The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-20
ENGLAND'S ROYAL BLOOD
SKETCH OF THE MOST R1rwARKA-
BILE GENEhz,0GY IN ALL HISTORY.
A Line That Has Ruled England Eight
Hundred Years, and Is Likely TO
Reign in Russia and Germany.

The sixtieth anniversary of Queen Vic
torias accession. on Sunday, June 20, nat
urally lends interest to the curious institu-
ton Of which she has been the most illus
trtous representative in extent and dura-
ton Of rule, Englishmen no longer admit
that the British Constitution recognizes
that Anticipated theory OF the divine right
Of kings; yet in the last years Of the nine
teenth century Victoria Regina rules her
worldwide empire just as her three ana
thirty predecessors have ruled for eight
hundred years. by virtue of lineal descent
from William the Conqueror The most en-
lightened nation in Europe submits with
unquestioned loyalty to a sway that has
survived all the superstitions and traditions
that once gave it prestige,
1t is the purpose of this article to trace
briefly the history of this royal blood.
through which is conferred privileges so
foreign to modern ideas OF government
For convenient reference the following list
is given of English sovereigns since the
conquest, with their respective dates of &C.
cession:
William I, 1866; William II, 1887 Henry T.
1l00 Stephen, 1885; Henry II, 1854; Richard
l, 1888; John, 1889; Henry III, 1916; Edward
I, 1872; Edward II. 1907; Edward III, 1927:
Richard II, 1877; Henry ", 1899; Henry Y,
lab; Henry VI, 1922; Edward ", 1851; Ed
ward V, 1883; Richard III, 1883; Henry VII,
1885; Henry VIII, 1909; Edward VI, 1547;
Mary. 1853; Elizabeth, 1868; James l, 1903;
Charles l. 1926; the commonwealth 1919;
Charles II, 1860; James III, 1885, William
and Mary, 1858; Anne 1902 George /, 1714i
George II, 1927; George III, 1869; George ",
$780, William ", 1880; Victoria, 1887.
reigned, Victoria is the thirty-hfth wearer
of the crown since the conquest and the
twenty-hfth in lineal descent from that
stout old usurper, William the Norman,
who had not title 10 so much as name.
being the natural son of Duke Robert OF
Normandy. Yet during the $40 years since
his death only his descendants have been
permitted to rule England, except during
the brief interregnum OF the common
wealth.
So far as the writer has been able to dis
cover, no English history or work of refer
ence undertakes to give connected ac-
count of the lineage of the present royal
family The recognized order of descent is
as follows:
William T. Henry I. Matilda or Maud
(married to Godfrey Plantagenet, Duke of
Anjou), Henry II, King John, Henry III,
Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, John OF
Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster; John Beaufort
Marquis of Somerset; John Beaufort, Duke
of Somerset; Margaret Beaufort (married
TO Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond),
Henry VII, Margaret Tudor (married TO
James w of Seotland), James V of Scot
land, Mary Queen of Scots James l, Eliz-
abeth married to Frederick, King OF Boz
hemia) Sophia (married TO Ernest Angus
I
II. Frederick, Prince of Wales; George ILL.,
Edward Duke Of Kent; Victoria.
A BITTER CIVIL WAR.
IT is only possible TO notice here the more
important changes affecting this long line
of succession William the Conqueror was
not unworthy TO be the founder OF the
longest unbroken line of kings in all his
tory Perhaps none OF his successors
euualed him i'm capacity and force OF char
acter though comparisons are obviously OK
little value in the widely varying conditions
of eight centuries. His wife, Matilda was
a lineal descendant of King Alfred, and
Henry rs wife, also named Matilda, a
daughter OF Malcolm, King of the Scots.
was also through her mother, Margaret,
next of kin to Edward the COMPRESSOR.
Through these marriages is derived the
only title 10 the crown antedaung the con-
quest Henry is doubtless best remem-
bered by most American school children OF
thirty years ago as the hero OF Mrs.
Hemans's poem describing the King who
never smiled again" after the tragic death
at sea of his only son. History scarcely
confirms this picture of parental desola-
tion for Henry was not only an able, UNI
scr1lplllolls and eminently practical soVer-
eign 10 the day of his death, but he lefs by
several mistresses an ample crop OF natural
children TO mourn his loss, besides lawful
daughter Matilda, to whom he required MS
barons TO swear allegiance. Matilda was
first married to Henry V, Emperor OF Ger
many from which marriage she Is oiteh
known in history as Empress Maud. Sho
was married a second time TO Geonrey
planta genet Duke of Anjou, who gave
name to the house that held the throne
longer than any other In spite OF their
oath the English barons chose stephen a
grandson of the Conqueror by daughter
10 be their King after the death OF henry.
Matilda came over from AnJou with an
army, and for years the kingdom was ues-
o1ated nv the cruelest civil war in its his
tory. The barons fought out their private
ouarrels and ravaged each others lands.
A chronicler of the time says, Rich men
bunt castles and filled them with devils
and evil men, The sword was the only
law and it was welded without stint or
mercy. Matilda was at first successful, ana
entered London as Queen. but the London-
ers presently repelied against her arrogance
and exactions and drove her out of the CITY,
plenty of wild lighting and fleeing followed
,n the course of which the ex-Queen ana
axEmpress was once carried upon pier,
wrapped as a corpse, TO escape aeteetlon'
and again let herself, with her Knights
clothed in long white robes, over the walls
~ q beleaguered castle by means OF ropes
~ the ice of a frozen river, eluding the be-
sieqers under cover of darkness. Thougn
Nrat,lda was driven out of England. Stephen
was finally compelled by his barons to ac-
cent her son. Henry II. as his successor.
THE BRUTAL JOHN.
The next struggle for the succession oo-
Cured upon the death of Richard Occur de
lion. whose nephew, Prince Arthur, ought
70 have succeeded him as the son OF MS
Oldest brother. But his youngest prother,
John. at once usurped the crown. or all
english sovereigns, King John was the
most perfidious and most brutal. Inc I'M
apination of Scott and Shakespeare could
NOT exaggerate his vices. His history re-
minds one of the CHASTITY stories Of Roman