically run around nearby Europe. So they found Monaco for themselves. In 1659, the owners of Monaco took the title of prince and received from Louis XIII the title of Dukes de Valentinois. They spent most of their time at the French court. But this is all in the past, and in 1733 the lineage in the male tribe ceased, and those that are now Grimaldi actually come from the Duke of Estuteville, who, according to the marriage contract, was obliged by the rulers of Monaco to take his last name. The current Prince Albert with his sisters comes from the marriage of the Count of Polignac with the illegitimate daughter of Prince Louis II, who ruled in the principality in 1922-1949. But the lack of nobility Albert more than compensates for the publicity working for the principality.

Princes of Andorra - Bishops of Urgell, from the 6th century

The most ancient

Since 1278, Andorra has had two prince-rulers - the Bishop of Urgell and someone from France, first the Comte de Foix, then the King of Navarre, and now the President of the Republic. Episcopal rule is a historical throwback to the secular dominion of the Catholic Church. The diocese of Urgell, or rather, the Urgell diocese, was founded in the 6th century, and since then the bishops have traced their genealogy. The current prince is Bishop Joan Enric Vives y Sicilia, a theologian, practicing priest and public figure. But for us, of particular interest in the history of Andorra and the Bishops of Urgell is 1934, when they were removed from the throne by the Russian adventurer Boris Skosyrev. He came to Andorra, proclaimed himself king, and either the General Council of the country, either persuaded or bribed, supported him. The new king issued a mass of liberal documents, but when he decided to make a gambling zone there, the previously loyal bishop rebelled. And although King Boris I declared war on him, he still won, calling reinforcements from Spain from five national guardsmen.

Spanish Bourbons (since 1713)

The most branched

Everyone knows that the Spanish Bourbons have recently been the most disgraced, but they are also the most branched of the Bourbons historically. They have as many as six lateral branches, including the most significant - Carlist - from the Infante Don Carlos the Elder. At the beginning of the 19th century, he was the clearest contender for the Spanish throne, but due to the pragmatic sanction of Ferdinand VII in 1830, who transferred the throne to his daughter Isabella, he remained out of work. A strong party formed behind Carlos, he unleashed two wars, called Carlist wars (his grandson Carlos the Younger already participated in the third). The Carlist movement in Spain was significant until the 1970s, formally exists now, but does not matter in politics, although they have their own contender for the throne - Carlos Hugo.

Despite the fact that we live in a world where there is more and more talk about democracy and electoral systems, dynastic traditions are still strong in many countries. All the dynasties of Europe are similar to each other. Moreover, each dynasty is special in its own way.

Windsors (Great Britain), since 1917

The youngest

The British monarchs are genealogically representatives of the Hanoverian and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty, and more widely - the Wettins, who had fiefdoms in Hanover and Saxony.
During the First World War, King George V decided that it was wrong to be called in German and in 1917 a proclamation was issued according to which the descendants of Queen Victoria, representing the Hanoverian dynasty, and Prince Albert in the male line, British subjects, were declared members of the new House of Windsor, and in 1952, Elizabeth II improved the document in her favor, declaring members of the house and her descendants who are not descendants of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the male line. That is, de facto, from the point of view of a normal monarchical genealogy, Prince Charles and his descendants are not Windsors, the dynasty is interrupted by Elizabeth II, and they belong to the Glücksburg branch of the Oldenburg house, which rules in Denmark and Norway, because Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip is from there. By the way, the Russian Emperor Peter III and all his offspring in the male line, too - from the Oldenburg house by blood.

Bernadotte (Sweden), from 1810
The most revolutionary

The son of a lawyer from Gascony, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte chose a military career and became a general during the French Revolution. Relations with Napoleon did not work out from the very beginning, the ambitious Gascon considered himself better than Bonaparte, but he fought very successfully for the emperor. In 1810, the Swedes offered him to become the adopted son of a childless king, and, after he accepted Lutheranism, they approved him as crown prince, and soon as regent and de facto ruler of Sweden. He entered into an alliance with Russia and fought against the French in 1813-1814, personally led the troops. So the current ruler Carl XVI Gustav is very similar to the Gascon nose.

