Genogram example · Famous historical families
Plantagenet Wars of the Roses Genogram
Quick answer
At a glance
| This example | |
|---|---|
| Generations | 5 |
| Family members | 10 (9 male, 1 female) |
| Birth years | 1312 to 1466 |
| Deceased | 10 |
| Index person | Henry VI of England |
| Conditions marked | Mental Health Conditions |
| Category | Famous historical families |
| Tags | Historical, Royal Families, Educational |
About this genogram
A genogram of the Plantagenet dynasty during the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487) — the bloody English civil war between the Houses of Lancaster (red rose) and York (white rose). Both sides descended from King Edward III, making this a family war in the truest sense. The conflict produced some of history's most dramatic stories: the madness of Henry VI, the ruthless ambition of Richard III, the Princes in the Tower, and the union of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York that founded the Tudor dynasty. This genogram is one of the most complex and frequently studied royal genealogies in Western history.
Family analysis
Overview
This 5-generation genogram maps 10 family members with birth years spanning from 1312 to 1466, comprising 9 males and 1 female (10 deceased). The genogram tracks 2 medical/psychological condition categories. The index patient is Henry VI of England (b. 1421), king of england (lancaster).
The Plantagenet Wars of the Roses Genogram spans a remarkable historical period from 1312 to 1466. Notable family members include Edward (king of england), John (duke of lancaster), Edmund (duke of york), Henry (king of england (lancaster)). The genogram records 10 deaths, including Richard (killed at battle of wakefield), Henry (murdered in the tower of london), Edward (possibly stroke or pneumonia).
Health conditions
Medical and psychological conditions are documented in 2 of 10 family members (20%). Mental health conditions appears in 1 member (Henry). Disability appears in 1 member (Richard).
Teaching use
As an educational tool, the Plantagenet Wars of the Roses Genogram provides an accessible entry point for learning genogram notation and interpretation. Because the family's history is publicly documented, students can verify relationship structures and practice reading genogram symbols against known facts. The example illustrates how even well-known families exhibit the universal dynamics of intergenerational transmission, loss, and adaptation that genograms are designed to capture.
How do you read the Plantagenet Wars of the Roses Genogram?
- 1
Find each person and generation
Squares are males and circles are females, and each row is one generation, oldest at the top. This one has 9 males and 1 females across 5 generations. - 2
Check the status markers
Markers on a symbol add facts about that person: Deceased (X) and Index Patient (Arrow). 10 people are marked deceased. The index person, the focus of the assessment, is Henry VI of England. - 3
Follow the family lines
Horizontal lines join partners and vertical lines drop to their children, born left to right in birth order. This genogram uses Marriage and Parent-Child lines. - 4
Read the shading
Shaded symbols mark health conditions: Mental Health Conditions. Trace each line of descent to see where a condition recurs and where it stops.
Genogram symbols used in this example
| Symbol | Type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Male (Square) | Person Symbols | A square represents a male family member in standard genogram notation. |
| Female (Circle) | Person Symbols | A circle represents a female family member in standard genogram notation. |
| Deceased (X) | Status Markers | An X drawn through the symbol indicates the person is deceased. |
| Index Patient (Arrow) | Status Markers | An arrow pointing to a person identifies them as the index patient — the individual who is the focus of the clinical assessment. |
| Marriage | Structural Relationships | A solid horizontal line connecting two individuals represents a marriage or committed partnership. |
| Parent-Child | Structural Relationships | A vertical line descending from a couple line to a child symbol represents a parent-child relationship. |
| Mental Health Conditions | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates psychological or psychiatric conditions beyond anxiety and depression. |
Build a genogram like this one
Example prompt
- 1
Start from the dashboard
Sign in to GenogramAI and choose Create with AI (paid plans), or open a blank genogram and use Ask AI (any plan). To start from this exact chart instead, use Open as template. - 2
Describe your family
Paste a description like the one above, with your own names, dates, relationships and health history. - 3
Check and adjust
Edit people and lines by hand, or ask the AI for one change at a time. - 4
Export
Download a PNG on the free plan. PDF and SVG export are on paid plans.
The free plan includes 2 genograms and 5 AI credits a month. See the AI genogram creator for what else it can do.
Related resources
- New to genograms? Start with our guide on how to read a genogram to understand the symbols used here.
- Reference our complete genogram symbols guide to decode the notation in this example.
- Learn what a genogram is and why family therapists use them to map multigenerational patterns.
- The deceased symbol (X through the shape) marks family members who have passed away.
- The marriage symbol connects partnered individuals in this genogram.
Frequently asked questions
What clinical patterns does the Plantagenet Wars of the Roses Genogram reveal?
The Plantagenet Wars of the Roses Genogram maps multigenerational transmission of psychological patterns, emotional dynamics, and relationship structures. Clinicians use it to identify recurring cycles of behavior, attachment styles, and communication patterns that may inform diagnosis and treatment planning in family therapy.
Why use Plantagenet Wars of the Roses as a genogram example?
Plantagenet Wars of the Roses provides an excellent genogram learning example because the family relationships are already well-known. Students and professionals can focus on understanding genogram symbols and notation rather than memorizing new family information.
What genogram symbols are used in the Plantagenet Wars of the Roses Genogram example?
This genogram uses Male (Square), Female (Circle), Deceased (X), Index Patient (Arrow), Marriage, Parent-Child and Mental Health Conditions. All of them follow standard genogram notation, so the chart reads the same way in any genogram program or textbook.
Can I build a genogram like the Plantagenet Wars of the Roses Genogram example?
Yes. Open GenogramAI, choose Create with AI on the dashboard (paid plans) or open a blank genogram and use Ask AI in the editor (any plan), and describe the family in plain words: who is in it, how they are related, key dates and the relationships or health conditions you want to show. The AI draws the symbols and lines, and you can then edit by hand or ask for one change at a time. A family of 10 people like this one takes a short paragraph to describe. The free plan includes 2 genograms and 5 AI credits a month, with PNG export.
About this example
