Royal Blood? Lineage Societies for You

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Do you have royal blood? It’s not as uncommon as you might imagine. Lots of kings and queens of centuries past had many children. These children married into noble families. As the centuries wore on, only the older children of these royal children and grandchildren would marry into the top noble families. The younger ones would marry minor nobles, knights, or commoner heiresses. Eventually, some lines of a royal family married down so much that they were no longer royal at all. This does not mean the descendants of the kings and queens of old do not have royal blood flowing through their veins to this day.

While not everyone will find a royal ancestor in their family tree, enough do to mean a number of lineage societies now exist to welcome these long-lost royal heirs. If you are descended from an ancient king or queen, or even a more modern one, and you know it and can prove it with documentation that connects each generation to the next, you can join one or more of these royal lineage societies (depending on which king or queen from which you are descended).

1. Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain

There were often just as many (and sometimes more) illegitimate royal offspring than legitimate ones. Some kings even made their illegitimate children their heirs when they did not procure any legitimate ones. Henry VIII famously considered this with his illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, before his first and only legitimate son, Edward VI, was born. If you are descended from an illegitimate royal child, you may be eligible to apply to this society. – join

2. Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States

If you are a descendant of Charlemagne, the Frankish king and emperor, and an American, you may be eligible for this invitation-only society. – join

3. The Plantagenet Society

Are you a direct line descendant from one of the Plantagenet kings of England? If so, you may be eligible to apply to this society. It is open to descendants of legitimate offspring only. – join

4. Order of the Merovingian Dynasty

This society requires an approved documented line to Merovech, along with sponsorship by two members and an invitation. Check its membership rules before beginning an application. – join

5. Sovereign Colonial Society of Americans of Royal Descent

If you are descended in a direct line from any king or queen from any country in any century and are an American, this society is for you. – join

6. Baronial Order of Magna Charta

This society is for direct descendants of the Magna Carta surety barons. Many of the barons have ancient royal ancestry or have descendants who went on to marry into royal households, thus giving the families royal connections. Of the twenty-five surety barons named to enforce Magna Carta, seventeen of them are known to have descendants living today, so you could qualify. You can also qualify if you are a direct descendant of King John. – join

Researching Membership in Royal Lineage Societies

These are examples of royal lineage societies. Before applying, check the organization’s current eligibility rules, sponsorship or invitation requirements, and documentation standards. Build a generation-by-generation proof using reliable records; an online family tree alone does not establish royal descent.

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Some societies have already identified individuals a little bit more recent in time who were definite descendants of the kings and queens in question. In these cases, all you have to do is prove you are descended from someone on the list of accepted descendants. This means a lot less paperwork for you, and your royal ancestry may be easier to prove

Using Earlier Applications as Research Leads

Earlier approved applications can be valuable research leads, but each society sets its own evidence requirements. A relative’s membership does not automatically qualify you: you still need to document your connection and obtain the society’s approval. Recheck inherited pedigrees rather than treating an accepted application as infallible proof.

Joining a royal lineage society is exciting and fun. If you know you are descended from any of the monarchs mentioned above, join their lineage societies. It is a great payoff to lots of years of genealogical research.

Learn More

For a closer look at the evidence and historical context, explore these resources:

• The National Archives: medieval and early modern family history research
• Baronial Order of Magna Charta: qualifying ancestors and membership

You can also read Who’s Who in the Wars of the Roses (free eBook) and browse the Wars of the Roses articles.