In researching our genealogy, we discover so much more than a person’s name, date of birth, marriage and death. Among many other things, we also brush up on History and geography, and learn new things. It’s all so fascinating! I wish I had paid more attention in school instead of goofing around with my classmates!
Every day, when I work on genealogy (yes… I admit… I’m addicted to it…), I come across:
The Good
Fascinating individuals who left a mark in History. Architects and builders (pyramids and temples of Egypt, castles, cathedrals, Historical Monuments…); composers/musicians (Mozart, Chopin, Ennio Morricone…); individuals who made discoveries or inventions in the medical field (Louis Pasteur); so many people serving others (Mother Teresa: my mother had the privilege of meeting her in person in the early 80s!); artists of all kinds (Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci); the individuals who invented the couch and chocolate…
The Bad (who ended up doing good things)
People who did wrong to others, tried (or not) to pin it on someone else, then thought more about it and did good later on to “make amend”. An example would be Kings and nobles who were responsible for thousands of killings by starting wars to acquire more land and power, then thought “Oops… I’ll be in serious trouble when it’s my turn to go to the other side of the veil…” so they founded abbeys or churches hoping to make up for it.
The Ugly
Not so great people. At all. Take Henry VIII of England (1491-1547), for instance… He had two of his six wives executed: Anne Boleyn (ca 1501-1536) and Catherine Howard (ca 1520-1542), and he is responsible for hundreds of other executions… Much further back: Nero (37-68 AD). He might be responsible for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 that lasted three days, cost the life of hundreds of people and left thousands others homeless. And prior to that, he had also had his own mother Agrippina killed…!
Let’s be compassionate for the “not so great” people, though… After all, not everybody can be as perfect as you and me!
Genealogy
A few of the people, monuments, wars, etc, referred to in this post are on my Geneanet tree. Individuals are not (yet!) direct ancestors, but are part of this tree of Humanity. They all have at least one link or “relationship” to take you to another event, battle of History, monument…, or individual. However, if you don’t have a Geneanet account, I’m not sure if you will be able to navigate from one individual to another.
- Ramsès II (ca -1304-ca -1213)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
- Frédéric Chopin (1725-1849)
- Louis Pasteur (1822-1896)
- Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
- Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
- Henry VIII of England (1491-1547)
- Anne Boleyn (ca 1501-1536)
- Catherine Howard (ca 1520-1542)
- Nero (37-68)
- Agrippine (15-ca 59)
- On my page titled “Origines de la famille“, you will find:
- Battles, wars, crusades (batailles, guerres, croisades)
- Castles (châteaux)
- Timeline (chronologie) of a few countries (pays), Kings and presidents (Rois et Présidents), etc
- Cathedrals, churches and abbeys (cathédrales, églises, abbayes)
- Historical Monuments (monuments historiques)
- A page titled “Pêle-Mêle“: mix of Saints, musicians, inventors, writers, Pilgrims of America, Egypt information, institutions, etc.
(FYI: on Geneanet, the little “green circle” indicates my direct lineage with the individuals).
My French Lineage 