The importance of genealogy in Medieval England

The Royal Craze about Family Trees

The idea of genealogists and people interested in tracing their family trees is thought to be a quite modern concept. I for one enjoy a stint here or there on ancestry.com. However the interest in one’s roots is not as modern as you might think.

Family trees and genealogical tables in the Middle Ages were a powerful tool when trying to claim a throne.

The House of York being the great propagandists that they were used genealogical tables to great affect when making or solidifying their claim to the throne in the middle to late 15th century. These great illuminated texts would show a superior line of descent and were meant to be viewed by all.

The House of Yorks illuminated genealogy still survives to this day and is rich in regal imagery. The Yorkists white rose and sunburst emblems are spotted throughout as is the Duke of Clarence’s Black Bull as well as Englands coat of arms. This imagery pushed forward the House of Yorks superior claim to the throne of England.

The House of York was not the only ones to utilise genealogy. The Lancastrians, mainly Henry VI had tables showing his claim to be King of France. The old English claim had originally come from Edward III’s mother , Isabella. However the claim was further reinforced with the marriage between Henry V and Catherine de Valois, daughter of King Charles VI of France. This is specially seen in the Talbot Shrewsbury Book, made in Rouen in 1444/1445 and held a detailed and beautifully illuminated genealogy table of Henry VI’s family. The figure on the right of the table is ironically Richard, 3rd Duke of York, a man that would become a bitter rival to the House of Lancaster.

These two examples are of course not the only ones. The genealogical table was used throughout the Medieval period even from as early as Anglo - Saxon kings. It played an important parts in English propaganda and politics as well as in the wider Medieval world.

Just goes to prove that our interests in roots and family trees isn’t as modern as we think and was enthusiastically shared by our Medieval ancestors.