Dynasty
A
dynasty is a succession of
rulers who belong to the same family for generations. A dynasty is also often called a "house", e.g. the
House of Saud or
House of Habsburg. The term is also used to describe the
era during which that family
reigned, as well as events, trends and artifacts of the period, e.g. "Ming dynasty vase". In such cases, often the "dynasty" is dropped but the name may be used adjectively, e.g. "
Tudor style", "
Ottoman expansion", "
Romanoff decadence", etc.
Historians traditionally recount China's story within a framework of successive dynasties (
See Dynasties in Chinese history). A series of dynasties possibly dating back to the
Xia (
2033 BC) ruled
China until the end of the
Xinhai Revolution in
1912. A similar pattern happened in
Ancient Egypt and the
Persian Empire, and dynasties such as the
Carolingians, the
Capetians, the
Bourbons, the
Habsburgs, the
Stuarts, the
Hohenzollerns and the
Romanovs successively and together dominated much of European political history. Until the nineteenth century, it was taken for granted that a legitimate function of a
monarch was to aggrandize his dynasty, that is, to increase the
territory, wealth and power of family members.
A ruler in a dynasty is sometimes referred to as a
dynast, but this term is also used to describe any member of a
reigning family who retains
succession rights to a throne. For example, following his abdication,
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom ceased to be a
dynastic member of the
House of Windsor. A "dynastic marriage" is one that complies with monarchical
house law restrictions, so that the descendants are eligible to inherit the throne and/or other
royal privileges. In historical and
monarchist references to formerly reigning families,
dynastic describes a family member who would have succession rights if the monarchy's rules were still in force.
Confusingly, "dynast" is sometimes used to refer to
agnatic descendants of a
realm's monarchs, and sometimes to those who hold succession rights through
cognatic royal descent. The term can therefore describe overlapping but distinct sets of people. For example,
David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, a nephew of
Queen Elizabeth II through her late sister,
Princess Margaret, is in the line of succession to the British crown, and in that sense is a British dynast. Yet he is not a
male-line member of the
royal family, and is therefore not a dynast of the House of Windsor.
On the other hand, the German
aristocrat Ernst August, Prince of Hanover (born 1954), although a male-line descendant of
George III of the United Kingdom, is too distantly related to the present sovereign to be entitled to one of the
styles reserved for Britain's royal family (although he is entitled to re-claim the once-
royal dukedom of
Cumberland). Yet he was born in the
line of succession to the British crown and is bound by the
Royal Marriages Act 1772. Thus, in 1999 he requested and obtained formal permission from Elizabeth II to marry
Princess Caroline of Monaco. But immediately upon marriage he forfeited his (remote) claim to the British throne because she is a
Roman Catholic and Ernst August is also bound by the English
Act of Settlement 1701 which permanently deprives dynasts of succession rights upon marriage to a Roman Catholic. However, the couple's daughter, Princess Alexandra of Hanover (born 1999), remains a legal dynast of both the United Kingdom and Monaco, not to mention her father's claim to dynasticity as
pretender to the former royal crown of
Hanover.
Dynastic names may not be the same as individual surnames, in that titles are customarily used instead. Or the name of the dynasty may follow the throne by descending through females, e.g. the current heads of the dynasties of
Grimaldi, Habsburg,
Orange and Romanov actually descend paternally from, respectively, the houses of
Polignac (Chalençon),
Lorraine,
Lippe and
Oldenburg. Also, often a new dynastic name does not signal an altogether different family, so much as a new branch of the dynasty that has obtained the throne: kings of the
House of Anjou, Bourbon,
Orléans and
Braganza dynasties were all male-line descendants of
Hugh Capet of France and are collectively called
Capetians. Thus, by a
royal decree of 1960 the British ruling dynasty remains the House of Windsor, despite the present Queen having married
Philip Mountbatten, who is by birth a prince of the reigning Danish dynasty of
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, itself a branch of the
House of Oldenburg, of which the Romanovs descended from
Catherine the Great were also agnatic descendants.
*
House of Braganza (1822-1889)
*
Dessalines Dynasty (1804 - 1806)
*
Christophe Dynasty (1811 - 1820)
*
Soulouque Dynasty (1849 - 1859)
*
Kamehameha Dynasty (c.
1810-
1872)
*
Kalākaua Dynasty (c.
1874-
1893)
*
House of Kawananakoa (c.
1868- ??)
