House of Jenagotha (Merveilles des Morte)

House of Jenagotha Haus Jenagotha
Imperial and Royal dynasty
Coat of arms of the Dukes of Thuringia
Country	List Holy Roman Empire Rätian Union · Thuringia · File:Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.png Saxony · Franconia Württemberg other smaller historical states
Etymology	Jena and Gotha
Founded	c. 1430
Founder	Thin White Duke
Current head	Gedeon II
Titles	List Holy Roman Emperor Apostolic President Duke of Thuringia

The House of Jenagotha (German: Haus Jenagotha) is a prominent European royal house founded around the year 1430. The house traces its lineage to the Thin White Duke, the influential Duke of Thuringia and creator of Thinwhitedukism, which inspired the creation of the Rätian Union.

The House of Jenagotha emerged as a cadet branch of the ruling dynasty of Thuringia; Henry II of Thuringia (1425-1460) was known as Henry von Jena, while his younger brother was known as the "Thin White Duke of Gotha". Upon the latter's ascension to the throne of Thuringia he was formally known as hailing from the House of Saxe-Jena-Gotha, which he later abbreviated to the name "Jenagotha". The Thin White Duke's influential reign and expansive family soon made such a name essential, as the House of Jenagotha became one of the most prolific dynasties of the Holy Roman Empire. Under the Thin White Duke the family helped orchestrate the Lenzburg-Premyslid War, gaining prominent positions in the government of Henry VIII, Holy Roman Emperor and rule over several territories, such as Württemberg. Henry VIII would be succeeded by the Thin White Duke's grandson, Henry IX, becoming the first and only Holy Roman Emperor from the Jenagothas.

During the lifetime of Henry IX the Rätian Union was declared, with the Jenagothas at its center. The dynasty would occupy many of the most important positions within the nation, including the hereditary position of Apostolic President. Since the Protestant Reformation the family has championed the Jungist cause, although minor Catholic branches of the family persisted. Today the House of Jenagotha is one of the most widespread and extensive families in the world. Since the time of Ichabod von Chronistein, himself a grandson of the Thin White Duke, the various branches of the family have been tracked and categorized, with over 100 recognized branches.

Branches

• House of Jenagotha - The overarching dynasty, founded by the Thin White Duke
  • Elder Williamite - A category denoting all those descended from William of Talstein
    • Apostolic - Also known as the Direct Line, the descendants of Henry IX who serve as Apostolic Presidents
      • Ziegenhein - Branch founded by Gabriel, Count of Ziegenhein (1547), second son of Henry II (1519-1588)
    • Weimarian - sometimes called the House of Jenagotha-Weimar, denotes the descents of Henry IX through his second son, Ruprecht, Count of Weimar (1498-1570)
      • House of Schwaig - Bastard cadet branch founded by Landolf von Schwaig (1540), son of Ruprecht, Count of Weimar (1498-1570)
      • House of Apolda - Bastard cadet branch founded by Elijah von Apolda (1564), son of Matthias von Jenagotha-Weimar (1533-1597)
      • Rutha - Branch founded by William of Rutha (1479), younger son of William of Talstein
  • Wolfgangian - Those descended from Wolfgang the Wanderer (1456-1493), later became Dukes of Lolland under Edmund I
  • Mühlbergian - Those descended from Rudolf of Mühlberg (1464-1487)
  • Württembergian - Also known as the House of Jenagotha-Württemberg, denotes those descended from Conrad IV, Duke of Württemberg (1473-1539)
  • Hughian - Also known as the Jenagothas of Thuringia, or sometimes the Hughites or Heirites. The Hughian branch is considered a major category denoting all those descended from Hugh the Heir (1477-1534). The main Hughian line would become Dukes of Thuringia, while lesser branches ruled Bamberg, Franconia, and Nuremberg
    • Franconian - Branch founded by Jair I, President of Franconia (1503)
    • Bambergian - Branch founded by Elon I, Duke of Bamberg (1505)
    • Ansbach - Branch founded by André I, Prince of Ansbach (1513-1555)
    • Elder Ismaelites - Category denoting those descended from Ismael (1512), son of Hugh the Heir
    • Coburgian - Branch founded by Jephthah, Count of Coburg (1509)
    • House of Buch - Bastard cadet branch founded by Sir Isaias Buch, Lord of Colmberg (1501), son of Hugh the Heir
    • House of Voit - Bastard cadet branch founded by Sir Zion Voit (1506-1523), son of Hugh the Heir
  • Nordhausen - Branch founded by Louis of Nordhausen (1482 -1540)
  • Kriegspreisite - A broad category denoting all those descended from the Thin White Duke and his sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, or eleventh wives. Also sometimes known as the Swiss Jenagothas or the Concubinites, these branches include all those descended from the captured "war brides" following the Lenzburg-Premyslid War. The category is often subdivided by wife, while lines that continued past one generation receive their own moniker
    • Wechselburgian - Branch founded by Roger, Count of Wechselburg (1489-1560)
    • Riesen - The Riesen or "Giants" branch denotes those descended from Gotthard the Cruel (1489-1526)
    • Elbian - Branch founded by Benedikt of the Elbe (1492-1577)
  • Elder Elisabethans - Category denoting those descended from the Thin White Duke and his twelfth wife Elisabeth (1475-1518)
    • Chronistein - Branch founded by Ichabod von Chronistein (1523-1611)
  • Nurembergian - Also known as the Younger Elisabethans or the Elder Nurembergers (to differentiate it from the descendants of Hugh the Heir). This branch includes the descendants of the Thin White Duke and his thirteenth wife, Elisabeth of Nuremberg (1471)
  • Posthumous - Branch founded by Zechariah "the Posthumous" (1522)
  • Bankert - Broad category denoting all illegitimate descendants of the Thin White Duke. Also known as the Great Bastards
    • House of Lautertal - Bastard cadet branch founded by Conrad, Lord of Lautertal (1453-1530)
    • House of Coburg - Bastard cadet branch founded by Xaver von Coburg (1455-1505)
    • House of Halle - Bastard cadet branch founded by William von Halle (1480)
    • House of Metilstein - Bastard cadet branch founded by Frederick, Lord of Metilstein (1458-1511)
    • House of Waller - Bastard cadet branch founded by Iephthae Waller (1507)

Footnotes