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Graeme Spence's A Genealogical Table, of the Royal Families of Great Britain; with their Collateral Branches, published on June 7th, 1806, is a carefully compiled and visually engaging representation of the lineage of British royalty. The table, engraved by John Cooke of Camden Town, traces the royal bloodlines from Hengist and Horsa in 449 to King George III and Queen Charlotte, offering a comprehensive view of the familial connections and propinquity among the British royal families.
The table employs a unique visual language to represent the gender, marital status, and national origins of the royal figures. Squares denote males, circles females, and joined shapes indicate marriage or a joint reign. The use of color further enhances the table's readability, with different hues representing various nationalities: red for Saxon or English, white for French, blue for Scotch, green for Irish, yellow for German or Italian, black for Norman, red bars for Welsh, blue bars for Pictish, yellow bars for Spanish, black bars for Danish, and green bars for Dutch.
The table is not merely a genealogical record; it is also a historical document that reflects the complex interplay of power, marriage, and lineage in the shaping of the British monarchy. The table omits the kings of the Heptarchy and those from Fergus I to Kenneth Mac Alpin, deeming them uncertain and uninteresting, thus focusing on the more definitive and influential figures in British royal history.
The table's creator, Graeme Spence, was a diligent compiler and writer who, according to his own notes, drew from the best histories to create this comprehensive genealogical record. His dedication to accuracy and detail is evident in the table's complexity and thoroughness. The table was respectfully inscribed to George, Prince of Wales, reflecting the esteem in which the royal family was held and the importance of their lineage in the national consciousness. As such, this table represents a significant contribution to the genealogical and historical understanding of the British royal families.
