98 articles, each with its sources.
French noble families explained: immemorial and ennobled nobility, sword and robe, the 1790 abolition, Napoleonic titles and how titles are verified today.
Noble families of Germany: Uradel and Briefadel, the mediatised houses, the Gotha pocketbooks and the 1919 Weimar rule that made titles part of the name.
The line of succession to the British throne, updated 1 November 2026, and the rules behind it: the Act of Settlement, the 2013 Act and the Perth Agreement.
England's noble families: the ducal houses in the peerage, the Howards of Norfolk as premier duke, royal dukedoms and how precedence works. Sourced.
Why the 1944 Almanach de Gotha was the last of the original series: war, the Nazi era, the Soviet occupation, and what happened to the name and archive.
Almanach de Gotha history, independently sourced: 1763 or 1764 origins (sources differ), the Perthes era, Napoleon's protest, the 1944 end and the 1998 revival.
Can you buy a noble title? The UK law against selling honours, what a 'lord of the manor' title really is, and how France verifies noble titles. Sourced.
Compare heirs apparent and presumptive, male-preference, agnatic and absolute primogeniture using court and legal sources, distinct from GOTHA’s ranking.
How European royal families are related: Queen Victoria, 'grandmother of Europe', Christian IX, 'father-in-law of Europe', and their children's marriages.
How to verify a noble lineage: civil records, parish registers, the College of Arms, the Roll of the Peerage and the French Sceau registers, step by step.
Understand Majesty, Royal Highness and Serene Highness, with historical imperial and grand ducal forms, cited court guidance and limits on inference.
What mediatization meant for the princely and comital houses of the Holy Roman Empire: 1803, 1806, the Confederation of the Rhine and Article 14 of 1815.
Every European monarchy still existing in 2026: the 12 states, their reigning houses, monarchs, heirs and reign start dates, with sources.
Explore the distinction between sovereign office, royal style and succession, and why GOTHA puts reigning monarchs first without claiming universal protocol.
A sourced history of the Alaouite dynasty, from the shurafa of Tafilalet to King Mohammed VI, rulers of Morocco since the seventeenth century.
A sourced history of the House of Arenberg: Eifel lords from 1166, the La Marck and Ligne lines, princes in 1576, dukes in 1644, and Duke Leopold today.
The Belgian royal family from Leopold I (1831) to King Philippe and Princess Elisabeth: the Kings of the Belgians, the succession rule and the family today.
How the House of Belgium appears in 46 Almanach de Gotha editions from 1871 to 1923: part, printed heading and the sovereign's style, cited to the scans.
House of Bernadotte: how a French marshal born in Pau founded Sweden's royal house in 1818, its rule over Norway to 1905, and King Carl XVI Gustaf today.
How the House of Bernadotte appears in 48 Almanach de Gotha editions from 1871 to 1924: part, printed heading and the sovereign's style, cited to the scans.
House of Bourbon, a sourced history: Capetian origins in 1272, Henry IV, the Spanish Bourbons since Philip V, King Felipe VI and the French claimants.
The branches of the House of Bourbon: French and Spanish Bourbons, Two Sicilies, Bourbon-Parma (Luxembourg) and Orléans, with their current heads.
Head of the House of Bourbon: a neutral, sourced guide to the Legitimist claim of Louis, Duke of Anjou, and the Orléanist claim of Jean, Count of Paris.
How the House of Bourbon (Spain) appears in 47 Almanach editions, 1872–1924: part, printed heading and sovereign's style, cited to scans.
Spanish line of succession under Article 57 of the 1978 Constitution: who is in line, the 2014 abdication law and the debate on absolute primogeniture.
House of Croÿ: Picard origins, power at the Burgundian court, Chimay and Aarschot, the French ducal title of 1598, and Dülmen since 1803.
A sourced history of the House of Fürstenberg: counts of Urach, the Baar from 1283, princes from 1664, mediatized in 1806, and Prince Christian today.
House of Glücksburg: Christian IX's accession in 1863, kings of Greece and Norway, Denmark's 2024 abdication and Norway's new king in 2026. Sourced.
How the House of Glücksburg (Denmark) appears in 48 Almanach editions, 1871–1923: part, printed heading and sovereign's style, cited to scans.
How the House of Glücksburg (Norway) appears in 14 Almanach editions, 1907–1923: part, printed heading and sovereign's style, cited to scans.
From Genoese consuls to Prince Albert II: a sourced history of the House of Grimaldi, Monaco's reigning dynasty, its succession crises and living members.
How the House of Grimaldi appears in 46 Almanach de Gotha editions from 1871 to 1924: part, printed heading and the sovereign's style, cited to the scans.
