Update, Plan for “Presentation” -Piper Relationship to the Dynasties and Monarchs of Europe

(Jody Gray): I’m not so much interested in finding my direct blood lineage to nobility (Kings and Queens, etc) as I am to learning history through my ancestors, be they direct blood lineage (great-grandparents) or be they great-uncles/aunts and cousins or those related through marriage (husbands and wives with no “blood-ties”) -such as, William Marshal, “The Greatest Knight” husband of 2nd cousin 25x removed, Isabel de Clare *descendant of 26th GGM Elizabeth de Vermandois (Robertian) -I was excited to be able to include him in my Ancestry.com Family Tree and thus include his story *Blog Post: William Marshal, “The Greatest Knight”, bio. -http://historicalandmisc.blogspot.com/2016/12/william-marshal-greatest-knight-bio.html

Here’s how I’ve decided to “Present” our Piper Relationship to the Dynasties and Monarchs of Europe:

  Introduce the “characters” (ancestors) beginning with the earliest known (verifiable) ancestor (referred to as the progenitor of the family). I add this person and his lineage to my Ancestry.com Family Tree using Ancestry.com sources and Wikipedia. Then, I create a Blog Post with biographical sketches and historical events; including other sources, such as DVD’s, books and websites…
This method should help me to become more “structured” in my approach to building my Ancestry.com Family Tree; and, hopefully present the information in an easy-to-follow format. There are many documents and Blog Posts that I create that are for research and verification that are not much “fun to read” -they contain mostly names and dates, etc. Creating a timeline, where I present the ancestors in “groups” should help “tie the information together” and create one main Blog Post that contains all the Blog Posts that are related to that group.

The first “group of European Ancestors”

Blog Post: Piper Family Blood Lineage -European Dynastic Origins:

https://gray-piperfamily.blogspot.com/2017/01/piper-family-blood-lineage-european.html Rurikids (Russia), Robertians (Neustria), Carolingians (Francia), House of Flanders (lineage to Walter aka Seier ‘the Fleming’ de Seton progenitor of the de Wahull (Woodhull) branch that connects “down-to” our grandmother, Lucile Gray.

(Draft) - Blog Post: Timeline, earliest Dynasties in Europe.

  Currently, I’m working on a Timeline which will follow historic events our ancestors participated in or were affected by… also showing intermarriages between dynasties / noble houses -which were most often arranged between monarchs for political reasons -you’ll be shocked at the ages of the children when they were betrothed to “cement treaties” or acquire land… I’m starting with the earliest known (verifiable) ancestors. This timeline begins with the founding of the first dynasties: 714, Carolingian Dynasty; 853, Robertian Dynasty; 862, Rurik Dynasty; 863, House of Flanders… While these powerful “characters” are expanding their territories, the Vikings attack and a system of defensive fortresses are created: 845, Siege of Paris (possibly Ragnar Lodbrok); 862, Rurik gains control of Ladoga in Russia and builds a settlement near Novgorod; 865, the ‘Great Heathen Army’ (led by Ivar ‘the Boneless’) landed in East Anglia with the intent of conquering the four kingdoms that constituted Anglo-Saxon England *35th GGF Alfred the Great, King of Wessex defeats Gunthrum’s army in 878 and the army leaves his territory; 885, Siege of Paris, the Vikings overtake Paris and receive a ransom to leave. 32nd GGF Rollo is among the Viking commanders; in 911 he is granted land by 1st cousin 36x removed, Charles the Simple, (Carolingian) King of West Francia; which becomes Normandy and Rollo becomes it’s 1st Duke.

  The Carolingian Dynasty expanded to its greatest heights during the reign of Charlemagne; who became Emperor of the Romans in 800; but after his death the dynasty begins to fall into decline as the territories are split and civil wars are fought between surviving sons. In later years, Charlemagne’s descendants begin to die without male heirs; when Louis V, King of West Francia died (987) without a legitimate heir, Hugh Capet (Robertian) was elected to the throne (King of the Franks); ending the rule of the Carolingian Dynasty *987 is the year Hugh Capet founded the House of Capet, a cadet branch of the Robertians.  

  28th great-uncle, William I ‘the Conqueror’ became the 1st Norman King of England in 1066 -ending the Anglo-Saxon rule of England (House of Wessex, Edward the Confessor, Reign 1042-1066).

The next group of characters (ancestors): Kings of England, Scotland, France.

Kings of England -28th great-uncle, William I, King of England (1066-1087) Note, our ancestors who supported (militarily or financially) William in his conquest of England were rewarded with land and titles in England; among them, William I de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, one of the few who are documented as having fought for William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; he was created Earl of Surrey under William II Rufus. House of Warren -(I am working on the de Warenne Family Saga)...  26th GGF William II de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey m: 26th GGM Elizabeth de Vermandois (Robertian).

Kings of Scotland -Husband of 6th cousin 30x removed, Malcolm III, King of Alba (Scotland) (1058-1093) *he married Margaret of Wessex, descendant of 35th GGF Alfred the Great, King of Wessex)

Kings of France -28th GGF Henry I, (Robertian) King of the Franks (France) (1027-1060); succeeded by 28th great-uncle, Philip I the Amorous, King of the Franks (1059, age 6 -his mother as regent, 4th cousin 29x removed (father of Matilda who married William I ‘the Conqueror) Baldwin V of Flanders as co-regent -1108)

The next group of characters (ancestors): Kings of England, Scotland, France.

Kings of England -House of Plantagenet (Kings of England): 3rd cousin 26x removed, Henry II, King of England *descendant of 28th great-uncle, William I, King of England -Norman Dynasty and 5th cousin 28x removed, Matilda of Flanders -House of Flanders...

Kings of Scotland -House of Bruce - (1306), 5th cousin 22x removed, Robert I ‘the Bruce’ crowned King of Scots. He was one of the most famous warriors of his generation, and eventually led Scotland during the 1st War of Scottish Independence against England (movie, Braveheart with Mel Gibson). Our direct de Brus lineage: 26th GGF Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale; 25th GGF Adam I… 22nd GGF Peter II m: 22nd GGM Helewise de Lancaster, Heiress of Kendal…

xxx