[lilylangtree]

First Cousins? Too close. Explains the dysfunction and scary creatures inhabiting the various monarchies.

[hispanarepublicana]

And, then you don't have an excuse for spending holidays away from your own family.....

[Paradox]

First Cousins? Too close. Explains the dysfunction and scary creatures inhabiting the various monarchies.

According to a well placed source of mine (formerly well placed), this custom is quite common in the Arab world..

[dirtboy]

Hey, in my family, you go to family reunions for your dates. And marrying beneath you refers to generations, not station in life. "Yep, ol' Fred sure married beneath him - that cousin was TWICE removed!"

[Zeppelin]

Does that include the scary creatures and dysfunctions within the Clinton Monarchy?

[muawiyah]

The "various monarchies" maintained the old standard of not marrying within 4 degrees of consanguinity. The nobles and commoners generally married much closer than that.

If you've ever taken a good look at what happened, virtually a single family related various ways to the descendants of Hugh Capet ended up occupying all the thrones in every European kingdom.

All that diversity probably aided in fostering eccentricity in the royal families.

[GoLightly]

Have you ever done your own family?