The pedigree of European aristocratic families dates back hundreds of years. Noble houses actively influenced and influence world politics. Their fates are intertwined in the history of Russia.
The famous oligarchic Medici family is primarily associated with Florence, whose rulers they became from the 13th to the 18th centuries. However, the Medici extended their influence to Tuscany. Moreover, four representatives of this family were given the honor of bearing the title of Pope.
In their activities, the Medici often and very successfully played on the confrontation between the interests of the people and the nobility, thanks to which they were able to achieve political power. Cosimo de' Medici (1389-1464) and Lorenzo de' Medici (1394-1440) became perhaps the most successful politicians of the family.
Another area where the Medici left behind a legacy is philanthropy. Here is the modern head of the house, Ottaviano Medici, President International Association The Medici defended the arts, science and literature, maintaining the glory of their noble ancestors.
2. Wettins (9th century)
Wettin Castle, which is located on the Saale River (federal state of Saxony-Anhalt), became the family seat of one of the most influential houses in Europe - the Wettins. Members of this family, which dates back to the Carolingian era, bore a variety of titles - King of Saxony and Margrave of Meissen, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Warsaw, Emperor of India and Tsar of Bulgaria.
Representatives of the House of Wettin have repeatedly influenced the geopolitical situation in Europe. Thus, the Wettins were the first in Germany to accept the Reformation, and 5 states under the rule of members of the House of Wettin were among the founders of the German Empire.
The House of Wettin is considered one of the most extensive in Europe. Today, members of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Windsor branches of this house are represented respectively by King Philip of Belgium and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
3. Habsburgs (10th century)
During the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, the Habsburgs were, without exaggeration, the most powerful royal house. From modest owners of castles in northern Switzerland and Alsace, the Habsburgs by the end of the 13th century turned into rulers of Austria.
Through skillful diplomacy and the power of bribes and weapons, Habsburg influence quickly grows. IN different time they rule the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, the Kingdom of Naples and even Mexico. In the 16th century, the territories under the Habsburg crown were rightly called “the empire on which the sun never sets.”
In 1799, the Romanovs became related to the Habsburgs: the daughter of Paul I, Alexandra Pavlovna, became the wife of Archduke Joseph.
Representatives of various branches of the Habsburgs live today. So, in 2010 in presidential elections In Austria, Ulrich Habsburg took part, but, without collecting a sufficient number of voter signatures, he dropped out of the race.
4. Zähringen (XI century)
The foundation of the power of the ancient Swabian family of Zähringen was laid by Berthold I. Since his time, the family quickly achieved an influential position. For almost 10 centuries the Zähringens were dukes, margraves and electors of various states of Germany.
The House of Baden, which represented the most extensive possessions of the Zähringens, received particular fame. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Margrave of Baden, thanks to his loyalty to Bonaparte, was able to raise his title to Elector. The successful marriage of the Elector's grandson brought the Baden princesses the title of Queen Consort of Bavaria and Sweden. And Louise Maria Augusta, known in Russia as Elizaveta Alekseevna, became the wife of Emperor Alexander I.
Modern representatives of the Zähringen house own luxurious residences in Karlsruhe and Rastatt.
5. Liechtensteins (XII century)
The owner of Liechtenstein Castle in the south of Vienna, Hugo, whose mention dates back to 1136, is the first representative of the future noble family. By the 16th century, the baronial family of Liechtenstein had extended its influence to large areas of Austria, Moravia, Bohemia and Silesia. Even the Habsburgs found themselves in debt to the noble family.
In 1719, an epochal event took place for the Liechtensteins. They bought two tiny fiefs on the border with Switzerland from the bankrupt owners of Hohenems. Since the overlord of these lands was the Holy Roman Emperor himself, he recognized the head of the family, Anton Florian, as a prince of sovereign dignity - thus the Principality of Liechtenstein appeared on the map of Europe.
The current head of the House of Liechtenstein is Prince Hans-Adam II, although the day-to-day administration of the state is carried out by his son Alois.
