Dynasties of Europe and The World - 1900
The ten most powerful dynastic families in the world are the imperial and royal families of Habsburg, Coburg, Hohenzollern, Braganza, Giray, Bonaparte and Romanov-Konstantinovich, and the royal families of Oldenburg, Bourbon and Orange. In terms of power, if not spread, the royal family of Bernadotte should also be mentioned, albeit in eleventh position. The Wittelsbach in twelfth place also rate an honourable mention
The Habsburgs
The pre-eminent dynasty in Europe, and the world. Habsburg family members occupy the imperial thrones of Austria and Mexico, the royal throne of Poland, the grand ducal throne of Tuscany and the ducal throne of Modena. Habsburg family members have also been considered, at times, for the imperial throne of Brazil, and the royal throne of Greece
The Coburgs
The British Empire (Emperor of India, King of Great Britain and Ireland) is the foremost Coburg power in the world. Family members also occupy the royal thrones of Belgium, Bulgaria and Hannover (with Brunswick), whilst the sovereign Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha represents the core family of the dynasty.
Hohenzollern
The Prussian Empire was declared on the disolution of the German Confederation and consistes of the Kingdom of Prussia, the grand duchies of Mecklenberg-Schwerin and Mecklenberg-Strelitz and several smaller duchies and principalities. Hohenzollern family members, from the original Catholic principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in the South, occupy the throne of Rumania, and for a period occupied the Spanish throne before losing it to the Carlist Borbons in the 1870s
Braganza
The empire of Brazil and the Kingdom of Portugal are the dynastic concerns of the House of Braganza. Despite a turbulent century, both have emerged strong and stable as the twentieth century looms.
Giray
The extinction of the Osmanli dynasty brought the Giray family dominance in Islamic Europe. Initially buffeted by the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire rebounded in the General European War of the mid 1850s-1860s to be able to place a Giray family member on the reborn throne of the Khanate of Crimea. Although, losing the Principalities, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Greek lands, the Giray dynasty in Constantinople has managed in the last decade to stabilise the Ottoman Empire and bring in many much-needed reforms that would allow for a long-term future within their remaining European possessions.
Bonaparte
Reborn in the wake of the Crises of 1848, the Bonaparte empire of France has become renowned for an expertise at realpolitik. Initially support the cause of Piedmont-Sardinia within Italy, the events of the General European War tied France ever more closely to Austria. The rebirth of the Kingdom of Poland, a cherished dream of Napoleon III, made real in the person of an Austrian Archduke, laid down a template that was later followed in Mexico. French support for Austria in the Austro-Prussian War both stymied Piedmont-Sardinia's ambitions and dealt Prussia a blow from which she is yet to recover, despite the proclamation of empire upon the disolution of the German Confederation. French support for the Carlist Borbon claimant in the Spanish Civil War was a natural after-product of this, and the defeat of Leopoldo I Hohenzollern brought France a true friend in Madrid. Napoleon IV has continued his father's policies, and the Bonaparte dynasty enters thew twentieth century in fine form.
Romanov-Konstantinovich
Russia is only just beginning to emerge from the decades of darkness that defeat in the General European War plunged her into. The loss of the Crimea, Finland, Poland and the Caucasus dealt such a blow to the Russian body politic that not until 1880 was there a stable regime in power in Moscow (Saint Petersburg havgin been abandoned as capital due to the Swedish presence in Karelia). The Konstantinovich branch of the Romanov dynasty have spent the last two decades rebuilding the empire, modernising the infrastructure and raising it again to the status of a great power, albeit one with borders that Aleksandr I would have wept over.
Oldenburg
Less a family and more a dynasty, the various branches of the Oldenburg family occupy the royal thrones of Denmark and of Greece (after the ouster of the Wittelsbachs), as well as the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg and the sovereign duchy of Schleswig-Holstein.
Borbon
The various branches of the Bourbon/Borbon dynasty occupy the royal thrones of Spain and the Two Sicilies, and the ducal throne of Parma. The main branch of the French royal family (deposed in 1830) died with the Comte de Chambord, but the Orleans branch remains healthy and ever a threat to the Bonapartes in Parisa, should they stumble.
Orange
The House of Orange occupies the royal throne of the Netherlands, and after the accession of a female monarch, the independent grand ducal throne of Luxembourg, the ducal throne of Nassau having provided a regent for this since the division of Luxembourg from the Netherlands. Whilst the Kingdom of the Netherlands no longer has an interest in Luxembourg, the long-term political future of the grand duchy remains at issue. Both France and Prussia refuse to accept a Nassau-Luxembourg political union, and the situation after the current Duke of Nassau's death remains problematic as his only heirs are female.
Bernadotte
The Bernadotte dynasty has ruled Sweden and Norway since the 1815 Congress of Vienna awarded the latter kingdom in personal union. After the General European War, the King of Sweden acquired the crown of Finland as a third royal title and realm.
