Who has the best claim to the title of Roman Emperor?

[@UsefulCharts]

Roman Emperors Family Tree chart: usefulcharts.com/products/roman-emperors-family-tree

[@Angelgreat]

In the UK, Francois Graftieaux wants the DNA of the Queen because he claims that his father is a illegitimate child of Edward VIII. Can you do a video on that?

[@Autconscipatheonive]

THE OTTOMANS DESTROYED BYZANTIUM, THEY HAVE NO CLAIM

[@jamesevans1890]

King Felipe looks like the son of Tom Hanks and Mel Gibson. Does that count?

[@BridgesDontFly]

Donald Trump. MAGA 2020

[@sanderchristensen4108]

so when you say Karl von Habsbrug the von is pronounced fon because V sunds like F i german

[@gijoel]

The historically correct answer is the guy with the largest army.

[@FabiWann]

That would be King Felipe

[@jerrydickerson1111]

so Donald Trump

[@Darren67299]

@@jerrydickerson1111 Xi Jinping*

[@jacknelson7477]

@@FabiWann Well technically, but the state of Russia has both the largest of the armies, and highest military power rating. In terms of nations. but in terms of monarchs, you are correct, King Felipe

[@VVeremoose]

@@Darren67299 does largest mean numbers or effectiveness? Because if it means the latter (and it does), Xi is a child compared to Trump.

[@MashPatayta]

Well, Romanov is a 97 year old artist, and his oldest son is an accountant in the SF bay area. The idea of the Emperor of Rome being an accountant in California just tickles the shit out of me.

[@zacharytyler6044]

MashPatayta I love this comment lol

[@trekker105]

Reminds me of Emperor Norton.

[@Shadow77999]

a descendant of the emperor of rome is an accountant, incredible lmao

[@dataexpunged2827]

Help Me isn’t it Biggus Dickus?

[@luanandreas]

If he's an accountant in the economic shithole that is California i'm sure he's fit for the job, at least he knows a lot about inflation

[@Christiangjf]

By Roman tradition the Emperor is the one who has the largest army. Phillip VI is the only one who is commander in chief of an actual army of an actual country.

[@Seneka51]

All he needs to do now is adopt Jean-Christophe Napoleon and the Western Roman Empire is back in business.

[@oscarkronborg7176]

​ Chris Mullen Then just invade some contries (Portugal, Andorra Monaco and Belgium are easy) and would control like half of all that the western roman empire ever had

[@moisepicard3417]

@@Seneka51 Jean-Christophe Napoléon will never be a child of Felipe nor will ever represent Spain nor will ever a puppet of anyone, let alone Felipe. He is French. He is a descendant of Napoléon. How dare you?

[@MonkeNapoleon]

Bro learn to take comments that are somewhat offensive to you

[@darklizard45]

Did you just called Felipe... Phillip?

[@giantWario]

King Felipe's claim is definitely the only legitimate one as far as I'm concerned, I mean first of all since he can trace his lineage so far back, he legitimately has the blood of Austrian and Russian royalty in his veins as well so he could easily claim the Habsurbg and Romanov claims for himself anyway. But more importantly, Romans generally did not care all that much about bloodline, they cared about the law which is why plenty of Roman emperors were not related in any way to the previous emperor and they cared about military might which is why some Roman generals could just straight up take the throne for themselves if the army followed them. Felipe has the legal will of the last Roman Emperor and he's the only one on the list with an army. But all of that being said Napoleon definitely has the most entertaining claim.

[@Alphabunsquad]

Yeah that’s pretty hard to argue with.

[@zarikvarik1177]

​@@AlphabunsquadDamn, didn't expect a comment from ten hours ago on this vid

[@PhantomKING113]

Not only back to Fernando, but all the way back to Pelayo, and, if you believe the stories of Pelayo being King Rodrigo's nephew or something like that, you could probably get quite a bit further back, maybe even to some Roman stuff, since Rodrigo was king of the Visigoths of Spain, who kinda supplanted the Latin government, and took over some titles. Actually, if you don't care about the chages of house and only consider how long a bloodline you can trace, Felipe VI's blood goes at least as far back as the 700s with Pelayo, and posibly a bit further back if you consider Pelayo to be related to Rodrigo.

[@LordDirus007]

Napoleon I has Direct Male Descendants living today. Count Nicolas Walewski, what's insane is he looks exactly like Napoleon.

[@muffinman-zd4gd]

finally this is exactly what i think

[@flynn659]

What if the true Roman Emperor were the friends we made along the way?

[@nameless5646]

Is that a one piece reference?

[@flynn659]

@@nameless5646 Not sure, but its a meme that the true successor to Rome is 'the friends we make along the way' or an obscure country or person.

[@AyubuKK]

Flynn Tom 😂

[@marcospedroza7184]

Caesar would kill them all

[@tortuga7160]

@@marcospedroza7184 Pirates?

[@iapetusmccool]

Surely the answer is: whoever can pay the Praetorian Guard the most money.

[@kiharapata]

What evil have I done?

[@IrishCarney]

Ave, Emperor Jeff Bezos!

[@420judaspriest]

@@kiharapata LOLOL who says that nero or caligula ? or was it another one....oh maybe it was the dick who bought the throne? after the prats auctioned it -.....didius julianus or someshit?

[@stompyou2240]

@@420judaspriest I think the Praetorian Guard killed the Emperor for being cheap and put the throne up for sale. Some Noble bought it for like 15 minutes. Some General said 'I don't think so' and marched in and took power. The Noble who thought he could buy power last words were "What evil have I done?" because he said he didn't kill anybody or did anything that bad. The General didn't feel he could let the guy live so the seemingly opportunistic Noble was executed. Don't remember the names of the principals but they were not that well recognized. Not "history famous" like the guys you mentioned.

[@viperfanaccount688]

Guilherme Pata being rich

[@matheustroan7224]

One more proof King Felipe have the best claim: Spain can't get a century without Civil War, nothing more Roman Empire than this

[@christiandaniel4976]

True.

[@prorace_type_r]

That sounds pretty spanish, and roman

[@es8346]

A sad and beautiful truth at the same time.

[@RexOlafusVidulusMagnus]

He doesn't have the best claim. Ferd and Issy never payed Andrew for his Byzantine claims, thus they never actually bought them off from him.

[@vltimate-lavncher-orev]

But if Roman blood only runs in the veins of Italians

[@marie7622]

I also opt for the King of Spain. In fact Spain is the real and legal heir to the Roman Empire, it was something it had and still has. Even the Spanish empire was also known as the transcontinental Roman empire, and many of the Roman emperors like Marcus Aurelius or Trajan were either Hispanic or of Hispanic origin. In Ancient Rome, the most beloved land in the entire empire after the Italic peninsula was Hispania, it even had its own senate (SPQH)

[@ppb4037]

When you also know that he has the title of King of Jerusalem too you will be amazed jajajajajaja KING OF JERUSALEM (crusaders)

[@wingedhussar1453]

Wasn't Charlemagne the successor of Rome. Tht makes france

[@marie7622]

@@wingedhussar1453 The king of Spain is a descendant of Charlemagne

[@wingedhussar1453]

@marie7622 I mean a random bloke in france now could be descend of Charlemagne

[@zaccaria101]

Trajan was from an Italian family from Umbria. Marcus Aurelius was born in Italy to an Italian family as well. Maybe Hadrian and definitely Theodosius are Spanish. But the other two are not.

[@alex_inside]

I actually have a member of the Habsburg family in my school. Austria is strange, you'll meet the president in the subway and the grand grand son of the former Kaiser at school.

[@elpibelol5005]

Marry her AND YOUR CHILDREN IS GOING TO BE THE ROMAN EMPEROR

[@varangiangaming7178]

@@elpibelol5005 not even close

[@cosmin2410]

Varangian Gaming if you kill the right people hell yeah

[@nc6379]

Ferdinand Zvonimir?

[@user-ft3jq5vi2l]

Well tecnically almost every european is descendant of some nobility, so you can genocide your way into most thrones.

[@undeadaxolotl8584]

I'm usually pro blood, but how can one argue that bloodline matters when Rome's previous emperors weren't even related? I vote for law and order, and so I go with the Spanish claim.

[@ausore9832]

but rome's in italy though, not spain. the italian guy should get it (rome is in italy)

[@자시엘]

@@ausore9832 that’s not how it works

[@ausore9832]

@@자시엘 yeah it is

[@자시엘]

@@ausore9832 no

[@ausore9832]

@@자시엘 ye

[@jccybergen85]

Don’t forget that King Felipe’s mom is princess Sofia of Greece (to many the descendants of the byzantines) and Denmark. She is a direct descendant of queen Victoria and also Russian royalty. Spain has by far the most direct line.

[@R-H-B]

Through Russian royalty he’ll also have Constantine XI as an ancestor

[@MacetazzOpina]

-A Spanish

[@MacetazzOpina]

@@Annnto that’s not a fact it’s an opinion because there can be no way to objectively claim a legitimate emperor, I was mostly pointing out the obvious bias of a Spanish person proclaiming it. I’m pretty sure if you dive into genealogy as much there will be people with similar characteristics but they video didn’t. And by the way half of my family is originally from Spain just a couple generations back, so I have no reason to envy Spain. Think harder, thought is not a linear process it’s more like a web stop being so linear

[@Didagg]

@@MacetazzOpina still a fact? Dude she is still alive if i’m not wrong, and the op is talking about probability

[@AuChoco]

Plus, the Spanish Royal Family also has roots from the Habsburg Dynasty and has had many marriages with Austrians later on. They're also from the Bourbon dynasty from France

[@DrNatemiester]

12:43 love that you included the up-and-coming and truly charming, Stephan Milo!

[@Jeremias1111]

I think there is only one way to decide this - the Roman way: The claimants have to fight it out in a civil war.

