Edward III/Rollo

Edward III of England (1312–1377) is one of the most pivotal figures in medieval English history, having numerous notable ancestors and descendants who influenced the royal dynasties of England and across Europe. His bloodline is key to understanding the connections between the Plantagenet, Tudor, and later royal houses. Let’s break down his notable ancestors and descendants. 

 Notable Ancestors of Edward III

  • William the Conqueror (1028–1087): Edward III was a direct descendant of William the Conqueror through his father, Edward II, making him part of the Norman dynasty that began with the conquest of England in 1066.
  • Henry II (1133–1189): Edward III descended from Henry II, the first Plantagenet king, whose marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine expanded the Angevin Empire across England and large parts of France.
  • Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204): As the wife of Henry II, Eleanor was one of the most powerful women in Europe, bringing her lands in France into the Plantagenet inheritance and setting up a legacy that would lead to the later Hundred Years’ War.
  • King John of England (1166–1216): Edward III descended from John, known for signing the Magna Carta in 1215, marking the beginning of constitutional governance in England. Notable Descendants of Edward III: Edward III had numerous children, many of whom became the ancestors of various royal dynasties in Europe. His descendants were involved in dynastic conflicts such as the Wars of the Roses and provided a connection to the Tudor dynasty.

 Tudor House:

 • John of Gaunt (1340–1399), Edward III’s third surviving son, played a key role in founding the Lancastrian line, which would later merge with the Tudor dynasty. His illegitimate children with Katherine Swynford, the Beaufort family, were legitimized, and his great-granddaughter Margaret Beaufort became the mother of Henry VII, the first Tudor king.

 • Henry VII (1457–1509) married Elizabeth of York, uniting the Lancastrian and Yorkist factions after the Wars of the Roses. Elizabeth of York was a great-great-granddaughter of Edward III through her father, Edward IV, making the Tudor kings descendants of Edward III from both sides. 

 Wars of the Roses:

 • Edward III’s numerous descendants, particularly through his sons, Lionel of Antwerp and John of Gaunt, were central figures in the dynastic struggles of the 15th century, known as the Wars of the Roses. The House of York (descended from Lionel) and the House of Lancaster (descended from John of Gaunt) fought for control of the English throne. 

 • Richard III (1452–1485), the last Yorkist king, was also a direct descendant of Edward III through the male line. 

 European Dynasties:

 • Edward III’s descendants spread through intermarriages across European royal houses, including the Spanish, French, and Portuguese monarchies. His granddaughter, Philippa of Lancaster, married John I of Portugal, helping establish the Avis dynasty. 

 • Edward III’s grandson, Richard II, through Edward the Black Prince, also played a role in the broader Plantagenet legacy, though his reign was later overshadowed by the usurpation of his cousin Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV). 

Other Notable Descendants:

 • James VI and I of Scotland and England (1566–1625), who united the crowns of England and Scotland, was a descendant of Edward III through both his Tudor ancestors (his great-grandmother was Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII) and the Scottish royal line. 

 • Many of Europe’s current monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II, trace their lineage back to Edward III. The house of Windsor, through intermarriages and connections to the Tudor, Stuart, and Hanoverian dynasties, maintains this legacy today.

Extended Royal Connections via Edward III

  • Habsburg Dynasty (1273-1918)
    • Through intermarriage with many European royal houses, the Habsburgs became rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, Spain and parts of Italy.
  • House of Luxembourg (1308-1437)
    • Family produced Holy Roman Emperors and were intermarried with the Capetians, Valois, and other royal lines
  • House of Savoy (1003-1946)
    • Ruled parts of modern-day Italy and Switzerland and married into numerous European royal families.
  • House of Jagiellon (1386-1596)
    • Royal house ruled Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, and Bohemia, connecting to the Plantagenets through marriages with other royal families.
  • House of Hohenzollern (1613-1917)
    • Ruled Prussia and later the German Empire, with extensive marital connections to British and French Royal Families.
  • House of Romanov (1613-1917)
    • The ruling dynasty of Russian, British and Romanov families were connected through intermarriages with European royals during the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • House of Wittelsbach (1180-1918)
    • Ruled Bavaria and were connected to many European royal houses, including the Plantagenets, through marriage alliances.

Empire Connections

  • Holy Roman Empire (962-1806)
    • Through dynastic marriages with the Ottonians, Carolingians, Habsburgs, and other lines.
  • Byzantine Empire (c.330-1453)
    • Through more distant, the Plantagenets and other royal houses did intermarry with Byzantine imperial families during the Crusades and periods of alliance-building.
  • Spanish Empire (Habsburg & Bourbon lines. 1516-1700)
    • Through Habsburg and Bourbon marriages, Spanish kings who ruled vast portions of Europe and the Americas, most notably under the Habsburgs in the 16th and 17th century.
  • Napoleonic Dynasty (Bonaparte)(1804-1814, 1852-1870)
    • Rose through marriages into older noble families, linking indirectly to established European royal lines.

Rollo the Viking

  • Also known as Rollo of Normandy, was a prominent figure in the Viking Age and the early medieval period.
  • Origins: Rollo is believed to have been born around the late 9th century, possible in Scandinavia.
  • Duke of Normandy: Rollo became the first ruler of what would later be known as Normandy. In 911, he was granted land by the Frankish King Charles the Simple, in exchange for his loyalty and protection against other Viking raids.
  • Viking Leader: Rollo led a band of Vikings who conducted raids along the Seine River and other parts of northern France. His activities were part of the larger Viking expansion into Europe.
  • Christianization: Rollo converted to Christianity, which was significant for the integrations of the Vikings into Frankish society. His conversion helped to solidify his status and relations with Frankish crown.
  • Marriage Alliance: married Gisella, the daughter of Charles the Simple, which further cemented his ties to the French nobility and helped legitimize his rule in Normandy.
  • Legacy: is often considered the ancestor of the Norman Dynasty. His descendants played crucial roles in European history, particularly during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
    • Descendants of Rollo:
      • 1st Generation:
      • William I (William the Conqueror), Duke of Normandy
      • 2nd Generation:
        • Robert Curthouse, Duke of Normandy
        • William II of England
        • Henry I of England
      • 3rd Generation
        • William Adelin, Count of Flanders
        • Matilda of England (married Emperor Henry V of the Holy Roman Empire)
        • Henry the Young King
      • 4th Generation:
        • Matilda of Boulogne (married King Stephen of England)
        • Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou (married Empress Matilda of England)
        • William Clito, Count of Flanders
      • 5th Generation:
        • Henry II of England (married Eleanor of Aquitaine)
        • Eleanor of Aquitaine (married King Louis VII of France)
      • 6th Generation:
        • William X, Duke of Aquitaine
        • Eleanor of Aquitaine (the younger)(married King Alfonso VIII of Castile)
  • Cultural Impact: His legacy is reflected in various historical texts and modern adaptations, including the popular TV series “Vikings”, where his character is prominently featured.
  • Death: It is believed that he died around 931. His burial place is thought to be in the region of Normandy, though the exact location remains unknown.