House of Habsburg, a sourced history: Habsburg Castle, Rudolf's election in 1273, the Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg-Lorraine and the Habsburg Law of 1919.
Habsburg branches explained: the Spanish and Austrian lines after Charles V, Habsburg-Lorraine, the Tuscan grand dukes and Austria-Este. Sourced.
Karl von Habsburg, head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine: his succession to Otto von Habsburg, the house law, his children and his heir Ferdinand Zvonimir.
A sourced history of the House of Hohenlohe: documented since 1153, counts from 1450, princes in the 18th century, mediatized in 1806, six lines today.
House of Hohenzollern, a sourced history: first mentioned in 1061, burgraves of Nuremberg, Brandenburg, Prussia, the German Empire and the house today.
Hohenzollern branches: the Franconian line of Brandenburg-Prussia, the Swabian lines of Hechingen, Sigmaringen and Haigerloch, and the Romanian royal line.
Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia, head of the House of Hohenzollern since 1994: his family and heir, the 2004 court ruling and the 2025 state settlement.
A sourced history of the House of Liechtenstein: first mentioned c. 1136, princes since 1608, a principality since 1719, and the House Law amended in 2026.
Liechtenstein branches: the brothers Karl, Maximilian and Gundaker, the principality's passing in 1712, descent from Johann I and the House Law of 1993/2026.
How the House of Liechtenstein appears in 50 Almanach de Gotha editions from 1871 to 1924: part, printed heading and the sovereign's style, cited to the scans.
House of Ligne: Hainaut lords from the 11th century, princes of the Empire in 1601, the Arenberg branch, Charles-Joseph de Ligne and Belœil.
House of Nassau-Weilburg in Luxembourg: the 1783 family pact, Grand Duke Adolphe in 1890, the Bourbon-Parma line and Grand Duke Guillaume V since 2025.
Read the verified Luxembourg entries for Nassau-Weilburg in the 1892 and 1893 Almanach de Gotha, with quoted OCR headings, styles and clear source limits.
A sourced history of the House of Oettingen: counts since 1141, Protestant and Catholic lines, princes of Spielberg and Wallerstein, mediatized 1806.
House of Orange-Nassau, a sourced history: William the Silent, the stadtholders, the kingdom of 1815, three queens in a row and King Willem-Alexander.
How the House of Orange-Nassau appears in 44 Almanach de Gotha editions from 1871 to 1923: part, printed heading and the sovereign's style, cited to the scans.
House of Polignac: viscounts of the Velay, the Chalencon succession of 1349, dukes from 1780, Prince Pierre of Monaco and the Singer-Polignac legacy.
House of Romanov, a sourced history: Michael's election in 1613, Peter the Great's empire, the murder of Nicholas II's family in 1918 and the 1998 reburial.
Romanov branches: Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov and the four lines descended from the sons of Nicholas I, showing which of them still survive today. Sourced.
Who heads the House of Romanov? A neutral guide to the disputed headship: Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Prince Karl Emich and the Family Association.
House of Schwarzenberg: Seinsheim origins, princes from 1670, Field Marshal Karl Philipp, the 1947 Lex Schwarzenberg and Prince Johannes.
House of Thurn und Taxis: the imperial post from 1490, princes of the Empire from 1695, Regensburg from 1748, mediatization in 1806, Prince Albert II.
Henry VIII's royal family tree: his parents, six wives, three reigning children (Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I) and the crown's passing to the Stuarts.
House of Windsor: why the British royal family has been called Windsor since 1917, what Mountbatten-Windsor means, the five sovereigns and the family today.
Windsor branches: the Mountbatten-Windsor descendants of Elizabeth II, and the Gloucester and Kent lines descended from the sons of George V. Sourced.
The British royal family tree from Queen Victoria to King Charles III: her nine children, the 1917 Windsor name and each generation, with sources.
King Charles III, head of the House of Windsor: birth, Prince of Wales, accession in 2022, coronation in 2023, his heir and the line of succession.
How the House of Windsor appears in 35 Almanach de Gotha editions from 1876 to 1912: part, printed heading and the sovereign's style, cited to the scans.
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco since 2005: born in 1958, son of Rainier III and Grace Kelly, his studies, accession, marriage and Foundation.
Albert II, 12th Prince of Thurn und Taxis: born in Regensburg in 1983, his schooling, studies in Edinburgh and Rome, house orders and the family's history.
Alexander, 9th Prince of Isenburg: head of the House of Isenburg at Schloss Birstein, who succeeded his father Franz Alexander on his death in May 2018.
Alois Konstantin, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg: head of the Catholic line of the House of Löwenstein, resident in Kleinheubach since 1724.
Andreas, Prince of Leiningen: head of the princely House of Leiningen, resident in Amorbach since 1803, and founder of the Fürst zu Leiningen foundation.
