Dab solver - Almanach de Gotha

Most tools require the use of JavaScript. If you are using Firefox with the NoScript addon, please mark toolserver.org as trusted. See the Help page for details.

Feedback / Report a bug

0 points on this page / 13,143 points earned collectively this month / Disambiguate pages on your watchlist

In 1998, a London-based publisher acquired the rights for use of the title of Almanach de Gotha from Justus Perthes Verlag Gotha GmbH (Perthes regard the resultant volumes as new works, and not as a continuation of the editions which Perthes had published from 1785 to 1944).^ref The new publishers have so far produced seven editions (consisting of two volumes), Volume I listing the sovereign, formerly sovereign and mediatised houses of Europe and Volume II listing the non-sovereign princely and ducal houses of Europe.

== Gotha publication, 1763&ndash;1944 ==

The almanac provided detailed facts and statistics on nations of the world, including their [[reign]]ing and formerly reigning houses, those of [[Europe]] being more complete than those of other continents. It also named the highest incumbent , members of the [[diplomatic corps]], and Europe's upper nobility with their families. Although at its most extensive the Almanach de Gotha numbered more than 1200 pages, fewer than half of which were dedicated to monarchical or aristocratic data,^ref it acquired a reputation for the breadth and precision of its information on royalty and nobility compared to other [[almanac]]s.12 lines hidden (4537 characters)
Although theoretically mediatized families were distinguished from Europe's other nobility by the former status of their territories as [[Imperial State|Reichsstand]] and their exercise within the Holy Roman Empire of "semi-sovereignty" or [[imperial immediacy]] (Reichsunmittelbarkeit), many Standesherr families, especially those bearing the [[count|comital]] title, had not been fully recognized as legally possessing immediate status within the Empire prior to its collapse in 1806. No other families whose highest title was count were admitted to any section of the almanac. 

Moreover, other [[deposition (politics)|deposed]] European dynasties (e.g. [[House of Arenberg|Arenberg]], [[House of Biron|Biron]], [[Dadiani]], [[Boncompagni]]-[[Ludovisi (family)|]], , ) did not benefit vis-a-vis the almanac from a similar interpretation of their historical status. Many princely or ducal families were listed only in its third, non-dynastic section or were excluded altogether, evoking criticism in the 20th century from such genealogists as [[Cyril Toumanoff]], Jean-Engelbert d'Arenberg and [[William Addams Reitwiesner]],^ref^ref the latter commenting that the changes displayed "pan-German triumphalism" and even a "fairly nasty bit of Germanic chauvinism."^ref

Single scrollbar

{{Refimprove|date=April 2009}}
{{Infobox Novel series
| name = Almanach de Gotha
| image = [[File:DeGotha1851.jpg]]
| caption = The Almanach de Gotha 1851
| type =
| author =
| illustrator =
| pub_date = 1763-1944 1998-
| publisher = [[Johann Christian Dieterich|J.C. Dieterich]] C.W. Ettinger C.G. Ettinger [[Justus Perthes]] Almanach de Gotha
| genre =
}}

The original '''''Almanach de Gotha''''' was a directory of Europe's [[Royal family|royalty]] and higher [[nobility]]. First published in 1763 by C.W. Ettinger in [[Gotha (town)|Gotha]] at the [[duke|ducal]] [[court]] of [[Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg|Frederick III]], Duke of [[Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg]], it came to be regarded as an authority in the classification of monarchies and their courts, reigning and former dynasties, princely and ducal families, and the genealogical, biographical and titulary details of Europe's highest level of aristocracy. It was published from 1785 annually by [[Justus Perthes]] Publishing House in Gotha, until 1944 when the Soviets destroyed the ''Almanach de Gotha's'' archives.

In 1998, a London-based publisher acquired the rights for use of the title of ''Almanach de Gotha'' from Justus Perthes Verlag Gotha GmbH (Perthes regard the resultant volumes as new works, and not as a continuation of the editions which Perthes had published from 1785 to 1944).<ref name=Perthes>{{Cite web|url=http://www.perthes.de/geschichte_justus_perthes/almanach_de_gotha/almanach_de_gotha_english.html |title=Almanach de Gotha |accessdate=2008-06-09 |publisher=Justus Perthes }}</ref> The new publishers have so far produced seven editions (consisting of two volumes), Volume I listing the sovereign, formerly sovereign and mediatised houses of Europe and Volume II listing the non-sovereign princely and ducal houses of Europe.