[@jacksu43-65]

I am pretty sure that felipe wild have quite the high ground over his rivals😅

[@redgokudera]

You wanna put the spanish one in a civil war dispute? Are you sure that would be fair with the other contenders?

[@zhouwu]

*world war.

[@GlobalWarmingSkeptic]

The Habsburgs would win simply by marrying everyone and putting their kids in the will.

[@zhouwu]

@@GlobalWarmingSkeptic Which kid? Now that's the question!

[@turtleofthewaternation3870]

The King of Spain 1) Has legal claim 2) Already a head of state 3) Member of Capetian family, oldest still royal line in Europe 4) Theodoric was given western imperial regalia from Eastern Emperor and Spain is the successor state of the Visigothic Kingdom meaning both titles east and west can be claimed by the Spanish crown 5) A Latin speaker

[@adude849]

You forgot that what makes him more legitimate is that monarchs inherited it without force just given by the Nephew of the Emperor somehow inherited his uncle's title

[@ignaciomoreno9655]

Don't forget the beard. 😜

[@WizavPRO]

Romans never had Kings, Capet are French - French are regarded as completely foreign people in Europe whom Justinian wanted to exterminate

[@adude849]

@@WizavPRO As if you never heard the Roman kingdom

[@adude849]

@@WizavPROSpanish you mean he dint said the french

[@RafaelSantos-zr6ez]

I think it would be whoever gets the largest army to Rome

[@SacchieILU]

Only one is capable of raising one 🤷‍♂️

[@HVLLOW99]

@@SacchieILU Turkey France or Russia could all do that.

[@SacchieILU]

@@HVLLOW99 Turkey, France, and Russia are not led by the Osmans, Bonapartists, or Romanovs.

[@HVLLOW99]

@@SacchieILU Spain aint go no big army anymore, Italy's army is stronger.

[@MikeGill87]

@@SacchieILU Yeah? Which one? The monarchy in Spain is really weak, so Felipe certainly can't...

[@dengernoodle4391]

If we think like the Romans, then whoever bribes the Praetorian guard should make a fine emperor

[@paulmaupin7570]

This is the kind of argument that can only be resolved with violence.

[@6XenYang9]

Magnificent

[@Tacuara7]

Everyone hire a gladiator

[@yeshuamartinez547]

Who can be the conqueror

[@annahkurtin9665]

It has been resolved. We plebes would never know. It doesn't concern us.

[@axelpetersson5787]

Paul Maupin spoken like a true roman emperor

[@khudaidadkhan1178]

King Felipe VI makes a good contender because many Roman Emperors "chose" their heirs, sometimes those heirs were not only adopted, but not even related to them by blood. Thus, the legal argument goes onto him.

[@JoeMartinez18]

Not only that, but also by blood on both sides due to their relation to Bourbon, Habsburgs, charlemagne and even the Rurikids

[@napolien1310]

Sure your words are true but not when you are getting conquered. That's why I'm going with the Ottomans candidate

[@khudaidadkhan1178]

@@napolien1310 I agree. I was simply pointing out that the Legal course of it does infact go with the Spanish. But the last Qaiser-e-Rum were the Ottomans. Therefore I also support them.

[@napolien1310]

@@khudaidadkhan1178 oh ok

[@LazyPictures]

@@napolien1310 But... Ottoman empire is also broke apart

[@morgoth615]

I mean to be fair, the Romans themselves would probably argue who would be Emperor and each man would eventually build his own faction of sorts.

[@fristnamelastname5549]

10th Roman Civil War? Confirm?

[@TheBayzent]

They would argue who would be emperor and then form their own factions before the pretorian guard kills everybody and choses a third candidate nobody thought about.

[@zamzawarma6865]

@@fristnamelastname5549 10th? More like the 150th

Roman Emperor isn't inheritable position, he has to be choosen by the senate. And as everyone knows : I AM THE SENATE!

[@cageybee7221]

@ well the only remnants of the senate would be the Italian legislature, so i guess the ball is in their court now.

[@kobieta3906]

I love the choice to include many other historians opinions, shows that the person running this channel is very open minded and its very interesting as well to see how everyone thinks differently

[@neochris2]

Not only does King Felipe of Spain has the best claim, he totally nails the Roman Emperor look

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

Right! The Romans loved law. Felipe would make the best statue and I think he has the best army in Europe. Plus he speaks a Latin language.

[@mindfrappe]

@@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer Don't forget that Roman's could and did select heirs not of their blood. If this was ancient Rome, I could walk out on the street grab a kid, and with the proper paperwork, declare them my heir. So Felipe wins in blood, documents, and Roman style.

[@bumin6451]

Gabe Morehouse best army in europe ? Someone doesn’t know about France, UK, Turkey, Germany and Italy. These are the countries with a better military than Spain currently.

[@moisepicard3417]

+chris. Felipe does not have the best claim of Roman Emperor. And, he does not secure The Roman Emperor look. He does not even look like a Roman Emperor for you to claim this.

[@moisepicard3417]

@@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer Wrong! The Romans loved law that they created themselves. Felipe would not make the best statue. He does not have a good army in Europe nor The World nor existence. Plus, Jean-Christophe Napoléon speaks a Latin Language, too. The Latin Language spoken by Jean-Christophe Napoléon is named, French.

[@kenllacer]

Definitely King Felipe of Spain has the best claim. Can't beat a legal document that says: 'I'm leaving the Empire to you, have fun and best wishes'.

[@Innomenatus]

He also is a bourbon of the legitamist line, giving him another claim though as the French crown is derived from East Francia, itself splintered from Charlemagne's empire, as well as also being given the titles from Andreas Palailogos, fusing the titles of Roman Emperor to Phillipe VI, or Augustus Philippus Iohannes Paullus Alphonsus, or Felipe III and VIII in English.

[@marcmoris3590]

His name is not on that paper

[@kenllacer]

Obviously. We're talking about his lineage, not him as an individual.

[@ryanfarrelly4647]

@@marcmoris3590 But those titles are on the papers that left him as King of Spain, which also (surprise) also contains titles his lineage has, who knew that when you inherit something you can also give it to someone else to inherit?

[@lisashhotwife2732]

no joke I seen him just a few days ago in Cordoba while I was drinking no idea what was hapenning until someone said that is the king of spain. Amazing how they rocked up like that with very little organisation. Guess it means I seen my first Roman emperor lol.

[@AlexYorim]

Nobody expects the Spanish legitimacy.

[@olcrimurtoir4532]

Easily best comment here.

[@pazg1234]

underrated

[@astrofabio68]

just because is Spain?

[@olcrimurtoir4532]

@@astrofabio68 It's a reference to some pretty awesome comedy.

[@kaybrown4010]

🤣

[@RENATVS_IV]

It was crazily interesting and I had a lot of fun hearing all the arguments for every candidate. Personally I go with you, even though spanish royalty didn't claim it, it's true that the romans valued the legal standpoint, so the Spanish King, Felipe IV is a big candidate. Thank you for this video 🥰

[@jorgecarrillo2]

The King of Spain Is not only heir of The Catholic Kings but he is also descendant of the Royal Family of Greece and also descendant of Charlemagne an of the French Monarchy, Felipe VI is the one with more claims to the Empire

[@littlecatholicman]

Philip Arvanitidis the Hapsburgs, Osmans, Napoleons, and Romanovs have nothing to do with Rome either? They all just took on the name because of its great history. If anything being a descendant of Charlemagne has by far the best claim as he and his successors were crowned by the still very Roman Pope when the Catholic Church was still the official religion of the actual intact Roman Empire. All the others claims were either manufactured later or rely on the title of Holy Roman Empire. The only better claim would be a direct heir of the Byzantines or old Roman Empire.

[@moobles2998]

@Philip Arvanitidis That quote which is so often spoken by the masses was created by Voltaire, an opponent to monarchy in general. He looked at the Holy Roman Empire of his time, and saw that it was, at his time, neither Holy, Roman, nor an empire. What he neglected to inform the masses of, was that in it's creation, it held the city of Rome, it had inflated borders, ruling what many would consider areas which would certainly constitute it being known as an empire, and its original leader was crowned by the pope himself, quite holy if I do say so myself. Yes the late "Holy Roman Empire" was neither Holy, Roman nor an Empire. But the original entity Ruled by Charlemagne, which later became what we know as the "Holy Roman Empire" was in fact in possession of Rome, of Empirical statute, and granted its titles by the greatest Holy authority on earth at the time (if we're roman catholic). Which I would consider to makes it Holy, Roman and an Empire. If king Felipe VI of Spain has a direct succession from a legal standpoint, and is descended from BOTH Charlemagne and the Byzantine Emperors, how could you possibly try to argue that any line has any more of a claim to the title of Roman emperor than he does?

[@EvelynElaineSmith]

@Philip Arvanitidis--the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.

[@laughs2651]

He's also descended from Hugh Capet, Louis XIV,Charles V,Queen Victoria,even William the Conqueror,

[@laughs2651]

@Philip Arvanitidis yes u are right. fun fact though : there was a Roman (Gallo-Roman) senator named Tonantius Ferreolus who is a patrilineal ancestor of Charlemagne. Therefore Felipe is descended from him as well,not an Emperor but a Roman indeed. Hes probably linked to a Roman emperor somehow probably but is highly likely we will never know

[@gageshott5654]

I was rooting for Spain the entire time and was getting a little disappointed when no one was showing Spain love, glad you were big brain there.

[@thepeacefulbuddah]

Same fam... same.

[@Odo55]

... and he would look best in the crown and robes.

[@louisbaker4362]

Same here.

[@nick_g1126]

I know right !!!

[@sherman128]

Roman Emperors chose their successors so imo Spain makes most sense.

