Notable Descents

Magna Carta Sureties

King John’s sealing of the Magna Carta at a ceremony in the meadow near Runnymede in 1215 was witnessed by a committee of 25 Sureties, mostly barons, earls, and sheriffs, who were empowered by Magna Carta to enforce its provisions.

There are, in many cases, numerous descents from each Surety. Only one is here listed with its descent to 7gg Mercy Dudley, daughter of Gov. Thomas Dudley and Dorothy Yorke, wife of immigrant Rev. John Woodbridge, and 4gg of Elizabeth Woodbridge Lawrence.



1. William d’Aubigny, 3rd Baron of Belvoir Castle (Margaret d’Umfreville) > William IV d’Aubigny > Isabel d’Aubigny (Robert, 1st Baron de Ros) > William III, 3rd Baron de Ros > William IV de Ros, 3rd Lord of Helmsley > Thomas de Ros, 5th Lord of Helmsley > Margaret de Ros (Reginald, Baron de Grey of Ruthin) > Margaret de Grey (Sir William IV, Baron Bonville) > William II Bonville > William III Bonville > Cecily Bonville (Sir Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset) > Lady Cecily Grey (John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley) > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



2. Roger le Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk (Ida, Countess de Toeni) > 3. Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk (Maud Marshall) > Isabella le Bigod (Sir John FitzGeoffrey FitzPiers) > Maud FitzJohn (William de Alcaster de Beauchamp) > Guy de Beauchamp, 2ud Earl of Warwick > Thomas de Beauchamp, 3rd Earl of Warwick > Maud de Beauchamp (Roger, 5th Lord de Clifford ) > Katherine de Clifford (Ralph, 3rd Baron de Greystoke) > John, 4th Baron de Greystoke < Joan de Greystoke (John d’Arcy) > Richard d’Arcy > Sir William d’Arcy > Joan Darcy (Richard Yorke) > Edmund Yorke > Gilbert Yorke > Edmund Yorke > Dorothy Yorke (Thomas Dudley) > Mercy Dudley
 


3. Henry V de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford and Lord High Constable (Maud de Mandeville) > Humphrey the Good, 2nd Earl of Hereford > Humphrey the Bohun, 3rd Earl of Hereford > Humphrey de Bohun, Constable of England > Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, Constable of England > Sir William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton > Lady Elizabeth de Bohun ( Sir Richard FitzAlan Earl of Arundel) > Lady Elizabeth FitzAlan (Sir Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk) > Lady Isabel de Mowbray (Henry de Ferrers of Groby) > Elizabeth de Ferrers of Ruthyn, Baroness of Groby (Sir Edward Grey) > John de Grey, 7th Lord Ferrers of Groby > Sir Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset > Lady Cecily Grey (John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley) > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



4. Richard de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford ( Amice Meullent FitzRobert) > 6. Sir Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Earl of Hertford (Isabella Marshall) > Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Earl of Hertford > Gilbert the Red de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Earl of Hertford > Margaret de Clare (Hugh II de Audley, Earl of Gloucester) > Baroness Margaret de Audley (Sir Ralph, 1st Earl de Stafford, ) > Johanna de Stafford (John III de Charelton, Baron of Powys) > Sir Edward, Baron de Charleton > Joyce Cherleton (John, Baron de Tibetot) > Joyce Tibetot (Sir Edmund Sutton) > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



5. John FitzRobert de Clavering, Lord of Warkworth Castle, Sheriff of Northampton (Ada de Baliol) > Roger FitzJohn de Clavering > Robert FitzRoger de Clavering > Euphemia de Clavering (Ranulph de Neville) > Ralph de Neville, 2nd Baron of Raby > Sir John III de Neville , 3rd Baron of Raby > Sir Ralph de Neville, Earl of Westmoreland > Richard de Neville, 1st Earl of Salisbury > Lady Catherine Neville (William III Bonville) > Cecily Bonville (Sir Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset) > Lady Cecily Grey (John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley) > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley
 


