For how many people is HM King Charles III the senior genealogical heir?
As I write this I have just witnessed the splendour, pomp and ceremony of His Majesty King Charles III's coronation. He finds himself as the person at the centre of this spectacle by virtue of being the senior genealogical heir of the Electress Sophia of Hannover, granddaughter of His Majesty King James VI and I, upon whom's descendants the throne was settled by the Act of Settlement 1701. He is, of course, also the most senior genealogical heir of each of the ten generations in between him and Electress Sophia, meaning he is the senior genealogical heir of at least 11 of his ancestors. I decided to try to identify as many as possible of his ancestors for whom he is the senior genealogical heir, and here present a total of 88 such ancestors. The ancestors in slightly smaller type are ancestors who he is not the senior genealogical heir of but who are the parent or parents of an ancestor for whom he is the senior genealogical heir. At every step I have also added explanations for why he is or isn't the senior genealogical heir of each pair of ancestors shown. I acknowledge that many of the featured royal and noble houses actually followed salic law (which doesn't not permit females to either inherit the throne or transmit it to their children, making it impossible for those royal houses' heirships, for want of a better word, to have passed from HM King George VI to or through HM Queen Elizabeth II to HM King Charles III) but have chosen to apply male-preference primogeniture throughout this list, as this is the system of succession used for the British throne for all descendants of the Electress Sophia, other than those born after the 28th October 2011 who follow absolute primogeniture as per the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, but fairly obviously do not appear here. For each generation I have also included a tally of those descendants he is the genealogical heir of, versus the total theoretical number of descendants in that generation, which highlights the vanishingly small percentage of his ancestry for whom he is the senior genealogical heir once you look past the first few generations. I've very likely made mistakes, or missed further ancestors who should be on this list, so corrections and updates are very welcome.
Parents – 2/2
2. HRH The Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021)
3. HM Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)
Philip and Elizabeth’s eldest son and heir is HM King Charles III
Grandparents – 4/4
4. HRH Prince Andreas of Greece and Denmark (1882-1944)
5. HSH Princess Alice of Battenberg (1885-1969)
Andreas and Alice’s only son was HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
6. HM King George VI (1895-1952)
7. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002)
George and Elizabeth had no sons, so as their elder daughter HM Queen Elizabeth II’s son HM King Charles III is their senior heir.
Great-Grandparents – 2/8
8. HM King Giorgios I of the Hellenes (1845-1913)
9. HIH Grand Duchess Olga Constantinova of Russia (1851-1926)
Giorgios and Olga’s eldest son was HM King Konstantinos I of the Hellenes, whose current heir is his grandson, HM King Konstantinos II of the Hellenes.
10. HSH Prince Ludwig of Battenberg, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven (1854-1921)
11. HGDH Princess Victoria Alberta of Hesse-Darmstadt (1863-1950)
Ludiwg and Victoria Alberta’s elder son was HSH Prince George of Battenberg, 2nd Marquess of Milford haven, whose current heir is his grandson, George Mountbatten, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven.
12. HM King George V (1865-1936)
13. HSH Princess May von Teck (1867-1953)
George and May’s eldest son, HRH The Duke of Windsor died childless in 1972. HM King George VI was George and May’s second son
14. Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (1855-1944)
15. Nina Cavendish-Bentick (1862-1938)
Claude and Nina had 6 sons and 4 daughters, of the latter of whom Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the youngest. There are probably living descendants of the 1st, 2nd and 4th sons, but there are certainly living descendants of the 5th son, the most senior of whom, genealogically speaking, is Simon Bowes-Lyon, the 19th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
Great-Great-Grandparents – 2/16
24. HM King Edward VII (1841-1910)
25. HRH Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925)
Edward and Alexandra’s eldest son, HRH Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, died unmarried in 1892. HM King George V was Edward and Alexandra’s second son.
26. HSH Prinz Franz von Teck (1837-1900)
27. HRH Princess Mary Adelaide (of Cambridge) of Great Britain, Ireland and Hannover (1833-1897)
Franz and Mary had three sons and one daughter. There are living descendants of the eldest son, including his senior heir, Mr Charles Whitley.
Great-Great-Great Grandparents – 2/32
48. HRH Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, The Prince Consort (1819-1861)
49. HM Queen Victoria (1819-1901)
HM King Edward VII was the eldest of their four sons.
50. HM King Christian IX of Denmark (1818-1906)
51. Princess Luise of Hesse-Kassel (1817-1898)
Christian and Luise had three sons and three daughters. The eldest son, HM King Frederik VIII of Denmark, still has living descendants, the most senior of whom is HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Great-Great-Great-Great Grandparents – 3/64
96. Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld/Gotha (1784-1844)
97. HH Princess Luise of Saxe-Gotha (1800-1831)
Ernst I and Luise had two sons, the elder of whom, Ernst II, died without legitimate issue. Their younger son was the Prince Consort.
98. HRH Prince Edward of Great Britain, Ireland and Hannover, The Duke of Kent and Strathearn (1767-1820)
Edward’s only child was QueenVictoria.
99. Princes Viktoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1786-1861)
Princess Viktoria was married twice, with the second marriage being to the Duke of Kent, resulting in Queen Victoria. Princess Viktoria had firstly married Furst Emich Carl zu Leiningen, and there are still living descendants of this marriage, the most senior of whom is Karl zu Leiningen.
