It may surprise some of you to know that many of the characters depicted in the TV show "Vikings" were based on real people. However, the TV show took some creative licence when it came to depicting their lives.
Descent from Ragnar Lothbrok through Bjorn Ironside
The show spends its first 4 seasons revolving around the character Ragnar Lothbrok and then his sons in seasons 5-6. My ancestry to him goes through at least 2 sons. The first through Bjorn Ironside is as follows:
-- Ragnar Lothbrok (Ragnarr Loðbrók) with Aslaug begat
-- Björn Ironside, Legendary King of Sweden and founder of the Munsö dynasty, begat
-- Erik Björnsson, Legendary King of Sweden, begat
-- Anund Uppsale, Legendary King of Sweden, begat
-- Erik Anundsson, Legendary King of Sweden, begat
-- Björn Eriksson, Legendary King of Sweden, begat
-- King Erik Segersäll of Sweden begat
-- King Olof Skötkonung of Sweden, who gave refuge to Edward the Exile, begat
-- Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden, who married Grand Prince Yaroslav I Vladymirovich "the Wise" of Kiev, begat
-- Anna Yaroslavna of Kiev, Queen of France, who married King Henry I of France, begat
-- King Phillip I of France, begat
-- King Louis VI of France, begat
-- King Louis VII of France, begat
-- King Philip II Augustus of France, begat
-- King Louis VIII of France, begat
-- King Louis IX of France, begat
-- King Philip III of France, begat
-- King Philip IV of France, begat
-- Queen Isabella who married King Edward II of England, begat
-- King Edward III of England, begat
-- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, begat
-- Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, begat
-- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron of Bergavenny, begat
-- King Louis VI of France, begat
-- King Louis VII of France, begat
-- King Philip II Augustus of France, begat
-- King Louis VIII of France, begat
-- King Louis IX of France, begat
-- King Philip III of France, begat
-- King Philip IV of France, begat
-- Queen Isabella who married King Edward II of England, begat
-- King Edward III of England, begat
-- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, begat
-- Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, begat
-- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron of Bergavenny, begat
-- Catherine Neville, who married Sir Robert Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir William Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir Francis Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
-- Sir William Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir Francis Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
Thus making Ragnar Lothbrok my 39th Great Grandfather through Bjorn Ironside - my 38th Great Grandfather.
Descent through Ivar the Boneless
The second son that I have been able to find is through Ivar the Boneless, but there may be some possible inaccuracies or extrapolation around Torfulus and Renaud "the Dane" and their ancestry. In any case, my ancestry is as follows:
-- Ragnar Lothbrok (Ragnarr Loðbrók) with Aslaug begat-- Yngvar Ragnarsson (Ivar the Boneless) begat
-- Gommeri "the Great" Yngvarsson begat
-- Roger de Monte begat
-- Renaud "the Dane" de Harcourt begat
-- Torfulus (Torf) "the Rich" de Harcourt begat
-- Lessaline de Dammartin, who married Hildouin III, Count of Montdidier, begat
-- Hildouin IV, Count of Montdidier and Lord of Ramerupt, begat
-- Lessaline de Dammartin, who married Hildouin III, Count of Montdidier, begat
-- Hildouin IV, Count of Montdidier and Lord of Ramerupt, begat
-- Margaret de Montdidier, who married Hugh I, begat
-- Adeliza of Clermont, who married Gilbert de Clare, begat
-- Adeliza de Clare, who married Alberic de Vere, begat
-- Aubrey de Vere, 1st Earl of Oxford, begat
-- Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford, begat
-- Hugh IV de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford, begat
-- Robert de Vere, 5th Earl of Oxford, begat
-- Joan de Vere, who married William de Warenne, begat
-- Alice de Warenne, Countess of Arundel, who married Edmund FitzAlan, begat
-- Richard FitzAlan, 3rd Earl of Arundel, begat
-- Richard FitzAlan, 4th Earl of Arundel, begat
-- Elizabeth FitzAlan, who married Thomas Mowbray, begat
-- Isabel de Mowbray, who married James de Berkeley, begat
-- Elizabeth de Berkeley, who married Thomas Burdett, begat
-- Mary Burdett, who married Peter Cave, begat
-- Thomas Cave begat
-- Richard Cave begat
-- Bridget Cave, who married Francis Tanfield KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
With all generations total, it makes Ragnar Lothbrok my 39th Great Grandfather through Ivar the Boneless - my 38th Great Grandfather.