6. Grimaldi (XII century)
The Grimaldi family traces its origins back to the consul of Genoa, Grimaldo Canella. Over the centuries, his pro-papal policy helped the family occupy a high position. However, Grimaldi’s enmity with the Ghibellines and the dislike of the people contributed to the fact that the family was expelled from their hometown twice.
In the end, the Grimaldi settled in Monaco, finding a second home there. The security of the princes of Monaco was ensured by Spain, in relation to which they recognized vassalage.
Today the House of Grimaldi is headed by Prince Albert II of Monaco, whose mother is the famous American actress Grace Kelly.
7. Hohenzollerns (XII century)
The founder of the Hohenzollern dynasty is considered to be Burchard I, who owned a castle on a high cliff in southwestern Swabia. The name of the dynasty came from the name of the rock (from the South German “Hohenzoller” - “high rock”).
Under the Hohenzollerns, Germany became one of the leading military-industrial and colonial powers in the world. This is a great merit of Emperor Wilhelm II (1859-1941). But fate also destined him for the role of the last monarch of Germany.
It is interesting that Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov (now lives in Madrid), the son of Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, belongs to one of the Hohenzollern branches in the male line, recognized by some monarchists as the heir to the leadership of the Russian Imperial House.
8. Bourbons (XIII century)
The Bourbon dynasty is one of the most numerous European royal houses. Like the branches of a huge tree, the lines of this genus are spread throughout Europe - French, Spanish, Sicilian, Parma, Seville, Orleans.
Some branches of the Bourbons were suppressed. The most famous of them, the senior line of the French Bourbons, survived the French Revolution and the execution of Louis XVI, but ceased to exist in 1883 with the death of the Comte de Chambord.
Other branches were more fortunate. The Spanish Bourbons still rule today in the person of King Philip VI of Spain, and the representative of the Parma branch is the current Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri.
9. Radziwills (XIV century)
According to legend, the Radziwill family goes back to the high priest Lizdeika, who lived at the court of the Lithuanian prince Gediminas. However, the family was destined to become famous later - at the time when Prince Jagiello started a war with Poland. Then the young Lithuanian Radziwill, grabbing his horse by the tail, swam with him across the Vistula, setting an example for the rest of the army.
The Radziwills were prominent figures in European history. They were princes of the Holy Roman Empire, military leaders, owners of factories, and philanthropists. It is interesting that Sophia Radziwill (1585-1612), the wife of Janusz Radziwill and a descendant of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgert, was canonized as an Orthodox saint.
In the 20th century, the famous family became notorious thanks to Catherine Radziwill (1858-1941), a writer and swindler who served time in prison for fraud. One of the most famous modern Radziwills is the Polish financier Maciej Radziwill.
10. Orange (XVI century)
The Princes of Orange were once members of the influential oligarchic family of the United Kingdom of Luxembourg. One of them, the leader of the Dutch bourgeois revolution, William I (1533-1584), was destined to become the founder of the dynasty.
TO mid-19th century, the welfare of the House of Orange deteriorated so much that after the death of King Willem II, his wife, the Russian Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna, had to pay her husband’s debts from her own funds. However, after selling part of the property in Luxembourg, the Oranskys were able to maintain their fortune.
In 1890, with the death of Willem III, the Orange dynasty in the male line died out. Currently, the House of Orange is represented by descendants in the female line: King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his daughter Katharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange.
10 most ancient noble families of Europe
The pedigree of European aristocratic families dates back hundreds of years. Noble houses actively influenced and influence world politics. Their fates are intertwined in the history of Russia.
1. Medici (8th century)
The famous oligarchic Medici family is primarily associated with Florence, whose rulers they became from the 13th to the 18th centuries. However, the Medici extended their influence to Tuscany. Moreover, four representatives of this family were given the honor of bearing the title of Pope.
In their activities, the Medici often and very successfully played on the confrontation between the interests of the people and the nobility, thanks to which they were able to achieve political power. Cosimo de' Medici (1389-1464) and Lorenzo de' Medici (1394-1440) became perhaps the most successful politicians of the family.