Queen Camilla, born Camilla Shand in 1947: her parents, first marriage, marriage to the King in 2005, honours and charity work on literacy and health.
Carl Ferdinand, Prince of Bentheim and Steinfurt: head of the princely House of Bentheim-Steinfurt, owner of Burg Bentheim and Schloss Burgsteinfurt.
Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange: born in The Hague in 2003, heir to the Dutch throne, her baptism, studies, Council of State seat and Defensity College.
Catherine, Princess of Wales (Kate Middleton): born in 1982, education, marriage to Prince William in 2011, three children, titles and her early childhood work.
Princess Charlène of Monaco, born Charlène Wittstock in 1978: Olympic swimmer, wife of Albert II since 2011, mother of the twins and founder of her Foundation.
King Charles III: born in 1948, Prince of Wales from 1958, education, naval career, marriages, sons, accession in 2022 and coronation at Westminster in 2023.
Princess Charlotte of Wales: born on 2 May 2015, second child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, her names, christening, school and place third in line.
Christian, 12th Prince of Fürstenberg: head of the house since his father Heinrich's death in 2024, board member since 2003 and CEO of the family office.
Crown Prince Christian of Denmark: born in 2005, heir to the throne, regent when the King is abroad, his schooling and his officer training in the Army.
Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant: born in 2001, heir to the Belgian throne, her studies at Atlantic College, the Military Academy, Oxford and Harvard.
Emanuel, Prince of Salm-Salm: head of the princely House of Salm-Salm at the Wasserburg Anholt, who succeeded his father Carl Philipp, who died in 2024.
Erich, Prince of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg: born 1962, head of the Zeil line of the House of Waldburg since his father Georg's death in 2015.
Felipe VI, King of Spain since 2014: born in Madrid in 1968, his military and university training, Olympic sailing, marriage to Letizia and accession.
Ferdinand, Prince of Castell-Castell: head of the Castell-Castell line, who carries on the family bank, winery and forestry with the Castell-Rüdenhausen line.
Franz Albrecht, Prince of Oettingen-Spielberg: son and successor of Prince Albrecht, who died in November 2025, and head of a house resident in Oettingen.
Prince George of Wales: born on 22 July 2013, elder son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, his names, christening and place second in line to the throne.
Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg: head of the whole House of Sayn-Wittgenstein at Berleburg Castle, son of Prince Richard (d. 2017).
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex: born in 1984, ten years in the Armed Forces, Sentebale, the Invictus Games, marriage in 2018, two children and his titles.
Hereditary Prince Jacques of Monaco, born on 10 December 2014, son of Albert II and Charlène, Marquis des Baux by Sovereign Ordinance and heir to the throne.
Johannes Nepomuk Schwarzenberg: born in Vienna in 1967, heir of Karel Schwarzenberg, administrator of the family estates since 2007 and of Orlík Castle.
Leonor, Princess of Asturias, heir to the Spanish throne: born in 2005, her titles, the 2023 oath to the Constitution, military training and the Golden Fleece.
Léopold, 13th Duke of Arenberg: born in 1956, head of a house raised to princely rank in 1576 and ducal in 1644, his training and the Arenberg Foundation.
Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz: born in Trieste in 1955, head of the Windisch-Graetz family since 1976 and Order of Malta ambassador to Slovenia.
Maximilian, Prince of Bentheim-Tecklenburg: lord of Schloss Rheda, the residence of the princes of Bentheim-Tecklenburg, in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Westphalia.
Maximilian, Prince of Wied: head of the House of Wied in Neuwied, who took over the protectorate of the Neuwied shooting society in September 2026.
Otto, Prince of Castell-Rüdenhausen: head of the Castell-Rüdenhausen line, seated at Rüdenhausen near Würzburg and co-owner of the Castell bank and winery.
Philipp, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg: born in Crailsheim in 1970, lord of Schloss Langenburg since 2004, his training, public roles and the house's history.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden: born in 1977, heir under the 1979 Act of Succession, Duchess of Västergötland, her marriage to Prince Daniel and children.
Prince William, Prince of Wales: birth in 1982, education, military service, marriage, three children, titles and his place as first in line to the throne.
Wolfgang-Ernst, Prince of Ysenburg and Büdingen: lord of Schloss Büdingen in the Wetterau, seat of the House of Ysenburg-Büdingen, styled Fürst in the press.
How the GOTHA ranking orders people: reigning monarchs, title rank, reigning houses, house category, line of succession, then birth year and name.
Noble titles by rank, from emperor, king and duke to count, baron, baronet and knight: European royal and noble ranks with the British peerage explained.
Noble titles for women explained: duchess, marchioness, countess, viscountess and baroness, titles in their own right or by marriage, and forms of address.