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Descent from Rollo
While depicted as Ragnar's brother in the TV show, this is historically inaccurate since Ragnar was historically the alleged son of a wealthy nobleman while Rollo's ancestry is clouded with speculation. Rollo became the founder of Normandy whose descendants would later invade and conquer England under William the Conqueror. My ancestry to Rollo is as follows:
-- Rollo, Count of Rouen, begat
-- William Longsword, Count of Rouen, begat
-- Richard I, Count of Rouen, begat
-- Richard II, Duke of Normandy, begat
-- Robert I, Duke of Normandy, begat
-- King Henry I of England begat
-- Empress Matilda of England, who married Geoffrey Pantagenet, Count of Anjou, begat
-- King Henry II of England begat
-- King John of England begat
-- King Henry III of England begat
-- King Edward II of England, begat
-- King Edward III of England, begat
-- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, begat
-- Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, begat
-- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron of Bergavenny, begat
-- Catherine Neville, who married Sir Robert Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir William Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir Francis Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
-- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, begat
-- Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, begat
-- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron of Bergavenny, begat
-- Catherine Neville, who married Sir Robert Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir William Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir Francis Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
Thus making Rollo my 32nd Great Grandfather.
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Descent from King Ecbert through King Alfred the Great
While many of the main characters portrayed in the TV show "Vikings" are somewhat surrounded in ahistorical creative licence, King Alfred the Great was indeed the grandson of King Ecbert. Interestingly enough, while King Ecbert and King Alfred ardently professed Christianity in the show, their ancestry is one of the few that claims lineage from Odin through his son Baldr and a grandson named Brond or Brand. It has been alleged that Odin was actually a real person who had led his followers out of Turkey into Northern Germany and later became worshipped as a god, but this is a theory still contested. Nevertheless, the kings of Wessex and Mercia both claimed Odin as their ancestor. Here, you can find my ancestry to King Ecbert.
-- King Ecbert of Wessex and Kent, begat
-- King Æthelwulf of Wessex begat
-- King Alfred the Great of England begat
-- King Edward the Elder of England begat
-- King Edmund I of England begat
-- King Edgar "the Peaceful" of England begat
-- Edward the Exile, who was disinherited by King Cnut of Denmark & Norway, then sheltered by King Olof of Sweden, King Stephen I of Hungary, and Grand Prince of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise, begat
-- Saint Margaret of Scotland, who married King Malcolm III MacDuncan of Scotland, begat
-- Matilda (Edith) of Scotland, who married King Henry I of England, begat
-- Empress Matilda of England, who married Geoffrey Pantagenet, Count of Anjou, begat-- King Henry II of England begat
-- King John of England begat
-- King Henry III of England begat
-- King Edward II of England, begat
-- King Edward III of England, begat
-- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, begat
-- Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, begat
-- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron of Bergavenny, begat
-- Catherine Neville, who married Sir Robert Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir William Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir Francis Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
-- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, begat
-- Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, begat
-- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron of Bergavenny, begat
-- Catherine Neville, who married Sir Robert Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir William Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir Francis Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
Thus making King Ecbert my 36th Great Grandfather and King Alfred the Great my 34th Great Grandfather.
