Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, is known for many things: his business empire, his reality TV show, his controversial policies, and his divisive rhetoric. But did you know that he might also have a connection to one of the most infamous kings in English history?
King John, who ruled England from 1199 to 1216, is notorious for losing most of his French territories to King Philip II, oppressing his subjects with heavy taxes and harsh laws, and being forced to sign the Magna Carta, a document that limited his power and granted rights to the nobles. He is also widely believed to have murdered his nephew and rival, Arthur of Brittany, and to have tried to rape the daughter of one of his barons.
But is Trump really related to this bad king? And if so, how close is their kinship? In this article, we will explore the evidence and the arguments for and against this claim.
The Genealogical Evidence
The main source of genealogical evidence for Trump’s royal ancestry is a book published in 1987 by Gary Boyd Roberts, a professional genealogist and former director of publications at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. The book, titled Ancestors of American Presidents, traces the lineage of all the presidents up to Ronald Reagan, using various sources such as parish records, wills, court documents, and published genealogies.
According to Roberts, Trump is a descendant of King John through his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in Scotland in 1912 and immigrated to the United States in 1930. Roberts claims that Mary Anne MacLeod’s ancestry can be traced back to Robert II, the first Stewart king of Scotland, who was a great-great-grandson of King John through his daughter Joan.
Roberts provides a detailed chart showing the line of descent from King John to Mary Anne MacLeod, which includes several notable figures such as Robert III of Scotland, James IV of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots, James VI and I of Scotland and England, Elizabeth Stuart (the Winter Queen), Sophia of Hanover (the mother of George I), and Frederick Lewis (the father of George II).
Roberts also asserts that Trump has other royal ancestors besides King John, such as William the Conqueror, Henry II, Edward I, Edward III, Richard III, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, James II, George III, and Victoria.
The Controversy
However, not everyone agrees with Roberts’ findings. Some critics have pointed out that his sources are not always reliable or verifiable, and that some of his claims are based on speculation or dubious evidence. For example:
- Roberts relies heavily on a book published in 1904 by Sir James Balfour Paul, the Lord Lyon King of Arms (the official heraldic authority in Scotland), titled The Scots Peerage. This book contains many errors and inconsistencies, and has been challenged by later scholars.
- Roberts cites a manuscript written in 1619 by Sir William Dugdale, a herald and antiquary, titled The Baronage of England. This manuscript claims that Joan of England married Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great), the prince of Wales, and had a daughter named Helen (or Elen), who married Donald Mar (or Donnchadh), the earl of Mar. However, there is no contemporary evidence for this marriage or this daughter. Most historians agree that Joan’s only child was Dafydd ap Llywelyn (David), who succeeded his father as prince of Wales.
- Roberts assumes that Robert II’s mother was Marjorie Bruce (the daughter of Robert I), but this is not certain. Some sources suggest that Robert II’s mother was Elizabeth Mure (the daughter of Sir Adam Mure), whom Robert I married after Marjorie’s death. If this is true, then Robert II would not be a descendant of King John.
The Conclusion
So is Trump related to King John? The answer is: maybe. There is some evidence to support this claim, but it is not conclusive or undisputed. It is possible that Trump has some royal blood in his veins, but it is also possible that he does not. Either way, it does not change much about his personality or his politics.
What do you think? Do you believe that Trump is related to King John? Do you think it matters? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