*
House of Iturbide (1822 - 1823)
*
House of Habsburg (1864 - 1867)
*
Durrani Dynasty (
1747"
1823 and
1839"
1842)
*
Barakzai Dynasty (
1818"
1839,
1842"
1929 and
1929"
1973)
*
Usurper King (
January 17,
1929 -
October 13,
1929)
*
Silla Dynasty (
57BCE-
935)
*
Goryeo Dynasty (
935-
1392)
*
Joseon Dynasty (
1392-
1910)
The Heads of State of modern North Korea also works on de facto dynastic succession. The late Kim Il-Sung was succeeded by his eldest son Kim Jong-Il, and Kim Jong-Il will most certainly be succeeded by one of his own sons.
*
House of Theemuge (
1117-
1388)
*
Hilaalee dynasty (
1388-
1558)
*(
1558-
1573) Interregnum
*
Utheemu dynasty (
1573-
1692)
*(
1692-
1701) Kings who do not belong to a particular dynasty.
*
Isdhoo dynasty (
1701-
1704)
*
Dhiyamigili dynasty (
1704-
1757)
*
Huraa dynasty (
1757-
1766)
*
Dhiyamigili dynasty (
1766-
1773)
*
Huraa dynasty (
1773-
1953)
*(
1953-
1953) Republic (President Muhammad Amin Didi).
*
Huraa dynasty (
1953-
1968)
*(
1968-
1978) Republic (President Ibrahim Nasir).
*(
1978-
Now) Republic (President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom).
=
*
Agilolfing Dynasty=
*
Merovingian Dynasty (
481-
751)
*
Carolingian Dynasty (
751-
843)
*
Arnulfings or Pippinids,
mayors of the palaces=
See Early kings of the Lombards.*
Lething Dynasty (until early
sixth century)
*
Gausian Dynasty (
546-
572)
*
Bavarian Dynasty (
616-
712)
=
*
Amal Dynasty (before
474-
536)
=
*
Hasdingi (before
407-
534)
=
*
Balthi Dynasty (
395-
531)
*
Constantinian dynasty (
303-
336)
*
Valentinian Dynasty (
364-
457)
**
House of Theodosius from
379*
Leonid dynasty (
457-
518)
*
Justinian Dynasty (
518-
602)
*
Heraclian Dynasty (
602-
695 and
705-
711)
*
Isaurian Dynasty (
717-
802)
*
Phocid Dynasty (
802-
813)
*
Phrygian Dynasty (
820-
867)
*
Macedonian Dynasty (
867-
1056)
*
Comnenid Dynasty (
1057-
1059 and
1081-
1185)
*
Doukid Dynasty (
1059-
1081)
*
Angleid Dynasty (
1185-
1204)
*
Laskarid Dynasty (
1204-
1261), in exile in
Nicaea*
Palaeologid Dynasty (
1261-
1453)
*
Trpimirović Dynasty (
845-
1091)
*
House of Savoy (
1941-
1943)
*
House of Olaf (late
ninth century to c.
917)
*
House of Harthacnut (
917-
1047)
*
House of Munsö (
1047-
1412)
*
House of Pomerania (
1412-
1439)
*
House of Wittelsbach (
1439-
1448)
*
House of Oldenburg (
1448-
1863)
**
House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (
1863 to the present)
*
Cerdicing Dynasty, or House of Wessex, (
829-
1016 and
1042-
1066)
*
House of Harthacnut (
1013-
1014 and
1016-
1042)
*
Norman Dynasty (
1066-
1066)
**
House of Blois (
1035-
1054)
*
Plantagenet Dynasty (
1154-
1485)
**
House of Anjou (
1154-
1399)
**
House of Lancaster (
1399-
1460 and
1470-
1471)
**
House of York (
1460-
1461 and
1471-
1485)
*
House of Tudor (
1485-
1603)
*
House of Stuart (
1603-
1714)
*
House of Hanover (
1714-
1901)
*
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (
1901 to the present)
**
House of Windsor (
1917 to the present), house renamed in 1917 during the
First World War*
Carolingian Dynasty (
843-
987)
*
Capetian Dynasty (
987-
1328)
**
Valois Dynasty (
1328-
1589)
***House of
Orléans (
1498-
1515)
****House of
Angoulême (
1515-
1589)
**
Bourbon Dynasty (
1589-
1792 and
1814-
1848)
***House of
Orléans (
1830-
1848)
*
Bonaparte Dynasty (
1804-
1814 and
1852-
1870)
*
Carolingian Dynasty (
843-
911)
*
Conradine Dynasty (
911-
918)
*
Saxon Dynasty or Ottonian Dynasty (
919-
1024)
*
Salian Dynasty or
Franconian Dynasty (
1024-
1125)
*
Supplinburger Dynasty (
1125-
1137)
*
Hohenstaufen Dynasty (
1137-
1254)
*
Hapsburg Dynasty (
1273-
1291,
1298-
1308, and
1438-
1740)
**
House of Habsburg-Lorraine (
1745-
1806)
*
House of Nassau (
1292-
1298)
*
House of Luxemburg (
1308-
1313,
1347-
1400, and
1410-
1437)
*
House of Wittelsbach (
1314-
1347,
1400-
1410, and
1742-
1745)
*
Hohenzollern Dynasty (
1871-
1918)
=
*
Liutpolding Dynasty 889-947
*
Ottonian Dynasty 947-1017
*
House of Luxembourg 1017-1026, 1039-1047
*
Salian Dynasty 1026-1039, 1053-1061
*
Welf Dynasty 1070-1138, 1156-1180
*
Babenberg Dynasty 1138-1156
*
Wittelsbach Dynasty 1180-1918
=
*
Liudolfing Dynasty 843-961
*
Billung Dynasty 961-1106
*
Supplinburger Dynasty 1106-1127
*
Welf Dynasty 1127-1138, 1142-1180
*
Ascanian Dynasty 1138-1142, 1180-1422
*
Wettin Dynasty 1422-1918
*
Árpád Dynasty (c.