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandparents -6/128
192. Duke Franz of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1750-1806)
193. Auguste, Grafin Reuss zu Ebersdorf (1757-1831)
Duke Ernst I was Franz and Auguste’s eldest son.
194. Duke Emil of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1772-1822)
195. Luise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1771or1779-1801)
Luise of Saxe-Gotha was Emil and Luise’s only child.
196. HM King George III (1738-1820)
197. Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)
George and Charlotte’s first three sons’ descendants are extinct in terms of legitimate lines, and Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn was their fourth son.
6xGreat Grandparents – 6/256
384. Duke Ernst Friedrich of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1724-1800)
385. Sophie Antonie of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel (1724-1802)
Duke Franz was Ernst and Sophie’s eldest son.
386. Heinrich XXIV Reuss zu Ebersdorf (1724-1779)
387. Karoline Grafin zu Ebrach Schonberg (1727-1796)
Heinrich and Karoline’s eldest son died as a toddler, but their second son, Heinrich LI, Furst Reuss zu Ebersdorf, still has living descendants, the most senior of whom is Heinrich VIII Reuss zu Kostritz.
388. Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1745-1804)
389. Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen (1751-1827)
Ernst and Charlotte’s eldest son died as a boy, and Duke Emil was their second son.
390. Grand Duke Friedrich Franz I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1756-1837)
391. Princess Luise of Saxe-Gotha (1756-1808)
Louise Charlotte was Friedrich Franz and Luise’s elder daughter, but they also had four sons. The eldest son still has living descendants, the most senior of whom is Donata of Mecklenburg, Mrs Solodkoff.
392. HRH Prince Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales (1707-1751)
393. Auguste of Saxe-Gotha (1719-1772)
HM King George III was Frederick and Auguste’s eldest son.
394. Duke Karl of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1708-1752)
395. Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1713-1761)
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the youngest of Karl and Elisabeth’s five daughters, but the only one who had children. Karl and Elisabeth also had five sons. The eldest son died unmarried, but the second son married and still has living descendants today, the most senior of whom is probably a Count Jamatel.
7xGreat Grandparents – 6/512
768. Duke Franz Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1697-1764)
769. Anna Sophie von Schwarzburg-Rudlostadt (1700-1780)
Duke Ernst Friedrich was Franz and Anna’s eldest son.
770. Duke Ferdinand Albrecht II of Brunwswick-Bevern (1680-1735)
771. Antoinette of Brunswick-Blankenburg (1696-1792)
Sophie Antonie was the third of six daughters, but they also had eight sons, the eldest of whom, Duke Karl I, still has living descendants, with the most senior being probably Alexander zu Wied.
776. Duke Friedrich III of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1699-1772)
777. Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen (1710-1767)
Duke Ernst II was their third son, but the elder two were infant mortalities.
778. Duke Anton Ulrich of Saxe-Meiningen (1687-1763)
779. Charlotte, Landgrafin of Hess-Philippsthal (1730-1801)
Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen was their eldest daughter, but they also had four sons, the eldest of whom died childless, and the 2nd and 3rd were in infant mortalities, but the youngest still has living issue, the most genealogically senior being Freiherrin Olivia von Saalfeld. Anton had also married firstly Philippine Caesar and had three sons and seven daughters, but it seems that none of them got married.
784. HM King George II (1683-1760)
785. Karoline of Brandenberg-Ansbach (1683-1737)
Prince Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales was their eldest son.
786. Duke Friedrich II of Saxe-Gotha (1676-1732)
787. Princess Magdalene Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst (1679-1740)
Auguste was the youngest of their four daughters, but they also had ten sons, the eldest of whom was Duke Friedrich III of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (see #264) whose senior heir happens to be HM Queen Elizabeth II.
8xGreat-Grandparents – 9/1024
1536. Duke Johann Ernst of Saxe-Saalfeld (1658-1729)
1537. Charlotte, Grafin von Waldeck (1664-1699)
Charlotte was Johann’s second wife. He had one son, Duke Christian Ernst, by his first wife, but he died childless. With Charlotte he had three more sons, but the elder two died unmarried, so Franz’s is the senior line from both parents.
1538. Furst Ludwig Friedrich von Schwarzburg-Rudlostadt (1667-1718)
1539. Princess Anna Sofie of Saxe-Gotha (1670-1728)
Anna Sophia of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was the 6th of 9 daughters. The eldest son still has living descendants, the most senior of whom is Graf Friedrich Magnus VI zu Solms-Wildenfels.
1552. Duke Friedrich II of Saxe-Gotha (1676-1732)
1553. Princess Magdalene Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst (1679-1740)
Duke Friedrich III was their eldest son.
1554. Duke Ernst Ludwig I of Saxe-Meiningen (1672-1724)
1555. Princess Dorothea Marie of Saxe-Gotha (1674-1713)
Luise Dorothea was Ernst and Dorothea’s only daughter. They did have four sons, but all died unmarried.
1568. HM King George I (1660-1727)
1569. Sophie Dorothea of Brunswick-Luneberg (1666-1726)
George II was their eldest son.