Another area where the Medici left a legacy is philanthropy. So the modern head of the house, Ottaviano Medici, president of the International Medici Association for the Defense of Arts, Science and Literature, maintains the glory of his noble ancestors.
2. Wettins (9th century)
Wettin Castle, which is located on the Saale River (federal state of Saxony-Anhalt), became the family nest of one of the most influential houses in Europe - the Wettins. Members of this family, which dates back to the Carolingian era, bore a variety of titles - King of Saxony and Margrave of Meissen, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Warsaw, Emperor of India and Tsar of Bulgaria.
Representatives of the House of Wettin have repeatedly influenced the geopolitical situation in Europe. Thus, the Wettins were the first in Germany to accept the Reformation, and 5 states under the rule of members of the House of Wettin were among the founders of the German Empire.
The House of Wettin is considered one of the most extensive in Europe. Today, members of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Windsor branches of this house are represented respectively by King Philip of Belgium and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
3. Habsburgs (10th century)
During the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, the Habsburgs were, without exaggeration, the most powerful royal house. From modest owners of castles in northern Switzerland and Alsace, the Habsburgs by the end of the 13th century turned into rulers of Austria.
Through skillful diplomacy and the power of bribes and weapons, Habsburg influence quickly grows. At different times they ruled the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, the Kingdom of Naples and even Mexico. In the 16th century, the territories under the Habsburg crown were rightly called “the empire on which the sun never sets.”
In 1799, the Romanovs became related to the Habsburgs: the daughter of Paul I, Alexandra Pavlovna, became the wife of Archduke Joseph.
Representatives of various branches of the Habsburgs live today. Thus, in 2010, Ulrich Habsburg took part in the presidential elections in Austria, but, without collecting a sufficient number of voter signatures, he dropped out of the race.
4. Zähringen (XI century)
The foundation of the power of the ancient Swabian family of Zähringen was laid by Berthold I. Since his time, the family quickly achieved an influential position. For almost 10 centuries the Zähringens were dukes, margraves and electors of various states of Germany.
The House of Baden, which represented the most extensive possessions of the Zähringens, received particular fame. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Margrave of Baden, thanks to his loyalty to Bonaparte, was able to raise his title to Elector. The successful marriage of the Elector's grandson brought the Baden princesses the title of Queen Consort of Bavaria and Sweden. And Louise Maria Augusta, known in Russia as Elizaveta Alekseevna, became the wife of Emperor Alexander I.
Modern representatives of the Zähringen house own luxurious residences in Karlsruhe and Rastatt.
5. Liechtensteins (XII century)
The owner of Liechtenstein Castle in the south of Vienna, Hugo, whose mention dates back to 1136, is the first representative of the future noble family. By the 16th century, the baronial family of Liechtenstein had extended its influence to large areas of Austria, Moravia, Bohemia and Silesia. Even the Habsburgs found themselves in debt to the noble family.
In 1719, an epochal event took place for the Liechtensteins. They bought two tiny fiefs on the border with Switzerland from the bankrupt owners of Hohenems. Since the overlord of these lands was the Holy Roman Emperor himself, he recognized the head of the family, Anton Florian, as a prince of sovereign dignity - thus the Principality of Liechtenstein appeared on the map of Europe.
The current head of the House of Liechtenstein is Prince Hans-Adam II, although the day-to-day administration of the state is carried out by his son Alois.
6. Grimaldi (XII century)
The Grimaldi family traces its origins back to the consul of Genoa, Grimaldo Canella. Over the centuries, his pro-papal policy helped the family occupy a high position. However, Grimaldi’s enmity with the Ghibellines and the dislike of the people contributed to the fact that the family was expelled from their hometown twice.
In the end, the Grimaldi settled in Monaco, finding a second home there. The security of the princes of Monaco was ensured by Spain, in relation to which they recognized vassalage.
Today the House of Grimaldi is headed by Prince Albert II of Monaco, whose mother is the famous American actress Grace Kelly.
