
Dukes and Princes
History and Heritage of Europe’s top aristocrats

On this site you will find short histories about the families of the princes and dukes of Europe, from the middle ages to the present

You will also find information about the heritage these families left behind, some still worth a visit, some long vanished.
Genealogical Histories – latest posts
- Dukes of Ormond: The Butlers, managing the King’s wine since the 12th centuryIn the historic Kingdom of Ireland there were two types of nobility: the ancient native Gaelic aristocracy, descended from kings and clan chiefs, and theContinue reading “Dukes of Ormond: The Butlers, managing the King’s wine since the 12th century”
- Golitsyn Princes: Russian ministers from Peter the Great to Nicholas IIThe Russian Empire in all its vastness had many, many princes. Some became fairly well known while others came and went in prominence in RussianContinue reading “Golitsyn Princes: Russian ministers from Peter the Great to Nicholas II”
- Galliera (Part II): The Montpensiers, Orléanist dukes masquerading as Spanish royalsThe Duchy of Galliera, as seen in Part I, was created in 1839 for Raphaelle De Ferrari and his wife Maria Brignole-Sale, centred on aContinue reading “Galliera (Part II): The Montpensiers, Orléanist dukes masquerading as Spanish royals”