6. Robert FitzWalter de Clare, 3rd Lord of Dunmow Castle, father of legendary Maud (Marian) FitzWalter of Robin Hood legends (Rohese ?) > Sir Walter FitzRobert FitzWalter > Ela FitzRobert (William Oddingsells) > Margaret Oddingsells (Sir John de Grey) > Sir John de Grey, 2nd Baron of Rotherfield > Maud de Grey (Sir Thomas I de Harcourt) > Sir Thomas II de Harcourt > Sir Richard de Harcourt > Alice de Harcourt (William Bessiles) > Elizabeth Bessiles (Richard Fettiplace) > Anne Fettiplace (Edward Purefoy) > Mary Purefoy (Thomas Thorne) > Susanna Thorne (Captain Roger Dudley) > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley

 

7. William de Fortibus, Earl of Ablemarle (Avelina de Munfichet) > Hugh de Vivonia, Baron of Cewton > William de Fortibus de Vivonia > Cecily de Vivonia (John de Beauchamp) > John de Beauchamp, Baron of Hoche > John de Beauchamp > Eleanor de Beauchamp (John le Blount) > Sir Walter le Blount > Constance Blount (John V Sutton ) > Sir John VI Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley > Sir Edmund Sutton > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



8. John de Lacy, 1st Earl of Lincoln (Margaret de Quincey) < Maud de Lacy (Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Earl of Hertford) > Gilbert the Red de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Earl of Hertford > Margaret de Clare (Hugh II de Audley, Earl of Gloucester) > Baroness Margaret de Audley (Sir Ralph, 1st Earl de Stafford > Johanna de Stafford (John III de Charelton, Baron of Powys) > Sir Edward, Baron de Charleton > Joyce Cherleton (John, Baron de Tibetot) > Joyce Tibetot (Sir Edmund Sutton) > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



9. William Mallet, Baron of Cory Malet, Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset (Alice Basset) > Hawise de Mallet (Sir Robert de Muscegros) > Sir John de Muscegros > Sir Robert de Muscegros > Hawise de Muscegros (John de Ferrers, 1st Baron of Chartley) > Robert de Ferrers, 3rd Baron of Chartley > Robert de Ferrers, 1st Lord of Wemme > Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Baron Ferrers of Wemme > Elizabeth de Ferrers (John, 4th Baron de Greystoke) < Joan de Greystoke (John d’Arcy) > Richard d’Arcy > Sir William d’Arcy > Joan Darcy (Richard Yorke) > Edmund Yorke > Gilbert Yorke > Edmund Yorke > Dorothy Yorke (Thomas Dudley) > Mercy Dudley



10. William de Mowbray, Lord of Axholme Castle (Avice d’Albini ?) > Roger de Mowbray > Roger, 1st Lord de Mowbray > John, 2nd Baron de Mowbray > John, 3rd Lord de Mowbray > Sir Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk > Lady Isabel de Mowbray (Henry de Ferrers of Groby) > Elizabeth de Ferrers of Ruthyn, Baroness of Groby (Sir Edward Grey) > John de Grey, 7th Lord Ferrers of Groby > Sir Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset > Lady Cecily Grey (John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley) > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley




11. Saher de Quincey, 1st Earl of Winchester (Margaret de Beaumont) > Hawise de Quincey ( Sir Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford) > Isabel de Vere (John de Courtenay, 2nd Baron of Okehampton) > Hugh de Courtenay, 3rd Baron of Okehampton > Eleanor de Courtenay (Henry de Grey) > Sir Richard de Grey, 2nd Baron of Codnor > Jane de Grey (Sir William de Harcourt > Sir Thomas I de Harcourt > Sir Thomas II de Harcourt > Sir Richard de Harcourt > Alice de Harcourt (William Bessiles) > Elizabeth Bessiles (Richard Fettiplace) > Anne Fettiplace (Edward Purefoy) > Mary Purefoy (Thomas Thorne) > Susanna Thorne (Captain Roger Dudley) > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley




12. Sir Robert Farfan de Ros, Sheriff of Cumberland, Lord of Hamlake Castle (Isabel, illegitimate daughter of King William I the Lion of Scotland) > Sir William de Ros > Robert, 1st Baron de Ros > William, 2nd Baron de Ros > Agnes de Ros (Payn de Tibetot) > John de Tibetot > Sir Payn de Tibetot > John, Baron de Tibetot > Joyce Tibetot (Sir Edmund Sutton) > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