7. Hohenzollerns (XII century)
The founder of the Hohenzollern dynasty is considered to be Burchard I, who owned a castle on a high cliff in southwestern Swabia. The name of the dynasty came from the name of the rock (from the South German “Hohenzoller” - “high rock”).
Under the Hohenzollerns, Germany became one of the leading military-industrial and colonial powers in the world. This is a great merit of Emperor Wilhelm II (1859-1941). But fate also destined him for the role of the last monarch of Germany.
It is interesting that Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov (now lives in Madrid), the son of Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, belongs to one of the Hohenzollern branches in the male line, recognized by some monarchists as the heir to the leadership of the Russian Imperial House.
8. Bourbons (XIII century)
The Bourbon dynasty is one of the most numerous European royal houses. Like the branches of a huge tree, the lines of this genus are spread throughout Europe - French, Spanish, Sicilian, Parma, Seville, Orleans.
Some branches of the Bourbons were suppressed. The most famous of them, the senior line of the French Bourbons, survived the French Revolution and the execution of Louis XVI, but ceased to exist in 1883 with the death of the Comte de Chambord.
Other branches were more fortunate. The Spanish Bourbons still rule today in the person of King Philip VI of Spain, and the representative of the Parma branch is the current Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri.
9. Radziwills (XIV century)
According to legend, the Radziwill family goes back to the high priest Lizdeika, who lived at the court of the Lithuanian prince Gediminas. However, the family was destined to become famous later - at the time when Prince Jagiello started a war with Poland. Then the young Lithuanian Radziwill, grabbing his horse by the tail, swam with him across the Vistula, setting an example for the rest of the army.
The Radziwills were prominent figures in European history. They were princes of the Holy Roman Empire, military leaders, owners of factories, and philanthropists. It is interesting that Sophia Radziwill (1585-1612), the wife of Janusz Radziwill and a descendant of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgert, was canonized as an Orthodox saint.
In the 20th century, the famous family became notorious thanks to Catherine Radziwill (1858-1941), a writer and swindler who served time in prison for fraud. One of the most famous modern Radziwills is the Polish financier Maciej Radziwill.
10. Orange (XVI century)
The Princes of Orange were once members of the influential oligarchic family of the United Kingdom of Luxembourg. One of them, the leader of the Dutch bourgeois revolution, William I (1533-1584), was destined to become the founder of the dynasty.
By the middle of the 19th century, the welfare of the House of Orange had deteriorated so much that after the death of King Willem II, his wife, the Russian Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna, had to pay her husband’s debts from her own funds. However, after selling part of the property in Luxembourg, the Oranskys were able to maintain their fortune.
In 1890, with the death of Willem III, the Orange dynasty in the male line died out. Currently, the House of Orange is represented by descendants in the female line: King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his daughter Katharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange.
European aristocrats - heirs of ancient titles and fortunes - do not like to appear in the press and avoid Forbes lists. This helps them evade taxes, extract grants from Brussels, trade sovereignty and rule the EU as their hereditary fiefdom. The real owners of Europe are still the same as they were 500 years ago. A study carried out by Bank of Italy economists about a year ago showed that over the past 600 years, the richest people in Florence have remained the same families. This broke the mold for many.
Throughout the 20th century, writers exploited the theme of the decline of the aristocracy and the death of “old money.” Poems and novels were written about the destruction of noble nests. The screen and stage were filled with poor but noble nobles - from Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya to Blanche Dubois. In the imagination of a modern European, an aristocrat is an eccentric old man who can hardly heat a couple of rooms in a dilapidated family castle with a leaking roof.
And suddenly it turned out that famous aristocratic families survived all social cataclysms. Despite the general leveling of world wars and revolutions, they managed to preserve and increase their gigantic fortunes, the volume of which is now incalculable.
