So the family tree that most people imagine generally looks a bit like this tree.
Pretty isn't it, and it quite accurately reflects most people's genealogy
However it seems that the nobility are very good at breaking the rules, and when it comes to an organised family tree they have really smashed it
Look at this bit of tree in my direct ancestors:
Those highlighted in yellow are direct ancestors of mine. The nobility is notorious for 'interbreeding' but this example proves the point!
You notice in this image that one person in the tree is black and the others are all white. This person is Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emporer. He is my 37th Great Grandfather. And my 38th Great Grandfather. In fact, his is my 41st and 43rd Great Grandfather too.
Many of his direct descendants married other descendants who are also my ancestors. Take for example John I of England:
Of his many children, Henry III of England, Richard of Cornwall, and Richard FitzRoy are all multi great-grandparents.
In fact, Henry of England is my 28th great grandfather. Easy huh? Hmmm... his is also my:
1. 28th great grandfather (common ancestor: Henry of England I)
2. First cousin 31 times removed (common ancestor: Harleva de Falais)
3. Second cousin 31 times removed (common ancestor: Duke Richard Of Normandy II & Judith of Brittany Duchess of Rennes)
4. Second cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Robert of France II & Constance of Arles)
5. Third cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Richard Of Normandy I)
6. Third cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Duke Richard Of Normandy II & Judith of Brittany Duchess of Rennes)
7. Fourth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Crepon & Unknown)
8. Fourth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Crepon & Unknown)
9. Fourth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Count Geoffrey Of Anjou I & Adele Of Meaux)
10. Fourth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Berengar Of Italy II & Willa Of Tuscany)
11. Fourth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Duke William of Aquitaine III & Gerloc)
12. Fifth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Count Rollo Duke Of Normandy & Poppa of Bayeux)
13. Fifth cousin 31 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II & Adele of France)
14. Fifth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II & Adele of France)
15. Fifth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II)
16. Fifth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II)
17. Fifth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: King Robert of France I)
18. Fifth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Count Rollo Duke Of Normandy & Poppa of Bayeux)
19. Sixth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois I & Unknown)
20. Sixth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: King Robert of France I)
21. Sixth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II & Adele of France)
22. Sixth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II & Adele of France)
23. Sixth cousin 28 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II)
24. Sixth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II & Adele of France)
25. Sixth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II & Adele of France)
26. Sixth cousin 28 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois II)
27. Sixth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Count Herbert Of Vermandois I & Unknown)
28. Seventh cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Hugh Of Tours)
29. Seventh cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Hugh Of Tours)
30. Ninth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Louis Of The Franks Holy Roman Emporer)
31. Ninth cousin 28 times removed (common ancestor: Louis Of The Franks Holy Roman Emporer)
32. Ninth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Count Gerold Of Vinzgau & Emma of Allemania)
33. Ninth cousin 30 times removed (common ancestor: Louis Of The Franks Holy Roman Emporer)
34. Ninth cousin 28 times removed (common ancestor: Louis Of The Franks Holy Roman Emporer & Ermengarde Hesbaye)
35. Tenth cousin 28 times removed (common ancestor: Charlemagne Holy Roman Emporer & Hildegard Of The Vinzgau Holy Roman Empress)
36. Tenth cousin 29 times removed (common ancestor: Charlemagne Holy Roman Emporer & Hildegard Of The Vinzgau Holy Roman Empress)
37. Eleventh cousin 28 times removed (common ancestor: Count Gerold Of Vinzgau & Emma of Allemania)
38. Twelfth cousin 32 times removed (common ancestor: Duke Godfrid of Alamannia & Daughter Of Theodo Of Bavaria)
39. Fourteenth cousin 28 times removed (common ancestor: Duke Godfrid of Alamannia & Daughter Of Theodo Of Bavaria)
And I promise you, that is not the longest list! So whilst we mere mortals tend to have pretty straightforward ancestry, the nobility and Royals of Europe can make things crazily complex! They do mad things like marrying the sister of their mother, or their mother's daughter.
I expect we all remember well when Princess Diana exclaimed that there was always 'three people in her marriage'. By my ancestor's standards, she had it relatively easy!
