Scientists: Incest Doomed European Royal Dynasty

FOX News ^ | April 16, 2009 | Andrea Thompson

[Loyalist]

The powerful Habsburg dynasty that ruled Spain for nearly 200 years came to an abrupt end in 1700 with the death of King Charles II, who left no heirs to the throne.

The termination of that royal lineage may be the result of frequent inbreeding of the line, which may have left Charles II ill and infertile, a new study suggests.

....

Historical data show that "in order to keep their heritage in their own hands, the Spanish Habsburgs began to intermarry more and more frequently among themselves," the authors of the new study wrote.

Records show that the Spanish Habsburg kings frequently engaged in consanguineous marriage (or marriage between biological relatives); nine of the 11 marriages that occurred over the dynasty's 200-year reign were consanguineous, with two uncle-niece marriages and one first-cousin marriage.

It had been suggested that this high degree of inbreeding led to the eventual extinction of the line when the "physically disabled, mentally retarded and disfigured" Charles II died after two childless marriages, the authors wrote. But this idea had not before been examined from a genetic perspective.

[Loyalist]

It had been suggested that this high degree of inbreeding led to the eventual extinction of the line when the "physically disabled, mentally retarded and disfigured" Charles II died after two childless marriages, the authors wrote. But this idea had not before been examined from a genetic perspective.

Isn't it amazing how so many people learned in history and science could fail to draw the most obvious conclusion from the Habsburg's twisted geneaology?

Acutally, it isn't. Somehow inbreeding among royalty hasn't attracted the same sort of moral censure that inbreeding among the lower classes has, even when it has produced the same results.

It's all about social class. What's a crime against nature for hillbillies in Appalachia is a virtue of nobility for the Habsburgs of Spain.

[valkyry1]

It's all about social class. What's a crime against nature for hillbillies in Appalachia is a virtue of nobility for the Habsburgs of Spain.

Seems to be doesn't it. 

[Concho]

Hell, that looks like the family tree of New Mexico!!

[4rcane]

i don’t quite understand, didn’t we all came from two ppl

[Biggirl]

Not suprising, because of the perception of the time of the Spanish Hapsburg family.

[tlb]

1) It’s always interesting to hear infertility is hereditary.

2) I wonder if this Andrea Thompson is the former Headline News Network newslady who used to be on Babylon 5.

[Biggirl]

You mean New Mexico was started by Spanish royalty in its history?

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

What?!!

You mean Adam and Eve couldn’t possibly have lead to 6.2 billion people from just that one mating pair? Don’t tell the Creationists.

[livius]

Actually, the Hapsburgs ruled most of Europe at that time (which is why the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabel ended up married to one in the first place), and royals only married royals, so the options were limited. The Habsburgs were originally from Switzerland, btw.

Virtually of the royal families of Europe are still related. Take a look at the English royal house, for example.

Maybe that explains Prince Charles...

[fredhead]

Royalty married royalty. King George V of England, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Czar Nicolas II of Russia were related (at least by marriage, all decended from England’s Queen Victoria. Nicolas’ son Alexis suffered from the genetic disorder hemophilia, one of the Queen’s sons, three of her grandsons, and six of her great-grandsons (including Alexis).

In addition the following current leaders are decended from Queen Victoria:

Elizabeth II, Queen of England
Harald V, King of Norway
Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden
Margrethe II, Queen of Demnark
Juan Carlos, King of Spain

[Concho]

Most of these people are not double cousins for no reason.

[Mila]

My daughter and I were discussing the Habsburgs just yesterday. They are a very sad and interesting family. Charles ll’s great-great-great grandmother was pretty much insane as a young woman and was known as Joanna the Mad or Juana la loca. Not someone you want to find swinging from a branch in your family tree. Some of us may have crazy relatives, but fortunately most of them don’t have the appellation “mad” next to their name, at least not formally. :)

[Revelation 911]

a homeschooling parent? - surely your child did not learn about them in public school

[FatherofFive]

Maybe that explains Prince Charles...

Charles - pets his wife and kisses his horse.

Just glad the two sons had a fresh dose of DNA from Diana! Maybe they'll turn out OK.

[VaBthang4]

....uh, and the sky is blue.

[Loyalist]

If you go to a family reunion to meet women, you might be a redneck. Or a Habsburg.

[billorites]

[LibLieSlayer]

GOD will not be mocked, because man reaps what he sows.

LLS

[Biggirl]

At least they are starting to turn out normal.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Far be it from me to defend incest, but doesn’t it really depend on who’s doing the breeding? You take a small sample of two (seemingly) ordinary people and their little bunch, you may see poor results. You take your typical Arab stallion and mare and cross them likewise a few generations, treat THEM like royalty, they’re probably not going to toss up even one disfigured, sterile, retarded colt.
Matter of fact, Arab humans are pretty inbred too, comparatively speaking (but we can go there on another thread). Why do we get generally healthier results from tribes and nations than from smaller samples, hmm?