13. Geoffrey de Say, Baron of West Greenwich (Alice de Chesney) > William de Say, Governor of Rochester Castle > Mary de Say (Robert de Ufford, Justiciar of Ireland) > Robert, 1st Baron de Ufford > Sir Robert de Ufford, 1st Earl of Suffolk > Cecily d’Ufford (John Willoughby of Eresby) > Robert, 4th Lord Willoughby > Sir William, 5th Lord Willoughby > Sir Thomas Willoughby > Sir William Willoughby > Cecily Willoughby (Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley) > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



14. Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford (Isabel de Bolebec) > Sir Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford > Isabel de Vere (John de Courtenay, 2nd Baron of Okehampton > Hugh de Courtenay, 3rd Baron of Okehampton > Eleanor de Courtenay (Henry de Grey) > Sir Richard de Grey, 2nd Baron of Codnor > Jane de Grey (Sir William de Harcourt) > Sir Thomas I de Harcourt > Sir Thomas II de Harcourt > Sir Richard de Harcourt > Alice de Harcourt (William Bessiles) > Elizabeth Bessiles (Richard Fettiplace) > Anne Fettiplace (Edward Purefoy) > Mary Purefoy (Thomas Thorne) > Susanna Thorne (Captain Roger Dudley) > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley
 


15. Eustace de Vescy, Baron Vesci, Lord of Alnwick Castle (Margaret FitzWilliam of Scotland) > William de Vesci > Juliana de Vesci (Richard de Vernon) > William de Vernon > Cecilia de Vernon (Sir John II de Cockayne) > Elizabeth Cockayne (Sir Lawrence Cheney) > Elizabeth Cheney (John Hasilden) > Beatrice Hasilden (Robert Freville) > Thomasine Freville (Christopher Burgoyne) > Thomasine Burgoyne (Judge Robert Shute) > Anna Shute (John Leete) > Gov. William Leete > Abigail Leete (Rev. John Woodbridge) > John Woodbridge > Judge Timothy Woodbridge > Chief Justice Enoch Woodbridge > Betsey Woodbridge (Villee Lawrence) > Elizabeth Lawrence
 




Other Notable Descents

Frederick Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1190) > Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor > Frederick II Hohenstaufen, King of Sicily, Holy Roman Emperor, “The Wonder of the World” (d. 1250) > Margaretha of Germany (Tomasso II d’Aquino) > Giovanna d’Aquino (Pietro di Ruffo) > Claricia di Ruffo (Gentile II Orsini) > Raymond des Ursins > Robert des Ursins > Nicholas des Ursins {d. 1399}> Sueva des Ursins (Frances de Baux ) > Marguerite de Baux (Pierre I de Luxembourg, Comte de St. Pol) < Jacquetta of Luxembourg [d.1472] (Sir Richard de Wydeville, 1st Earl Rivers) > Elizabeth Woodville [Queen Consort of Edward IV] (Sir John Grey, 7th Lord Ferrers of Groby) > Sir Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset [d.1501] > Lady Cecily Grey (John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley ) > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley 



“El Cid” Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, Count of Valencia [d.1099] (Jimena Diaz) > Christina Diaz ( Ramiro II Sanchez de Navarre) > Garcia the Restorer Ramirez, King of Navarre > Blanche of Navarre (Sancho III, King of Castile) > Alphonso VIII the Good, King of Castile > Bianca Alphonsa of Castile (Louis VIII the Lion, King of France) > Comte Robert I d’Artois [d.1250] > Blanche d’Artois (Prince Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Leicester) > Henry of Monmouth Plantagenet > Joan of Lancaster Plantagenet (John, 3rd Lord de Mowbray) > John, 4th Lord de Mowbray > Sir John de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk [d.1400] > Isabel de Mowbray ((Henry de Ferrers of Groby) > Elizabeth de Ferrers of Ruthyn, Baroness of Groby (Sir Edward Grey) > John de Grey, 7th Lord Ferrers of Groby > Sir Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset [d.1501] > Lady Cecily Grey (John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley) > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley [d.1653] > Mercy Dudley



