Duke of Ravenna
| Dukedom of Ravenna | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Creation date | 19 November 1911 |
| Creation | 3rd creation |
| Monarch | Emperor John XIII |
| First holder | Prince Albert of Ghant, Duke of Ravenna |
| Present holder | Victor Gentilius Ravenna, Duke of Ravenna |
| Heir apparent | Michael Gentilius Ravenna |
| Remainder to | the 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten |
| Subsidiary titles | Lord of Ravenna |
| Status | Extant |
The Dukedom of Ravenna is a title in the Peerage of Latium, and the current primary title of the House of Gentilis-Ravenna, a cadet line of the House of Gentry. It was created in 1911 by Emperor John XIII for his nephew Prince Albert of Ghant.
The title has been created on two previous occasions. The first creation was in 1588 when Prince Constantine was made Duke. The second creation was, in 1775, to Prince Alexius, Duke of Ravenna. The second creation became extinct in 1911 after the death of Alexander Gentilis, Duke of Ravenna. The third creation was granted to Prince Albert of Ghant, Duke of Ravenna after his marriage to Princess Anna of Ravenna, herself the sole surviving child of the last Duke of the second creation.
The heir apparent to the Dukedom of Ravenna is Michael Gentilius Ravenna; his heir presumptive is Victor Ravenna.
History and descent
The third creation of the Dukedom of Ravenna was in 1911 to Prince Albert of Ghant. Albert was the eldest child of Prince Albert of Ghant and Princess Silivia of Latium, making him the grandson of Emperor Theophylactus I Augustus. In 1880, Albert's father, Prince Albert of Ghant, was widely considered by many at Latin court to be in line for a peerage due to his marriage to Princess Silvia of Latium. No peerage was granted until the reign of Emperor John XIII, though there was added speculation that Albert would be granted his own peerage after it was announced he was engaged to Princess Anna of Ravenna, herself a daughter of Prince Alexius, Duke of Ravenna.
As the second creation of the Dukedom of Ravenna became extinct in 1911 upon the death of Prince Alexius, Duke of Ravenna, his daughter Anna – wife of Albert of Ghant – was ineligible to inherit due to male-only succession. On 19 November 1911, Albert was created Duke of Ravenna to allow descendants of the previous dukes to carry on the line. As first duke, Albert was also awarded lands located in Ravenna. Albert was Duke of Ravenna until his murder during the April coup in 1945.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Samuel, who assumed the family name Gentillis Ravenna ("Gentry-Ravenna") to commemorate the families of each parent. Samuel was duke from 1945 until his own death in 1986. Samuel lacked any male heir throughout his entire tenure as duke, where his nephew Victor was heir presumptive since Samuel's succession.
Victor Gentilius Ravenna became the third duke on 2 December 1986. Victor's eldest child, Michael Gentilius Ravenna is the heir apparent and expected fourth duke. Michael's heir presumptive is his eldest son, Victor Ravenna, the expected fifth duke.
As male-line descendants of Emperor Nathan II of Ghant, the current Duke and his descendants are entitled to the rights and privileges as members of the House of Gentry. While the current line does not utilize it's style as Ghantish Princes of the Blood in Latium, all children and grandchildren of the current duke are entitled to use such a title in line with the house law of the House of Gentry. Since 1997, paternal grandchildren of Victor Gentilius Ravenna, Duke of Ravenna have since assumed "Ravenna" as a surname.
Dukes of Ravenna
First creation
Second creation
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Alexius House of Gentilius 1770–1802 also: Lord of Ravenna (1770) |
|
24 December 1751 Velia House, Velia, Castellum ab Alba son of Empress Maria and Michael, Prince Consort |
17 June 1770 PLACEHOLDER 2 children |
25 December 1802 Ascanium aged 64 |
| Prince Michael House of Gentilius 1802–1815 also: Lord of Ravenna (1802) |
|
2 December 1780 Hieria Palace, Ascanium son of Prince Alexius and PLACEHOLDER |
13 March 1800 PLACEHOLDER 4 children |
1 August 1815 Durnovaria aged 35 |
| Prince Nicolas House of Gentilius 1815–1880 also: Lord of Ravenna (1815) |
.jpg)
|
31 October 1802 Velia House, Velia, Castellum ab Alba son of Prince Michael and PLACEHOLDER |
29 January 1835 PLACEHOLDER 3 children |
4 July 1880 Palace of Augustus, Palatine, Castellum ab Alba aged 78 |
| Prince Alexius House of Gentilius 1880–1911 also: Lord of Ravenna (1880) |
|
17 May 1856 Caelimontium, Castellum ab Alba son of Prince Michael and PLACEHOLDER |
2 November 1879 PLACEHOLDER 1 child |
5 April 1911 Ascanium aged 55 |
| Prince Alexius had one child, a daughter, whom was ineligible to succeed him; he also had an illegitimate younger brother whom was also ineligible to succeed him. | ||||
Third creation
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert of Ghant House of Gentry 1911–1945 also: Lord of Ravenna (1911) |
|
11 September 1880 Ghish, Ghant son of Princess Silvia of Latium and Prince Albert of Ghant |
17 June 1904 Princess Anna of Ravenna 3 children |
12 April 1945 Palatium Purpura, Ascanium aged 64 |
| Samuel Gentilius Ravenna House of Gentry-Ravenna 1945–1986 also: Lord of Ravenna (1945) |
File:Alastair.png | 18 May 1907 Villa Armira, Ascanium son of Albert of Ghant and Duchess Anna |
30 August 1904 Honoria Julia 1 child |
2 December 1986 St Maria National Hospital, Velia, Castellum ab Alba aged 79 |
| Victor Gentilius Ravenna House of Gentry-Ravenna 1986–present also: Lord of Ravenna (1986) |
|
3 October 1934 Concordia Hospital, Ascanium son of Albert Gentry-Ravenna and Maria Tarpeia |
8 September 1960 Theofania of Ithaca 3 children |
– now 89 years old |
Line of succession to the Dukedom of Ravenna
Remainder
The Dukedom of Ravenna follows traditional succession practices of a Peerage of Latium – heirs male of the body lawfully begotten. Succession follows through the line of the 1st Duke, Albert of Ghant, and his male descendants. Females are ineligible under the succession method granted in the original litterae patentes. Upon the exhaustion of male descendants of the 1st Duke and the alternate line, all titles will re-merge into the Crown.
Line
Prince Albert of Ghant, Duke of Ravenna (1880–1945)
- Samuel Gentilius Ravenna, Duke of Ravenna (1907–1986)
- Albert Gentry-Ravenna (1909–1945)
- Victor Gentilius Ravenna, Duke of Ravenna (b. 1934)
- (1) Michael Gentilius Ravenna (b. 1962)
- (2) Victor Ravenna (b. 1990)
- (3) William Ravenna (b. 1997)
- (4) John Gentilius Ravenna (b. 1965)
- (1) Michael Gentilius Ravenna (b. 1962)
- (5) Albert Gentilius Ravenna (b. 1939)
- (6) Theophanes Gentilius Ravenna (b. 1970)
