The aim of the project is to list the SA progenitors ('stamouers') who are descended from European Royalty (distant as they may be) and to identify and show the specific lineage.

In addition, the aim is to share and explore any new discoveries of possible family linkages and the research and validation of their lineage.

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Collaborators, research partners and editors will be welcomed.

Possibilities to be explored:

• It is plausibly postulated that everyone of European descent is extremely highly likely to be a descendant of Charlemagne / Karl der Grosse, King of the Franks and Roman Emperor. This is in all probability true, but who can 'prove' the line of descent of their SA Progenitor??
• Geoffrey V Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, is one of the well-known 'anchors' in the community of European Royal families. A few South Africans are known to descend from him - e.g. Jan van Riebeeck, FW and Deneys Reitz and the Baron van Rheede van Oudtshoorn (ref. 'Plantagenet Cousins' by Leo van de Pas). There may be many more families in South Africa. Do any of these families perhaps descend from Geoffrey's Royal descendants, or not?
• Can anyone validate or explain the linkage of the Strauss family to/via the Counts of Wurttemberg?
• Can anyone validate or explain the rumours of a Van der Merwe Royal linkage?
• The South African-born Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl (not the Rev. Andrew Murray line) could possibly be of Royal descent.
• The possible royal linkage of Jacques de Savoye seems to be tenuous. Can anyone help to confirm / deny?
• Can anyone confirm / substantiate the Royal linkage of the SA Du Plessis family?
• There appears to be a possibility of a direct link between the Pelser/Pe/zer/Peltzer family of Abraham Peltzer in South Africa and the Pelser Berendsberg nobel family of the Netherlands. The coat of arms used by R. De Villiers Pienaar have the same three waterlily leaves and the ermine coat. The family is originally from a district in Germany and the South African progenitor is also from Germany.
• What sources link Theunis de Bruyn to the father Johannes de Bruijn and grandfather Frank de Bruyn, Schepen and gr grandfather Floris de Bruijn, and that royal descent line? Discussion: https://www.geni.com/discussions/197637

Myths exploded:

• George Rex of Knysna is not of recent Royal descent.
• Jacques de Savoye (whose family disappeared in name, but lives on through many Snyman, Viljoen, Meyer, Deneys, Ehlers and resultant descendants) was claimed to descend from the Counts of Savoy and in, particular, from Jacques de Savoye, Count of Romont, who was a Royal descendant. This link seems to be a wishful link - to date the existence of a son of the Count of Romont, Michiel de Savoye (an ancestor of the SA Progenitor) could not be proven.
• Roelof van Wijk and his half-brother Willem van Wijk said to descend from (amongst others): King Edward II of England (1284-1327), have yet to have their immediate parents proved.
• Jean Prieur du Plessis might be a descendant from, amongst others: St Louis IX, King of France (1214-1270) and Jean I de Brienne, King of Jerusalem (1170-1237), but until we confirm who his parents were, we can't tell. See du Plessis project.
• Jean le Roux and his 2nd cousin Gabriel le Roux were descendants of, amongst others François I de Valois, roi de France (1494-1547), considered to be the first Renaissance King of France. But they appear not to be.

SA Progenitors who are European Royal descendants:

• William Howard, the 1820 settler, is descended from
  • Edward I "Longshanks", King of England
  • Henry III, king of England
  • John I "Lackland", King of England
  • Henry II "Curtmantle", King of England
  • Charlemagne
• Jan Frederik Reitz is a descendant of Geoffrey V Plantagenet, but more recently from, amongst others:
  • Charles II "the Lame", King of Naples (1254-1309)
  • Philippe III le Hardi, roi de France (1245-1285)
• Heinrich Wurth has a proven descent from most European Kings/Queens before 1350. He was a double descendant of Gräfin Eleonore Maria Juliana Luisa zu Leiningen-Westerburg-Rixingen-Oberbronn (1627-1670) who lived in Oberbronn, Alsace, France and is this family's gateway to, amongst others:
  • Herzog Johann II 'der Kindermacher' von Kleve (1458-1521) had 63 illegitimate children before he married, and was the grandfather of Anne of Cleves ('the Flanders mare'), one of the wives of King Henry VIII of England.
  • Ruprecht III 'Klem' von Wittelsbach, Holy Roman Emperor (1352-1410) was HT Wurth's last direct ancestor on the 'German' (Holy Roman) throne.
  • Jean II 'le Bon' de Valois, King of France (1319-1364) was HT Wurth's last direct ancestor on the French throne.
  • Ludwig IV 'der Bayer' von Wittelsbach, Holy Roman Emperor (1282-1347), buried in the Frauenkirche, München.
  • Edward I Longshanks, King of England (1239-1307) was HT Wurth's last direct ancestor on the English throne.
  • Charlemagne / Karl der Grosse, King of the Franks and Roman Emperor (742-814) is probably HT Wurth's most well-known ancestor.

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