Brian Boru, King of Munster ([d.1014] Eachraidh nic Cearbhall) > Slani O’Brian of Dublin (King Sitric Silken Beard of Dublin) > Olaf II, King of Dublin > Ragnaillt of Dublin (Conan ap Iago, Prince of Gwynedd) > Gruffyudd ap Conan, King of Gwynedd > Owain Gruffydd, Prince of Gwynedd > Iowerth Drwynwn ap Owain > Llewelyn the Great, Prince of North Wales [d.1240] > Gladys Dhu (Ralph de Mortimer) > Roger de Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore > Edmund de Mortimer, 1st Lord of March > Isolde de Mortimer (Hugh I de Audley) > Hugh II de Audley, Earl of Gloucester) > Baroness Margaret de Audley [d.1347] (Sir Ralph, 1st Earl de Stafford) > Johanna de Stafford (John III de Charelton, Baron of Powys) > Sir Edward, Baron de Charleton [d.1421] > Joyce Cherleton (John, Baron de Tibetot) > Joyce Tibetot (Sir Edmund Sutton) > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley [d.1532] > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



Saint Olaf Haraldson , King of Norway [d.1030](Astrid) > Magnus the Good, King of Norway > Ragnhild (Paul II Thorfinsson, Earl of Orkney) > Hakon, Earl of Orkney[d.1122] > Ingebiorg of Orkney (Olaf, King of the Isle of Man) > Ragnhild of Man (Somerled II of the Isles) > Reginald, Lord of the Isles > Ragnhild of Skye (Alan of Galloway) > Helen of Galloway (Roger de Quincey, Constable of Scotland, 2nd Earl of Winchester [d.1264]) > Helen de Quincey (Sir Alan le Zouche, Constable of the Tower of London) > Eudo le Zouche > Eva la Zouche [d.1314] (Maurice the Magnanimous, 2nd Baron de Berkeley) > Thomas the Rich, 3rd Baron de Berkeley > Sir John de Berkeley > Elizabeth Berkeley (Sir John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley [d.1487]) > Sir Edmund Sutton > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



Rurik, 1st Czar of Russia, Grand Duke of Novgorod [d.879] > Igor of Kiev > Svatislav I, Grand Duke of Kiev > Vladimir the Great, Grand Duke of Kiev > Yaroslav the Wise, Grand Duke of Kiev > Anna Yaroslavna, Anne of Kiev [d.1075] (Henry I, King of France) > Prince Hugh de Crepi > Isabel de Vermandois {d.1131] (Count Robert de Beaumont) > Robert "the Hunchback" de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester > Hawise de Beaumont (William Meullent FitzRobert > Amice Meullent FitzRobert (Richard de Clare [d.1218]) > Sir Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Earl of Hertford > Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Earl of Hertford > Gilbert the Red de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Earl of Hertford > Margaret de Clare (Hugh II de Audley, Earl of Gloucester) > Baroness Margaret de Audley [d.1347] (Sir Ralph, 1st Earl de Stafford) > Johanna de Stafford (John III de Charelton, Baron of Powys) > Sir Edward, Baron de Charleton [d.1421] > (Joyce Cherleton) John, Baron de Tibetot > (Joyce Tibetot) Sir Edmund Sutton > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley [d.1532] > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley


 

Merovech, king of the Salian Franks > Childeric, King of the Franks > Clovis the Great, 1st King of All the Franks [d.548] (Saint Clotilda) > King Chlothar I < King Chilperic de Soissons < King Chlothar II < King Dagobert I 



Attila the Hun [d.453] > Elak, King of the Huns > Princess Acama (Ardaric, King of the Gepidae) > Elemund, King of the Gepidae > Princess Ostrogotha (Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths [d.526]) > Princess Argotta (Duke Adabert of Mosul) > Count Walbert I d’Ardennes > Brunelphe I d’Ardennes > Fredegunde d’Ardennes (Chilperic I de Soissions, King of Neustria ) > Chlothar II, King of Franks > Dagobert I, King of the Franks [d. 638] > King Clovis II [d.657] > Thierry III, King of Burgundy > Gisele > Bertrade Broadfoot de Laon, the White Lady (King Pepin III the Short [1st Carolingian King of France]) > Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Lombards, Roman Emperor [d.814] (Hildegarde de Vinzgau) > Louis I the Pious, King of Franks and Holy Roman Emperor > Charles the Bald, King of France and Holy Roman Emperor [d.877] > Princess Judith (Baldwin I, Count of Flanders) > Baldwin II the Bald, Count of Flanders > Arnulf the Great, Count of Flanders > Baldwin III, Count of Flanders and Artois > Arnulf the Younger, Count of Flanders > Baldwin IV Fair Beard, Count of Flanders [d.1036] > Baldwin V the Pious de Lille, Count of Flanders > Matilda of Flanders (William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, King of England [d.1087)]> King Henry I > Empress Matilda (Geoffrey V the Fair Plantagenet) < King Henry II > King John [d.1216] < King Henry III < King Edward I > King Edward II > King Edward III > John of Gaunt > Joan Beaufort (Sir Ralph de Neville, Earl of Westmoreland) > Lady Katherine Neville [d.1483] (Sir Thomas Strangeways) < Jane Strangeways (Sir William Willoughby) > Cecily Willoughby (Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley) > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley [d.1568] > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