[@lichotropical3350]

King Felipe VI of Spain actually has two claims to be Emperor of Rome. The first one is the line discussed in the video and the second is so obvious I am amazed the guy rocking an awesome beard did not mentioned it. Felipe VI's last name is Borbon. A noble house directly related to the French House of Bourbon. Prince Philippe, Duke Of Anjou in 1700 became Rey Felipe V de España. Since the Bourbons were the last Kings of France before the revolution that makes Felipe of Spain in line to be Roman emperor through the Charlemagne line. That was my two cents.

[@herrlizuain70]

You missed the fact that before the spanish throne was habsburg. And there were several wars between bourbone and habsurgs. War of succession in 1700 and the carlist wars during the 19th century. So the spanish have claims to both sides following the logic that they have habsburg heritage and legal claim through heritage in the will of the last eastern emperor.

[@mirandagoldstine8548]

Also via the Bourbon’s parent family the Capets the Bourbons can trace their lineage to the Rurikids who did marry at least one member of a Byzantine ruling family and via the Habsburgs they can also trace their lineage to another Byzantine royal family. So technically the Bourbons and the Habsburgs have strong claims to the Roman throne. However the Russians can also trace their lineage to the Rurikids, like I mentioned above, who had married at least one Byzantine princess meaning that if a blood connection was required these three houses would have possibly the strongest claims to the defunct Roman throne. But a fair number of Roman emperors weren’t necessarily related to one another so if we base it on merit then the Bonapartes would be strong claimants to the throne.

[@redoberon]

@@herrlizuain70 The bourbons reigning in spain already had claims for the Habsburg titles of the spanish crown. I know it's confusing as hell but if I rememeber correctly Felipe V was related to the spanish crown by his grandma. So technically both claims could be valid.

[@spitzfire1107]

But the Ottomans are no more.

[@die1mayer]

House of Bourbon has no lineage to Charlemagne and the Carolingian dynasty. The French branch died out with Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine. Who intermarried with Carolingians were the saxon Liudolfings, with Otto I. being crowned first Holy Roman Emperor. After the death of the Lidudolfings came the Salian dynasty which had actual frankish origins like Charlemagne. The last dukes of Franconia were also vying for control of the HRE crown.

[@skillerbg]

Simeon II of Bulgaria is the last person to hold the title caesar. The bulgarian tsardom was abolished in 1946, making him the last monarch to hold a title derived from "Caesar".

[@tokyojuul9987]

King Felipe VI hands down. Rome literally had a period where they put randoms as Emperors so that pretty much makes heirs and bloodlines unimportant and unnecessary. The legal document (his will) should be the only things that matters

[@1488EVERGETES]

Felipe VI has already the title of Byzantine emperor and king of Jerusalem too.

[@LuanHimmlisch]

@Jason Sehorn nope

[@aerichigley4707]

House of Aragorn through Alonzo and John of Aragorn aka JUAN-ALONSO5 DE ESTRADA JOHN II OF1 ARAGON) Not Felipe of Spain, he's a Carolingian. Carolingians are Junior branches, Not senior branches. A real Heir would be Merovingian, which the popes tried to Depose centuries ago, Pepin the Short is a traitor to Rome of which all Carolingians descent. The current monarchs in Spain are Not the rightful line.

[@lightningmcqueen1717]

what a dumb take. the title was the ruler of the romans not whoever it wants to be passed down to.

[@Paco-uw4tx]

@@lightningmcqueen1717he has the title nowadays bc the title was granted by the emperors of Byzantium to Spain, he directly descends from the most powerful Von Hapsburg emperor and from Charlemagne But yeah he has no claim at all Yeah he has no claim at all

[@definitelynotlucas4901]

Let's be real. King Felipe is the only one that looks good with a traditional roman toga

[@santividal9387]

Hahaha

[@ssssSTopmotion]

He looks exactly like a Roman sculpture

[@Floral_Green]

Jean-Christophe looks æons more classically ‘Roman’ than the eh’Spaneesh guy. No competition.

[@HH-ni5hm]

@@Floral_Green He Kinda resembles Constantine

[@raymark2575]

@Timothy Callanan Naww

[@giulia480]

I think the Spanish claim is the most legit: blood was not that important for Romans as the emperor often adopted their chosen next emperor

[@paranoidman15]

wrong, pride and blood are two most important things for romans, from all heirs spain is the one that deserves the least, if anyone should be emperor of rome although it is impossible because once something is dead you can revive it ever, it would be Italy or Great Britain.

[@giulia480]

@@paranoidman15 actually as I said adoption was a method largely used to choose your own heir in Rome, so blood wasn’t that important. If you look at the golden age of the empire, most of the emperors weren’t their predecessors sons.

[@paranoidman15]

@@giulia480 that's true, but the heirs are still chosen based on spiritual bond which is close to blood, and Spanish King was chosen to heir to Rome because of desperate attempt to gain their attention so that they would fight the Ottomans.

[@Javi-lw5ci]

@@paranoidman15 Great britain more than spain? haha Seriously? Spain inherited more from Rome than it is, and as far as I know there was never a Breton emperor, nor is a Latin language spoken there, I'm sure you are English x "d

[@Javi-lw5ci]

even france would be a better candidate lol

[@micupedro]

Felipe VI of Spain. He is perfectly heir to Fernando and Isabel, he is directly descended from them. The last Habsburg of Spain, Carlos II died without issue and left the throne of Spain, in his will, to his great-nephew Felipe de Borbon, descendant (grandson) of his sister Teresa of Habsburg, wife of the King of France, the future Felipe V. from Spain. The other claimant who claimed the throne once Philip had already been proclaimed and was King of Spain, was Carlos of Habsburg who was also a great-nephew of Charles II, grandson of another sister, but had not been named heir by the last Habsburg King of Spain.

[@aerichigley4707]

House of Aragorn through Alonzo and John of Aragorn. Not Felipe of Spain, he's a Carolingian. Carolingians are Junior branches, Not senior branches. A real Heir would be Merovingian, which the popes tried to Depose centuries ago, Pepin the Short is a traitor to Rome. and Not the rightful line.

[@Djiehh]

If Crusader Kings II has taught me anything, neither of them has pressed their claims appropriately by war, hence none of them have inherited anything. Now, somebody will have to hold 80% of the de jure territory, have two kingdom-level titles, be really pious and pay 600 bucks to somebody not specified in order to create the title. Then again, since the Roman Empire is now merely a titular empire with no de jure demesne, he would have to make use of the corresponding decision to found it, which requires massive prestige and tons of duchies to be controlled. I'd be curious if they'd choose to mend the schism or restore hellenism, though.

[@jakubbezimienia6449]

If I am right, turkish culture changes the name of country so Ottoman Empire could have been in fact Byzantine Empire, but claim of any title lasts only to grandchildren of current ruler, so the head of Ottoman dynasty have no claim to it. We can only wait for another crusade which could restore the Latin Empire.

[@PirateMF]

Well, King Felipe has 26 kingdom level titles, holds 8 duchies and 1 arcduchy and probably has tons of prestige (although his marriage to a commoner would have cost him a buttload of prestige), so he is the best candidate!

[@mawile3037]

that game. . .is amazing lmao omg, I once caught myself saying " crap I'm my wife now " lmao that games makes you say the craziest shit " how do I kill my son, I need him dead " XD good times. . . good times

[@mscapeh4451]

@@jakubbezimienia6449 The turks conqured byzantine so no not fit for rome emperor title if were enemies of it

[@neroultraromeo]

glitterhoof is the best candidate

[@diegopozas1694]

Let's decide this the Roman way: civil war.

[@rvscitoold3816]

UUH I LOVE THIS PART!

[@cossaizy6309]

Becomes Emperors* >Get shanked by the praetorioan guard and their commander replaces you

[@furinick]

its the 21st century, either 1v1 in a game, a rap battle or a dance battle japanese shord fights are also acceptable i would pay to see any of those

[@jwjones1979]

Don't forget flat out assassination.

[@NotSomeJustinWithoutAMoustache]

Lol China probably had 20x more civil wars I think at one point they had a civil war every time an emperor died

[@alexsbt]

Jean-Christophe Napoléon married a Habsburg today, he really wants that Roman Emperor title lol.

[@willmosse3684]

Did he? Haha

[@jorgevargascaporali9170]

Yes, it is true, the countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg, daughter of archduchess Maria-Beatrix von Habsburg and great-granddaughter of Karl I Habsburg, last emperor of Austria-Hungary

[@willmosse3684]

Jorge Vargas Caporali 😵😵😵

[@alexsbt]

@@willmosse3684 Yes, he did so at the Invalides, where Napoléon is burried aha

[@ferraresi2258]

The Brazilian Imperial House has Habsburg blood from D. Leopoldina, what means that IF every claimer of the Roman Emperor Title die then the claimer of the Brazilian Throne would be also the claimer of the Roman Throne Btw it will never happen

[@hc2156]

YES! I feel vindicateed. Lol. Felipe had my vote from the beginning and I was gobsmacked that no one else chose him. This was so fun - and this history nerd thanks you very much!

[@jeanpaulsinatra]

Turkish guy: *picks Ottoman claimant* French guy: *picks Bonaparte claimant* Really the first guy was onto something when he proposed Imperator Dwayne, of the House Rock

[@kaziu312]

Think of it....Dwane The Scorpion Emperor!

[@jeanpaulsinatra]

Added bonus: if the Rock becomes the Roman Emperor, we get Wrestlemania at the Colosseum

[@skoshman1]

Would that mean that any school sponsored by the Imperator would be... a School of Rock?

[@jeanpaulsinatra]

@@skoshman1 Yes. In fact he would employ Jack Black as whatever the Roman equivalent of Education Secretary was

[@MrAwawe]

Go forth Dwayne, son of John, Head of your house of Rock, and claim your throne.