Glucksburgs (Denmark, Norway), since 1825
The most Russian

The full name of the dynasty is Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. And they themselves are a branch of the Oldenburg house, the interweaving of descendants of which is extremely complex, they ruled in Denmark, and in Norway, and in Greece, and in the Baltic states, and even under the name of the Romanovs - in Russia. The fact is that Peter III and his descendants, according to all dynastic rules, are just Glücksburg. In Denmark, the Glücksburgs are now represented by Margrethe II, and in Norway by Harald V.

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, from 1826
The most accommodating

The family of the dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha originates from the ancient German house of Wettin. As was customary in the 18th-19th centuries, the descendants of various German offshoots of the ancient ruling houses were actively used in dynastic marriages. And so the Saxe-Coburg-Gothas did not spare their offspring for the common cause. This tradition was first laid by Catherine II, who married her grandson Konstantin Pavlovich Duchess Juliana (in Russia - Anna).
Then Anna married her relative Leopold to the British Princess Charlotte, and his sister Victoria, married to Edward of Kent, gave birth to a daughter, Victoria, who would become the most famous British queen. And her son Prince Alfred (1844-1900), Duke of Edinburgh, married Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, sister of Alexander III. In 1893, the prince inherited the title of Duke of Coburg and it turned out that an Englishman and a Russian were at the head of the German family. Their granddaughter Princess Alix became the wife of Nicholas II. The Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty is genealogically now on the British throne and completely without any reservations - in Belgian in the person of Philippe Leopold Louis Marie.

Orange dynasty (Netherlands), since 1815
The most power-hungry

The descendants of the glorious Williams of Orange regained their influence in the Netherlands only after the final defeat of Napoleon, when the Congress of Vienna established monarchical rule there. The wife of the second king of the Netherlands, Willem II, was the sister of Alexander I and the daughter of Paul I, Anna Pavlovna, so the current king, Willem Alexander, is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Paul I. In addition, the modern royal family, although it continues to consider itself a member of the Orange dynasty, is actually the grandmother of Willem Alexander Juliana belongs to the House of Mecklenburg, and Queen Beatrix to the Westphalian princely house of Lippe. This dynasty can be called powerless because the three previous queens abdicated in favor of their descendants.

Parma Bourbons (Luxembourg), since 1964
The most seedy

On the whole, the Parma line of the Bourbons was in its time a rather famous and ambitious Italian dynasty, but it fell into almost complete decline with the loss of its fiefdoms at the end of the 19th century. So she would have vegetated, being a more or less successful aristocratic family, but one of the offspring Felix married the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Charlotte of Orange. So the Parma Bourbons became the ruling dynasty of the dwarf state of Luxembourg and lead a modest life, raising children, protecting wildlife and preserving the Luxembourgish language. The status of an offshore zone and 200 banks per microcountry allows them not to think about their daily bread.

Liechtensteins (Liechtenstein), from 1607
most noble

For all the time of its richest history - the house has been known since the XII century - they did not get into big politics, perhaps because at the very beginning they realized that you can quickly part with everything. They acted slowly, prudently, helped the powerful of this world - far-sightedly put on the Habsburgs, created successful alliances, easily changed religion, now leading the Lutherans, then returning to Catholicism. Having received the status of imperial princes, the Liechtensteins did not seek to intermarry with alien surnames, they strengthened their dynastic ties within the Holy Roman Empire.
Actually, Liechtenstein was at first a secondary possession for them, which they acquired, since the emperor was their de jure overlord in order to enter the Reichstag and increase their political importance. Then they intermarried with the Habsburgs, who confirmed their homogeneity, and until now the Liechtensteins are distinguished by great attention to dynastic ties, marrying only with pillar nobles. It is worth adding to the above that GDP per capita in Liechtenstein is the second in the world after Qatar - 141,000 dollars a year. This is not least due to the fact that the tiny state is a tax haven, where different companies can hide from the taxes of their countries, but not only. Liechtenstein has a thriving high-tech industry.

