Since the nineteenth century a number of persons have claimed to be direct and legitimate successors to the Royal House of Stuart. Some have laid claim to the Thrones of the United Kingdom or Scotland.
The House of Stuart is not unique in attracting such claimants. Other dynasties such as the Tudors, the Bourbons of France and the Romanovs can provide similar examples. In recent years certain of these latter claims have been disproved by scientific evidence.
The position of the Royal Stuart Society is clear. The direct and legitimate male line of the Royal House of Stuart ended with the death of Henry IX, Cardinal York, in 1807. After that date the Headship of the House of Stuart passed to the House of Savoy by virtue of its descent from Henrietta-Anne (1644-1670), daughter of King Charles I, and her husband Philippe, Duke of Orléans. Thereafter it passed by marriage to the House of Modena-Este and later to the House of Wittelsbach (Bavaria), with whom it rests today and the Head of which is Duke Franz. It should be noted that none of these representatives of King Charles I since 1807 has attempted to claim a British Throne. The late Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria (1869-1955) strongly discouraged supporters in the United Kingdom from making claims on his behalf.
Those other persons who have claimed, or who continue to claim, rights based on their alleged Stuart descent may sincerely believe in their own cause. But to be successful, their claims would need to be based on documentary evidence which should stand up to the most searching historical and legal scrutiny. They would also need to be supported by the results of scientific study.
The Stuart Succession after 1807
The descendants of Princess Henrietta-Anne, youngest daughter of King Charles
I, who would have been de jure monarchs of the House of Stuart after the death
of King Henry IX and I
in 1807 are shown below. Italian and German names are shown in their Anglicised
forms and the numerals following the names (where appropriate) relate to the
English and Scottish successions respectively where necessary:
| House of Savoy (Sardinia) |
Charles IV
Victor
Mary II* |
1807-1819
1819-1824
1824-1840 |
| House of Este (Modena) |
Francis I
Mary III |
1840-1875
1875-1919 |
| House of Wittelsbach (Bavaria) |
Robert I and IV
Albert
Francis II |
1919-1955
1955-1996
1996- |
*The elder daughter of King James II and VII who was married to William of
Orange and styled herself Mary II was not part of the de jure succession, her
father and brother being alive at the time.
It must again be emphasised that none of these de jure monarchs since 1807
has ever laid claim to the throne of England, Scotland, Ireland or France.
Under the terms of the Act of Settlement (1701) they have all been excluded
from the de facto line of succession which vests in the present House of Windsor.
| |
Bronze statue of Prince Charles Edward Stuart at
Derby by Anthony Stones to commemorate the advance of the Prince's
army to the City in December 1745. Unveiled on the 250th anniversary
of the occasion (1995) and paid for by private donations including
from the Royal Stuart Society and individual members. (Derby Heritage
Center)
|
Charles IV (1807-1819) |
Victor I (1819-1824) |
Mary II (1824-1840) |
Francis I (1840-1875) |
Mary III (1875-1919) |
Robert IV (1919-1955) |
Albert I (1955-1996) |
Francis II (1996 -) |
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