Theodosius the Great, Emperor of the East (b. 347) > Flavius Honorius > Placida (Emperor Constantius III of Rome) > Emperor Valentinian III of Rome > Eudoxia (King Hunneric of the Vandals) > King Hilderic of the Vandals > Hildis (Valdar Hroarsson) > Harald Valdarsson, King of Roeskilde > Halfdan Haroldsson, King of Roeskilde > Ivar Halfdansson of Scane, King of Upsala and Lethra > Audur Ivarssdottir, Queen of Holmgard (Ruric Slingeband of Lathra) > Harold Hilditonn, King of Lethra > Sigurd Landsversson, King of Sweden > Ragnar Sigurdsson, King of Denmark > Ingvar Ragnarsson > Gommeri Ingvarsson > Roger de Monte Gomerii > Roger de Monte Gomerii >Guillaume de Monte Gomerii > Hugh de Montgomery > Roger I the Great de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury (b. 985) > Hugh, Viscount de Montgomery > Roger II de Montgomery, Governor of Normandy > Roger III de Montgomery > Avice de Lancaster (William Peverell de Nottingham) > Margaret Peverell ( Robert II de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby) > William Walkeline de Ferrers (b. 1136) > Petronella de Ferrers (Henry de Stafford) > Robert de Stafford > Nicholas de Stafford > Edmund, 1st Baon de Stafford > Ralph, 1st Earl de Stafford > Joan de Stafford (John de Cherleton) > Sir Edward de Cherleton > Joyce de Cherleton (John, Lord de Tibetot) > Joyce de Tibetot (Sir Edmund Sutton) > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley [d.1532] > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley



Alfred the Great, [d.899] 1st King of England > Edward I the Elder, King of England > King Edmund the Magnificent, King of England > Edgar the Peaceful, King of England [d.975] > Ethelred II the Unready, King of England > Princess Godgifu [d.1052] (Count Drogo de Mantes aka Walter, Count d’Amiens) > Ralph the Timid Sudeley, Earl of Hereford > Harold Ewyas de Sudeley > Robert FitzHarold de Ewyas > Sybil de Ewyas (Sir Robert de Tregoz, Sheriff of Wiltshire [d.1215]) > Lucy de Tregoz (John III le Strange) > Catherine le Strange (Sir Robert Corbet of Moreton) > Joan Corbet (Owain ap Gruffydd) > Hawise de la Pole (John, 1st Baron Cherleton) > Isabella de Charleton [d.1328] (John II de Sutton) > John III de Sutton > John IV de Sutton > John V Sutton > Sir John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley > Sir Edmund Sutton [d. 1483] > Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley


Lady Godiva of Coventry {Godgifu of Backnall} {d.1080?}(Leofric, Earl of Mercia) > Aelfgar, Earl of Mercia > Edith Swan-Neck of Mercia (Griffith ap Llywelyn) > Griffith ap Griffith > Gwencha verch Griffith (Ernulf de Hesdin) > Alan de Hesdin > William I FitzAlan > William II FitzAlan > John I FitzAlan {d. 1241} > John II FitzAlan > John III FitzAlan > Richard FitzAlan de Arundel > Edmund FitzAlan > Richard “Copped Hat" FitzAlan {d.1376}> John FitzAlan > (Joan FitzAlan) Sir Thomas William > William Willoughby > (Cecily Willoughby) Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley > John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy DudleyJudge Timothy Woodbridge) > Chief Justice Enoch Woodbridge > Betsey Woodbridge (Villee Lawrence) > Elizabeth Lawrence