Holders of sonorous titles still control Europe's most expensive asset - its land and real estate. The Earls of Cawdor, mentioned by Shakespeare in Macbeth, still live in their ancestral castle today. The German princes of Fürstenberg, dating back to the 13th century, also live in family residences - the castles of Weitra and Heiligenberg and in the princely palace in Donauschingen. And the legendary Schwarzenberg dynasty owns a dozen castles and palaces. Their most spectacular property is a huge palace in the center of Vienna.
The British estimated that, as of 2010, a third of all British land - the most expensive land in the world - was owned by the local aristocracy. The Duke of Westminster owns part of the famous areas of London - Mayfair and Belgravia. The Earl of Cadogan owns central part English capital - Cadogan Square, part of Sloane Street and King's Road. Baroness Howard de Walden owns the prestigious London streets of Harley Street and Marylebone High Street.
All premises located in these areas are rented at the highest rental rates in the world. It is almost impossible to buy a house built by the owner of the land - for hundreds of millions of dollars, only the right to lease a mansion for a period of 35 years is purchased. At the same time, the buyer also annually pays the owner for renting the land under the house.
A myriad of books, paintings, antique furniture, and works of art are stored in noble castles and palaces. It is impossible to calculate their total cost even approximately. This is one of the reasons that European nobility rarely makes it onto Forbes lists. “Old money,” unlike newly earned capital, loves silence.
Gates and Zuckerberg’s assets went through an IPO, and anyone can see how much they are valued on the market. The property of noble families, acquired over centuries, is reliably hidden from prying eyes. The British, for example, have long been trying to find out exactly what land Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, owns. The Duke himself speaks modestly about his estates: “I am farming little by little in West Sussex...”.
It is difficult to “weigh” even those riches that are officially announced. How much can, for example, the originals of Velazquez and Goya, letters of Christopher Columbus, palaces in Seville and Madrid and the first edition of Don Quixote, owned by the family of the 19th Duke of Alba, cost? According to various estimates, his fortune is estimated from 600 million to 4.7 billion euros. The spread of numbers clearly shows how arbitrary all estimates are.
It would seem that the owners of all this fabulous luxury should have been ruined long ago government fees. Any attempt to sell a house, a painting or an antique to a mere mortal is fraught with the need to pay a very unpleasant capital gains tax. In Spain, its rate reaches 34 percent, in England - up to 40. The same tax is imposed on inheritance.
But if ordinary Europeans are forced to immediately sell inherited real estate in order to pay off the tax authorities, their noble compatriots use workarounds. The most popular is to transfer the palace with all its property into the ownership of a special fund. The foundation is, of course, managed by the family members themselves. As a result, new generations come into possession of extremely expensive property, but do not pay a cent to the budget.
When selling antiques, other tricks are used. In 2001, the owners of Castle Howard in North Yorkshire sold a painting by the famous artist Joshua Reynolds for £9.4 million. To avoid paying taxes, they declared that the painting was not a unique work of art, but part of the "fabrics and upholstery of the castle." In 2014, the Court of Appeal recognized that they were right - probably, the judges showed class solidarity, and the hole in the budget was closed at the expense of ordinary taxpayers.
Despite all the revolutionary upheavals of the 20th century, noble families retained not only their wealth, but also the power that comes with this wealth as a bonus. In 1999, Tony Blair attempted to clear the House of Lords of hereditary peers. However, despite all the reductions, the old nobility of England continues to carry out the highest legislative activities. They also do not disdain the executive branch: Theresa May’s government, formed in June 2017, has one earl, one viscount and three barons.
Even in this modern structure like the Brussels bureaucracy, aristocratic families managed to find their feeding trough. Since they own hundreds of thousands of hectares of land, they position themselves as “farmers”, and therefore claim substantial subsidies allocated by the EU to support Agriculture. The size of the subsidy is directly proportional to the size of the land owned. Every year, such “farmers” as the Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of Northumberland, the Duke of Westminster and Lord Rothschild receive from Brussels from 700 thousand to 1 million pounds sterling. In this sense, Brexit, of course, did not make them happy.
