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Are you a direct descendant from royalty, or Charlemagne or a bastard child of a monarch? Refer to the list of qualifying immigrant ancestors in each of the member societies named. Once you find the name of your qualifying ancestor, complete the application and submit the required proofs needed to establish your eligibility to be a member of the National Societies of Royal and Noble Ancestry.

Membership in this prestigious organization is unique with regard to other hereditary societies. Once you provide your lineage information on the membership application and are accepted, you will receive a compact disk of your lineage to your immigrant ancestor - and to your royal ancestors as well. This gift is included with your membership fee.

Society of Charlemagne Ancestry

Charlemagne was called Charles I and Charles the Great. He was King of the Franks (768-814), King of the Lombards (774-814) and Emperor of the of the Holy Roman Empire (800-814). He was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800. As king of the Franks, Charlemagne conquered the Lombard kingdom in Italy, subdued the Saxons, annexed Bavaria to his kingdom, fought campaigns in Spain and Hungary, and with the exception of the Kingdom of Asturias in Spain, southern Italy and the British Isles, united in one super state practically all the Christian lands of western Europe.

He is reckoned as Charles I of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as Charles I of France. Besides expanding its political power, he also brought about a cultural renaissance in his empire. Although this imperium survived its founder by only one generation, the medieval kingdoms of France and Germany derived all their constitutional traditions from Charles's monarchy. Throughout medieval Europe, Charlemagne was considered the prototype of a Christian king and emperor. His descendants are numerous and members of the Society of Charlemagne Ancestry celebrate and honor their heritage to this great monarch.

List of Qualifying Ancestors

Society of Royal Bastard Ancestry

A number of illegitimate children of English royalty married well, led productive lives and left descendants to this day. The Society of Royal Bastard Ancestry traces the lineage of its members to these royal bastard offspring of King Henry I (Robert de Caen, Reynold de Dunstanville, Elizabeth of England, Henry fitz Henry, Robert fitz Edith, Reginald fitz Roy and Constance), his grandson Henry II (William Longespee) and his great-grandson John, who set his seal on the Magna Carta at Runnemede on 15 June 1215 (Richard fitz Roy).

List of Qualifying Ancestors

Society of Magna Carta Ancestry

The history of the Magna Carta is connected to King John's attempt to collect scutage (payment of money in lieu of military service) from the barons who had refused to aid him in his expedition to Poitou in France. Abuses of feudal customs and extortion of money from the barons and the towns, not only by John but by his father Henry II and brother Richard I, had aroused intense opposition, which increased during King John's reign. The barons rose in overwhelming force against the king, and John capitulated by setting his seal on the Magna Carta at Runnemede on 15 June 1215. Thus, this most famous document of English constitutional history was the fruit of predominantly baronial force.

Members of the Society of Magna Carta Ancestry celebrate the history of this important document and honor the twenty-five barons who witnessed this event, of whom only seventeen have descendants today. The seventeen barons with surviving descendants are (1) William d'Albini/d'Aubigny, (2) Roger Bigod, (3) Hugh Bigod, (4) Henry de Bohun, (5) Richard de Clare, (6) Gilbert de Clare, (7) John Fitzrobert, (8) Robert Fitzwalter, (9) William de Huntingfield, (10) John de Lacie/Lacy, (11)William de Lanvallei, (12) William Malet, (13) William de Mowbray, (14) Saire de Quincey, (15) Robert de Roos, (16) Geoffrey de Saye and (17) Robert de Vere.

List of Qualifying Ancestors