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Welcome! This website was created on 02 Apr 2007 and last updated on 30 Aug 2023. The family trees on this site contain 1260 relatives and 293 photos. If you have any questions or comments you may send a message to the Administrator of this site.
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About Ristesson Files
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PLEASE NOTE! - THIS SITE HAS BEEN UNDER EXTENSIVE RENOVATION AS OF THE LATTER PART OF 2016, ESPECIALLY AS PERTAINS TO NAME FORMATS. WORK IN PROGRESS.

The "Ristesson Files" site here at Tribal Pages includes various file contents and source material in reference to the Ristesson Organization, a division of the Southerly Clubs of Stockholm.

Our main content here is such an account of royal genealogy and biographical history,  primarily Swedish, as served as my foundation since 1962 for the book "Throne of a Thousand Years" (Ristesson, Ludvika & Los Angeles, 1996) and now continues to update that source material. 

For maximally facile readability, even aloud, names of people who died before 1901 and of some geographical locations are normally given as per established exonyms, some of which may be very old and thus unknown to readers today. Some legitimate translations of our own (e.g. to English of Swedish epithets) are also included. We believe that as long as an author's literary knowledge and ideas are reasonable, he or she has the right to call people and places whaveter he or she pleases. 

Regarding a password you may want to have, see the end of this introduction!

Ergo, all known members of the Royal Families of Sweden, from the Viking Age till today, are the basics of the Ristesson Royalty Files. These individuals are usually listed by a last name of "Sweden", or of other countries that royals adopted, e.g. by marriage, or have descended from or are related to.

All the dynasties were inter-related so they are all here. Dynasty names, which are not surnames in this context, however, have been entered as special information pages. Much more about names follows further below.

A special information page about the Ristesson Organization is also included (see Ristesson as a name), with more to be found there, and under sources, about my 1996 book.

There are also some "regular" red-blooded Swedes and a handful of Americans included at this site, in two families that belong to my own paternity (families abbreviated T E M N) and maternity (A R S G) respectively. Both branches are also related, namely, to the current Bernadotte Dynasty. I have found no reason to doubt these facts.

The two extended families of my father's parents and my mother's, respectively, are involved in that. The eight greater families of THEIR grandparents are represented in the membership of the FamSAC Society of Relatives of Stockholm, Sweden, and Blair, Nebraska, founded on June 16, 2006. Those are the families of (from my all-paternal to my all-maternal great-great-grandparents, with each greater family's code letter first):  T ~ Trued Abrehamsson & Karna Johansdotter of North Sandby, Scania;  E ~ Erland Andersson & Lena Nilsdotter of Dahln, Arvika, Vermillandia;  M ~ Kaj Mats Matsson & Rönns Anna Andersdotter of Frostbo, Dalecarlia;  N ~ Näktergals Anders Andersson & Anna Görsdotter of Gimsbärke, Dalecarlia;  A ~ Johan P. Andersson & Anna Katrina Andersdotter of Ersboda, Sudermania;  R ~ Gustaf Adolf (Sr.) & Mathilda (Wahlberg) von Reis of Nyköping, Sudermania;  S ~ Knuts Johan & Stina (Andersdoter) Sandberg of Barkargärde, Dalecarlia; and  G ~ Anders J. Gäfvert & Fredrika Wahlberg of Tjärna, Dalecarlia.

To the name of each such relative of mine and spouse/mate listed here, which is everyone descending from my grandparents (excluding the royalty), an individual FamSAC code is given, adhering to traditional, paternalistic genealogy. Each code is exclusive to each person (mine is T6.6.5.2 for example). For the rest of the huge genealogy of those eight families, I refer you to www.famsac.tribalpages.com.

It can be good for a visitor to these sites to know that women normally did not adopt the surnames of their husbands in Sweden prior to a name law passed there in 1901.

A word of warning to some sensitive souls may be in order about the infant mortality rate in olden days, which gives you quite a jolt when viewing some families just about devastated by it. ~ "Tell us, Thou clear and heavenly tongue, Where are the babes but lately sprung? Lie they the lily-banks among?" (Robert Herrick liberally quoted).

