Stamboom van het Habsburgse huis, blad acht 1533 - 1535

This print of the Habsburg family tree was made by Robert Péril, but we don't know exactly when. This image is typical of early modern Europe, where lineage and ancestry were crucial for establishing social status and political legitimacy. Visual codes such as heraldry and portraiture were often used to construct a narrative of noble descent. Family trees were important tools of dynastic self-representation. By tracing its origins back to illustrious ancestors, the House of Habsburg sought to enhance its prestige and solidify its claim to power. But family trees were not objective records. They were interpretations of the past that could serve present-day interests. Historians examine a range of documentary sources, such as charters, genealogies, and chronicles, in order to understand the purposes for which such images were made.