1570. Margrave Johann Friedrich of Brandenberg-Ansbach (1654-1686)
Johann married twice, and Karoline was the eldest child of the second marriage. Johann had three sons and two daughters by the first marriage, and two sons and one daughter by the second. His three sons by the first marriage all died unmarried. His elder son by the second marriage was an infant mortality, but the younger son, Margrave Wilhelm Friedrich, married and had three children, the younger two of whom were infant mortalities, but the elder, Margrave Karl Wilhelm, also married. Karl Wilhelm had two children, both sons. The elder son was an infant mortality, and the younger son, Margrave Karl Alexander married twice but had no issue, ending Johann’s male line. Margrave Johann Friedrich’s elder by the first marriage, Dorothea, married a Graf von Hanau-Lichtenberg, and have living descendants, the most senior of whom is the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven.
1571. Princess Eleonore of Saxe-Eisenach (1662-1696)
As above, the male line from Johnann and Eleonore became extinct, and Karoline was their eldest daughter. Elenore had firstly married Elector Johann Georg of Saxony, but he died two year later before they had had any children.
9xGreat Grandparents – 12/2048
3072. Duke Ernst I ‘die Fromme’ of Saxe-Gotha (1601-1675)
3073. Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg (1619-1680)
Ernst and Elisabeth had twelve sons and 6 daughters, with Johann Ernst being their 11th son. Their three eldest sons were infant mortalities (the 2nd son was actually 16 when he died) and their 4th son, Duke Friedrich I of Saxe-Gotha had living descendants via his eldest son, Friedrich II (see #528) of whom HM King Charles III is the most senior heir.
3074. Graf Josias II von Waldeck (1636-1669)
3075. Wilhelmine, Grafin von Nassau-Siegen (1629-1700or1707)
Josias and Wilhelmine had three sons and four daughters, but Charlotte was the only one of the seven who survived infanthood.
3104. Duke Friedrich I of Saxe-Gotha (1646-1691)
3105. Magdalene Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels (1648-1681)
Duke Friedrich II was the elder of their two sons.
3106. Furst Karl Wilhelm of Anhalt-Zerbst (1652-1718)
3107. Princess Sofie of Saxe-Weissenfels (1654-1724)
Magdalene was their eldest daughter, and they also had two sons, but the eldest son died childless, and the younger son was an infant mortality.
3108. Duke Bernard I of Saxe-Meiningen (1649-1506)
3109. Landgrafin Marie Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt (1647-1680)
Duke Ernst Ludwig I was their eldest son.
3110. Duke Friedrich I of Saxe-Gotha (1646-1691)
3111. Magdalene Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels (1648-1681)
Dorothea was the third of their 6 daughters, but their elder son, Duke Friedrich II of Saxe-Gotha (see #1056) has living descendants, the most senior of whom is HM King Charles III.
3136. Elector Ernst August of Hannover (1629-1698)
3137. Sophia of the Palatinate (1630-1714)
HM King George I was their eldest son.
3138. Duke Georg Wilhelm of Brunswick-Calenberg (1624-1705)
3139. Eleonore Desmier d’Olbreuse (1639-1722)
Sophia Dorothea was their only child.
3142. Duke Johann Georg I of Saxe-Eisenach (1634-1686)
3143. Johannetta, Grafin von Sayn-Wittgenstein (1626-1701)
Eleonore was the eldest of three daughters, but they also had five sons. The three eldest sons were all childless for varying reasons, but the 4th son, Duke Johann Wilhelm of Saxe-Eisenach still has living descendants via two of his six daughters (his five sons being childless), the most senior line being through his third daughter Karoline (his eldest daughter being an infant mortality, and his second daughter having had a single child who was also an infant mortality), who married Landgraf Karl I of Hesse Philippsthal. Landgraf Karl I and Karoline’s eldest son was Landgraf Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal. Wilhelm and his wife Ulrike had 7 sons and 3 daughters, with their eldest son, Karl, only having one daughter, Karoline, who married her paternal uncle, and Wilhelm and Ulrike’s youngest son, Landgraf Ernst Konstantin. Ernst and Karoline had two children, who were themselves childless. Landgraf Wilhelm’s next four sons were all childless. Landgraf Wilhelm’s sixth son, Landgraf Ludwig, had two children, a son who died young, and a daughter, Karoline, who married Ferdinand, Comte de la Ville sur Illon. I have no idea if Karoline and Ferdinand had any issue. Landgraf Wilhelms’ youngest son, Landgraf Ernst Konstantin, firstly married Luise von Schwarzburg-Rudolostadt, and had five sons, of whom the eldest three were childless. Landgraf Ernst Konstantin’s fourth son, Landgraf Karl, had two sons, the elder being Landgraf Ernst, and the younger being called Karl, but neither of these men had children. Landgraf Ernst Konstantin’s youngest son, Franz, married morganatically and was made Freiherr von Falkener. Freiherr Franz had three sons, all seemingly childless, and three daughters. Freiherr Franz’ eldest daughter, Konstanze, married Prinz Erich von Waldeck-Pyrmont, morganatically on his part, and she was made Grafin von Grebenstein. Erich and Konstanze had one son who married but was apparently childless, and five daughters who all were apparently unmarried. Freiherr Franz’s second daughter was an infant mortality, and his youngest daughter, Victoire, married a Karl Rall, but I have no idea if they had any issue. Assuming there is no remaining legitimate issue via Victoire and Karl Rall, or via the Grafin von Grebenstein and Prinz Erich, or via Karoline of Hesse-Philippsthal and the Comte de la Ville zur Illon, then we have to look instead to Landgraf Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal’s three daughters, the eldest of whom, Karoline, was an infant mortality. Landgraf Wilhelm’s second daughter, Juliane, married Graf Philipp Ernst II zu Schaumburg-Lippe, and their senior heir today is the Furst Alexander Christian zu Schaumburg-Lippe.
