Product Description

LINES OF SUCCESSION was first published in 1981 and is now available in paperback for the first time. It presents a comprehensive account of both the heraldic and the genealogical history of European Royalty and is fully illustrated throughout. Beginning with heraldry in the eleventh century, the two experts who collaborated to make the book present the heraldic shields as well as the genealogy of all the Royal families of Europe, past and present. The genealogical tables provide detailed family trees, country by country. The coat-of-arms representing the various matrimonial alliances show how heraldic devices evolved and developed from simple symbols to complex quarterings. Additional tables highlight the most important historical events involving dynastic succession. The text describes the historical background to each Royal family tree, and shows how such events are reflected in the make-up of the Royal coat of arms.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #179081 in Books
• Published on: 2002-12-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Review
'Splendidly emblazoned ... excellent text... if heraldry really is "the floral border of history", then this book must rank as a herbaceous border of almost tropical splendour and the widest provenance.' THE TIMES

Those who love browsing through family trees will find hours of pleasure in this book, which traces a thousand years of European royalty through genealogy and heraldic arms, with text that highlights how the various lines have intermingled and broadened through the centuries. The book is subtitled Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe, but that scarcely does it justice. It is true that artist Jiri Louda has produced an abundance of arms in full colour (he is also responsible for the multitude of family trees), but the book goes much further than a look at the development of emblems. Historian Michael Maclagan has managed to give a potted history of the European dynasties without skimping on detail. Indeed, much of his material is of the insider sort - gossip from the royal courts not found in conventional history books. Thus we learn of the sexual deficiencies of some notable monarchs, and which King took to wearing high heels in order to boost his ego as well as his height. Much of the fascinating detail comes through an intricate tracing of relationships and the forging of alliances, with the effect this had on coats of arms - all branches of the extensive trees had to be accommodated in order not to cause offence. The two experts begin their book with a look at heraldry in the 11th century and from there they move through Europe country by country, with extensive coverage of the British royal family. As well as the charts and drawings the book contains many rare pictures of royalty. This is an updated edition of a volume first published to acclaim in 1981. It remains a valuable reference work as well as a good read for anyone with an interest in European history. (Kirkus UK)

About the Author
Jiri Louda is a Czech scholar and heraldrist and author of several books. Michael Maclagan is the supreme heraldric authority in England and a lecturer on Medievel history at Oxford University.

Customer Reviews

Incomplete Edition
This is an abbreviated edition of the marvellous book of almost the same title, (and identical cover), published in 1981, which will fascinate for a lifetime. It is actually incorrect that this is "the first paperback edition"- the much better complete edition was also available in paperback. Approximately one third of the original contents are now missing from this version, (these include Liechtenstein, Bavaria & The Palatinate and several other German states, Bohemia & Hungary, The Two Sicilies & several other Italian States, Poland, and the Balkan States). This book has also shrunk in its physical dimensions: it is one third smaller than the original complete version, making the details of the lines of descent and coats of arms slightly more difficult to read. It is a great shame that the book has been republished like this, as its "parent" edition was better all round; but this one has some of the virtues of its very remarkable parent! In some of the book's less serious chapters, the author points out how most of the present royal families of Europe (but not the British Royal Family) are descended from a West Indian creole: the beautiful Josephine, Empress of the French, wife of Napoleon- (not descended from Napoleon himself, but from Josephine's disgruntled first husband, who would certainly have been happier had he known what was to be the outcome!) The author also points out that most people today with long-standing English ancestry are almost certainly descended from one medieval king or another: given the population statistics, the likelihood of not being related somehow to medieval royalty is slight.