==Gotha publication, 1763&ndash;1944==
The almanac provided detailed facts and statistics on nations of the world, including their [[reign]]ing and formerly reigning houses, those of [[Europe]] being more complete than those of other continents. It also named the highest incumbent <<link:0>>, members of the [[diplomatic corps]], and Europe's upper nobility with their families. Although at its most extensive the ''Almanach de Gotha'' numbered more than 1200 pages, fewer than half of which were dedicated to monarchical or aristocratic data,<ref name="gotha">Almanach de Gotha. [[Justus Perthes]], Gotha, 1944, pp. 7-12, 131, 169, 363-364, 558, 581-584. French.</ref> it acquired a reputation for the breadth and precision of its information on royalty and nobility compared to other [[almanac]]s.

The almanac's publication by [[Justus Perthes]] began at the ducal court of [[Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]] in Germany and, its reigning dynasty was listed first therein well into the 19th century, usually followed by kindred sovereigns of the [[House of Wettin]] and then, in alphabetical order, other families of princely rank, ruling and non-ruling. Although always published in French, other almanacs in French and English were more widely sold internationally. The almanac's structure changed and its scope expanded over the years. The second portion, called the ''Annuaire diplomatique et statistique'' ("Diplomatic and Statistical Yearbook"), provided [[demography|demographic]] and governmental information by nation, similar to other [[almanac]]s. Its first portion, called the ''Annuaire Genealogique'' ("Genealogical Yearbook"), came to consist essentially of three sections: reigning and formerly reigning families, [[mediatization|mediatized families]] and non-sovereign families at least one of whose members bore the title of prince or duke.

The first section always listed Europe's [[sovereignty|sovereign]] houses, whether they ruled as emperor, king, grand duke, duke, prince (or some other title, e.g., [[prince elector]], [[margrave]], [[landgrave]], [[count palatine]] or [[pope]]). Until 1810 these sovereign houses were listed alongside such families and entities as Barbiano-Belgiojoso, Clary, Colloredo, Furstenberg, the Emperor, Genoa, Gonzaga, Hatzfeld, Jablonowski, Kinsky, Ligne, the Order of Malta, Paar, Radziwill, Starhemberg, Thurn and Taxis, Turkey, Venice and the [[Order of Malta]] and the [[Teutonic Knights]]. In 1812, these entries began to be listed in groups. First, were German sovereigns who held the rank of grand duke or prince elector and above (the Duke of Saxe-Gotha was, however, listed here along with, but before, France—see below).

Listed next were Germany's reigning ducal and princely dynasties under the heading "College of Princes", e.g., [[Hohenzollern]], [[County of Isenburg|Isenburg]], [[Leyen]], [[Liechtenstein]] and the other [[Ernestine duchies|Saxon duchies]]. They were followed by heads of non-German monarchies, i.e. Austria, Brazil, Great Britain, etc. Fourthly were listed non-reigning dukes and princes, whether mediatized or not, including [[Arenberg]], [[House of Croÿ|Croy]], [[Fürstenberg (princely family)|Furstenberg]] alongside [[Batthyany]], [[Jablonowski]], [[Sulkowski]], [[House of Porcia|Porcia]], and [[Prince of Benevento|Benevento]].

In 1841 a third group was added to those of the sovereign dynasties and the non-reigning princely and ducal families. It was composed exclusively of the mediatized families of comital rank recognized as belonging, since 1825, to the same historical category and sharing some of the same privileges as reigning dynasties by the various states of the [[German Confederation]]; these families were German with a few exceptions (e.g. [[Bentinck]], [[Van Rechteren|Rechteren-Limpurg]]). The 1815 treaty of the [[Congress of Vienna]] had authorized—and Article 14 of the German Confederation's ''Bundesakt'' (charter) recognized—retention from the [[Holy Roman Empire|German Imperial]] regime of [[Royal intermarriage|equality of birth]] for marital purposes of mediatized families (called ''Standesherren'') to reigning dynasties. The almanac added a third section consisting exclusively of mediatized families of comital rank,

In 1877, the mediatized comital families were moved from section III to section II A, where they joined the princely mediatized families. For the first time in the century of its existence, the largely non-German, un-mediatized princely and ducal families of the ''Almanach de Gotha'' were removed from the same section as other non-reigning families bearing princely titles. While non-mediatized German and Austrian families (e.g. [[Prince Lichnowsky|Lichnowsky]], [[Wrede]]), were likewise relocated from the almanac's second to its third section, the second section's new preponderance of German families, princely and comital, which were henceforth recognized as possessing the exclusive privilege of inter-marriage with reigning dynasties was salient. Excluded were members of such historically notable families as the [[House of Rohan|Rohan]]s, [[Orsini]]s, [[Duke of Ursel|Ursels]], [[Duke of Norfolk|Norfolks]], [[Czartoryski]]s, [[Galitzine]]s, [[Duc de La Rochefoucauld|La Rochefoucaulds]], [[House of Kinsky|Kinskys]], [[Radziwiłł family|Radziwills]], [[De Mérode|Merodes]], [[Dohna (family)|Dohna]]s and [[Duke of Alba|Albas]].