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Descent from Halfdan the Black and King Harald Fairhair
While in the TV show "Vikings" Halfdan the Black and King Harald Finehair are depicted as brothers, they are actually based on real historical figures. King Harald Finehair is based on King Harald Fairhair who was actually the son of Halfdan the Black. And King Harald was really the true first king of all Norway as was depicted in the show. Also interesting to note, the paternal line also claims to be descended from Ragnar Lothbrok through his son Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and therefore the semi-mythical House of Ynglings. Here is my familial line:
-- Halfdan III "the Black" of Vestfold begat
-- King Harald I "Fair Hair" of Norway begat
-- King Erik I "Blood Axe" of Norway begat
-- Avelina Haraldsdotter(?), who married Osborne II de Bolebec (one of 15 companions specifically recorded to have accompanied William the Conqueror in his Norman invasion) begat
-- Walter Giffard de Bolebec begat
-- Rohese Giffard de Bolebec, who married Richard FitzGilbert, begat
-- Gilbert de Clare begat
-- Adeliza de Clare, who married Alberic de Vere, begat
-- Aubrey de Vere, 1st Earl of Oxford, begat
-- Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford, begat
-- Hugh IV de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford, begat
-- Robert de Vere, 5th Earl of Oxford, begat
-- Joan de Vere, who married William de Warenne, begat
-- Alice de Warenne, Countess of Arundel, who married Edmund FitzAlan, begat
-- Richard FitzAlan, 3rd Earl of Arundel, begat
-- Richard FitzAlan, 4th Earl of Arundel, begat
-- Elizabeth FitzAlan, who married Thomas Mowbray, begat
-- Isabel de Mowbray, who married James de Berkeley, begat
-- Elizabeth de Berkeley, who married Thomas Burdett, begat
-- Mary Burdett, who married Peter Cave, begat
-- Thomas Cave begat
-- Richard Cave begat
-- Bridget Cave, who married Francis Tanfield KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
Thus making Halfdan the Black my 37th Great Grandfather and King Harald Fairhair of Norway my 36th Great Grandfather.
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Descent from Igor of Kiev
Igor doesn't make an appearance until the 6th season of "Vikings" and is portrayed as a shy orphaned noble controlled by his uncle Oleg until mentored by Ivar the Boneless. While there is no evidence to show that Ivar the Boneless ever went to Rus', the character of Igor of Kiev is based on a real person. My ancestry from him follows:
-- Prince Igor Ruriksson of Kiev begat
-- Grand Prince Sviatoslav I of Kiev begat
-- Vladimir Sviatoslavich the Great, Grand Prince of Kiev and Prince of Novgorod, begat
-- Yaroslav I Vladymirovich "the Wise", Grand Prince of Kiev, who gave refuge to Edward the Exile, begat
-- Anna Yaroslavna of Kiev, Queen of France, who married King Henry I of France, begat
-- King Phillip I of France, begat
-- King Louis VI of France, begat
-- King Louis VII of France, begat
-- King Philip II Augustus of France, begat
-- King Louis VIII of France, begat
-- King Louis IX of France, begat
-- King Philip III of France, begat
-- King Philip IV of France, begat
-- Queen Isabella who married King Edward II of England, begat
-- King Edward III of England, begat
-- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, begat
-- Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, begat
-- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron of Bergavenny, begat
-- King Louis VI of France, begat
-- King Louis VII of France, begat
-- King Philip II Augustus of France, begat
-- King Louis VIII of France, begat
-- King Louis IX of France, begat
-- King Philip III of France, begat
-- King Philip IV of France, begat
-- Queen Isabella who married King Edward II of England, begat
-- King Edward III of England, begat
-- John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, begat
-- Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, begat
-- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron of Bergavenny, begat
-- Catherine Neville, who married Sir Robert Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir William Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir Francis Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
-- Sir William Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Sir Francis Tanfield, KBE, begat
-- Anne Tanfield, who married Sir Clement Vincent, KBE, begat
-- Elizabeth Vincent, who married Sir Richard Lane, KBE, begat
-- Dorothy Lane, who married William Randolph, begat
-- Richard Randolph, begat
-- William Randolph, 26th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, founder of the College of William and Mary, and co-founder of the British colony of Virginia, begat
-- The Honourable Thomas Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, begat
-- Col. William Randolph, cousin to President Thomas Jefferson, begat
-- Mary Randolph, who married Col. Tarlton Fleming, begat
-- The Honourable William Randolph Fleming, U.S. Representative from Virginia, begat
-- John Tarlton Fleming begat
-- Lucretia Jane Turner Fleming, who married Martin Guyan Blair, begat
-- Benjamin Vernaldo Blair, DVM, begat
-- Muriel Lavern Blair, who married Wayne Willis Hatting, begat
-- W.S. Hatting begat
-- S.V. Hatting
Thus making Prince Igor of Kiev my 34th Great Grandfather.