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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1996-02 > 0823214434


From: Jared Olar <>
Subject: Re: Medieval legendary pedigrees (again)
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 16:40:34 -0600


Hello again, Nat--it's Jared. I've got a few more things to add to my
previous posting which I didn't have time to include. My intial exposure
to these sorts of pedigrees came through a doctoral dissertation by
Herman L. Hoeh, Th.d., entitled "Compendium of World History." Dr. Hoeh
included abstracts of several of the legendary royal descents and
successions popular or current in the Middle Ages, including a few
versions of the TROJAN ancestry of the Franks, the Belgians, the rulers
of Brabant, the kings of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, the Kings of the
Britons, and the rulers of Italy. Then there were the legendary
histories of Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Scotland, and Ireland.

I've
been tracking down Dr. Hoeh's sources ever since I first read his
dissertation at the age of 14 (I'll turn 28 next week). Although the
actual thesis of the dissertation is almost wholly worthless, the
abstracts of these legendary histories are still facinating. I've
contemplated producing some sort of compilation/analysis of this mass of
legendary genealogy--it would clearly entail a series of several volumes
if I included legends first attested in ancient times and carried the
study down to the Renaissance and early modern era. I'd clearly need
some collaborators, or at least some assistants.

In the mean time
I just keep looking here and there for translations and studies of these
things (I know very little of non-English languages, though I can muddle
with dictionaries). As I said, I've sort of ended up 'specialising' in
this area, though of course it's still little more than a hobby.

(I also
do a little 'real' genealogy too, but most of my family lines don't quite
qualify for discussion in this forum, as they break off in the 1600's or
1700's (when I'm lucky). My only real hope for a royal descent is
probably in my mom's Stewart ancestors, who claimed to be descended from
the Stewarts of Blackhall (now Shaw Stewarts), but it's really nowhere
near 'nailed down' yet.)

Hope this helps a little more. Oh yes--almost forgot to mention that
I've sent away for Mary Tanner's book. It should arrive at the library
here next week.

Thanks for your time,
Jared

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