Grimaldi (Monaco), from 1659

The most rootless

Grimaldi - one of the four clans that ruled the Republic of Genoa. Since there were constant skirmishes between the supporters of the power of the pope, the Ghibellins, and the emperor, the Guelphs, in the 12th - 14th centuries, Grimaldi had to periodically run around nearby Europe. So they found Monaco for themselves. In 1659, the owners of Monaco took the title of prince and received from Louis XIII the title of Dukes de Valentinois. They spent most of their time at the French court. But this is all in the past, and in 1733 the lineage in the male tribe ceased, and those that are now Grimaldi actually descend from the Duke of Estuteville, who, according to the marriage contract, was obliged by the rulers of Monaco to take his last name. The current Prince Albert with his sisters comes from the marriage of the Count of Polignac with the illegitimate daughter of Prince Louis II, who ruled in the principality in 1922-1949. But the lack of nobility Albert more than compensates for the publicity working for the principality.

Princes of Andorra - Bishops of Urgell, from the 6th century

The most ancient

Since 1278, Andorra has had two prince-rulers - the Bishop of Urgell and someone from France, first the Comte de Foix, then the King of Navarre, and now the President of the Republic. Episcopal government is a historical throwback to the secular dominion of the Catholic Church. The diocese of Urgell, or rather, the Urgell diocese, was founded in the 6th century, and since then the bishops have traced their genealogy. The current prince is Bishop Joan Enric Vives y Sisilla, a theologian, practicing priest and public figure. But for us, of particular interest in the history of Andorra and the Bishops of Urgell is 1934, when they were removed from the throne by the Russian adventurer Boris Skosyrev. He came to Andorra, proclaimed himself king, and either the General Council of the country, either persuaded or bribed, supported him. The new king issued a mass of liberal documents, but when he decided to make a gambling zone there, the previously loyal bishop rebelled. And although King Boris I declared war on him, he still won, calling reinforcements from Spain from five national guardsmen.

Spanish Bourbons (since 1713)
The most branched

Everyone knows that the Spanish Bourbons have recently been the most disgraced, but they are also the most branched of the Bourbons historically. They have as many as six lateral branches, including the most significant - Carlist - from the Infante Don Carlos the Elder. At the beginning of the 19th century, he was the clearest contender for the Spanish throne, but due to the pragmatic sanction of Ferdinand VII in 1830, who transferred the throne to his daughter Isabella, he remained out of work. A strong party formed behind Carlos, he unleashed two wars, called Carlist wars (his grandson Carlos the Younger already participated in the third). The Carlist movement in Spain was significant until the 1970s, formally exists now, but does not matter in politics, although they have their own contender for the throne - Carlos Hugo.

It seems impossible to imagine even modern Europe without monarchies. Yes, for many they are more of a historical artifact, a landmark, a reminder of a great heritage. But still, kings and queens remain kings and queens - symbols of the state, which, in the most difficult times for their countries, are able to become living symbols of unity against common adversity or surrender to the enemy. What can we say about the dynasties that were represented by the great statesmen, politicians and generals. Author Diletant. media Andrey Poznyakov will tell you where modern European kings and queens came from.

Another dynasty among those founded by the military leaders of the Napoleonic era is Bernadotte. The founder of this family, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, comes from the family of a respected Barnes lawyer. He did not want to become a lawyer, and during the years of the greatest financial difficulties he joined the army - and proved to be a very successful commander. Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte served Louis XVI, then the French Revolution. During the service, he met Napoleon Bonaparte, and this acquaintance played an important role in the fate of the future monarch. When in 1804 Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, Bernadotte received the title of marshal of the Empire. He led an army corps that fought in southern Germany, participated in the Battle of Austerlitz, and after the Peace of Tilsit in 1807 became governor in northern Germany and Denmark. In Sweden, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was heard as an influential military leader, who also treated the captured Swedes well. When the Swedish king Charles XIII convened the State Council to elect a successor, it was Bernadotte who was named the best contender for the crown - this could ensure the location of Napoleon. The French marshal had only to accept Lutheranism. In 1810, the Riksdag elected Bernadotte crown prince, and Charles XIII adopted him. The son of a lawyer became regent, and 8 years later he was crowned under the name of Charles XIV Johan. It is noteworthy that under him, Sweden broke off relations with France and re-entered the war - as an ally of Russia. The son of Charles XIV Johan Oscar I was extremely popular among the people. Now the king of Sweden is their descendant Carl XVI Gustaf.

