I've never seen the Almanach de Gotha but it's understandable that
they include the Imperial families of Japan and Ethiopia (descended
respectively from the Sun Goddess and King Solomon). However it's a
stretch for them to be including the royal family of Afghanistan, who
not too many generations ago originated from Payinda Khan, a mountain
bandit chieftain.
It is a pity you have not seen any of these volumes. They were published
from the late 1700s (I think) until 1944. The were published in French in
the city of Gotha, which explains the name. In 1944 the Russians overran
Gotha and that was the end of this Almanach.
They are delightful books and much more than just a summing up of families.
They supplied diplomatic address for countries as well as a lot of
statistical information about many countries. The genealogical part was only
a small part of these (later) books. Each book would have 4 portraits. These
were portraits of heads of countries as well as the pope as well as members
of royal families. I have one with the portrait of Abraham Lincoln as one of
the four portraits.
In 1951 in Germany a new series appeared. The Genealogisches Handbuch des
Adels. These books are only genealogy. There are at least four series under
this heading. One series, the covers are red, contain the Rulers of
countries, princes and dukes and some special counts.
The second series has a green cover and displays Counts of the old Holy
Roman Empire. the next is in purple and has the Baronial families and the
next have a grey cover and contains aristocratic families without a title.
Of the red series, if 2007 is the last one, I have all volumes. I have a
fair number of the green and purple ones, but only very few of the grey.
In the earlier volumes they often included ancestor lists and those are
quite magnificent, as well they would display a descent of an historical
figure.
Only a pity that they are quite expensive.
Best wishes,
Leo van de Pas
Canberra, Australia
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