The names of any and all persons of historical significance, by policy, are given here in their English versions, wherever possible.

The Kings of Sweden and the territories they ruled have been recorded with legitimate English-language name forms, which an increasing amount of globally concerned authors believe should be used when mentioning them in English. This pertains especially to texts which are likely to be read aloud, where the application of Swedish phonetics makes a smooth read practically impossible for non-Swedes, whether doing the oral reading or listening to it. The practice of translating the names of royalty and of places has natural origin in this situation and was particularly important in times when a minimal amount of people knew how to do the reading. Until quite recently, relatively speaking, a vast majority could enjoy written texts only if someone else would read them aloud. Using a name then like Ragnvald (in English Reynold or Reginald) would hardly help.

In many instances, personal names as well as place names have evolved since their translations first began to be implemented and generally known. Examples relevant to this presentation are names such as Godstowe, which long ago became better known and accepted in English first as Gustavus (actually Latin) and subsequently as Gustav; Charles, once universally used in French and English for Karl but now appropriately spelled Carl in American English, where Carl has become a normal name form of its own; Maria along with (not instead of) Mary, according to the same modus of natural Americanization. If a legitimate name reads like normal English, it can be well handled when spoken by most anyone. That's the general idea here.

Ideological slanting and fashion have had an occasional effect on the subject of names, in the past, such as an uncomfortable reluctance to use Adolf or even (English) Adolph in any context but the Hitlerian. Thus Adolphus became English. Even entire dynasties have been renamed because of disagreeable history from an earlier era. In Sweden, a branch of the illustrious Wittelsbach Dynasty has unanimously been called the "Palatine" (Pfalziska) and a branch of the powerful Oldenburgs the "Holstein-Gottorpian" (Holstein-Gottorpska) for such reasons. The Nicholan Dynasty of Mecklenburg was never called that, probably because its founder, Nicholas of the Obotrites, was not a Christian. The same has been true of the (extinct) Swiatoboreans or Greifs of Pomerania.

Common sense, rather than verifiable convention, is a feasible way of working name translations, from case to case, always allowing for interpretations based on fact (as often opposed to fashion) as well as up-to-date developments in normalcy. Consistency is always of utter importance to successful communication.

Many residents of Sweden, visited or visiting, delight in giving Swedish lessons to others through names. An increasing number of non-Swedish journalists in broadcasting are also attempting without success, while disregarding the phonetics of their own English, to pronounce Göteborg, for example, rather than using the long established and easy English name: Gothenburg. Language is then used as a game of sorts, with predictable results. New (pronounced) words thus invented, and of questionable use to anyone, are found objectionable and considered linguistic pollution by many serious cosmopolitan communicators, especially those concerned with the education and international success of the young. The problem of phonetic transgression, if it is a problem, is an ever-growing one in 2008.

Many regular Swedes are addressed by double first names such as Ulla Britta or Lars-Erik. Swedish kings number the first half of such names, thus the current king is Carl XVI Gustaf (not Carl Gustaf II). If numerals are in parentheses they can not been used officially, but can be regarded as reasonably factual for identification. Kings Carl III, Carl IV, V, VI, VII and Carl VIII of Sweden were 16th century inventions and never actually existed. Years of reign given here for each king are of a Swedish reign only. Additional countries ruled are noted.

Modern Sweden consists of three main regions, Gothenland (Götaland) in the south, Swealand (Svealand) in the lower middle, and the Northlands (Norrland). The Swedish word "land" was plural as often as it was singular in olden days. Rather than our posting a list here of the English names of all the Swedish provinces and of some of the towns, I invite you to use your imagination or to verify elsewhere on the Internet.

Though there were monarchic rulers of the Swea Region (Sveariket or Swithjod) before the so-called first Swedish king, Eric (V) the Victorious (d. 995), insurmountable gaps in knowledge about them make it impossible to list them with any degree of genealogical accuracy.