Perhaps the most famous branch of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty was the Windsor dynasty. It was formed in a very unusual way - it was a political gesture of King George V, who at the height of the First World War announced a break with the German family, renounced all personal and family titles and proclaimed the new name of the royal house - Windsor, in honor of Windsor Castle. At the time of George V came Great War, a series of socio-economic and political crises in which he had to act as the main negotiator and seeker of reconciliation, remembering the political role of the monarch. For example, when in 1924 the three parties in parliament could not form a majority, George announced the change of the Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin to the Laborite James MacDonald. The latter owes the monarch two terms of head of government - under him the British Commonwealth was created, and the king of the United Kingdom was declared the king of all dominions. George died after a long serious illness in 1936. As it became known half a century later, when the king fell into a coma, his personal physician, on his own initiative, committed euthanasia - he injected the patient with a lethal dose of morphine and cocaine.

Creation of the House of Windsor - a political gesture of King George V

Representatives of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty at various times ruled in Portugal, Bulgaria and Great Britain, and now occupy the throne in Belgium. It goes back to the ancient German royal and princely house of Wettin. The representative of one of the lines of this kind, Ernst Anton Karl Ludwig, son of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, in the early years of the 19th century. He was a prominent general in the Napoleonic Wars. He served in the Russian army, was in the retinue of Alexander I, participated, among other things, in the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Ernest's duchy was occupied by the French and he inherited in reality only after the end of the Russian-Prussian-French war from Napoleon. Subsequently, by decision of the emperor, he entered the Confederation of the Rhine, friendly to France, fought on the side of Bonaparte in the war of 1812, and during the foreign campaign of the Russian army again changed sides. In the Austrian service, Ernst participated in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig, participated in the attack on France. As a reward, the Saxon king granted him new lands near the Rhine, subsequently Ernst changed the configuration of his possessions several times, exchanging one territory for another, selling and redeeming land. The first Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was a reformer, developed trade, and eliminated the archaic feudal system. When in 1831 a revolution took place in the Southern provinces and they separated from the Netherlands, the brother of Ernst I Leopold - the general of the Russian army - was called to become the king of the new Belgian kingdom. The current King of the Belgians, Philip I, is his descendant in the male line.

The Glücksburg dynasty is much younger. Its history is inextricably linked with the history of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein, whose ruler Friedrich Wilhelm is now considered the founder of a new family. He was the only son of the heir to the throne, he served in the Danish army, in which he participated in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1825, Friedrich Wilhelm received the city of Glücksburg and changed his title. It is important to say a few words about his wife, Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel. She was the daughter of a Danish princess and the sister of the Queen consort of Denmark. Accordingly, their children were descendants of the monarch. Frederick William's son Christian, married to the niece of King Christian VIII, was declared heir to the throne after Frederick VII, who could not have children. Christian IX marked the beginning of the royal history of the Glücksburg dynasty. This house is represented by the current Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, and the current King of Norway, Harald V. The Glucksburgs ruled in Greece, in addition, according to the genealogical rules, the son of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the heir to the British crown, Prince Charles, belong to this family.