[@aitornavarro6597]

It's kinda crazy how the Spanish Crown has claims to some of the most historical kingdoms and empires ever like Holy Roman Empire through Austria, Kingdom of Naples and Sicily, Kingdom of Jerusalem, Ancient Rome and although not supported by legitimists you could even make a case for the former Kingdom of France. As a descendant of Spaniards sometimes I forget how powerful the Kingdom of Spain was during different points of history.

[@henryytb]

Lately i have being revising and confirming that in fact the Spanish Empire has been one of the most influential European Empires post Rome. Due to the time period it lasted, the geographical limits, the economical power that lasted even after its political and military power had diminished, and its cultural, and (believe it or not) scientific contributions. It had come to my attention based on recent though i had on the importance of the Spaniard currency during centuries, the role of Spain in global trade and culture. The fact that Spain had one of the most interesting approaches to human rights prior to the modern era is remarkable as well as the importance of spaniard universities up to the nineteenth century.

[@fernandogarcia3957]

Absolutely 💯, but there is a thing called Black Legend of Spain, started when other countries couldn't win on the battlefield so they started a propaganda campaign, which revived every time that was necessary for those other countries' interests. ( I like your summary a lot, I think I'm gonna borrow it 😉)

[@Xdkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk]

​@@henryytbthe Roman Empire and Spanish Empire are the two Greatests

[@mkelebay]

@@henryytbby interesting human rights, do you mean working slaves to death in Hispaniola to death to mine out as much silver as possible, and then repeating that across South America ?

[@jordijulve3572]

​@@mkelebaySearch in google, Leyes de Burgos, Leyes de Indias, and Leyes Nuevas. The queen of Castille, Elisabeth I forbid slavey of the indigenous people that the spanish conquerors found in America

[@maximaldinotrap]

**Sees the name Romanov on the screen** Lenin in his grave: God damnit, we missed some

[@tomfrazier1103]

Historic Science, Dammit!

[@KIRILL-fl7cp]

You mean in the mausoleum?

[@nodinitiative]

*Lenin is his display case :-)

[@enclaveofdoom]

how many lennins are still there?

[@IvanSN]

@@enclaveofdoom Not nearly enough.

[@rayderplayer2342]

When at the end he mentioned the Spanish monarch I screamed “YEEEES GET NAPOLEON A** OUTTA MY MAN’S THRONE!!”🤣🤣🔥🔥

[@lesego20]

By blood: Russia By conquest: Ottoman By inheritance: Spain

[@MrSludov]

And, which is the most important matter, the LEGAL right. Felipe is the legal heir, the one who could show official and historical treatrises, documents and testaments of his ancestors, being them righteous, properly crowned holy roman emperors by popes.

[@warman8230]

MrSludov Felipe is from the bourbon house not the Habsburg which can not really give him a claim. The Russians maybe by the house of Ivan but not romonavs the ottomans maybe because they married lines of Byzantine princesses and they also had Constantinople which was known as the “pure Rome” and the Habsburg yes because the owned Roman lands even that doesn’t really give them a claim. Napoleon no no no. So really it’s just the ottomans and Habsburg and maybe the Russians.

[@MrSludov]

@@warman8230 Salah, the claim of Felipe would be suported in the fact that the the last Byzantine emperor LEGALY passed the title in his testament to Fernando and Isabel of Spain.

[@lookman-2844]

Conquest is all the Romans respected.

[@kristinamickwitz3542]

@@MrSludov philippe the sixth of Spain will go straight to hell due to bull bullfighting practice!!!

[@WAGMILLC]

Spain also makes sense because they went and did the Roman thing. Conquer the New World!

[@Castillodearagon]

yes, the Spanish basically brought the roman law to America, and did what Rome did, they brought and funded institutions based on Rome to the new world.

[@LucarioBoricua]

Spain also followed in with many other traditions: * Exploited the valuable minerals from their conquered lands, just like the Romans did to Spain * Built an extravagant multicultural empire, THE superpower of their respective era, with a very self-serving mindset * Had a long decline until a rising great power dealt the final blow (for Spain: Spanish-American War) * Theocratic rule (Christian Rome, Christian Spain) * Spain built up on the old Roman saying NON PLVS VLTRA (nothing beyond [the Pillars of Hercules/ Strait of Gibraltar]) and really had quite the extravagant PLVS VLTRA (their New World conquests)

[@OverthinkerYT]

@@LucarioBoricua El imperio Español fue el último imperio clásico, digno heredero del Romano en lo colonial como en lo militar y a mi parecer hicieron mas bien que mal en América. Dudo mucho que la palabra "Boricua" hubiese llegado hasta nuestros días bajo otros imperios coloniales de la época

[@lenidelarosa47]

@@OverthinkerYT PLUS ULTRA el sol no se ponia en el imperio español

[@lordofhostsappreciator3075]

@@LucarioBoricua Stay mad

[@madiaikau9140]

I feel the Spanish have a pretty good claim. It often happened throughout Roman history that the heir was adopted or chosen. And since the Spanish monarchy are the only ones to survive to today, I feel they have spirit of the Romans.

[@crframe738]

Also they are descended from Charlemagne, albeit through a female line, so they have a claim even if you think the HRE was the successor to Rome, because the mother of the first count of hapsburg was a direct descendant of Charlamagne and a hapsburg married into the Bourbon family, which still rules Spain.

[@brokoblin6284]

They've also still got decently roman looking architecture.

[@NapoleonAquila]

Yeah no thanks they tried with France and they failed miserably go for Bonaparte

[@theamazinghippopotomonstro9942]

@@crframe738 most Europeans are descended from Charlemagne

[@ap6480]

Also one of the best Roman Emperors, Trajan, was born in a city called Italica close to modern day Seville, so it wouldn't be that strange to have a spanish roman emperor

[@bobthebuilder243]

In a strange way, the Roman Empire lives on with king felipe

[@WanderingPassports]

Not sure I would call it strange, but yes

[@solortus]

Thousands of years later and rome is still relevant. Even just the title has some meaning

[@Gstrangeman96]

You don't have to look at who should hold the title to find ways Rome is still relevant. From the language we speak to the religion that whether we like it or not shaped much of our culture, the legacy of Rome is baked into a lot of our lives.

[@MisterMuzi]

@@86soup 2 is plural

[@maxpowers4436]

@@86soup Yes Rome has has existed for thousands of years....

[@helterseltzer3244]

600 years* considering the Eastern Empire

[@WanderingPassports]

@@Gstrangeman96and that in and of itself is also a strong argument for King Felipe as the Spanish language is like 90% Latin and the language closest to Latin outside of Italy

[@AlectricityYT]

Technically speaking, the title has to go to Spain. Russia is no longer ruled by the Romanovs, nor is Turkey ruled by the Osmans or Germany by the Martels. But Spain is ruled by the same ancestry that inherited the Byzantine title.

[@atlistihavesenseofhumorlol2051]

Technically, if I'm reading well, that was the Hasburg dinasty the ones that inheritage the Holy Roman Empire, but they died by f*cking with cousins so now Spain have a French dinasty called Burbon

[@Kalleosini]

@Frx bx01 you didn't watch the video then. @usefulcharts already said there was a direct line from Philipe VI to the original transfer of the imperial title. This means the king of spain inherits that title despite being a bourbon not a trastamara.

[@Kalleosini]

@Frx bx01 you do not understand what you are saying and I feel sorry for you.

[@mimicinabox2547]

@Frx bx01 It seems someone skipped the 2:25 mark here...

[@debodatta7398]

Technically it’s be Trump since the only country on earth closest to the absolute domination culturally, economically and militarily as Rome was in the ancient era is the United States in the modern era, therefore the most powerful person in Rome would be akin to the most powerful person in the USA...Trump so all Hail Trump Emperor of the USA

[@drkevincozner]

If we are going with the Spanish Claim it’s also important to remember that Spanish Kings also descended from Karl V of Austria/HRE , linking the two empires together in Felipe’s Claim

[@harz632]

I think "Roman Empire" is something we couldn't really go with, I think you would have to differentiate between western and eastern roman Empire. The HRE existed besides the Byzantine (eastern roman empire) so if we accept their claim to the roman empire title it would only be that of west Rome Following the arguments for the Spanish those would be the Eastern Roman Empire So I think we would have a eastern roman empire in Spain and a western roman empire in Austria for maximum confusion.

[@WizavPRO]

Whatever I say will turn into heated debate full of anger and hate - but truth is, Spaniards are Visigoths who settled from North to South - Favila, Pelayo, Mauregato are Visigoths and modern Spaniards are completely unrelated to Roman world just like French or Italians (who are also French). Keep in mind that any relation to Germanic peoples and race makes you automatically disqualified

[@moritzreinhard2504]

@@WizavPRO nonsense. Many of the late western roman emperors had germanic or otherwise "non-roman" descent. Even earlier in fact, Aurelian (restitutor orbis) for example wasn't even born in roman territory.

[@alvaropk5494]

Carlos 5 was also spanish king

[@saikrishnak8631]

Nope, if the last byzantine emperor had a will to pass the throne to Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon. their grandson Charles 5 Hapsburg's line is the better one. so, it should pass to Karl Hapsburg. because it was the French who set up a king in Spain after wars of Spanish succession. and he is of the bourbon dynasty. The current king of Spain is also of the bourbon clan. and coming to Russia the blood line of Byzantines has already faded away. As many times the throne was passed to others other than the dynastic rulers hereditary line. it is not a good idea. Through the imperial families it should be a Hapsburg.

[@NiksAanDeWashand]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@merylsilverburgh8081]

I agree with Spain. Besides that Felipe is the only one looking like an Emporer.

[@ernestpadilla9095]

His first cousin Pavlos of Greece; looks very kingly to me as well.

[@vmaldia]

The argument that when ottomans conquered, Thomas went into exile and took the empire within him has merit

[@Yo_Soy_Andres]

I'm not gay but I'd totally blow Jean Christophe

[@user-ft3jq5vi2l]

@@vmaldia good claim, however weaker than the ones here.