Although theoretically mediatized families were distinguished from Europe's other nobility by the former status of their territories as ''[[Imperial State|Reichsstand]]'' and their exercise within the Holy Roman Empire of "semi-sovereignty" or [[imperial immediacy]] (''Reichsunmittelbarkeit''), many ''Standesherr'' families, especially those bearing the [[count|comital]] title, had not been fully recognized as legally possessing immediate status within the Empire prior to its collapse in 1806. No other families whose highest title was count were admitted to any section of the almanac.

Moreover, other [[deposition (politics)|deposed]] European dynasties (e.g. [[House of Arenberg|Arenberg]], [[House of Biron|Biron]], [[Dadiani]], [[Boncompagni]]-[[Ludovisi (family)|Ludovisi]], <<link:1>>, <<link:2>>) did not benefit ''vis-a-vis'' the almanac from a similar interpretation of their historical status. Many princely or ducal families were listed only in its third, non-dynastic section or were excluded altogether, evoking criticism in the 20th century from such genealogists as [[Cyril Toumanoff]], Jean-Engelbert d'Arenberg and [[William Addams Reitwiesner]],<ref>Fra Cyril Toumanoff, "Genealogical Imperialism" (1985) vol 6 (no 134) (NS) Coat of Arms pp. 145, 147.</ref><ref>Duke and Prince Jean Engelbert d'[[Arenberg]], "The Lesser Princes of the Holy Roman Empire in the Napoleonic Era" dissertation, Washington, DC, 1950, published as Les Princes du St-Empire à l'époque napoléonienne (Louvain, 1951) 15ff, quoted in Almanach de Gotha (Almanach de Gotha, London, 1998) pp. 275–286.</ref> the latter commenting that the changes displayed "pan-German triumphalism" and even a "fairly nasty bit of Germanic chauvinism."<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.wargs.com/essays/mediatize.html |title= Mediatization |accessdate= 2011-04-19 |last= Reitwiesner |first= William Addams |year= 1998 |month= January |authorlink= William Addams Reitwiesner}}</ref>

Even in the early 19th century the almanac's retention of [[deposition (politics)|deposed]] dynasties evoked objections, although not necessarily the desired changes. [[Napoleon]]'s reaction was typical of ''[[parvenu]]'' authorities. The elected Emperor wrote to his foreign minister, [[Jean-Baptiste Nompère de Champagny|Champagny]]: <blockquote>''Monsieur de Champagny, this year's "Almanach de Gotha" is badly done. I protest. There should be more of the French Nobility I have created and less of the German Princes who are no longer sovereign. Furthermore, the Imperial Family of Bonaparte should appear before all other royal dynasties, and let it be clear that we and not the Bourbons are the House of France. Summon the Minister of the Interior of Gotha at once so that I personally may order these changes''.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.almanachdegotha.com/site/history.htm |title= History of the Almanach de Gotha|accessdate=2008-05-30 |publisher=The Almanach de Gotha |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060211154704/http://www.almanachdegotha.com/site/history.htm |archivedate=11 February 2006}}</ref></blockquote>

The response of the publishers was to humour Napoleon by producing two editions: one for [[France]], with the recently ennobled, and another which included dynasties deposed since abolition of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. A merged version, whose first section including recently reigning dynasties but also families which lost sovereignty after the fall of Napoleon in 1815, remained in publication until 1944, and has been replicated in subsequent dynastic compilations (e.g., ''Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Furstliche Hauser'', ''Le Petit Gotha'', Ruvigny's "Titled Nobility of Europe").

In 1887, the almanac began to include non-European dynasties in its first section with the inclusion of one of the ruling families of India.

===World War II and aftermath===
When Soviet troops entered [[Gotha (town)|Gotha]] in 1945, they systematically destroyed all archives of the ''Almanach de Gotha''.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}

In 1951 a different publisher, C.A. Starke, began publication of a multi-volume German-language publication entitled the ''Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels'' ([[:de:Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels|GHdA]]). The publication is divided into subsets; the ''Fürstliche Häuser'' subset is largely equivalent to the ''Almanach de Gotha''. However, no single volume of the ''Fürstliche Häuser'' includes all the families included in the ''Almanach de Gotha''. It is necessary to use multiple volumes to trace the majority of European royal families.