The House of Glücksburg is represented by the Queen of Denmark and the King of Norway

The oldest royal dynasty in Europe today would have to be recognized as the Spanish branch of the Bourbons - if you close your eyes to several abdications and interruptions in rule. Its founder was the Duke of Anjou, Philip, the grandson of the French "Sun King" Louis XIV, the son of the Dauphin of France. He was the great-grandson of the Spanish king Philip IV, - this is an important circumstance that contributed to the emergence of a new dynasty. The throne was bequeathed to the then young Duke of Anjou by the childless Spanish king Charles II of Habsburg in 1700. Many perceived such a distant relationship as an insufficient basis for the transfer of the crown, in addition, Philip's opponents feared the unification of France and Spain. The "War of the Spanish Succession" broke out, which ended with the signing of peace in 1714 - the Treaty of Baden proclaimed Philip V king of Spain, he himself renounced possible claims to the French crown and other Habsburg possessions in Europe. The founder of the branch of the Spanish Bourbons is associated with the beginning of the restoration of the country after a severe crisis and the strengthening of peace in the kingdom.

The oldest royal dynasty in Europe - the Spanish branch of the Bourbons

The British monarchs are genealogically representatives of the Hanoverian and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty, and more widely - the Wettins, who had fiefdoms in Hanover and Saxony.

During the First World War, King George V decided that it was wrong to be called in German and in 1917 a proclamation was issued according to which the descendants of Queen Victoria, representing the Hanoverian dynasty, and Prince Albert in the male line, British subjects, were declared members of the new House of Windsor, and in 1952, Elizabeth II improved the document in her favor, declaring members of the house and her descendants who are not descendants of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the male line. That is, de facto, from the point of view of a normal monarchical genealogy, Prince Charles and his descendants are not Windsors, the dynasty is interrupted by Elizabeth II, and they belong to the Glücksburg branch of the Oldenburg house, which rules in Denmark and Norway, because Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip is from there. By the way, the Russian Emperor Peter III and all his offspring in the male line, too - from the Oldenburg house by blood.

Bernadotte (Sweden), from 1810

The most revolutionary

The son of a lawyer from Gascony, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte chose a military career and became a general during the French Revolution. Relations with Napoleon did not work out from the very beginning, the ambitious Gascon considered himself better than Bonaparte, but fought very successfully for the emperor. In 1810, the Swedes offered him to become the adopted son of a childless king, and, after he accepted Lutheranism, they approved him as crown prince, and soon as regent and de facto ruler of Sweden. He entered into an alliance with Russia and fought against the French in 1813-1814, personally led the troops. So the current ruler Carl XVI Gustav is very similar to the Gascon nose.

Glucksburgs (Denmark, Norway), since 1825

The most Russian

The full name of the dynasty is Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg aya. And they themselves are a branch of the Oldenburg house, the interweaving of the descendants of which is extremely complex, they ruled in Denmark, and in Norway, and in Greece, and in the Baltic states, and even under the name of the Romanovs - in Russia. The fact is that Peter III and his descendants, according to all dynastic rules, are just Glücksburg. In Denmark, the Glücksburgs are now represented by Margrethe II, and in Norway by Harald V.

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, from 1826

The most accommodating

The family of the dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha originates from the ancient German house of Wettin. As was customary in the 18th-19th centuries, the descendants of various German offshoots of the ancient ruling houses were actively used in dynastic marriages. And so the Saxe-Coburg-Gothas did not spare their offspring for the common cause. This tradition was first laid by Catherine II, who married her grandson Konstantin Pavlovich Duchess Juliana (in Russia - Anna).

Then Anna married her relative Leopold to the British Princess Charlotte, and his sister Victoria, married to Edward of Kent, gave birth to a daughter, Victoria, who would become the most famous British queen. And her son Prince Alfred (1844-1900), Duke of Edinburgh, married Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, sister of Alexander III. In 1893, the prince inherited the title of Duke of Coburg and it turned out that an Englishman and a Russian were at the head of the German family. Their granddaughter Princess Alix became the wife of Nicholas II. The Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty is genealogically now on the British throne and completely without any reservations - in Belgian in the person of Philippe Leopold Louis Marie.

Orange dynasty (Netherlands), from 1815

The most power-hungry

The descendants of the glorious Williams of Orange regained their influence in the Netherlands only after the final defeat of Napoleon, when the Congress of Vienna established monarchical rule there. The wife of the second king of the Netherlands, Willem II, was the sister of Alexander I and the daughter of Paul I, Anna Pavlovna, so the current king, Willem Alexander, is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Paul I. In addition, the modern royal family, although it continues to consider itself a member of the Orange dynasty, is actually the grandmother of Willem Alexander Juliana belongs to the House of Mecklenburg, and Queen Beatrix to the Westphalian princely house of Lippe. This dynasty can be called powerless because the three previous queens abdicated in favor of their descendants.