[@MAP2023]

ALSO APART FROM THE UK SPAIN HAD THE BIGGER EMPIRE EVER.

[@chriswatson7965]

Without a single doubt, out of the 5 candidates presented the Spanish claim is the strongest. Not only for the reasons given, but for the continuation of Roman culture itself.

[@carlitosxd1976]

Yeah it’s like when ceaser left his will to Augustus does that mean that ceasarion was his true will? No because he left his full will to augustus

[@rulerofeternity7910]

I agree that their claim is super strong but I actually think the Romanovs have an even stronger claim on the counts that they have very strong links religiously and culturally speaking with the Eastern Roman Empire, and they're related to the Rurikids, the dynasty that married into the Palaiologos family, so they have a direct claim, more than just a title purchase, but I do agree that the Spanish do have a pretty strong claim.

[@TheSmolPrince]

@@rulerofeternity7910 The Byzantines weren't Romans, just came here to remind you of that.

[@rulerofeternity7910]

@@TheSmolPrince That's ridiculous, they are Romans, when the Western Roman Empire collapsed the East endured for 728 consecutive years until 1204, and then was reconstituted by the Palaiologoi in 1261 until the empire disintegrated in 1453 thanks to Mehmet's capture of Constantinople. The term 'Byzantine' was used by Western Europeans from the 16th century onwards to make a distinction between the Pagan Antiquity era Empire and the Christian Medieval Roman Empire, and also because of their bias towards the Holy Roman Empire which they thought was the true Roman Empire (which is utter bullshit obviously)

[@TheSmolPrince]

@@rulerofeternity7910 The Christians ruined Rome. They destroyed it's culture and purpose. The Byzantines were nothing more than wannabes, just like the "Holy Roman Empire," and morons who called themselves the Kieven Rus. The Empire ceased to be when the last Roman Imperator died.

[@JackChappleShow]

Friend: "Want to go to a bar tonight?" Me: "Sorry, busy" *binge watches videos on claims to former empires*

[@dominikweber4305]

How cool, you have no social life and neglect your friends because you'd rather watch videos alone

[@nickweimer2118]

@@dominikweber4305 you’re watching the video so you obviously think it’s interesting💀

[@TomSmith-jp1es]

@@nickweimer2118 yes but they're commenting on the weird attempt at a brag that just comes across as arrogant and sad, not the act of watching the video.

[@milantoth6246]

Thats literally what i did just now lmfao

[@rudy2shoes354]

@N Gaming Romulus wasn’t chosen by the senate?

[@chiron14pl]

what a fun video. I'm not sure which one I would prefer since all the claims had some basis

[@KhAnubis]

Okay, here's my opinion (even though I'm sure no one cares): First, Charlemagne was absolutely not the emperor of Rome, Rome still existed in the form of what we now call the Byzantine Empire. Then with the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, I can understand the Russian and Ottoman claims, but I really think the Spanish claim is probably more valid. After all, if Constantine XI said that the King and Queen of Spain should inherit their titles, which to me says that he was essentially selecting them as their heirs. If you ask me, that's much more valid than a simple bloodline connection. Edit: Okay, I think the two of us are actually in complete agreement on this

[@pumpkinistscam3304]

KhAnubis i love your Channel

[@UsefulCharts]

😉

[@gregmiller9710]

...'Rome still existed as.....no...Rome was gone and now its Byzantine....kinda like but it ain't..

[@jayasuryangoral-maanyan3901]

Sorry... I clearly misunderstood; you seem to be implying that a woman - a woman of all things - could be roman emperor. Constantine VI was meant to be emperor, but if Irene took his byzantine candidacy it's Charlemagne 2020! Jokes obviously

[@gregmiller9710]

@@jayasuryangoral-maanyan3901it's believed that at a few times there where women who were sole emperors in all but name...we have coins of them...

[@Hemuro4ever]

You sir, are a genius. I've never seen such a well reasoned history video on KZbin before. I found the arguments pointing to the Romanovs or Habsburgs to be "reasonable enough" I guess. But the moment I saw on your chart that King Felipe was the legal heir of the Byzantine throne, that was clearly the most important argument - the legal one. Because as you so astutely pointed out, Rome was a society that held the Law in high regard. Insta sub and notification squad!

[@canemcave]

The Roman Empire was also a meritocracy, it never managed to establish a lasting dynasty and the reason why they never did, is because Rome was totally against the idea of a monarch, that was the reason for the assassination of Caesar and the civil was So an Emperor based on birth right is against the very foundation of the Roman traditions

[@Hemuro4ever]

You two missed the point. Did the Emperor of Rome (including Byzantine) have the legal authority to name their successor? The answer is yes. Whether this was respected after their death is entirely a different matter.

[@canemcave]

@@Hemuro4ever this is in effect a moot point if then the successor is removed at will. It's like saying you can make a will but then when they read it don't expect it to be carried out. Well then it is pretty pointless. I am sure you can always make a will, the problem is if it is respected The emperors of Rome actually didn't that's why they tried to work around the issue by naming co-emperors. That didn't work. In the Easter Roman Empire it finally worked because the state had degenerated into a monarchical structure were the senate had no real value. That's in fact one of the main differences between the Western and the Eastern parts of the Empire

[@raysc0089]

@@canemcave Right. Because no two Roman Emperors where from the same family. It's like the Papacy, where no ruler has ever left their charge to a family member!

[@canemcave]

@@raysc0089 they have tried but in those cases, with poor results. Some people always try to build absolute monarchies based on inheritance. It's a way to create hierarchies, privileges and aristocracies. Remember that princeps meant first, supposedly first among equals. if it's first it's not equal. But in the Roman Empire there was always a counterbalancing force. This is the form of government the Republic of Venice adopted and it's the form that we have adopted. I see a worrying trend today with the feminist agenda based on humans are equal but some humans are more equal than others or in other words female first.

[@siritio3553]

Out of all these guys, Dwayne from the House of Rock makes the most sense

[@patrickhiggins5970]

@Emperor Louis The Retard no he is samoan

[@nigragigra5207]

@Emperor Louis The Retard He has the best claim to Samoas Cocoa and Coconut exports limited. He'll have the biggest fale in Samoa.

[@theZinator]

Emperor Dwayne the Rock of Johnson

[@FUCCP123]

“It doesn’t matter who the emperor is!”

[@susannebemis3311]

or Tom Hanks!

[@jconrace]

The editing and outlining in this video is outstanding. Stringing together of the other KZbinr takes was really well done as if they were directly talking to eachother. This is an absolutely nonsense and incoherent inequity which is presented so well it makes it into a fun and interesting discussion of real history. Good job.

[@deansullivan4353]

I'm honestly shocked that none of those KZbinrs brought up the Spanish Claim. I was ready to start yelling at my computer screen until you finally came in and spit some facts.

[@labolachiclosa8111]

x2

[@vornamenachname2858]

Exactly

[@marcnawezi1877]

Hum CONQUERED BY NAPOLEON hum

[@TMThesaurus]

Jack Rackham at least acknowledged the Spanish claim and said there's a pretty good argument for it, but dismissed it on the grounds that they never really pressed the claim.

[@kehana2908]

i'd say it was the hapsburgs or maybe napoleon over the spanish claim but imo the spanish claim to the byzantine throne is the most legit one. i think that the byzantine empire was a bit too different from the roman empire to call it the roman empire. i also like the fact that the holy roman empire and spain are the two places that are actually roman catholcis

[@Callsign_Prophet]

What people are forgetting is that a Roman emperor could name their heir and it didn't have to be a genetic descendent... This goes to the Spanish King. Edit: we agree nvm lol

[@felipewerner6670]

@John Smith i know you are joking, but dont put Caesar in the same sentence as this soy boy called trump.

[@Lorem_64]

@John Smith Trump only commands the puny colonial legions, he doesn't count.

[@Mardek775]

A.J. Bensinger I don’t think the Romans would like a Non Roman to lead them. Just saying.

[@rabburns3666]

@John Smith the consuls controlled the legions.

[@Callsign_Prophet]

@@Mardek775 happened all the time...

[@themadmanwithapen]

All hail Emperor Philippus VI, King of Spain, King of Castile, of Leon, of Aragon, of the Two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Cordoba, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Menorca, of Jaen, of the Algarves, of Algeciras, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, of the East Indies and the West Indies and all the Islands and Mainland of the Ocean Sea, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, of Brabant, of Milan, of Athens, of Neopatras, and of Limburg, Count of Habsburg, of Flanders, of Tyrol, of Roussillon, and of Barcelona, Lord of Biscay and of Molina, Emperor of Rome and the Romans.

[@crthnorsp]

How many time did it took to you to write this comment?

[@alfonsobarrado2902]

@@crthnorsp for his mental health I hope he just copy pasted it

[@bastiangalaz4580]

Por mucho leer y poco dormir, se le secó el cerebro.

[@blendermen1070]

Hey you forgot all the titles he gets from being after hundreds of roman emperor

[@gari40]

and the legitime king of portugal and al it's lands

[@yakere8251]

0:37 Lumber tycoon 2 caught me off guard

[@wtz_under]

thats his theme tho

[@ceaserthesalad1655]

Amazing how impartial these historians are, picking their own countries

[@LittleSpik17]

EXACLTY my thought

[@yantantethera689]

LOL, it's just a thought exercise!

[@sinoroman]

*All statements from historians should be taken with a grain of salt*

[@rashidsabri7319]

Very true, upsets me to see it but I think worldview plays a bigger role than cultural bias when making this opinion, both of which (influences) are backed by the same decision.

[@marcinkrz3140]

@@rashidsabri7319 due to it's nature, history is always biased towards someone .