Wittelsbach
Ruler of Bavaria for centuries, kings since Napoleon I's edict, the Wittelsbachs have retained their power and independence throughout the nineteenth century. Allying with France and Austria in the Austro-Prussian War, Bavaria emerged with power and prestige enhanced, and after the disolution of the German Confederation, the foremost power in Southern Germany. A Wittelsbach formerly occupied the royal throne of Greece, before being overthrown as a result of the General European War and replaced with a member of the house of Oldenburg
Grey Wolf
The ten most powerful dynastic families in the world are the imperial and royal families of Habsburg, Coburg, Hohenzollern, Braganza, Giray, Bonaparte and Romanov-Konstantinovich, and the royal families of Oldenburg, Bourbon and Orange. In terms of power, if not spread, the royal family of Bernadotte should also be mentioned, albeit in eleventh position. The Wittelsbach in twelfth place also rate an honourable mention
The Habsburgs
The pre-eminent dynasty in Europe, and the world. Habsburg family members occupy the imperial thrones of Austria and Mexico, the royal throne of Poland, the grand ducal throne of Tuscany and the ducal throne of Modena. Habsburg family members have also been considered, at times, for the imperial throne of Brazil, and the royal throne of Greece
The Coburgs
The British Empire (Emperor of India, King of Great Britain and Ireland) is the foremost Coburg power in the world. Family members also occupy the royal thrones of Belgium, Bulgaria and Hannover (with Brunswick), whilst the sovereign Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha represents the core family of the dynasty.
Hohenzollern
The Prussian Empire was declared on the disolution of the German Confederation and consistes of the Kingdom of Prussia, the grand duchies of Mecklenberg-Schwerin and Mecklenberg-Strelitz and several smaller duchies and principalities. Hohenzollern family members, from the original Catholic principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in the South, occupy the throne of Rumania, and for a period occupied the Spanish throne before losing it to the Carlist Borbons in the 1870s
Braganza
The empire of Brazil and the Kingdom of Portugal are the dynastic concerns of the House of Braganza. Despite a turbulent century, both have emerged strong and stable as the twentieth century looms.
Giray
The extinction of the Osmanli dynasty brought the Giray family dominance in Islamic Europe. Initially buffeted by the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire rebounded in the General European War of the mid 1850s-1860s to be able to place a Giray family member on the reborn throne of the Khanate of Crimea. Although, losing the Principalities, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Greek lands, the Giray dynasty in Constantinople has managed in the last decade to stabilise the Ottoman Empire and bring in many much-needed reforms that would allow for a long-term future within their remaining European possessions.
Bonaparte
Reborn in the wake of the Crises of 1848, the Bonaparte empire of France has become renowned for an expertise at realpolitik. Initially support the cause of Piedmont-Sardinia within Italy, the events of the General European War tied France ever more closely to Austria. The rebirth of the Kingdom of Poland, a cherished dream of Napoleon III, made real in the person of an Austrian Archduke, laid down a template that was later followed in Mexico. French support for Austria in the Austro-Prussian War both stymied Piedmont-Sardinia's ambitions and dealt Prussia a blow from which she is yet to recover, despite the proclamation of empire upon the disolution of the German Confederation. French support for the Carlist Borbon claimant in the Spanish Civil War was a natural after-product of this, and the defeat of Leopoldo I Hohenzollern brought France a true friend in Madrid. Napoleon IV has continued his father's policies, and the Bonaparte dynasty enters thew twentieth century in fine form.
Romanov-Konstantinovich
Russia is only just beginning to emerge from the decades of darkness that defeat in the General European War plunged her into. The loss of the Crimea, Finland, Poland and the Caucasus dealt such a blow to the Russian body politic that not until 1880 was there a stable regime in power in Moscow (Saint Petersburg havgin been abandoned as capital due to the Swedish presence in Karelia). The Konstantinovich branch of the Romanov dynasty have spent the last two decades rebuilding the empire, modernising the infrastructure and raising it again to the status of a great power, albeit one with borders that Aleksandr I would have wept over.
Oldenburg
Less a family and more a dynasty, the various branches of the Oldenburg family occupy the royal thrones of Denmark and of Greece (after the ouster of the Wittelsbachs), as well as the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg and the sovereign duchy of Schleswig-Holstein.
Borbon
The various branches of the Bourbon/Borbon dynasty occupy the royal thrones of Spain and the Two Sicilies, and the ducal throne of Parma. The main branch of the French royal family (deposed in 1830) died with the Comte de Chambord, but the Orleans branch remains healthy and ever a threat to the Bonapartes in Parisa, should they stumble.
Orange
The House of Orange occupies the royal throne of the Netherlands, and after the accession of a female monarch, the independent grand ducal throne of Luxembourg, the ducal throne of Nassau having provided a regent for this since the division of Luxembourg from the Netherlands. Whilst the Kingdom of the Netherlands no longer has an interest in Luxembourg, the long-term political future of the grand duchy remains at issue. Both France and Prussia refuse to accept a Nassau-Luxembourg political union, and the situation after the current Duke of Nassau's death remains problematic as his only heirs are female.
Bernadotte
The Bernadotte dynasty has ruled Sweden and Norway since the 1815 Congress of Vienna awarded the latter kingdom in personal union. After the General European War, the King of Sweden acquired the crown of Finland as a third royal title and realm.
Wittelsbach
Ruler of Bavaria for centuries, kings since Napoleon I's edict, the Wittelsbachs have retained their power and independence throughout the nineteenth century. Allying with France and Austria in the Austro-Prussian War, Bavaria emerged with power and prestige enhanced, and after the disolution of the German Confederation, the foremost power in Southern Germany. A Wittelsbach formerly occupied the royal throne of Greece, before being overthrown as a result of the General European War and replaced with a member of the house of Oldenburg
Grey Wolf