895-
1301)
*
Premyslid Dynasty (
1301-
1305)
*
House of Wittelsbach (
1305-
1308)
*
Capetian Dynasty, House of
Anjou (
1308-
1395)
*
House of Luxemburg (
1387-
1437)
*
Hapsburg Dynasty (
1437-
1457,
1526-
1564, and
1563-
1918)
*
Jagiellonian Dynasty (
1440-
1526)
*
Zápolya Dynasty (
1526-
1571)
*
Vojislavljević Dynasty (c. 7th century -
1186)
*
Nemanjić Dynasty (
1186 -
1355)
*
Balšić Dynasty (
1356 -
1435)
*
Crnojević Dynasty (
1435 -
1516)
*
Petrović-Njegoš Dynasty (
1696 -
1918)
=
*
Jiménez Dynasty (
1035-
1162)
*
House of Barcelona (
1162-
1410)
*
House of Trastámara (
1412-
1516)
=
*
Peláyez Dynasty (
718-
739)
*
Pérez Dynasty (
739-
925)
=
*
House of Lara (
930-
1032), counts
*
Jiménez Dynasty (
1035-
1126), kings
*
House of Burgundy (
1126-
1369)
*
House of Trastámara (
1369-
1516)
=
*
Pérez Dynasty (
910-
1037)
*
Jiménez Dynasty (
1037-
1126)
*
House of Burgundy (
1126-
1369)
*
House of Trastámara (
1369-
1516)
=
*
House of Íñiguez (
824-
905)
*
Jiménez Dynasty (
905-
1234)
*
House of Champagne (
1234-
1305)
*
Capetian Dynasty (
1284-
1349)
*
House of Évreux (
1328-
1441)
*
House of Trastámara (
1425-
1479)
*
House of Foix (
1479-
1516)
*
House of Albret (
1483-
1572)
*
House of Bourbon (
1572-
1620)
=
*
House of Burgundy or Afonsine Dynasty (
1093-
1383), counts until
1139*
House of Aviz or Joannine Dynasty (
1385-
1580)
*
House of Hapsburg or Philippine Dynasty (
1580-
1640)
*
House of Braganza or Brigantine Dynasty (
1640-
1910)
**
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha or House of Braganza-
Wettin (
1853-
1910)
=
*
House of Hapsburg or House of
Austria (
1516-
1700)
*
House of Bourbon (
1700-
1868,
1874-
1931, and
1975 to the present)
*
House of Bonaparte (
1808-
1813)
*
House of Savoy (
1871-
1873)
*
Fir Ol nEchmacht*
Dal Fiachrach Suighe*
The Connachta* Uí Briuin
*
Uí Fiachrach*
Uí Néill*
Eóganachta* Uí Failghe
* Uí Maine
* Uí Garrchon
* Uí Enechglaiss
* Uí Bairrche
* Uí Dunlaigne
* Uí Cheinnselaig
*
Dál Riata*
Dál nAraidi*
Dál Fiatach*
Clann Cholmáin*
Síl nÁedo Sláine * Cenél Coirpre
* Síl Muiredaig
* Clan Maelruanaidh
*
Cenél nEógan*
Cenél Conaill* Uí Briuin Brefine
* Muintir Maoilmhordha
* Ua Mael Sechlainn
* Ua Conchobhair
*
Dál gCais* Ua Briain
*
MacDermot* Mac Ivar
* Mac Ragnaill
* Mac Thorkell
* Mac Murrough Kavanagh
* FitzGerald
* Butler
*
Burke*
" Neill* Clann Aodha Buidhe
*
O Domhnaill*
O Connor Sligo*
O'Conor Don*
Clanricarde* Maguire
* MacCarthy
* O Sullivan Beare
* O Sullivan Mor
* O Connor Kerry
* O Flaherty
* O Rourke
* O Kelly
* O More
* O Byrne
* O Toole
* Magennis
* MacMahon
* O Reilly
* Guinness
*
House of Savoy (
1003-
1946)
*
Fairhair Dynasty (
890-
1319)
*
House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (
1905 to the present)
*
Piast Dynasty (
ninth century-
1296 and
1306-
1370)
*
Premyslid Dynasty (
1291-
1306)
*
Capetian Dynasty, House of Anjou (
1306-
1399)
*
Jagiellonian Dynasty (
1386-
1572 and
1575-
1586)
*
Valois Dynasty (
1573-
1574)
*
House of Báthory (
1576-
1586)
*
House of Vasa (
1587-
1668)
*
House of Wiśniowiecki (
1669-
1673)
*
House of Sobieski (
1674-
1696)
*
Wettin Dynasty (
1697-
1706 and
1709-
1733)
*
House of Leszczyński (
1704-
1709 and
1733-
1736)
*
House of Poniatowski (
1764-
1795)
*
Julio-Claudian Dynasty (
27 BC-
AD 68)
*
Flavian Dynasty (
69-
96)
*
Nervan-Antonian Dynasty (