[@KemeticWitch]

King Felipe is my choice. Spain was left the titles, spain has the titles. So unless someone comes along with a bigger stick to beat King Felipe with, spain takes the roman emporor title

[@Zoltan1251]

its so obvious.... i was angry at the "historians" there... emperor has to come from within the already existing empire.... you can never choose conqueror legitimate

[@okl4747]

Im not sure if thats possible

[@ayylmao2190]

>So unless someone comes along with a bigger stick to beat King Felipe with *Star Spangled Banner begins playing*

[@Zoltan1251]

@N Gaming you are right and wrong... its true that senate chose Emperor but not on their own will but rather forced to choose whoever the original emperor wished or were made to appoint somebody by army... they were often sons... so, in the end with Senate gone we can easily extrapolate to hereditary succession = King Felipe

[@Zoltan1251]

@N Gaming well yes, the entire point of the video is to figure out who have the best case, not who is actually the real emperor... Felipe has still the best claim... you kinda missing the point here

[@IronJoeHorn]

I was thinking Spain the whole time, then was starting to feel dumb when everyone picked other people. Thanks for reinforcing my opinion at the end.

[@RADLadio]

At the end the other people where the dumb ones

[@gutss8608]

@@RADLadio there is no dumb answer

[@j.6378]

man those people were dumb. that one girl who called Irene basically a strong independent female "badass" for clawing her son's eyes out... wtf

[@WanderingPassports]

@@j.6378yea that was so cringe

[@InterrogatorchaplainAsmodai]

Another interesting fact, the brother of the last byzantine emperor technically inherited his brothers title, and when he died he left his title to the "Monarch of Spain"

[@Sascha969]

Ok the fact that Felipe actually is a current ruling Monarch makes all other "claims" obsolete. All hail to our caesar!

[@kennethbandola6908]

Caesar Philippi

[@okl4747]

Is he even worthy though for real?

[@writershard5065]

I mean... not really.

[@kelvastagon]

Viva el Rey de España !!

[@enternamehere4124]

VIVA FELIPE!

[@SpanishDio]

Let's be real the only one there that looks like an actual emperor is the King of Spain. He be lookin' like 2020s Trajan

[@danielrojas-db9nq]

Maybe because trajan was from Spain

[@BicornioSPA]

@@danielrojas-db9nq and Hadrian too.

[@MajesticSkywhale]

i look almost exactly like Caracalla

[@alejandrosotomartin9720]

Rather Hadrian or Marcus Aurelius. Trajan didn't wear beard. Ask to Mary Beard.

[@forgalzz7]

Did actual emperors look like actual emperors, though?

[@joukevanderburg8832]

I am so glad you chose the Spanish claim. I was surprised no one went with them. I went with the Spanish claim as well. I heard some arguments I think are debunkable, some arguments I don't think are strong and some arguments you gave only made me more sure. But of course, everyone may have his own opinion, especially because it doesn't matter!

[@MeanBeanComedy]

It might!

[@waxblastt]

21:18 Yeah, nothing like the stupidity of saying "this guy would be emperor because history needs a story to happen." Legit braindead statement "this guy would be king because I feel like it would be cool!"

[@saikrishnak8631]

Nope, if the last byzantine emperor had a will to pass the throne to Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon. their grandson Charles 5 Hapsburg's line is the better one. so, it should pass to Karl Hapsburg. because it was the French who set up a king in Spain after wars of Spanish succession. and he is of the bourbon dynasty. The current king of Spain is also of the bourbon clan. and coming to Russia the blood line of Byzantines has already faded away. As many times the throne was passed to others other than the dynastic rulers hereditary line. it is not a good idea. Through the imperial families it should be a Hapsburg.

[@chipmunkwarcry]

@@waxblasttI mean that is the soul of good propaganda tho. Prior to recorded history as we know it today, that sort of narrative would be useful in order to legitimize one’s claim to their subjects I think the guy who said that could have done himself a service and backed up why he said that 🙃

[@Taker02]

@@saikrishnak8631 Well, i was fully supporting the Spanish claim because of Emperor's will. But you're completely right. Infact, i think Habsburg line does have a legitimate claim over spanish throne because of Charles the Second or Carlos el Hechizado. So the legitimate claim is Spain's one, but not for the french dinasty actually ruling Spain but for the Habsburgs that inherited it directly from the House of Trastamara.

[@ethansmall581]

I’d say there’s an argument the true heir is the Pope. Only monarch in Europe to actually have control over a part of the city of Rome and the only guy to actually have a title that belongs to any of the real Roman emperors, and those are the things that actually give you right to the Roman Empire, it was never really the same type of dynastic succession that you find in medieval and modern monarchies

[@Jaymo00]

I called the spanish heir right from the start!!! Remember, Augustus Caesar was adopted by Julius Caesar. All of caesars property were left to Octavian (Augustus) in caesars will. The roman “empire” BEGAN with legal inheritance! Very good point reminding the audience that Romans were sticklers for the law. This was the same argument that Octavian, the very FIRST emperor, used with Marc Antony. It therefore only makes sense that the legal title of emperor goes to Hispania! Totally overlooked by everyone! Each claim makes very good arguments though. Overall, super interesting video!

[@TheRealBunnyMan]

*Romans were sticklers for the law* I'm literally wheezing rn reading that

[@dlevi67]

It's just a shame that whatever Caius Julius Caesar left was NOT the empire, since a) the empire as an institution did not exist; "imperator" meant having specific legal rights, b) Caesar was not technically emperor at his death and c) in any case dynastic succession was not the principle that operated at the time (and to be honest, through the majority of the Roman Empire's existence)

[@erynn9968]

27:36 He starts with the legal title and then conveniently eliminates the ‘minor heir’ who actually got the title. Where is the logic?

[@fordhouse8b]

The transition of power may have been legally justified by a will, but it was war that made it real. And legal inheritance had very little to do with how the titles had been passed along to the last Emperors of Rome and of Constantinople. There were plenty of coups and civil wars that had disrupted and ignored legal inheritance along the way. So one might say that the guy who willed the title to Ferdinand and Isabella had himself ultimately received it by legally dubious means.

[@ivanf.482]

You're totally right

[@roccopiosaracino3681]

When you're so early that Romolus Augustus is still emperor

[@unflexian]

When you're so early that he is called Gaius Octavianus

[@gregmiller9710]

..the last true emperor of Rome...Romulus..

[@jamesevans1890]

When Romulus Augustus was deposed and retired, his insignia was sent to the Eastern Empire so technically the Empire was reunited. The Goths ruled Italy in the Eastern Empire's name, if not so much in actuality....

[@unflexian]

@@fluffytom82 I read Augustus and my mind jumped the gap 🤦‍♂️

[@worsethanjoerogan8061]

@@fluffytom82 He's confusing the last Augustus for the first

[@tighnarix3229]

Hands down Spain. The last legitimate Emperors of the Palaelogi, sold their claim to the Spanish royal family. The legalistic Latin Romans would not even consider the other alternatives.

[@georgios_5342]

You are right, that's what I said too. Plus, no one becomes emperor of a country because he conquered it or parts of it. So all the rest are disqualified anyway.

[@saikrishnak8631]

If the last byzantine emperor had a will to pass the throne to Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon. their grandson Charles 5 Hapsburg's line is the better one. so, it should pass to Karl Hapsburg. because it was the French who set up a king in Spain after wars of Spanish succession. and he is of the bourbon dynasty. The current king of Spain is also of the bourbon clan. and coming to Russia the blood line of Byzantines has already faded away. As many times the throne was passed to others other than the dynastic rulers hereditary line. it is not a good idea. Through the imperial families it should be Hapsburg. so Karl.

[@amitklain4199]

21:29 he picked Romanov because he has a good story? bet this guy was a fan of the Game of Throne finale.

[@AnexoRialto]

This debate would have resulted in a massive war of succession back in the day.

[@matheustroan7224]

Why not today

[@juanausensi499]

@@matheustroan7224 Because there is no roman empire anymore?

[@Omar-wr2vk]

@@juanausensi499 But there could be if we really tried

[@juanausensi499]

@@Omar-wr2vk I don't think we really want it...

[@user-ut4tk4ph5z]

@@juanausensi499 :) U sure ?

[@kurtarne2374]

Felipe VI of Spain is already the titular emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

[@kurtarne2374]

Look Wikipedia

[@kurtarne2374]

sorry it's just on the Swedish one

[@user-xz9du1cc3x]

And of the Kingdom of Israel too.

[@kurtarne2374]

Ok

[@papasmurf5314]

@@kurtarne2374 I'm spanish version too; now, In how many other languages is he considered a Byzantine emperor? As I remember this is common, there is a writer who depends on the language changes the nationality on wikipedia.

[@andresmora5192]

When the king of Spain 🇪🇦 Juan Carlos I, officially visited the state of Israel for the first time, something happened that some described as a miracle. In the city of Jerusalem there are two mayors, one Muslim and the other Jewish, they have never seen each other or participate in any act together. However, when the king Juan Carlos was about to arrive, they saw the two mayors appear. To the surprise of all those who were waiting, the journalists asked them what had happened so that the two went together to a public event. The answer was' This has nothing to do with politics. We have an obligation to come to the reception because the one who comes "IS OUR KING." Since then, it has never happened again. Did you know that Felipe VI, in addition to Spain, is also King of Jerusalem? Despite not existing as a kingdom since the end of the 13th century, the title of ‘King of Jerusalem’ fell by dynastic inheritance to the Spanish crown.

[@sagapoetic8990]

I had no idea the 'King of Jerusalem' title was still in existence!

[@Borderose]

Damn. If I had the rights to that title I would be saying "I am Jerusalem!" all the damn time. Ought to be fun.

[@br.j9145]

Yes, that title was on the list he showed in the video of titles! But they really described him as their king? That's amazing. I'm super into the U.S. way of doing gov't - but you can see how powerful having royalty can be even when they don't rule!

[@TartanArmy85]

I thought the Jews would only have a descendent of king David as there king 🤴

[@jaztin7960]

When did this happen?

