Duke of Ravenna

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Dukedom of Ravenna
Coronet of a Duke - Kingdom of Portugal.svg
Coat of Arms of the Duke of Ravenna.png
Creation date19 November 1911
Creation3rd creation
MonarchEmperor John XIII
PeeragePeerage of Latium
First holderPrince Albert of Ghant, Duke of Ravenna
Present holderVictor Gentry-Ravenna, 3rd Duke of Ravenna
Heir apparentMichael Gentry-Ravenna, Count of Eporedia
Remainder tothe 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles
  • Count of Eporedia
  • Count of Aricia
  • Lord of Terracina
  • Lord of Clevora
StatusExtant

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, Duke of Ravenna.

The title has been created on two previous occasions. The first creation was in 1588 when Flavius Caecilius, 3rd Count of Clevora 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, 4th Duke of Ravenna. The third creation was granted to Prince Albert of Ghant, Duke of Ravenna after his marriage to Anna Gentillis, herself the sole surviving child of the last Duke of the second creation.

The heir apparent to the Dukedom of Ravenna is Michael Gentry-Ravenna, Count of Eporedia; his heir presumptive is Philip Gentry-Ravenna, Lord of Terracina.

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 Anna Gentilis-Acropolita, herself a daughter of Alexander Gentillis-Acropolites, 4th Duke of Ravenna.

As the second creation of the Dukedom of Ravenna became extinct in 1911 upon the death of Alexander Gentillis-Acropolites, 4th 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, which included SEAT, itself a constituency in the Senate. 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. In 1947, Samuel inherited the peerage Count of Aricia from his grandfather Prince Albert of Ghant.

Victor Gentry-Ravenna became the third duke on 2 December 1986. Victor's eldest child, Michael Gentry-Ravenna, Count of Eporedia is the heir apparent and expected fourth duke. Michael's heir presumptive is his eldest son, Philip Gentry-Ravenna, Lord of Terracina, 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, 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.

Dukes of Ravenna

First creation

Created by John VII of Latium
# Name Life span Period Spouse Notes Other titles
1 Flavius Caecilius c. 1563 – 1642 1588–1642 (1) NAME
(2) Princess Anna of Latium
Count of Clevora
Lord of Clevora
2 Celsus Caecilius 1602–1671 1642–1671 Maria Junia Son of the preceding
3 Adrian Caecilius 1634–1683 1671–1683 Sophia Volumnia Son of the preceding

Second creation

Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Prince Alexius
House of Gentry-Acropolites
1770–1802
also: Count of Eporedia, and Lord of Terracina (1770)
Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex by Guy Head.jpg 24 December 1751
Velia House, Velia, Castellum ab Alba
son of Empress Maria and Prince Michael
17 June 1770
PLACEHOLDER
2 children
25 December 1802
Alexandria
aged 64
Prince Michael
House of Gentry-Acropolites
1802–1815
also: Count of Eporedia, and Lord of Terracina (1802)
No image.png 2 December 1780
Hieria Palace, Alexandria
son of Prince Alexius and PLACEHOLDER
13 March 1800
PLACEHOLDER
4 children
1 August 1815
Durnovaria
aged 35
Nicolas Gentilis
House of Gentry-Acropolites
1815–1880
also: Count of Eporedia, and Lord of Terracina (1815)
Philippe d'Orléans, Count of Paris (1838-1894).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
Alexander Gentilis
House of Gentry-Acropolites
1880–1911
also: Count of Eporedia, and Lord of Terracina (1880)
Prince Umberto, Count of Salemi.jpg 17 May 1856
Caelimontium, Castellum ab Alba
son of Michael Gentilis and PLACEHOLDER
2 November 1879
PLACEHOLDER
1 child
5 April 1911
Alexandria
aged 55
Alexander Gentilis 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: Count of Eporedia, and Lord of Terracina (1911)
Prince Alfred of Saxe Coburg Gotha.jpg 11 September 1880
Ghish, Ghant
son of Prince Albert of Ghant and Princess Silvia of Latium
17 June 1904
Anna Gentilis
3 children
12 April 1945
Palace of Porphyrogenitus, Alexandria
aged 64
Samuel Gentry-Ravenna
House of Gentry-Ravenna
1945–1986
also: Count of Eporedia (1911), Lord of Terracina (1911); Count of Aricia, and Lord of Clevora (1949)
File:Alastair.png 18 May 1907
Villa Armira, Alexandria
son of Albert of Ghant and Duchess Anna
30 August 1904
PLACEHOLDER
1 child
2 December 1986
St Maria National Hospital, Velia, Castellum ab Alba
aged 79
Victor Gentry-Ravenna
House of Gentry-Ravenna
1986–present
also: Count of Eporedia, Count of Aricia, Lord of Terracina, and Lord of Clevora (1986)
HRH The Duke of Kent 5 Allan Warrenjpg.jpg 3 October 1934
Concordia Hospital, Alexandria
son of Albert Gentry-Ravenna and Maria Selicia
8 September 1960
Princess Julia of Ghant
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. An exception exists to allow for an alternative succession in the event of an exhaustion of the 1st Duke's line, by allowing succession through the line of Prince David of Ghant, 1st Viscount Iubanum (younger brother of the 1st Duke). Upon the exhaustion of male descendants of the 1st Duke and the alternate line, all titles will re-merge into the Crown.

Line

See also