Cyrus the Great, King of Persia [d.529 BC] > Atossa (Darius the Great) > Xerxes the Great > Artaxerxes I > Darius II > Artaxerxes II > Apame (Pharmabaszus, Satrap of Daskyleion) > Artabazus, Satrap of Bactria [d.325 BC] > Spitamana, Satrap of Bactria > Apame of Bactria (Seleucus Nicator, king of Syria [General of Alexander the Great] > Antiochis I Soter > Seleucus I Nicator > Antiochus II Theos > Antiochus II Kallinikos > Antiochus III Megas > Antiochus IV Epiphanes > Laodice V (Mithridates V, King of Pontus ) > Mithridates VI the Great, King of Pontus [d. 63 BC] > Cleopatra of Pontus (Tigranes the Great, King of Armenia) > daughter (Pharnabazes, King of Iberia) > daughter (Kartam of Egrisi, King of Iberia) > Aderki, co-King of Iberia > Kartam, co-King of Iberia > Pharamenses I, King of Iberia [d.87 AD] > Mithridates II, King of Iberia > Amazaspus, King of Iberia > Pharamenses II, King of Iberia > Rhadamiste, King of Iberia > daughter (Vologaesus I, King of Armenia [d.191 AD]) > Chosroes I Arshakuni, King of Armenia > Tiridates II, King of Armenia > Chosroes II, King of Armenia > Triidates IV, King of Armenia > Chosroes III, King of Armenia > Soshandukt, Shah Pahlavi [d.348 AD] > Saint Narses Souren I, the Great Pahlav, Prince of the Gregorians > Saint Isaac Souren I, the Great Pahlavi [founder of Armenian church] > Sahakanvysh Souren, Gregorid heiress (Hamazasp I Mamikonian) > Saint General Hmayeak Mamikonian > Vars Patrik Mamikonian, Viceroy, Patriarch of Armenia [d.512 AD]> Hmayeak II Mamikonian > Mousegh I, Satrap of Armenia > Vahan II, Governor of Armenia > David Mamikonian, Prince of Taron > Hamazasp II Mamikonian, Viceroy of Armenia > Hamazasp III Mamikonian > Hrahat Mamkonian > David Mamikonian > Samuel Mamikonian [d.772] > Dzoyk Mamikona (Smbat Bagatuni, High Constable of Armenia) > Ashot the Brave IV, Prince of Armenia > Smbat VIII, High Constable of Armenia > Ashot V the Great, 1st King of Armenia > Sempad I the Martyr, King of Armenia > Ashot II the Iron King of Armenia [d.928] > Princess Ripsimja (Nikola Kumet of Bulgaria) > Samuel Comitopuli, Tsar of Bulgaria > Marija, Princess of Bulgaria (Ivan Vladislav Comitopuli, Tsar of Bulgaria) > Troianus, Tsar of West Bulgaria > Princess Maria of Bulgaria [d.1089] (Andronicus Doucas) > Irene Doukaina (Alexius I Comnenus, Emperor of Byzantium) > Emperor John II Comnenus [d.1118] > Andronicus Comnenus > Jean Comnenus, Duke of Cyprus > Princess Maria Comnene [d.1217] (Amalric I d’Anjou, King of Jerusalem) > Isabel I d’Anjou ( Henry II Palatine de Champagne) > Alix de Champagne, Princess of Jerusalem (Hugh I de Lusignan) > Marie de Lusignan [d.1252] (Walter IV de Brienne) > Hugh de Brienne > Walter V de Brienne > Isabelle de Brienne [d.1360] (Sire Walter III d’Enghien) > Louis, Duke d’Enghien > Marguerite d’Enghien (Jean de Luxembourg) > Pierre I de Luxembourg, Comte de St. Pol < Jacquetta of Luxembourg [d.1472] (Sir Richard de Wydeville, 1st Earl Rivers )> Elizabeth Woodville [Queen Consort of Edward IV] (Sir John Grey, 7th Lord Ferrers of Groby) > Sir Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset) [d.1501] > Lady Cecily Grey (John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley) > Captain Sir Henry Sutton Dudley > Captain Roger Dudley > Thomas Dudley > Mercy Dudley
 

