!!!Genealogie

Genealogy: The study of the lines of descent of certain individuals or 
groups has played an important role in the upper classes since the 
Middle Ages. Thus, around 1492 Klosterneuburg Abbey had a family tree 
of the Babenbergs made on the basis of previous research by L.  
Sunthaym. For Emperor Maximilian I the question of whether the 
Habsburg family were descended from the Trojans via the Frankish 
dynasty or an ancient Roman family (Pierleoni or Colonna) was of 
considerable importance, since his descent through the Trojan-Frankish 
line was seen as combining in his person "all the noble blood of the 
continent". Great efforts were therefore made to trace his line of 
descent back to Hector.

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For the nobility of the early modern age, genealogy was also important 
for legal reasons, since proof of 16 ancestors was a prerequisite for 
membership in the Cathedral Chapter or for being granted privileges. 
Since the 19th century, genealogical studies have also been undertaken 
by burgher and peasant families. Under National Socialism all German 
nationals were obligated to produce evidence of their line of descent, 
a requirement which also stimulated interest in genealogy among the 
common folk.

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Genealogical studies, especially in combination with heraldics, have 
been pursued in Austria since the 17th century (G. A. Hoheneck, 
J. W. Wurmbrand). Since the 19th century a number of registers 
have been kept of the family members and lines of descent of 
genealogically interesting families and groups. Among these, the 
best-known are the "Gothaische Genealogie-Taschenbuecher", 
which were published up to 1944. Austria has a 
Heraldisch-Genealogische Gesellschaft  Adler which was founded in 
1870, and a number of eminent scholars of genealogy. Austrian 
genealogical studies focus in particular on the "genealogical method 
based on landed esate data" ("besitzgeschichtlich-genealog. 
Methode") developed by K. Lechner as part of research into the 
life and institutions in the High Middle Ages. Since the middle of the 
20th century genealogical studies have been pursued on a large scale 
across national borders and continents.

!Literature
O. Lorenz, Lehrbuch der gesellschafts-wissenschaftlichen 
Genealogie, 1898; O. Forst de Battaglia, Wissenschaftliche Genealogie, 
1948.


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