About the possessions of the 18th Duchess of Alba, who died in 2014, it was said that she could walk from the north to the south of Spain without ever leaving the land that belonged to her. All this farming, again, is subsidized by the EU. In 2006, farmers working the Alba lands staged a protest demonstration. They demanded that at least part of the multimillion-dollar subsidies reach those who actually work on the land. The demonstration was brutally dispersed, and the Duchess called the protesters “crazy” and “bandits.” As a result, the court sentenced her to a fine of 6 thousand euros, and the EU continued to subsidize the Alba estates.
These agricultural tricks pale in comparison to the successful commerce launched by the great princes who reformatted their principalities into offshore companies. The princes of Monaco turned their state into the most famous tax haven for individuals. The Grand Dukes of Luxembourg did the same for companies and firms.
The media fame of aristocrats does not correspond to their real influence and wealth - they prefer not to get involved with gossip columns. The only exception is The Royal Family Windsor and the Duchess of Alba, who has become mentally disturbed in her old age. There are reasons for such modesty.
Firstly, it helps to avoid public attention to huge fortunes, unconventional methods of enrichment and tax evasion. In an era of social stratification and impoverishment of the middle class, this is especially important.
Secondly, the capital of the aristocracy, in full accordance with Marx, was often acquired through criminal means. And we are not only talking about legendary antiquity, the times of enclosure, piracy, colonial wars and the slave trade. Throughout the 20th century, noble families survived and enriched themselves by collaborating with the most odious political regimes.
The Princes Borghese and Torlonia supported Benito Mussolini. The Duke of Alba officially represented Francisco Franco in London during World War II. Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza profited from cooperation with the Third Reich, and his daughter, Countess Margaret, welcomed the SS men to her castle and threw parties for them. During one such celebration, drunken guests shot about two hundred Jewish prisoners. The paintings expropriated from the Jews were later included in the famous Thyssen-Bornemisza art collection.
Despite all the blows and changes of era, the aristocratic families of Europe continue to prosper. Their wealth is a gray area of the global economy. Their hereditary rights and unspoken power are the flip side of European democracy. The only thing that can hinder aristocrats today is public opinion and publicity. "Old money" loves silence.
The pedigree of European aristocratic families dates back hundreds of years. Noble houses actively influenced and influence world politics. Their fates are intertwined in the history of Russia.
1. Medici (8th century)
The famous oligarchic Medici family is primarily associated with Florence, whose rulers they became from the 13th to the 18th centuries. However, the Medici extended their influence to Tuscany. Moreover, four representatives of this family were given the honor of bearing the title of Pope.
In their activities, the Medici often and very successfully played on the confrontation between the interests of the people and the nobility, thanks to which they were able to achieve political power. Cosimo de' Medici (1389-1464) and Lorenzo de' Medici (1394-1440) became perhaps the most successful politicians of the family.
Another area where the Medici left behind a legacy is philanthropy. So the modern head of the house, Ottaviano Medici, president of the International Medici Association for the Defense of Arts, Science and Literature, maintains the glory of his noble ancestors.
2. Wettins (9th century)
Wettin Castle, which is located on the Saale River (federal state of Saxony-Anhalt), became the family seat of one of the most influential houses in Europe - the Wettins. Members of this family, which dates back to the Carolingian era, bore a variety of titles - King of Saxony and Margrave of Meissen, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Warsaw, Emperor of India and Tsar of Bulgaria.
Representatives of the House of Wettin have repeatedly influenced the geopolitical situation in Europe. Thus, the Wettins were the first in Germany to accept the Reformation, and 5 states under the rule of members of the House of Wettin were among the founders of the German Empire.
The House of Wettin is considered one of the most extensive in Europe. Today, members of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Windsor branches of this house are represented respectively by King Philip of Belgium and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
3. Habsburgs (10th century)
During the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, the Habsburgs were, without exaggeration, the most powerful royal house. From modest owners of castles in northern Switzerland and Alsace, the Habsburgs by the end of the 13th century turned into rulers of Austria.
Through skillful diplomacy and the power of bribes and weapons, Habsburg influence quickly grows. At different times they ruled the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, the Kingdom of Naples and even Mexico. In the 16th century, the territories under the Habsburg crown were rightly called “the empire on which the sun never sets.”