10xGreat Grandparents – 8 or 10/4096
6148. Graf Philipp VI von Waldeck-Wildungen (1613-1645)
6149. Grafin Anna Katharina von Sayn-Wittgenstein (1610-1690)
Philip and Anna’s eldest son, Graf Christian Ludwig, married twice, and had 15 children by the first marriage (including 7 sons), and another 9 by the second. The first six sons by the first marriage were either infant mortalities or were apparently childless, but the seventh son, Anton Ulrich, who was created Furst zu Waldeck etc, who still has living issue, the most senior of whom being Furst Wittekind zu Waldeck und Pyrmont.
6150. Wilhelm, Graf von Nassau in Hilchenbach (1592-1642)
6151. Christine, Grafin von Erbach (1596-1646)
They had two sons, but both died before full adulthood. Wilhelmine was the youngest of five daughters. The eldest daughter, Marie Magdalene, married Philip Theodor (or Philip Dietrich?), Graf von Waldeck-Eisenberg, and they had two sons who died childless, and a daughter Anna who married Graf Georg Ludwig I zu Erbach-Erbach. Georg and Anna had 16 children, including 7 or 8 sons, but the second youngest son, Friedrich Karl, was the only son to have children. Friedrich Karl had four children, but the eldest, Ernst, and youngest Wilhelmine, were both infant mortalities, whilst the middle two, Sophie and Friederike, both married Counts of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Virneberg. Sophie and her husband, Friederich Ludwig, had three children, but all were infant mortalities. Friederike and her husband, Johann, had 12 children. The eldest three, all son, were infant mortalities, the 4th was another son, Georg, who became Prince of Lowenstein-Virneberg. Prince Georg had five children, but the middle three were all infant mortalities. Prince Georg’s eldest child, Prince Adolf of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Virneberg, had five children, the four eldest being sons who were infant mortalities, and the youngest being Ernestine who married industrialist Freiherr Richard von Swaine, but I have no idea if they had issue. Prince Georg’s youngest child, Malwina, married Graf Vollrath Friedrich zu Ysenburg-Budingen and their most senior living descendant is Graf Peter von Budingen.
6208. Duke Ernst I ‘die Fromme’ of Saxe-Gotha (1601-1675)
6209. Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg (1619-1680)
Ernst and Elisabeth had twelve sons and 6 daughters, with Duke Friedrich I being their 4th son. Their three eldest sons were infant mortalities (the 2nd son was actually 16 when he died).
6210. Duke Johann Adolf I of Saxe-Weissenfels (1649-1697)
6211. Princess Magdalene of Saxe-Altenburg (1656-1686)
Johann and Magdalene had ten children, including six sons. The eldest two sons were infant mortalities, and the third son, Duke Johann Georg, married but five of his six children were infant mortalities, and the only one to live to adulthood, Johanna, married Ferdinand, Duke of Courland, but they had no issue. Johann and Magdalene’s 4th son was another infant mortality, and the fifth son, Duke Christian, married but had no children. The youngest son, Duke Johann Adolf II, married twice but all six of his children were infant mortalities. Marie Magdalene of Saxe-Weissenfels was Johann and Magdalene Sibylle’s eldest daughter.
6212. Furst Johann of Anhalt-Zerbst (1621-1667)
6213. Princess Sofie Auguste of Holstein-Gottorp (1630-1680)
Furst Johann and Sofie had ten sons and three daughters. The eldest two sons were both infant mortalities, and Furst Wilhelm was their third son.
6214. Duke August of Saxe-Weissenfels (1614-1680)
6215. Anna Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1623-1669)
August and his first wife, Anna Marie had 12 children, 5 sons and 7 daughters. August also had two sons by his second marriage, but both were childless. August and Anna’s eldest son was Duke Johann Georg I (see #2114) whose senior heir is HM King Charles III.
6216. Duke Ernst I ‘die Fromme’ of Saxe-Gotha (1601-1675)
6217. Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg (1619-1680)
Ernst and Elisabeth had twelve sons and 6 daughters, with Bernard I being their 6th son. Their three eldest sons were infant mortalities (the 2nd son was actually 16 when he died) and their 4th son, Duke Friedrich I of Saxe-Gotha had living descendants via his eldest son, Friedrich II (see #528) of whom HM King Charles III is the most senior heir.
6218. Landgrave Georg II of Hesse-Darmstadt (1605-1661)
6219. Sofie Eleonore of Saxony (1609-1671)
Georg and Sofie had three sons, and eleven daughters of whom Marie Hedwig was the youngest. Georg and Sofie’s eldest son, Landgrave Ludwig VI still has living descendants, the most senior of whom is the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven.
6272. Duke Georg of Brunswick in Calenberg (1582-1641)
6273. Anna Elenore of Hesse-Darmstadt (1601-1659)
Georg and Anna had 4 sons and 4 daughters. The eldest son, Duke Christian, died childless, and their second son, Duke Georg Wilhelm, only had one daughter, Sophia, who married the future George I of Great Britain and whose senior heir is HM King Charles III.
