Since the beginning of 2013, iGENEA has been searching for male descendants of the noble Bourbon family with a large-scale, worldwide project.
By testing three members of the family who are alive today, the Y-DNA profile of this lineage could now be determined. The test subjects were Prince Axel of Bourbon-Parma, Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma and Prince João Henrique of Orleans-Braganza. All three share the same profile and belong to haplogroup R-Z381.
The common ancestor of the three subjects is Louis XIII King of France (1601-1643). Based on the match, it can be assumed that this is the profile of all French kings since Louis XIII.
The iGENEA origin analysis
Using the profile of 38 markers, the Institute for Origin Analysis iGENEA analyzed the origin of the French kings.
Haplogroup
. The royal lineage originates from haplogroup R-M269. Haplogroup R-M269 originated about 9,500 years ago in the region around the Black Sea. The immigration of this group to Europe took place at the earliest with the spread of agriculture from 7,000 B.C., most probably there is also a strong connection with the Indo-Europeans, who spread to Europe in several waves only a little later. Subgroup R-Z381 occurs today mainly in northwestern Europe and typical of the region from which the Bourbons originally came.
Original people and region of origin
. The French kings are descended from the Capetians, a Frankish noble family from which, for example, the Sun King Louis XIV also descended. The area of origin of the Franks lies along the Rhine in what is now western Germany and the Netherlands. The ancestors of this line can be proved in this region up to the 7th century. It is thus the oldest noble house in Europe still existing today in a purely male line. The Franconian origin is confirmed by the Y-DNA profile.
Descendants alive today
. All French kings since Hugh Capet (940 – 996), the progenitor of the Capetians, belong to this family, as do the kings of Spain and the former kings of Portugal and the former emperors of Brazil. Descendants still living today are:
– Juan Carlos I, King of Spain
– Prince Felipe of Spain
– Henry I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
– Louis XX, Pretender to the Throne of France
– Duarte III Pio de Bragança, Pretender to the Throne of Portugal
– Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza, Pretender to the Throne of Brazil
– Carlos, Duke of Parma, Italy
Branches of the family existing today:
– House of Bourbon
– House of Orleans
– House Braganza
Search for relatives living today
. The profile of French kings is very rare. So far, there are no closer matches in the known databases. A match to this profile is therefore a very strong indication of descent from the Capetian family.
In order to verify the ancestry passed down from the above mentioned noble families, iGENEA offers a free DNA test to all descendants of the all-male line.
There are legends about illegitimate children of men of this family. iGENEA now offers for the first time the possibility to verify these tales with the help of a DNA test. In the current project, we are looking for other living next of kin of this noble family. To participate, order one of the following tests. If your profile matches that of the French kings in 35 out of 38 markers, we will refund the price of the test and you will receive a personal certificate confirming the verified relationship.
Earlier tests
. Louis XVI was the last king of France before the French Revolution. After being deposed, he was sentenced to death and executed in Paris on Jan. 21, 1793. According to legend, one of those present picked up some of the king’s blood with his handkerchief. Remains of this handkerchief are still preserved today and were already examined for DNA traces in 2010. In 2012, samples were obtained from the mummified skull of King Henry IV. The latter was an ancestor of Louis XVI and ruled France 200 years before him. Both test results matched almost completely. The profiles belong to the haplogroup G. However, since only a few markers could be tested from the skull of Henry IV and the authenticity of the handkerchief is doubtful, the result of this study is considered less significant today