Regarding the queens, years enthroned signify actual periods as Queen Consort of Sweden here, not counting dowager years. They were not ruling sovereigns in their own right, thus did not actually "reign". As with the kings and other royalty, the full official name of a queen consists of one (single or double) first name only. As consorts they are not numbered. Many had several more names, noted on each individual's page.

Princes and Princesses of Sweden are such by birth or marriage or (very rarely) by adoption. Termination of royal status, by dethronement or prohibited marriage, is not important to being listed here as "of Sweden" (or elsewhere), since a person of legitimate royalty remains such to world history, as an integral part of his or her country's, notwithstanding such events. Children born after parental dethronement were not royalty in the literal sense of the word, and children deceased before parental elevation to royalty (in Sweden) were not royal (in that kingdom). Dethronement as a term includes abdication/renunciation in this context.

Swedish versions of the personal names are also given as notes on individual pages. Beginning at the reign of Gustav I (1523-1560), Carl is then spelled that way even in Swedish (not Karl), as per a written recommendation to me by the late Professor Sten Carlsson of Upsala University. As of 1901, when all personal names, including spellings, were regulated in Sweden by the new name law mentioned above, it could be considered correct to stop translating them. The names of 20th-century individuals here reflect that. Gustav then becomes Gustaf, Adolph becomes Adolf, Sophia becomes Sofia, Eric becomes Erik, Margaret becomes Margareta or Margaretha, not to mention that Seward becomes Sigvard, etc. Knowing this is likely to facilitate alphabetical searches.

Tribal Pages requires that a password be issued to visitors who wish to view living persons, their information as well as pictures. The current living Royal Family of Sweden is thus blocked from view without one (even though everything about them actually is public information), and so is its relationship to cousins of mine. If you wish to have a password, or if you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to "contact me" through that link at the top!

                    ~ Jacob Truedson Demitz, Stockholm, Sweden, April 2nd, 2007.

P. S. A few little problems remain (June 2008): 
 Spouses may show up in incorrect places now and again, though I have done my best to enter them all correctly. My apologies for some pages that may contain such embarrassing mistakes due to formatting currently available. It has been necessary, due to formats as yet limited here, to add such  prepositions as "von" or "of" in the first name fields of many individuals,  which causes some odd listings and headings on certain pages.  The first name normally used in addressing a person has to be put first among  first names in this format, so in many cases, preceding first names have been  entered in the personal information but are not found in name headings. It does not seem to be safe to assume that an apostrophe (') or quotation marks  (") entered will show up as such, as they often show up as backwards-leaning  (French) grave accents instead.  
 Unmarried persons with children cannot currently be entered in such a  manner that they do not appear on some pages as married.
 Finally, there is a bit of trouble with the Swedish letters Å, Ä and Ö. Last names  beginning with these letters appear for now under A and O in the list here on our home  page (just below here). For now, you'll have to search names with those letters by using the "Find" button (which usually is not necessary). Fortunately, names and text with these letters are not effected per se (they are all in there OK), just the search aspect is a little complicated.
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Getting Around
There are several ways to browse the family tree. The Tree View graphically shows the relationship of selected person to their kin. The Family View shows the person you have selected in the center, with his/her photo on the left and notes on the right. Above are the father and mother and below are the children. The Ancestor Chart shows the person you have selected in the left, with the photograph above and children below. On the right are the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The Descendant Chart shows the person you have selected in the left, with the photograph and parents below. On the right are the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Do you know who your second cousins are? Try the Kinship Relationships Tool. Your site can generate various Reports for each name in your family tree. You can select a name from the list on the top-right menu bar.

In addition to the charts and reports you have Photo Albums, the Events list and the Relationships tool. Family photographs are organized in the Photo Index. Each Album's photographs are accompanied by a caption. To enlarge a photograph just click on it. Keep up with the family birthdays and anniversaries in the Events list. Birthdays and Anniversaries of living persons are listed by month. Want to know how you are related to anybody ? Check out the Relationships tool.

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