6274. Kurfurst Friedrich V von der Pfalz (1596-1632)
6275. Princess Elizabeth of England (1596-1662)
Sophie was their youngest daughter. Friedrich and Elizabeth’s eldest son was Kurfurst Karl I, who firstly married Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel, then declared himself divorced from her in order to marry her Lady in waiting, the Frein von Degenfeld, then after the latter’s death in 1779 married a third time to Elisabeth von Bernau. His second and third marriage are of dubious validity due to his self-declaration of his divorce from his first wife. He had two sons from his first wife, both childless, a further 8 sons by his second marriage and one more by his third marriage, again all apparently childless. His only daughter by his first marriage, Elisabeth Charlotte, married Philip, Duc d’Orleans and their senior heirs follow the Orleanist branch of the French royal family until 1926, when King Louis Phillippe’s great –grandson, Philippe, Duc d’Orleans died, at which point his sisters descendants became senior. His eldest sister was Amelie who married King Carlos I of Portugal, but their line became extinct with the death of their younger son, King Manoel II of Portugal in 1945. Philippe’s second sister, Helene, married Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Duke of Aosta, whose eldest son Amadeo, Duke of Aosta was then succeeded as heir by his only daughter, Margherita, who died on 10th January 2022. Margherita married Archduke Robert of Austria-Este, and their eldest son, Archduke of Austria-Este is now the senior heir of this line and is also a Prince of Belgium, having married Princess Astrid of Belgium.
6276. Duke Georg of Brunswick in Calenberg (1582-1641)
6277. Anna Elenore of Hesse-Darmstadt (1601-1659)
Georg and Anna had 4 sons and 4 daughters. The eldest son, Duke Christian, died childless, and their second son was Duke Georg Wilhelm.
6278. Alexander II Desmier, Seigneur d’Olbreuse (1608-1660)
6279. Jacquette Poussard de Vandre (1610-1648)
It Is unclear how many children Alexander and Jacquette had. Any sons, if they existed, may or may not have issue still living. A daughter Angelica is quoted in a lot of online sources, and married a Heinrich V Reuss, but it is not clear if Angelica is older or younger than Eleonore, so not clear if any possible living descendants of Angelica would be more senior or less senior than HM King Charles III.
11xGreat Grandparents – 10+/8192
12416. Duke Johann of Saxe-Weimar und Jena (1570-1605)
12417. Princess Dorothea Marie of Anhalt (1574-1617)
Duke Ernst I was their 8th son, but 6 of the 7 older sons did not leave any issue. The 5th son, Duke Wilhelm ‘der Grosse’ of Saxe-Weimar, left issue, the most senior of whom today is Prince Michael of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.
12418. Duke Johann Philipp of Saxe-Altenburg (1597-1639)
12419. Duchess Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel (1593-1650)
Elisabeth was their only child.
12420. Duke August of Saxe-Weissenfels (1614-1680)
12421. Duchess Anna Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1627-1669)
Duke Johann Adolf I was their eldest son.
12422. Duke Friedrich Wilhelm II of Saxe-Altenburg (1603-1669)
12423. Princess Magdalene Sibylle of Saxony (1617-1668)
They had two sons, both infant mortalities, and Magdalene was their only daughter.
12424. Furst Rudolf of Anhalt-Zerbst (1576-1621)
12425. Grafin Magdalene von Oldenburg (1585-1657)
Furst Johann was their only son.
12426. Duke Friedrich III of Holstein-Gottorp (1597-1659)
12427. Princess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony (1610-1684)
They had seven sons, all but one of whom had no issue. Their 4th son, Duke Christian Albrecht, had issue, of whom the most senior today is Prince Alexis Romanov.
12552. Duke Wilhelm of Brunswick-Luneberg (1535-1592)
12553. Princess Dorothea of Denmark (1546-1617)
They had seven sons, but only Georg, their 6th son, had any issue.
12554. Landgrave Ludwig V of Hesse-Darmstadt (1577-1626)
12555. Magdalene of Brandeburg (1582-1616)
Their eldest son, Landgrave Georg II, had issue, of whom the most senior is currently the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven.
12xGreat-Grandparents – 3+/16384
24836. Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Saxe-Altenburg (1562-1602)
24837. Pfalzgrafin Anna Marie of Neuberg (1575-1643)
Duke Friedrich Wilhelm had previously had five children by his first marriage, including two sons, but all five died without issue. Duke Johann Philipp was his eldest child by Anna Marie.