In 1799, the Romanovs became related to the Habsburgs: the daughter of Paul I, Alexandra Pavlovna, became the wife of Archduke Joseph.
Representatives of various branches of the Habsburgs live today. Thus, in 2010, Ulrich Habsburg took part in the presidential elections in Austria, but, without collecting a sufficient number of voter signatures, he dropped out of the race.
4. Zähringen (XI century)
The foundation of the power of the ancient Swabian family of Zähringen was laid by Berthold I. Since his time, the family quickly achieved an influential position. For almost 10 centuries the Zähringens were dukes, margraves and electors of various states of Germany.
The House of Baden, which represented the most extensive possessions of the Zähringens, received particular fame. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Margrave of Baden, thanks to his loyalty to Bonaparte, was able to raise his title to Elector. The successful marriage of the Elector's grandson brought the Baden princesses the title of Queen Consort of Bavaria and Sweden. And Louise Maria Augusta, known in Russia as Elizaveta Alekseevna, became the wife of Emperor Alexander I.
Modern representatives of the Zähringen house own luxurious residences in Karlsruhe and Rastatt.
5. Liechtensteins (XII century)
The owner of Liechtenstein Castle in the south of Vienna, Hugo, whose mention dates back to 1136, is the first representative of the future noble family. By the 16th century, the baronial family of Liechtenstein had extended its influence to large areas of Austria, Moravia, Bohemia and Silesia. Even the Habsburgs found themselves in debt to the noble family.
In 1719, an epochal event took place for the Liechtensteins. They bought two tiny fiefs on the border with Switzerland from the bankrupt owners of Hohenems. Since the overlord of these lands was the Holy Roman Emperor himself, he recognized the head of the family, Anton Florian, as a prince of sovereign dignity - thus the Principality of Liechtenstein appeared on the map of Europe.
The current head of the House of Liechtenstein is Prince Hans-Adam II, although the day-to-day administration of the state is carried out by his son Alois.
6. Grimaldi (XII century)
The Grimaldi family traces its origins back to the consul of Genoa, Grimaldo Canella. Over the centuries, his pro-papal policy helped the family occupy a high position. However, Grimaldi’s enmity with the Ghibellines and the dislike of the people contributed to the fact that the family was expelled from their hometown twice.
In the end, the Grimaldi settled in Monaco, finding a second home there. The security of the princes of Monaco was ensured by Spain, in relation to which they recognized vassalage.
Today the House of Grimaldi is headed by Prince Albert II of Monaco, whose mother is the famous American actress Grace Kelly.
7. Hohenzollerns (XII century)
The founder of the Hohenzollern dynasty is considered to be Burchard I, who owned a castle on a high cliff in southwestern Swabia. The name of the dynasty came from the name of the rock (from the South German “Hohenzoller” - “high rock”).
Under the Hohenzollerns, Germany became one of the leading military-industrial and colonial powers in the world. This is a great merit of Emperor Wilhelm II (1859-1941). But fate also destined him for the role of the last monarch of Germany.
It is interesting that Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov (now lives in Madrid), the son of Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, belongs to one of the Hohenzollern branches in the male line, recognized by some monarchists as the heir to the leadership of the Russian Imperial House.
8. Bourbons (XIII century)
The Bourbon dynasty is one of the most numerous European royal houses. Like the branches of a huge tree, the lines of this genus are spread throughout Europe - French, Spanish, Sicilian, Parma, Seville, Orleans.
Some branches of the Bourbons were suppressed. The most famous of them, the senior line of the French Bourbons, survived the French Revolution and the execution of Louis XVI, but ceased to exist in 1883 with the death of the Comte de Chambord.
Other branches were more fortunate. The Spanish Bourbons still rule today in the person of King Philip VI of Spain, and the representative of the Parma branch is the current Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri.
