How many monarchs in europe's history were related?

Question

Were they all kind of related somehow eventually ?

I dont understand why in World War I the Kaiser Wilhelm and British cousin in England would declare war on each other?

Also is it true that the Medici trading family were popes as well as married into monarchies in Europe as well?

Answer 1

For many years, it was the Hapburgs that dominated Europe. As one point, a Hapsburg monarch ruled Spain, her New World empire, large parts of North Africa and Italy, as well as the Netherlands and great swathes of Germany and Austria. This is one example of royal relations and marriages being vital to politics.
Throughout history, many monarchs have been related. The situation before WWI was a result of Victoria's many children marrying into the monarchies of Europe. Its true that Wilhelm II of Germany, Csar Nicholas of Russia, and King George of Russia were cousins, though this ultimately made no difference, as Wilhelm made war against them both. It had been Victoria's wish that by marrying the families together, it would ensure peace, though this was ultimately a false hope.
Im not sure about the Medici. I know they were very powerful in MIlan or Florence, and think some of them were popes.

Answer 2

The royal families of Europe have done a great deal of intermarrying. For example, children of Queen Victoria married Germans, Russians and a Dane. Prince Phillip is Greek.

On August 3 1914, Germany declared war on France and invaded Belgium on August 4. This act violated Belgian neutrality, to which status Germany, France, and Britain were all committed by treaty. It was inconceivable that Great Britain would remain neutral if Germany declared war on France.

The fact that the King and Kaiser were cousins made no difference to this.

The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. The family produced three popes (Leo X, Clement VII, and Leo XI), numerous rulers of Florence (notably Lorenzo il Magnifico, to whom Machiavelli dedicated Il Principe ), and later members of the French and English royalty.

Answer 3

Queen Victoria of England was grandmother to many European royal houses because of the marriages of her many offspring to foreign princes and princesses. Germany's Kaiser WIlhelm II was the son of her favorite daughter and in fact Queen Victoria died in his arms. Nicholas II of Russia looked so much like his cousin George V of England (both were grandsons of Victoria) that they could have been brothers. But this kinship didn't prevent nationalism from dictating war to them. They were first and foremost sovreigns of their countries and they wanted to remain on their thrones, however insecure those thrones were.

The Medici family did have three popes in it, and were the rulers of Florence, Italy at a time when Italy was not a united single country but a group of city-states. They married into the French royal family most famously through Catherine de Medici.

Answer 4

MOST OF THEM I THINK AS THEY SEEMED TO MARRY THERE RELATIONS.