24838. Duke Heinrich Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel (1564-1613)
24839. Princess Elisabeth of Denmark (1573-1625)
Duke Heinrich Julius had one daughter by his first marriage, and five sons and four daughters by this second marriage. His five sons all died childless, so his heir would be descended by his eldest daughter to still have living issue. His eldest daughter, via the first marriage, Dorothea, married Furst Rudolf of Anhalt-Zerbst, and they had two daughters, Dorothea and Eleonore, the elder of whom married Duke August of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. August and Dorothea had three sons, and two daughters. The eldest son, Heinrich, was an infant mortality, and the second son, Duke Rudolf August, did have issue but this became extinct in 1765. August and Dorothea’s youngest son was Duke Anton Ulrich, who had seven sons and six daughters. Duke Anton Ulrich’s first six sons died childless, but his youngest son, Duke Ludwig Rudolf, had four daughters, the eldest of whom, Elisabeth, married Emperor Karl VI, and they had a son, who was an infant mortality, and three daughters, the eldest of whom, Empress Maria Theresia, became Duke Heinrich Julius’ heir in 1765. From the it follows the Habsburg Emperors down to Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, and the senior heir of his today is Prince Guillame of Windisch-Graetz. This line so far is via the only daughter of Duke Heinrich Julius’ first marriage, but in terms of heirs of his second wife Elisabeth we need to look at her daughters, as mentioned her five sons were all childless. Elisabeth and Heinrich Julius’ eldest daughter was Sophie who married Graf Ernst Casimir of Nassau-Dietx, and their male-line became Princes of Orange and then Kings and Queens of the Netherlands, making their currently living senior heir Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
24840. Elector Johann Georg I of Saxony (1585-1656)
24841. Princess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia (1587-1659)
Elector Johann Georg’s eldest son, Christian, was an infant mortality, but the second was Elector Johann Georg II of Saxony, with heirs in this line continuing through the Electors of Saxony, later Margraves of Meissen, and the current heir being Alexander de Afif, Prinz von Sachsens.
24842. Duke Adolf Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1588-1658)
24843. Grafin Anna Marie von Ostfriesland (1601-1634)
Duke Adolf Friedrich had 4 sons and 4 daughters by this marriage, and then 6 sons and 5 daughters by his second marriage. Duke Adolf’s 4 sons by his first marriage were all childless, but his eldest by his second marriage, Duke Friedrich I, had three sons and a daughter, but the eldest, Duke Friedrich Wilhelm, had no legitimate issue, and the second, Duke Karl Leopold, had one legitimate daughter, Elisabeth, who became regent of Russia for her son, Emperor Ivan VI. None of Elisabeth’s five children had any children of their own, with the last surviving being Catherine who died in 1807. Duke Friedrich’s youngest son, Duke Christian Ludwig I has heirs following the line of the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, with the current heir being Donata von Mecklenburg, Mrs von Solodkoff.
Grafin Anna Marie von Ostfriesland and Duke Adolf Friedrich I had four sons, all of whom died childless, and four daughters, the eldest of whom, Sophie, also died childless, and the second of whom was Anna Marie.
24844. Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Saxe-Altenburg (1562-1602)
24845. Pfalzgrafin Anna Marie of Neuberg (1575-1643)
Duke Friedrich Wilhelm had two sons by his first marriage, both infant mortalities. Duke Friedrich Wilhelm II was his third son by this marriage, but his eldest son by this marriage, Duke Johann Philipp (see #4226) still has living issue, the most senior of whom is HM King Charles III.
24846. Elector Johann Georg I of Saxony (1585-1656)
24847. Princess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia (1587-1659)
Magdalene Sibylle was their third daughter, but their heir is descended from their second son, Elector Johann Georg II, and is currently Alexander de Afif, Prinz von Sachsens.
24848. Furst Joachim Ersnt of Anhalt (1536-1586)
24849. Eleonore of Wurttemberg (1552-1618)
Furst Joachim Ernst had 2 sons and 4 daughters by his first marriage, and six sons and four daughters by this marriage. The eldest son by his first marriage was Furst Johann Georg I, whose two eldest sons were infant mortalities, but whose third son, Furst Johann Kasimir, has issue. Furst Johann Kasimir’s eldest son was Furst Johann Georg, whose eldest son, Friedrich, was an infant mortality, but whose second son was Furst Leopold I. Furst Leopold I’s eldest son, Wilhelm Gustav, conducted a morganatic marriage, which is still a valid marriage for our purposes, and still has living issue, the most senior of whom might be Prince Stephan von Schoenaich-Carolath, but as some of the branches more senior to him had females who married into extremely obscure families it is possible there is a more senior heir. Eleonore’s eldest son with Furst Joachim Ernst was Furst August of Anhalt-Plotzgau/Kothen whose direct line reaches his great-great-granddaughter, Gisela of Anhalt-Kothen who married Furst Leopold II of Anhalt-Dessau, the second son of Furst Leopold I mentioned above. Furst Leopold’s heirs continue through the Fursts and Dukes of Anhalt-Dessau, and later of Anhalt, take a temporary detour through two Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe who were the childless sons of an Antoinette of Analt, and currently the senior heir is Duke Eduard of Anhalt.
24850. Graf Johann VIII of Oldenburg (1540-1603)
24851. Grafin Elisabeth von Schwarzburg (1541-1612)
Their two sons and their three eldest daughters left no legitimate issue. Their next daughter was Katharine who married Duke August of Saxe-Lauenberg. August and Katharine had three sons and three daughters, but the three sons and the eldest daughter were childless. August and Katharine’s second daughter, Anna, married Landgrave Wilhelm Christof of Hesse-Homburg, and they had seven sons and two daughters, but the seven sons were all childless. Landgrave Wilhelm Christof and Anna’s elder daughter, Christine, married Duke Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Grabow, fifth son of Duke Adolf Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (see #8458), and as above their current senior heir is Donata von Mecklenburg.