Note: European genealogy has little affirmative documentation before Charlemagne, and his great, great, great grandfather, Arnulf, Bishop of Metz (582-641) is probably the earliest ancestor to whom a more or less sure descent can be calculated. While the pedigree of barbarian chiefs and kings is recorded, many are questionable. Attila the Hun, for instance, traced his ancestry back to a Chinese Emperor -- possible, but impossible to confirm. Lists of the ancient kings of Britain (King Lear, etc.) and the 100 kings of Ireland must be regarded for the most part as mythical. Medieval genealogies linking figures such as Alfred the Great (or King Arthur) to the Princes of Troy and Hebrew patriarchs, the genealogies of the Fisher Kings of Grail lore, and various connections of Merovech to Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea, or other Biblical figures are, it should not need to be said, merely fanciful.  Pharamond, the supposed founder of France and grandfather of Merovech is probably merely legendary as well. Scandinavian king lists are more credible, with lines reaching back to the earliest European ancestor that can be claimed, Fornjot, the Ancient Giant, King of Svenland (Finland), born circa 100 BC. There are no lines of descent at all to ancient Rome, the earliest genealogically traceable real Roman being a man named Ferreolus, who lived in the 5th century, of a Sicilian senatorial family from which Charlemagne probably rightly claimed ancestry. (The old families of Rome died out or simply lost the remembrance of their ancestry.) The only credible descent to antiquity is through the Armenian royal families who were, on the one hand, descended from the Parthian and Hellenistic monarchs, the Persian kings, even Chaldean and Assyrian rulers dating back to 2000 BC, and, on the other hand, can be connected to European families through the Byzantines, Bulgarians, and the marriages of Crusader knights. (The lines are still problematic, though, but one is listed above in the Cyrus the Great descent.) Genealogical connections to ancient Egypt are totally unsubstantiated. The Pharaohs married within their own families and practically never contracted marital alliances with other countries. And later Pharaohs, Libyans and Nubians, were unconnected with earlier dynasties.  Connections between European noble families and Muslim dynasties, including a once accepted connection to the Moorish Ummayad caliphs, have not been shown to be authentic.
It should also be noted that, despite claims from many internet and literary sources, there are many historical figures from whom it is not possible to claim descent, either because the genealogy simply isn’t known or for the obvious reason, lost on some, that one cannot be descended from someone who leaves no descendants. These include:

 
Abraham Lincoln -- his last descendent, great-grandson Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith (a 4th cousin of mine) died without issue a few decades ago.



George Washington -- famously had no children.



Richard III, King of England -- his heir Edward died as a child, and several illegitimate children, including a certain Richard of Eastwell, a reclusive bricklayer and odd-job man, all apparently died without issue.



Henry V and Henry VI, Kings of England -- Henry V had a single child by Catherine de Valois, that being Henry VI, who also had a single child, Edward of Westminster, who was killed and had no known children.



Richard II, King of England -- of ambiguous sexual orientation, had no children, either by his first wife Anne of Bohemia or, not surprisingly, by his second wife, Isabelle de Valois, who was seven years old.

Richard the Lion Heart, King of England -- had no children by his wife Berengaria, and only one acknowledged illegitimate son, who died without issue. 



William II Rufus, King of England -- doubtlessly gay, refused to marry and had no children.



Constantine the Great -- descents, often cited, seem to be based on fictitious persons; had several children, but none with known surviving offspring; his mother Saint Helena, a great lady indeed, but probably an inn-keeper’s daughter and not the heiress of Old King Cole of Gloucester.



Jesus of Nazareth -- he may have been married, he may have had children, but there is no evidence of it; the gospels are the sole source of knowledge about his life: there is no historical Jesus; if he does have modern descendants, they would probably number in the many millions. Recent genetic research all but disproves purported Jesus connection to French/Merovingian blood line.



Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt -- (please note: a red-head of Greek/Macedonian descent). son by Caesar and two sons by Marc Anthony died or were killed in childhood, daughter by Anthony, Cleopatra, married Juba, King of Numidia, and had children. Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra may have been a descendant, but Byzantine Empress Theodora, whose father was a bear-trainer in a circus, certainly was not. Genealogy is lamentably lost among that of all ancient Romans families.



Alexander the Great -- definitely no surviving descendants, despite assertions to the contrary. His posthumous son by Roxana of Bactria was killed in adolescence, so were others who claimed to be his offspring.