For centuries powerful royal families have dominated and shaped the social and political landscapes of Europe and beyond. Inside we explore the incredible tales of betrayal and bloodshed and the scandalous stories and shocking secrets of some of history’s most fascinating and influential royal bloodlines, from the great British houses of Stuart and Windsor to Europe’s legendary Habsburg-Lorraine and Bourbon dynasties. We shine a light on the benevolent monarchs, cruel tyrants and doomed despots that defined their families, as well as royalty’s lesser-known but no less fascinating dukes, duchesses, princes and princesses. We uncover how the Romanovs met their tragic end, discover the rivalry that divided the Tudors, and meet the much-loved and still current Orange-Nassaus of the Netherlands. And it’s not just the great European royal houses covered inside – we’ll also take a tour of some of the longest-serving and most influential families from around the world, from the Solomon lineage of Abyssinia to China’s great Ming dynasty. We also examine what the future holds for the world’s existing royals and how they must adapt and evolve in order to survive in the modern world. Enjoy!
WELCOME
Royal Dynasties
WESSEX 519-1066 • England’s longest-lasting family that saw the nation invaded, reconquered and unified
The PEDIGREE • Uncover the lineage of the first monarchs of a united England
TUDOR 1485-1603 • The obscure Henry Tudor won the crown in battle, with his dynasty reigning for over one hundred tumultuous years
The PEDIGREE • The rise and demise of England’s most notorious royal family
STUART 1603-1714 • Adding England and Ireland to the Kingdom of Scotland in a union of crowns, the later Stuarts never quite managed to bridge the gap between their three realms
The PEDIGREE • Despite their hundred-year reign, the Stuart era was by far the most turbulent in English history
VASA 1523-1654 • The influential Swedish dynasty that endured over a century of religious and political turmoil in Scandinavia
The PEDIGREE • Discover the royal line of the legendary Swedish rulers
BOURBON 1589-1792 • The dynasty that saw France rise to the dizzying height of Europe’s most powerful nation before its spectacular downfall into revolution
The PEDIGREE • Discover the lineage of one of the most fascinating and controversial dynasties of Europe
HANOVER 1714-1901 • Hailing from Germany and not necessarily the popular choice for a monarchy, the House of Hanover loved nothing more than a good family fight
The PEDIGREE • Uncover the scandalous lineage of the House of Hanover
ROMANOV 1613-1917 • A reign characterised by intrigue, ambition, treachery and revolution, the Romanov dynasty – the last royal family of Russia – met its tragic fate after 300 years of rule
The PEDIGREE • Discover the lineage of the tsars and tsarinas that took Russia from imperial autocracy to ruin and revolution
WITTELSBACH 1806-1918 • The House of Wittelsbach ruled in Bavaria for just over a century, but their legacy of scandals, palaces and personal dramas continue to captivate today
The PEDIGREE • Uncover the lineage of Germany’s most loved dynasty
HOHENZOLLERN 1701-1918 • From relatively modest beginnings, this prolific dynasty rose to rule a united German empire, and beyond
The PEDIGREE • A prolific and highly influential dynasty, the Hohenzollerns count Prussian kings, Greek queens and Russian empresses among their numbers
HABSBURG-LORRAINE 1740-1918 • Few royal dynasties have been as influential or dramatic as the Habsburgs, who dominated the world stage for almost five centuries
The PEDIGREE • Inside Europe’s most elite royal...