25104. Duke Ernst of Brunswick-Luneberg (1497-1546)
25105. Sophie of Mecklenburg (1508-1541)
Duke Wilhelm was Duke Ernst’s fourth son. Ernst’s first two sons died childless, but the third Duke Heinrich of Brunswick-Dannenberg had children, the eldest son being Duke Julius Ernst. Duke Julius Ernst had four children but three were infant mortalities, and the only one to survive to adulthood was Marie Katherine who married Duke Adolf Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Adolf and Marie’s eldest son was Duke Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Grabow, whose current senior heir is Donata von Mecklenburg.
25106. King Christian III of Denmark and Norway (1503-1559)
25107. Princess Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenberg (1511-1571)
Their eldest son was King Frederik II of Denmark and Norway, and their heirs follow the line of the Kings of Denmark and Norway until King Frederik VI, whose 8 children were all childless. Frederik Vi’s sister, Luise, married a Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenberg, and their eventual heir was a great-granddaughter,Auguste, who married Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia. The current heir is Friederike von der Osten, Mrs Von Reiche.
13xGreat-Grandparents – 3+/32768
49672. Duke Johann Wilhelm of Saxe-Weimar-Coburg (1530-1573
49673. Pfalzgrafin Dorothea Susanne von Simmern (1544-1592)
Duke Friedrich Wilhelm was their eldest son.
49674. Pfalzgraf Philipp Ludwig von Neuberg (1547-1614)
49675. Anna of Kleve (1552-1632)
Philipp and Anna’s son, Pfalzgraf Wolfgang of Neuberg, still has living descendants, the most senior of whom is currently Duke Franz of Bavaria.
49686. Graf Enno III von Ostfriesland (1563-1625)
49687. Princess Anna of Holstein-Gottorp (1573-1610)
Enno had a son and two daughters by his previous marriage, and 3 sons and 2 daughters by this marriage. His three eldest sons all died unmarried, and his youngest son did marry and leave issue, but as far as I can tell his descendants are now extinct. The elder daughter by the first marriage, Sabine, has living issue, the most senior of whom is currently Viktor, Duke von Ratibor and Prince von Corvey, who is thus Enno’s heir. The elder daughter by the second marriage, Christine, married but had no children, meaning Anna of Holstein-Gottorp’s heir would be descended through Anna Marie, and would therefore be HM King Charles III.
14xGreat-Grandparents –2+/65536
99344. Elector Johann Friedrich I ‘die Grossmutige’ of Saxony (1503-1554)
99345. Sibylle of Julich, Kleve and Berg (1512-1554)
Duke Johann Wilhelm was their second son, but the line of their eldest son, Elector Johann Friedrich II of Saxony, became extinct in 1638.
99346. Kurfurst Friedrich III von der Pfalz (1515-1576)
99347. Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (1519-1567)
Their eldest son, Kurfurst Ludwig VI, has living issue, of whom the most senior is currently Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este, Prince of Belgium.
99374. Duke Adolf of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (1526-1586)
99375. Landgravine Christine of Hesse (1543-1604)
Their eldest two sons died unmarried, but their third son, Duke Johann Adolf, still has living descendants, the most senior of whom is currently Prince Alexis Romanov.
15xGreat-Grandparents – 2+/131072
198688. Elector Johann ‘der Bestandige’ of Saxony (1468-1532)
198689. Sophie of Mecklenberg (1481-1503)
Elector Johann Friedrich I was their eldest son.
198690. Duke Johann III of Julich, Berg and Kleve (1490-1539)
198691. Marie of Julich, Berg and Ravensberg (1491-1543)
Their son, Duke Wilhelm, still has living issue, the most senior is currently Friederike von der Osten, Mrs von Reiche.
16xGreat Grandparents – 2+/262144
397376. Elector Ernst of Saxony (1441-1486)
397377. Elisabeth of Bavaria (1443-1484)
Johann was the fourth son, but the three elder sons died without legitimate issue.
397378. Duke Magnus II of Mecklenburg (1441-1503)
397379. Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin (d 1504)
Duke Magnus II had a son Duke Heinrich V, whose two sons died childless, but whose eldest daughter, Sophie, married Duke Ernst of Brunswick-Luneberg, who still have living descendants. Three generations down from Sophie and Ernst the senior line would pass to, and through, Marie Katherine of Brunswick-Luneberg, who married Duke Adolf Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and whose current senior heir is Donata of Mecklenburg, Mrs von Solodkoff.
17xGreat-Grandparents – 2+/524288
794952. Elector Friedrich II ‘der Sanftmutige’ of Saxony (1412-1464)
794953. Margarete of Austria (1416/17-1486)
Elector Ernst was their eldest son.
794954. Duke Albrecht III of Bavaria (1401-1460)
794955. Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (1474)
Albrecht III and Anna had 7 sons and 3 daughters. The 4 eldest sons died without legitimate issue, but the fifth son became Albrecht IV and has living issue. 9 generations down from Duke Albrecht IV we reach Maria Antonia of Bavaria, who married Elector Friedrich Christian of Saxony, and 8 generations down we get to Maria Anna Josepha of Meissen who married Robert de Afif, and whose son, Alexander de Afif, Prinz von Sachsen, is the current living heir.
18xGreat-Grandparents – 2+/1048576
1589904. Friedrich I ‘die Streitbare’, Margrave of Meissen, Landgrave of Thuringia, Elector of Saxony (1370-1428)
1589905. Katharina of Brunswick-Luneberg (d 1442)
Friedrich II was their eldest son.
