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beth elliott's avatar

Well, crap. So much for being able to watch a costume drama without being related to any of the characters (as I just did—or thought I did—with "Anne of the Thousand Days" off TCM). Malcolm, Duncan, and Kenneth MacAlpin? Directs, via a Spence colonial ancestor. Alfred the Great? Ditto. Mathilda of Flanders and William the Conqueror? Yep, via the first two Henrys and John on the wrong side of the blanket. And, actually, six of Henry I's two dozen mistresses.

Granted, with those exceptions, the relationships are pretty darned remote, so I reckon I can continue to ignore them and concentrate on the direct ancestors. With a few exceptions, like Great Aunt Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, who kicked Danish behind. And Cousin Elizabeth II, because I know the two places where we share directs and I'm kind of a fan of hers.

Great job, Mr. G. ... I just didn't need to know that the whole lot of them are cousins of some sort.

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L K Simons's avatar

Mary and Anne were actually older than their brother James as they were born to James II and his first wife, Ann Hyde. Their brother was born to James II And his second wife, a Catholic. Because males took precedence, James should have been James III, but as already mentioned, William of Orange, aided by John Churchill and others, made sure he and his father never got back on the throne.

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