Lineage Society – Descendants of Royal Bastards
Members Descend from Illegitimate Offspring of British Kings
Mar 19, 2009 Rosemary E. Bachelor
The society has stringent membership requirements and even professional genealogists consider it an achievement to prove their qualifying lineage and become members.
“The actual mark of illegitimacy on coats-of-arms is…far from being shaming. Right down until fairly recent times illegitimacy bore no particular social stigma,” Cleveland Amory wrote in his book, Who Killed Society?
Prominent Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists founded the society in 1950 and many of them served as its early officers.
British Royalty Rife with Illegitimacy
The Rev. Dr. Arthur Adams, for 35 years the guiding star of the prestigious New England Historic Genealogical Society, is quoted by Amory as saying: “Charles I was the only King, you know, who didn’t have a bastard. I myself have three or four bastard lines and I’m proud of every one of them.”
Dr. Adams also regarded this particular lineage society as the most distinguished of all those he held membership in. Speaking collectively for the members, he told Amory “They call themselves the D. R. B.’s for short—Descendants of the Royal Bastards.”
Since William the Conqueror was the illegitimate son of Robert the Magnificent, he alone spawned hundreds of thousands of descendants of illegitimate royal offspring. Edward IV, Henry VIII and Charles II were renowned for having numerous illegitimate children. William IV has a more understandable story. He didn't become king until he was about 65. When younger, for 21 years he had a live-in lover, comic actress Dorothea Bland (also known as Mrs. Jordan). They had 10 children.
How to Join
Membership is open to persons of any nationality who prove descent from an illegitimate son or daughter of a king, an illegitimate son or daughter of the child of a king, or an illegitimate son or daughter of the grandchild of a king of England, Scotland, Wales, Great Britain or the United Kingdom.
Many lineages approved for admission to other hereditary associations will not qualify for admission to Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain. “This is not a matter of accuracy, but of accuracy and substantiation: only lineages supported by evidence that meets the standards of this Society can qualify an applicant for admission,” the society’s website states.
Stringent Documentation Required
The pedigree must be proven by documenting each generation—and each connection between generations—with valid, conclusive primary or contemporary evidence proving the applicant’s descent from the specified king through the acknowledged and proven illegitimate offspring. Lineage validity is then determined by the society’s Herald.
The society’s current application fee and life membership dues total $300 U.S. Should an applicant be unsuccessful on their first attempt, as many as two amendments of their application will be considered within twelve months of the original submission. Refunds are not made to unsuccessful applicants.
The society welcomes applications and is happy to answer questions by mail or e-mail. Those interested in membership should download an application and instructions to review and then consider if they wish to proceed.
Companion articles list U. S. Lineage Societies for Men and Women and U. S. Lineage Societies on the State Level.
Sources:
Amory, Cleveland, Who Killed Society?, (Harper, New York: 1960)
Chamberlain, Louise Aiston, Aiston-Chamberlain Family History (Stuart, FL: 1981)
Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain website
Edward IV: At Least Six Bastard Children
|
William the Conqueror: Illegitimate Himself
|
Henry VIII: Renowned for His Many Mistresses
|
Charles II: 14 Bastards by 7 Mothers
|
William IV: 10 Children by Comic Actress
|
More in History
Latest Articles