1589906. Duke Ernst ‘der Eiserne’ of Austria, Duke of Styria (1377-1424)
1589907. Zimburg of Masovia (d 1429)
Duke Ernst married twice, but had no issue by his first wife. By his second, Zimburg, his eldest son was Emperor Friedrich III, and seven generations down the senior line from him we reach King Carlos II of Spain, who was childless, and then his sister Maria Teresa, who married King Louis IV of France. Seven more generations from Louis IV and Maria Teresa takes us to Louise Marie Therese who married Duke Carlo III of Bourbon-Parma, whose great-granddaughter, Alice, died in 2017, having married Prince Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Alice and Alfonso’s only son, Pedro, Duca di Calabria, is the current senior heir.
19xGreat-Grandparents – 2+/2097152
3179812. Friedrich III ‘der Strenge’, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen (1332-1381)
3179813. Katharina von Henneberg, heiress of Coburg, Neustadt, Sonneberg, Neuhaus, Rodach etc (d 1397)
Friedrich I was the second son, but the eldest, also called Friedrich, was an infant mortality.
3179814. Duke Heinrich II of Brunswick-Luneberg (d 1416)
3179815. Sophie of Pomerania (d 1406)
Duke Heinrich II married twice, and had a son and a daughter by the first marriage, the daughter being Katherina. The son was Duke Wilhelm of Brunswick-Luneberg, and five generations down from him in the senior line we reach Duke Heinrich Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, who married twice and had five sons and five daughters in total. His five sons all died without issue, and his elder daughter was Dorothea who married Furst Rudolf of Anhalt-Zerbst. Rudolf and Dorothea had two daughters, the elder of whom, also called Dorothea, married Duke August of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. Three generations down from August and Dorothea we reach Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel who married Emperor Karl VI, and their daughter was Empress Maria Theresia. Six generations down from Empress Maria Theresia we reach Elisabeth of Austria, who married Prince Otto zu Windisch-Graetz, and their grandson, Prince Guillaume zu Windisch-Graetz is the current senior heir.
20xGreat-Grandparents – 2+/4194304
6359624. Friedrich II ‘der Ernsthafte’, Margrave of Meissen, Landgrave of Thuringia (1310-1349)
6359625. Matilde of Bavaria (d 1346)
Friderich II’s elde
Friedrich III was the second son, but the eldest, also called Friedrich, was an infant mortality.
6359626. Graf Heinrich VI von Henneberg (d 1347)
6359627. Jutta of Brandenberg, heiress of Coburg and Schmalkalden (d 1353)
Heinrich and Jutta had an unnamed son who was presumably an infant mortality, and four daughters. The second and third daughters were the heiresses of Heinrich’s various territories, but the eldest daughter, Elisabeth did have issue with her husband, Graf Eberhard II von Wurttemberg. 5 generations down from Eberhard we reach Mathilde of Wurttemberg who married Landgrave Ludwig II of Hesse. Ludwig’s eldest son, Landgrave Wilhelm I had five daughters, the eldest of whom was an infant mortality, but the second, Mechtild, married Graf Konrad von Tecklenburg. Mechtild and Konrad had one daughter, Anna, who married Graf Everwin III von Bentheim. 12 generations down from Everwin III and Anna is the current genealogical heir, Carl-Gustav zu Benthem-Tecklenburg, who renounced the right to be the Furst of Bentheim-Tecklenburg in favour of one of his younger brothers.
21xGreat-Grandparents – 2+/8388608
12719248. Friedrich I ‘der Freidige’, Pfalzgraf von Sachsen, Margave of Meissen, Landgrave of Thuringia (1257-1323)
12719249. Elisabeth von Lobdeburg-Arnshaugk (d 1359)
Friedrich married twice, and by his first marriage had a son Heinrich, who in turn married and had one son, Friedrich, who appears to have died unmarried. By this second marriage Friedrich II was the only son.
12719250. Emperor Ludwig IV, King of Italy, Duke of Bavaria (1282-1347)
12719251. Beatrix of Jauer and Schweidnitz (d 1322)
Matilde was their eldest daughter. Their elder son was Margave Ludwig V of Brandenberg, but his line appears to have become extinct in the 1360s. Their younger son was Duke Stephan II of Bavaria. The senior line would then go through Duke Stephan II’s granddaughter, Isabeau, who married King Charles VI of France. Charles VI and Isabeau’s line would eventually go via their son, Charles VII, and his daughter Anne, who married Duke Amadeus IX of Savoy, to their daughter Anne of Savoy, who married King Federigo IV of Naples. Federigo and Anne had one daughter, Charlotte, who married Count Guy XVI of Laval. Guy and Charlotte’s line eventually goes through their younger daughter, Anne, who married Francois de la Tremouille. 12 generations down from Francois and Anne is Charlotte de Tremouille et Thouars, who died in 1971, and who married Prince Henri de Ligne. Their son, Prince Jean Charles de Ligne de la Tremouille is the current heir.
22xGreat-Grandparents
25438496. Albrecht ‘the degenerate’, Landgrave of Thuringia, Pfalzgraf von Sachsen (1240-1314)
25438497. Margarete von Hohenstaufen (1237-1270)
Friedrich I was their second son, but their eldest son, Heinrich, Hr des Pleissenlandes, had only one child, Friedrich ‘ohne Land’, Hr des Pleissandes, who appears to have never married.
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