[@johnfake2739]

This was a GREAT video!

[@GuantesBlancos]

King Felipe VI is definitely the best claim, not only because of the legal argument, but also because he has the bigger army out of the four, and let's not forget that was something very important when deciding an emperor. Also, Felipe has relations with the Habsburgs, the Russians, the French monarchy and with the Greek monarchy, the descendants of the bizantines.

[@saikrishnak8631]

Nope, if the last byzantine emperor had a will to pass the throne to Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon. their grandson Charles 5 Hapsburg's line is the better one. so, it should pass to Karl Hapsburg. because it was the French who set up a king in Spain after wars of Spanish succession. and he is of the bourbon dynasty. The current king of Spain is also of the bourbon clan. and coming to Russia the blood line of Byzantines has already faded away. As many times the throne was passed to others other than the dynastic rulers hereditary line. it is not a good idea. Through the imperial families it should be a Hapsburg.

[@Beck-tr7dd]

​@@saikrishnak8631 except King Felipe is a descendant of The Catholic Monarchs matrilineally which is where the Bourbon claim in Spain came from anyways. The modern Habsburgs as well are of matrilineally descent as the the male Habsburgs died out the modern Hapsburgs are through the Male line actually of the House of Lorraine. With their proper style being Habsburg-Lorraine or Habsburg-Lothringen

[@2200Stinger]

Completely incorrect. It’s the Napoleon heir.

[@AleAsLison]

​@user-pg1ir9wr9eYou need to reduce your drug intake. Not because I care about your insanely racist words, but for the welbeing of those around you.

[@infini_ryu9461]

Also, he's taller than all of them. 😂

[@windsroad-]

oh man, I went through this whole video thinking "I think it should be the spanish, legally, but NO ONE seems to agree with me" but THEN! vindication!

[@johnnyman117]

My exact feeling throughout the video.

[@SvafaBlackhand]

Agreed. If Julius can name Augustus his adopted son and heir in his will and Augustus adopt his heir Tiberius, then Spain has all the legitimacy it needs. Blood doesn't matter; the will of the emperor matters.

[@alex_meli]

I was feeling the same! LMAO

[@keanderson12]

me 4

[@stinkmonger]

Roman emperor: hey spanish dude, you are now the heir to the roman empire Spanish dude: cool Historians: this means nothing

[@johnlevin4567]

I wanted to like, but you were at 69 likes. Sorry little one

[@dragonmade8243]

John Levin not anymore you can like now

[@meilinchan7314]

Historians: "this means nothing" Spanish dude's father: "Why won't you shut up?" =]

[@annahkurtin9665]

King Juan Carlos was the Holy Roman Emperor. Who has succeeded him? Juan Carlos is the sperm donor of Prince William.

[@miyamotomusashi7612]

He's not the roman emperor, he's a very naughty boy!

[@sagittarius5466]

It’s weird how none of them chose king Philipe, hes obviously the most logical option

[@Crick1952]

Ha, all these KZbinrs are so biased! They only pick the claim they have the most connection to smh. The Spanish claim is *clearly* the most credible as it has a legal basis. (Greetings from Mexico)

[@Ivanmaradonaaa]

Hahaha la neta si le toca al pinche Felipe

[@manapo8205]

*clearly* not a biased comment 😂

[@sammymedawar307]

The ottoman emperor was crowned as the roman emperor after conquering the capital of rome and was crowned by the patriarch (albeit forcebly). Sorry, but Ottoman empire is the obvious choice. Spain didnt even bother reconquering previous Roman territory,but look at the ottoman empire at its peak, nearly identical to that of the byzantines.

[@mikeottawa8158]

dia qe Los Mjicanos acptn FeLipe VI Bourbon-Habpsburgo Rey-mperador d Mjico , dia qe Los Europeos acptn FeLipe VI mperador d Europa , y no dudo qe muchos Mjicanos coLgarian a FeLipe dL pscuezo n Lo mas aLto d ChapuLtepec

[@gerardsotxoa]

@@sammymedawar307 That patriarch had zero canonical recognition, thus the forced crowning was a Gimmick. not even the muslisms bought it, if not they despised it. Needless to point they recognized themselves as a muslim power. The importance of the Christian patriarchy is meaningful because they are the holders of one of the imperial dignities. The "sumus pontifex/Pontifex maximus" was one the titles of the roman emperors and when the christianity became the official religion they layed this imperial dignity into the Pope of Rome, Napoleon went mad because he couldn't have it and Ottomans settled a Gimmick because they needed but nobody bought it and they went full islam shortly after.

[@DrLynch2009]

Felipe VI is also a descendant of Charlemagne.

[@jacaerys4]

All of these men are a descendent of Charlemagne. You may even descend from him

[@baneofbanes]

Lynch85 As is much of Europe.

[@hensolo8825]

@@baneofbanes Probabily much of North America and part of South America thanks to european migration too

[@MichaelKing015]

@@jacaerys4 An Osman is a descendant?

[@jacaerys4]

Basketballfan15 Most likely. If he has ancestors who are from Europe, there is a high chance he’s a descendent of Charlamange

[@Boomba_the_Big]

The Roman Empire was never really a hereditary monarchy. Whoever has the largest army gets to decide if he is Roman Emperor.

[@oscarkronborg7176]

That means king Felipe VI of Spain because he's the only one that is the leader of an actual army

[@a-drewg1716]

it just kinda matters. Sometimes the Emperor was voted on by the Senate, sometimes they just barged in with their army and were like "hey I am the emperor now", sometimes the heir was picked by the previous emperor (could be a family member, best friend, or some bloke off the streets), sometimes it was decided after a civil war, and sometimes the emperor was place as a puppet either by the Senate or a general with a big army.

[@jongrover8763]

The Roman Emperor was decided by power, not by law or blood. The current empire of Europe (The European Union) and therefore the Roman Empire is run by Ursula von der Leyen. She is the president of Europe and so she is the current Roman Emperor.

[@splaar]

In that case, Felipe VI, since he's the only modern heir who actually has an army

[@jameskilgour387]

So... Roman Emperor Xi?

[@TheKingofChiroptera]

It’s the Osmans as far as I’m concerned. The Ottomans took the throne just as the Caesars did before, and as was said in the second third party clip, Mehmed was fairly well recognized as the Roman emperor. The only ones who didn’t like that were the Catholics, who had lost the Roman claim anyways.

[@moor236]

This is entirely historically inaccurate, the ottomans never recognized the claim to Rome themselves in perpetuity and this citing was only brought about by post-hoc historians with little historical efficacy. Saying the ottomans have a claim to the Roman Empire is like saying that the visigoths are the true heirs of Rome. You just want to be different because it’s cool

[@barbar0s.7]

@@moor236 One of the first words that caame out of Mehmet's mouth when he entered the walls were I am Qayser-i Rûm (Ceaser of Rome), both him and his descendants viewed themselves as roman emperors, but still just because they called themselves Emperors doesn't make them emperors, I think Felipe has the best claim right now

[@jessicaclark7130]

I went with Spanish before everyone else started voting. Started feeling defeated but was glad you agreed. Great video as always.

[@rachelladue1572]

I'm sure someone mentions it somewhere, but just in case since it wasn't explicit in the video: King Felipe of Spain is also technically distantly related to the Hapsburgs. In the 1500s the King of Spain Charles V was not just also the Holy Roman Emperor but the Head of the Hapsburg House as well. But at this time the Hapsburgs split into the Spanish Hapsburgs (with Charles V's son Phillip II being in charge as well as King of Spain) and the Austrian Hapsburgs (Charles V's brother became head as well as Holy Roman Emperor, which is where the Hapsburg line in this video comes in). But Charles V's great great grandson Charles II (Ik ik ignore the number weirdness) died with no children, so the Kingdom of Spain passed on to the grandson of Charles II's sister. And it's at this point the Spanish Hapsburgs are considered no more. But that's just due to male inheritence rules, Charles II's sister was as much of a Hapsburg as he was, and it's only because she wasn't male that her offspring weren't considered Hapsburgs. Anyways if you follow this line down a bunch of generations you get right back to King Felipe. (I think so anyways, i kinda just worked through it on wikipedia, that's why this chart format works so well! Much clearer!) But point being Karl von Hapsburg and King Felipe are like, geneologically just as much Hapsburgs as the other, although perhaps Karl's line has been subject to a few more inmarriages. But like assuming i didnt miss anything, Charles V's father should be a common ancestor for them. It's just that King Felipe's ancestors didn't get the name itself passed down. (And there might be a marriage or two that gives him a few more links to the Hapsburgs) So as many commenters have pointed out, being Roman Emperor has never really been about familial inheritence (and Holy Roman Emperor and Roman Emperor aren't exactly the same), but if you wanted to know who gets the most 'points' for being valid as a choice, King Felipe of Spain has a legal validation for being the Eastern Emperor, a familial tie to being the Western Emperor, and is the only actual Royal Head of State of all of these people.

[@manirea]

you dont have to go that far. Philip's great-grandfather's Mother (Maria therese of Austria, mother of Alfonso XIII ) Was an habsburg too. But its not simple a matter of finding links among each other. Every european royal house in europe is really quite connected)

[@shyasaturtle]

The Ottoman Emperors did marry Byzantine princesses.

[@arianam9977]

I would also add that Isabel of Castile and Fernando of Aragon are also his ancestors. So he's part of the Trastámara dinasty as well (that's a Spanish/Castilian dinasty). This doesn't have much to do with the Roman Empire, but just wanted to add it because some people don't know this.

[@hisstatus]

Ariana M So technically,if Felipe were to drop dead,karl would be the legitimate heir to his throne?

[@rachelladue1572]

@@hisstatus No bc Felipe has two daughters that would inherit everything (I think Spanish laws allow for female succession but I'm not sure). Unless I'm misunderstanding your point

[@zachary7109]

Spain is the only one with the army, was literally given the claims to the title and no one picks them.