Parma Bourbons (Luxembourg), since 1964

The most seedy

On the whole, the Parma line of the Bourbons was in its time a rather famous and ambitious Italian dynasty, but it fell into almost complete decline with the loss of its fiefdoms at the end of the 19th century. So she would have vegetated, being a more or less successful aristocratic family, but one of the offspring Felix married the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Charlotte of Orange. So the Parma Bourbons became the ruling dynasty of the dwarf state of Luxembourg and lead a modest life, raising children, protecting wildlife and preserving the Luxembourgish language. The status of an offshore zone and 200 banks per microcountry allows them not to think about their daily bread.

Liechtensteins (Liechtenstein), since 1607

most noble

For all the time of its richest history - the house has been known since the XII century - they did not get into big politics, perhaps because at the very beginning they realized that you can quickly part with everything. They acted slowly, prudently, helped the powerful of this world - far-sightedly put on the Habsburgs, created successful alliances, easily changed religion, now leading the Lutherans, then returning to Catholicism. Having received the status of imperial princes, the Liechtensteins did not seek to intermarry with alien surnames, they strengthened their dynastic ties within the Holy Roman Empire.

Actually, Liechtenstein was at first a secondary possession for them, which they acquired, since the emperor was their de jure overlord in order to enter the Reichstag and increase their political importance. Then they intermarried with the Habsburgs, who confirmed their homogeneity, and until now the Liechtensteins are distinguished by great attention to dynastic ties, marrying only with pillar nobles. It is worth adding to the above that GDP per capita in Liechtenstein is the second in the world after Qatar - 141,000 dollars a year. This is not least due to the fact that the tiny state is a tax haven, where different companies can hide from the taxes of their countries, but not only. Liechtenstein has a thriving high-tech industry.

Grimaldi (Monaco), from 1659

The most rootless

Grimaldi - one of the four clans that ruled the Republic of Genoa. Since there were constant skirmishes between the supporters of the power of the pope, the Ghibellins, and the emperor, the Guelphs, in the 12th - 14th centuries, Grimaldi had to periodically run around nearby Europe. So they found Monaco for themselves. In 1659, the owners of Monaco took the title of prince and received from Louis XIII the title of Dukes de Valentinois. They spent most of their time at the French court. But this is all in the past, and in 1733 the lineage in the male tribe ceased, and those that are now Grimaldi actually descend from the Duke of Estuteville, who, according to the marriage contract, was obliged by the rulers of Monaco to take his last name. The current Prince Albert with his sisters comes from the marriage of the Count of Polignac with the illegitimate daughter of Prince Louis II, who ruled in the principality in 1922-1949. But the lack of nobility Albert more than compensates for the publicity working for the principality.

Princes of Andorra - Bishops of Urgell, from the 6th century

The most ancient

Since 1278, Andorra has had two prince-rulers - the Bishop of Urgell and someone from France, first the Comte de Foix, then the King of Navarre, and now the President of the Republic. Episcopal government is a historical throwback to the secular dominion of the Catholic Church. The diocese of Urgell, or rather, the Urgell diocese, was founded in the 6th century, and since then the bishops have traced their genealogy. The current prince is Bishop Joan Enric Vives y Sisilla, a theologian, practicing priest and public figure. But for us, of particular interest in the history of Andorra and the Bishops of Urgell is 1934, when they were removed from the throne by the Russian adventurer Boris Skosyrev. He came to Andorra, proclaimed himself king, and either the General Council of the country, either persuaded or bribed, supported him. The new king issued a mass of liberal documents, but when he decided to make a gambling zone there, the previously loyal bishop rebelled. And although King Boris I declared war on him, he still won by calling reinforcements from Spain from five national guardsmen.