==London publication, since 1998==
[[Image:AlmanachdeGothaVolumeI2012.jpg|right|100px|thumb|''Almanach de Gotha'', 2012, Volume I]]

In 1989 the family of [[Justus Perthes]] re-established its right to the use of the name ''Almanach de Gotha''. The family then sold these rights to a new company, Almanach de Gotha Limited, formed in London.{{citation needed|date=April 2011}} Justus Perthes considers this a new work and not a continuation of the series last published by his family in 1944 with the 181st edition.<ref name=Perthes/> The new publishers launched with the 182nd edition on 16 March 1998 at [[Claridge's Hotel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.almanachdegotha.com/site/modern.htm|title=The Modern Gotha |accessdate=2008-05-30 |publisher=Almanach de Gotha |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060211154624/http://www.almanachdegotha.com/site/modern.htm |archivedate=11 February 2006}}</ref> It was written in English instead of French as the Editor felt that English was now the language of diplomacy.<ref name=Runciman>{{Cite news|first= Steven |last= Runciman |authorlink=Steven Runciman |title=The first book of kings |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_199805/ai_n8792875 |publisher=[[The Spectator]] |date=1998-05-02 |accessdate=2008-06-06 }}</ref> Charlotte Pike served as Editor of the 1998 edition only and John Kennedy as managing director and publisher. The new publishers also revived the Committee of Patrons under the presidency of King [[Juan Carlos I of Spain]] and chairmanship of former King [[Michael I of Romania]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.almanachdegotha.com/societe_2.htm|title=The Société des Amis de 'l Almanach de Gotha |accessdate=2008-08-09 |publisher=Almanach de Gotha |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010303004052/http://www.almanachdegotha.com/societe_2.htm |archivedate=3 March 2001}}</ref>

The London publisher produced a further four editions of Volume I (1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004) based on the 1998 edition of Volume I which include Europe's and South America's reigning, formerly reigning, and mediatised princely houses, and a single edition of Volume II in 2001 edited by John Kennedy and Ghislain Crassard which include other non-sovereign princely and ducal houses of Europe.<ref name=Hardman>{{Cite news|first=Robert |last=Hardman |title=Family almanac will unmask the noble pretenders |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/1317982/Family-almanac-will-unmask-the-noble-pretenders.html |publisher=[[Daily Telegraph]] |date=2001-06-19 |accessdate=2008-06-06 }}</ref> A review in ''[[The Economist]]'' criticised the low editorial standards and attacked Volume II for a lack of genealogical accuracy.<ref name=review_economist>{{Cite web| title=The Almanach de Gotha -- Gothic horror | url=http://www.economist.com/books/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=949183 | publisher=[[The Economist]] | date = 24 January 2002 | accessdate=2007-10-07}}</ref><ref name=review_sainty>{{Cite web| last=Sainty | first=Guy Stair | authorlink= Guy Stair Sainty | title=The Kennedy "Almanach de Gotha" Volume II | url=http://www.chivalricorders.org/nobility/gotha/kengoth.htm | publisher=Almanach de la Cour | date = April 2001 | accessdate=2008-05-17}}</ref>

After a gap of eight years a new edition of Volume I was published in 2012 under the editorship of John James.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boydellandbrewer.com/store/viewitem.asp?idproduct=13798 |title=Almanach de Gotha 2012. Volume I Parts I & II |accessdate=2012-02-08 |publisher=[[Boydell & Brewer]] }}</ref> A review in ''[[The Times Literary Supplement]]'' praised the 2012 Volume I for a "punctilious itemization of titles, lineage and heraldry [aiming] for scholarship rather than sensation...Some family legends – such as the Ottoman boast of descent from a grandson of Noah – do not merit inclusion in a work with authoritative aspirations. Most quixotically of all, the title page displays the word 'Annual', although it has been eight years since the last edition appeared."<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/article1139358.ece|title=And dark the Sun and Moon, and the Almanach de Gotha... |accessdate=2012-29-12 |publisher=The Times Literary Supplement}}</ref>

==Structure==
As it was the practice of the diplomatic corps to employ official titles, adhere to local [[Order of precedence|precedence]] and etiquette, and to tender congratulations and condolences to members of the dynasty of the nation to which they were assigned, the almanac included a ''Calendrier des Diplomates'' ("Diplomats' Calendar") section, which detailed major national holidays, anniversaries, ceremonies and royal birthdates.<ref name="gotha"/>