9. Radziwills (XIV century)
According to legend, the Radziwill family goes back to the high priest Lizdeika, who lived at the court of the Lithuanian prince Gediminas. However, the family was destined to become famous later - at the time when Prince Jagiello started a war with Poland. Then the young Lithuanian Radziwill, grabbing his horse by the tail, swam with him across the Vistula, setting an example for the rest of the army.
The Radziwills were prominent figures in European history. They were princes of the Holy Roman Empire, military leaders, owners of factories, and philanthropists. It is interesting that Sophia Radziwill (1585-1612), the wife of Janusz Radziwill and a descendant of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgert, was canonized as an Orthodox saint.
In the 20th century, the famous family became notorious thanks to Catherine Radziwill (1858-1941), a writer and swindler who served time in prison for fraud. One of the most famous modern Radziwills is the Polish financier Maciej Radziwill.
10. Orange (XVI century)
The Princes of Orange were once members of the influential oligarchic family of the United Kingdom of Luxembourg. One of them, the leader of the Dutch bourgeois revolution, William I (1533-1584), was destined to become the founder of the dynasty.
By the middle of the 19th century, the welfare of the House of Orange had deteriorated so much that after the death of King Willem II, his wife, the Russian Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna, had to pay her husband’s debts from her own funds. However, after selling part of the property in Luxembourg, the Oranskys were able to maintain their fortune.
In 1890, with the death of Willem III, the Orange dynasty in the male line died out. Currently, the House of Orange is represented by descendants in the female line: King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his daughter Katharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange.
Man and Economics Lesson presentation workshop on social studies 7th grade - Kolmakov Anatoly Ivanovich.ppt
- Number of slides: 12
Social studies, grade 7 Lesson No. 30 MAN AND ECONOMY D.Z.: repeat § 12 -18, terms. © A. I. Kolmakov
LESSON OBJECTIVES To summarize and consolidate knowledge on the basic concepts and provisions of the topic “Man and Economics”; Monitor the development of skills and abilities, track the dynamics of each student’s progress in the problem being studied; Promote conscious economic behavior of students
KNOW AND BE ABLE To know the main provisions of the section. Be able to analyze, draw conclusions, answer questions; apply the acquired knowledge and skills in everyday life, identify gaps in understanding the topic and fill them.
1. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS 1). In what meanings is the word “economy” used? 2). What forms of management do you know? 3). What benefits does division of labor bring? 4). What role does entrepreneurship play in economic development? 5). Can an economy function successfully without exchange and trade? Explain your answer. 6). Why does society need money?
2. SOLVE THE PROBLEM 1. Pinocchio decided to start his own business with the proceeds from the sale of the alphabet. What fundamental questions should he answer, what calculations should he make before embarking on the practical implementation of his event? 2. Suggest why in various historical eras the production of counterfeit money was considered one of the most serious crimes against the state? 3. Formulate several rules that, in your opinion, should guide consumers in the process of purchasing any product or service.
3. REMEMBER Remember the meaning of the concepts below and make up one sentence in which they are all used: a) business, production costs, revenue; b) price, range, budget; c) exchange, barter, money; d) budget, bank, loan, expenses; e) subsistence farming, exchange, consumption. For many centuries, noble families of Europe spent significant amounts of money on organizing festivals, balls, on material support for artists (whose works did not always end up in the collections of these families), and on charity. Evaluate these expenses from a rational perspective.
4. Study the diagram and answer the questions 1) what answer did the majority of respondents give? Guess why; 2) explain why some of the respondents found it difficult to answer the question; 3) how would you answer the question posed? Give reasons for your answer.
5. Solve the test In the list given, select the correct statements, indicate them in ascending order: 1) any product has a value; 2) the costs of producing a product may exceed the profit from its sale; 3) the state has to compensate part of the costs of producers of cheap consumer goods; 4) the form of demand does not affect the profitability of the enterprise; 5) the entrepreneur strives to extract maximum income at minimum costs; 6) raw materials and technology determine the quality of the product Answer: ___________
reflection What did you learn? How? What have you learned? What difficulties did you experience? Was the lesson interesting?