Spanish Bourbons (since 1713)

The most branched

Everyone knows that the Spanish Bourbons have recently been the most disgraced, but they are also the most branched of the Bourbons historically. They have as many as six lateral branches, including the most significant - Carlist - from the Infante Don Carlos the Elder. At the beginning of the 19th century, he was the clearest contender for the Spanish throne, but due to the pragmatic sanction of Ferdinand VII in 1830, who transferred the throne to his daughter Isabella, he remained out of work. A strong party formed behind Carlos, he unleashed two wars, called Carlist wars (his grandson Carlos the Younger already participated in the third). The Carlist movement in Spain was significant until the 1970s, formally exists now, but does not matter in politics, although they have their own contender for the throne - Carlos Hugo.

Although now the world, for the most part, is ruled by presidents and parliaments, and not kings and kings, modern representatives famous world dynasties continue to remind of the times when the present and future of countries were decided by one single person who was lucky enough to be born in royal family. Let us also remember the most famous dynasties of the world.

1. Bourbons

One of the most ancient and numerous dynasties. The Bourbons came to the throne of France in 1589. Its most famous representatives who ruled France are Henry IV, Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Louis XVIII. At one time, the Bourbons sat on the throne not only of France, but also of Spain, Sicily and Luxembourg.

2. Windsors

Until 1917, the Windsor dynasty was called Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. However, after the end of the First World War, King George V renounced the family name and German titles. Since that time, the dynasty was called Windsor, in honor of the royal castle. Formally, the Windsors still rule, since the current Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, belongs to this dynasty.

3. Habsburgs

The powerful royal dynasty of Europe during the Middle Ages and the New Age. The Habsburgs ruled the Roman and Austrian empires, Hungary, Spain, Mexico, Portugal, Transylvania, Croatia and other smaller states. The name of the dynasty comes from the castle of Hamburg, which was built in 1027 in Switzerland.

4. Gediminovichi

The dynasty originates from Prince Gediminas. Representatives of this dynasty ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The legendary princes of the Gediminids are Vitovt, Sigismund, Keistut and Jagiello.

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China was ruled by the great Ming Dynasty from 1368 to 1644. Despite the successful rule of the first two emperors, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di, who created a strong fleet and a million-strong army, over time, corruption in the state apparatus caused a power crisis, which subsequently led to China's accession to the Manchu Qing dynasty.

6. Romanovs

According to the genealogical rules, the full name of this imperial dynasty is as follows: Holstein-Gottorp-Romanovs. Representatives of this dynasty ruled the Russian Empire, Lithuania, Poland and Finland. The last tsar of the Romanov dynasty was Nicholas II, who was overthrown in 1917 by the Bolshevik revolution.

7. Rurikovich

The Rurikids ruled predominantly over Kievan Rus. Famous rulers of the Rurik dynasty are the Izyaslavichi of Polotsk of Turov, Monomashich, Rostislavichi, Svyatoslavichi. The last rulers of this dynasty were Tsar Fyodor the First Ioannovich and Vasily Shuisky.

8. Stewarts

Famous representatives of the Stuart dynasty are Charles I, Charles II and Mary Stuart. This is the royal dynasty of Scotland, which eventually began to rule the whole of Great Britain. The name of the dynasty came from the title of the position "High Steward (or Steward) of the Scottish Royal Court."

9. Tudors

Recently, thanks to the Hollywood series of the same name, many fans of historical dramas have learned about this dynasty. The Tudor dynasty ruled England from 1485 to 1603. The Tudors ushered England into the Renaissance. During their reign, active colonization of America began. One of the most famous representatives of this dynasty was Henry VIII, during whose reign the English Reformation took place (breaking relations with Rome) and Elizabeth, during whose reign there was a new return to Anglicanism.

10. Genghisides

Chingizids are the direct descendants of Genghis Khan. The famous Genghis Khan had four sons: Jochi, Tolui, Ogedei and Chagatai. The eldest son acquired not more, not less - 40 sons. And one of his grandchildren had 22 sons. Currently, according to preliminary estimates, there are about 16 million descendants of Genghis Khan in the male line.