Following [[World War I]] and the fall of many [[royal house]]s, there were fewer regulatory authorities to authenticate use of titles, however the ''Almanach de Gotha'' continued the practice of strict verification of information, requesting certified copies of [[letters patent]], genealogies confirmed by competent authorities, documents, decrees and references for titles claimed.<ref name="gotha"/> Europe's middle and lower nobility (families whose principal title ranked below that of prince or duke—except [[German mediatisation|mediatized]] families, listed in a section of their own) were not included in the almanac. Nor were the [[grandee]]s or [[Portuguese dukedoms|ducal families]] of Portugal and Spain (where titles, being habitually transmissible through both male and [[cognatic|female lines]], were often inherited by relatives of non-[[patrilineality|patrilineal]] lineage). Families of some Italian and East European nations (e.g., Russia, Romania), where the princely title was claimed by many, were also incomplete. Yet the reigning, formerly reigning and noble families included in the almanac numbered in the hundreds by the time it ceased publication in 1944.<ref name="gotha"/>

In 1890 the almanac renamed II A to section II, and II B to section III. Dynasties ruling non-European nations were located in section I B. Families which became extinct were listed for the final time in the year following death of the last member, male or female, and subsequent editions referred readers to that volume.<ref name="gotha"/>

Families which ceased to be included for other reasons, such as lack of proof that the family still had legitimate descendants or discovery that it did not hold a valid princely or ducal title, were henceforth excluded but added, along with dates of previous insertion, to a list following the last section of each ''Annuaire Genealogique'' (Genealogical Yearbook), which page was entitled ''Liste des Maisons authrefois publiees dans la 3e partie de l'Almanach de Gotha'' ("List of Houses previously published in the 3rd section of the ''Almanach de Gotha''.") <ref name="gotha"/>

From 1927, the almanac ceased to include all families in each year's edition, henceforth rotating entries every few years. Where titles and [[style (manner of address)]]s (such as [[Serene Highness]]) had ceased to be recognized by national governments (e.g. Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia), the almanac provided associated dates and details, but continued to attribute such titles and styles to individuals and families, consistent with its practice since the [[French revolution]]; deposed sovereigns and dynasties continued to be accorded their former titles and rank, but dates of deposition were noted and titles exclusively associated with sovereignty (e.g. emperor, queen, grand duke, crown princess) were not accorded to those who had not borne them during the monarchy. Titles of [[pretender|pretence]] below sovereign rank were accorded to members of formerly reigning dynasties as reported by heads of their houses, otherwise self-assumed titles were not used. The almanac included an explicit disclaimer announcing that known biographical details, such as birthdates and divorces, would not be suppressed.<ref name="gotha"/>

The present almanac has continued to include a greater number of the princely and ducal families, including more from Eastern Europe as well as the [[grandee]]s and [[Portuguese dukedoms|ducal families]] of Portugal and Spain, making exception for female transmission. Volume I includes a Calendar for the year (Feasts, Eclipses, Sunrise and Sunset, Religious Calendars and the Appearance of the Planets); Part I (Genealogies of the Sovereign Houses of Europe & South America); Part II (Genealogies of the Mediatized Princes and Princely Counts of Europe & The Holy Roman Empire); Diplomatic and Statistical Directory (Enumeration of All Main Civil Servants of the Principal States of the World including Diplomatic Representatives & Consuls and Statistics on the Various Countries), and; various appendices. Volume II contains a Calendar for the year (Feasts, Eclipses, Sunrise and Sunset, Religious Calendars and the Appearance of the Planets), and; Part III (Genealogies of the Non-Sovereign Princely & Ducal Houses of Europe).

==See also==
*[[Burke's Peerage]]
*[[Debrett's|Debrett’s Peerage & Baronetage]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*Diesbach, Ghislain de. ''Secrets of the Gotha''. Meredith Press, 1964.

==External links==
*[http://www.gotha1763.com Official website]
*[http://www.perthes.de/geschichte_justus_perthes/almanach_de_gotha/almanach_de_gotha_english.html About 'Almanach de Gotha', perthes.de]
*[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ Scanned versions of the old almanachs]
*[http://wiki-en.genealogy.net/wiki/nobility Explanation of German Nobility]
*[http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=almanach+de+gotha%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts Almanach de Gotha at Internet Archive]
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Almanach De Gotha}}
[[Category:Biographical dictionaries]]
[[Category:European nobility]]
[[Category:Genealogy publications]]
[[Category:Directories]]

Edit summary:
This is a minor edit Watch this page

Cancel

Dab solver - Almanach de Gotha

Tools

Interaction