96-
192)
*
Severan Dynasty (
193-
235)
*
House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (
1866-
1947)
*
House of Rurikovich (
862-
1598,
1606-
1610)
*
House of Romanov (
1613-
1762)
*
House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov, called
Romanov (
1762-
1917)
*
House of Alpin (
843-
1034)
*
House of Dunkeld (
1034-
1040,
1058-
1286)
*
House of Baliol (
1292-
1296)
*
House of Bruce (
1306-
1371)
*
House of Stuart (
1371-
1707*
House of Munsö or House of
Uppsala (
970-
1060)
*
House of Stenkil (
1060-
1130)
*
House of Sverker (
1130-
1222), interpsersed with House of Eric
*
House of Eric (
1156-
1250), interspersed with House of Sverker
*
House of Bjällbo or Folkung Dynasty (
1248-
1387)
*
House of Vasa (
1521-
1654)
*
House of Wittelsbach or House of
Palatinate-
Zweibrücken-
Kleeburg (
1654-
1720)
*
House of Hesse (
1720-
1751)
*
House of Holstein-Gottorp (
1751-
1818)
*
House of Bernadotte (
1818 to the present)
=
*
House of Hauteville (
1071-
1198), counts until
1130*
House of Hohenstaufen (
1194-
1266)
*
House of Capet, House of Anjou (
1266-
1282)
*
House of Barcelona (
1282-
1410)
*
House of Trastámara (
1412-
1516)
*
House of Hapsburg (
1516-
1700 and
1720-
1735)
*
House of Bourbon (
1700-
1713 and
1735-
1861)
*
House of Savoy (
1713-
1720)
=
*
House of Capet, House of Anjou (
1282-
1442)
*
House of Trastámara (
1442-
1516)
*
House of Hapsburg (
1516-
1700 and
1707-
1735)
*
House of Bourbon (
1700-
1707,
1735-
1806, and
1815-
1861)
*
House of Bonaparte (
1806-
1808)
*
House of Murat (
1808-
1815)
Florence House of
MediciThough in democratic governments rule does not pass automatically by inheritance, political power often accrues to generations of related individuals. Eminence,
Influence, familiarity,
tradition and even
nepotism may contribute to this phenomenon. See, for example, the
list of U.S. political families, which includes the
Roosevelts,
Kennedys,
Adamses, and most recently, the
Bushes.
Apart from the
United States case, political dynasties also occur commonly in other parts of the world. Note especially:
* The
Nehru-Gandhi family in India
* The
Kim dynasty in communist North Korea
* The
Assad family in Syria.
* Inheritance by
Khaleda Zia from her late husband
Ziaur Rahman; and by
Sheikh Hasina from her late father
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in
Bangladesh* The
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto dynasty in
Pakistan*
Lee Kuan Yew's family in
Singapore*
Aung San Suu Kyi's political inheritance in
Burma* The extended family of
Solomon Bandaranaike in
Sri Lanka* The Beazley and Crean dynasties in the
Australian Labour Party.
In many parts of
Europe, the persistence of
aristocratic families and their varying titles may serve to disguise some of the on-going influence of several political dynasties (as opposed to the royal dynasties which have provided monarchs). In the
United Kingdom these include:
* the Churchills (the family of
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough)
* the Russells (such as
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell)
* the Chamberlains (descendants of
Joseph Chamberlain)
* the Greys (notably
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey)
* the Pitts (for example:
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham)