[@TheRomanTribune]

Because they are all biased and refuse to accept the truth

[@gildedbear5355]

@@TheRomanTribune Yeah, everybody either went with "Right of Conquest" or "Right of Blood" (with different arguments on whether Western Rome or Eastern Rome has Primacy). The real question is, "how was the Emperor of Rome decided?" If the Emperor got to pick the successor then it's Spain. If it's the person with the biggest army (and these five are the only interested party) then it's Spain again. Of course, I think we can all accept that the true rightful heir is Dwayne of the house of Rock.

[@akuleet6029]

And they're easily the most latin language out there. For whatever that even counts lol.

[@matthewcorum7282]

Yeah, I agree at least one person should’ve picked Spain, it and Russia (Romanovs) I feel have the best claim. I believe Byzantine empire as it is commonly believed to be the continuation of Roman Empire. Also I chose the Romanovs because they are Orthodox Christians as was the Roman Empire after the fall of the west!

[@jahbama6202]

Matthew Corum but the Romans didn’t give 2 shits about blood, and the religion of the empire has changed between different Christian and Hellenic branches, but most of all they cared about legalism, and legally, Felipe holds the title because the Pailaigos dynasty gave it to his predecessors

[@sundai4486]

Great discussion! Obviously a lot of different strong and legitimate opinions! I like the “rocking the beard” argument and the “good vs bad Roman” 👍🤣

[@tc2334]

I’m with either the Romanovs or King Felipe.

[@williamfontoura]

Exactly. The right opinion. And Iberia should be a thing again

[@tc2334]

sa oef Their blood connection is there, so maybe. I’m more in the Spanish camp than the Romanov one, but still.

[@SuperLamarrio64DS]

When you got to the bottom of the tree I instantly said "The King of Spain", then in the videos afterwards everyone else said literally every other person. Finally, at the end you gave me the vindication I needed so much. I agree with you absolutely about the law - the fact that the King of Spain is already actually a King, that just amplifies the already strong claim. I for one welcome our new Spanish Overlords, Ill let Queen Liz know right away that she should submit

[@matthewbreytenbach4483]

Only on KZbin will a person be able to watch a panel of historians debate the succession of a dead empire. And it is glorious!

[@majormarketing6552]

Because we are left with crap compared to when it existed.

[@PatriciaMooney-y7x]

Thank you for such a comprehensive and easily followed time line for the possible geneologies.

[@DaglasVegas]

Romans emperors weren't chosen through a legal process or bloodlines...most emperors became emperors because they had the support of the praetorian guard, they became roman emperors because they had the power to be emperors. whomever can get the allegiance of the military power to declare himself as emperor, and maintain his position through might, is the emperor. Because no one today can use military might to claim the title of the western/eastern roman emperor, the Roman emperors have no true successor. THE TITLE IS UP FOR GRABS.

[@jayasuryangoral-maanyan3901]

What if every rome and nation from a claimant of rome (basically most of europe) became part of the EU? (So the EU plus Istanbul and Moscow). Would the EU be the new rome? And if so how could we establish ourselves as hereditary monarchs of the Greater EU empire?

[@whenthedustfallsaway]

It is odd that nobody recognizes this. Gaius Marius practically forced himself into the consul late in life by invading Rome with his own Roman legions. Afterwards, he ruled as an authoritarian. The legal process was ultra-important in Rome - except when it came to emperors, who could do as they pleased. Might is right, as they say.

[@HVLLOW99]

Year of the 5 geezers! Let's see who wins. (Probably Phillip because he has an army)

[@whenthedustfallsaway]

@Jonathan Williams Under Marius and Sulla the senate became a puppet. This lead to the weakening of the senate and ultimately to the ascension of Julius. As a general rule the senate remained a puppet of the emperor after Julius. This is, in fact, the primary difference between the Roman Republic and Roman Empire after all.

[@ryan7864]

Thank you!!! This is a ridiculous question. The office of the Emperor was an executive branch not a monarchy. They were chosen based on ability.

[@Paulo-py4mm]

The WHOLE time I was watching this I was thinking do none of these KZbinrs know how litigious the Romans were? If Augustus were brought back to life today he would pick himself, and then Felipe VI of Spain.

[@RRRR-jr1gp]

More like he'd see hopw good the adoptive principate had been and spend millions in a mad search to find the bset possible adoptable person with modern day technology

[@rafagd]

Well, for a time the romans also despised monarchies, so you might also argue that this whole discussion is moot.

[@pancakeandwaffle4849]

@@rafagd well, that's the republic, we are looking at the empire, yeah a lot of Roman people hated the emperors and monarchy in general but no one question their claims so we are just considering the legitimacy of claims really

[@Mitaka.Kotsuka]

@@rafagd Thats a bit strange considering that the reoman were an eempire for a lot of time, and, actually they werent "an" empire, they were THE empire, the civ whom teach other "how to imperialism" was, on any efect, Rome

[@saikrishnak8631]

If the last byzantine emperor had a will to pass the throne to Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon. their grandson Charles 5 Hapsburg's line is the better one. so, it should pass to Karl Hapsburg. because it was the French who set up a king in Spain after wars of Spanish succession. and he is of the bourbon dynasty. The current king of Spain is also of the bourbon clan. and coming to Russia the blood line of Byzantines has already faded away. As many times the throne was passed to others other than the dynastic rulers hereditary line. it is not a good idea. Through the imperial families it should be Hapsburg. So Karl.

[@Barista.Nathan]

Felipe does make the most sense. He has the only standing army, actually claims titles in the Byzantine heartland, and has a strong argument for the cortes: the only two things needed to satiate the Senate or Praetorian Guard. Many many titles that have existed still do and are out there even if not claimed. They just have to be resurrected at some point and when they do the one who always held it gets it anew. Look at all the folks who still hold Good King René's titles in Jerusalem, Cyprus, Naples and Anjou, for instance, just because of legal inheritance.

[@Zlonk7]

Third time's the charm so Romanov is automatically the winner

[@kbye2321]

Still believe Felipe is more legitimate~ *eagerly waits for war lol*

[@hitsugayatoshiro9517]

@@Zlonk7 filipe have romanov blood through his mother also Prussian, bourbon and greek

[@senhordoutorprofessormestr8629]

So, Madrid is the Fourth Rome

[@Dave_Sisson]

Phillip VI has a good legal claim, but for its last thousand years the Roman Empire was an overwhelmingly Orthodox state, not a Roman Catholic one and religion was a key part of the Empire. There is no way Phillip VI would convert, so perhaps the gig should go to the Romanovs... unless the Hapsburg heir is willing to change religion? After all, the Protestant Henry IV converted to Catholicism so he could become king of France with the line 'Paris is worth a mass'. So I'd support the Hapsburgs IF they would convert to Orthodoxy, otherwise the Romanovs.

[@Jan_Koopman]

In my opinion, all mentioned options have a good argument going for them. Time for a battle royale!

[@gauntlettcf5669]

I absolutely agree with you, King Felipe VI of Spain is the only one who has the legal right to claim the throne, hence he is the only one who can claim anything. If anyone knows anything about the Roman Empire, is that laws are above all. None of the other candidates have a LEGAL argument to their claims, just blood and speculation.

[@juandavidrestrepoduran6007]

Plus, his mom is a princess of Greece and he descends from at least 2 Byzantine dynasties, the Comnenos and the Angelos, if not more (I only know those 2 because I descend from the 2 same kings from which Felipe has that blood).

[@hitsugayatoshiro9517]

@@juandavidrestrepoduran6007 and German emperor through his mother

[@juandavidrestrepoduran6007]

Antonius are we talking about Philip VI or Alfonso X or whom exactly? It has happened several times

[@hitsugayatoshiro9517]

@@juandavidrestrepoduran6007 phili vi

[@tas766]

@@juandavidrestrepoduran6007 So true, but the most important point would be what current Roman's would choose? I think Philip/Felipe VI would be their choice as well. Who else fits more than him? Culture, legal claim, heritage...

[@MrSupdup]

King Felipe is the only one on that list that lines up with the conventional way Romans picked their emperors. Of any current head of state or government he has the closest familial claim to the most recent Roman Emperor (through his Russian line). That's all that really would have mattered - political power and a close enough familial connection. Also, historically Rome has done very well with Spanish emperors. Trajan, Hadrian and Theodosius the Great are all considered among the top roman emperors, with Rome reaching its peak under both Trajan and Hadrian's reign, and usually ranking second and third to only Augustus himself.

[@thehelpfulpug5820]

I was frustrated watching the responses because Felipe seems like the clear choice to me, and I hadn't even considered Rome's own love of law. Simply put, William's conquests were only given legitimacy based on his claim that the throne had been left to him in a last will and testament. Whether we choose to believe him or not, the legitimacy of the English royal line as it exists today is both entirely reliant on a claim by way of will, and accepted without question as legitimate. Thus, Felipe is the true heir to the title of Roman Emperor. Thank you, I'm HelpfulPug, and this has been my TED-talk.

[@ClawedAsh]

The King William argument aggrivated me because he only got that title and fought that war because he had an, at least strenous, claim to it. The Ottomans didn't have any such claim to Rome

[@drewdawg6022]

nononono its obvsiously Alessandra Mussolini the granddaughter of the most recent glorious and recspected by all in history, emperor

[@victoriagrapsidou3474]

The only legit claim is if existed from the Eastern Roman Empire, aka Byzantium, Constantine Palaiologos . Bloodline flows through the Tzars from Sophia Palaiologina so the Russian claim is more legit.

[@johnnystonks3970]

@@drewdawg6022 No you fools, it is Emmanuel Macron, french president but most importantly co-prince of Andorre

[@KobyOwen]

It doesn't matter if he had a claim or not, he became King by the Right of Conquest, hence his name.