Sharon Stone was left ‘completely stunned’ by the revelation that she is descended from Charlemagne – the former king who transformed Europe.
During her appearance on PBS’s show ‘Finding Your Roots’, the actress was lost for words when told by the host: ‘Charlemagne is your 38th great-grandfather.’
Stone responded: ‘If you want to see someone completely stunned, look at my face.’
Charlemagne, who towered at a hefty 6ft 4in, reigned as King of the Franks in what is now France from AD 768 until his death in 814.
His successful military campaigns in the eighth century saw him conquer Saxony and enforce the region’s conversion to Christianity.
So, are you also related to Charlemagne – described as ‘one of the most important people in history’?
Well, according to scientists, it’s not difficult to find out – particularly if you’re from Europe.
‘Literally every person in Europe is directly descended from Charlemagne,’ Professor Adam Rutherford, a geneticist at University College London, said.
Sharon Stone (left) has been left ‘completely stunned’ after finding out she is descended from Charlemagne (right) – but it is not a remarkable revelation at all
Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, fathered at least 18 children during his lifetime, from which all Europeans are descended, according to experts.
Whether you are, or are not from Europe, you’re very likely to be related to Charlemagne.
Stone previously revealed in an interview with Conan O’Brien that her Irish ancestors arrived in the US during the Great Famine in the 19th century.
Therefore, it’s no great surprise to hear that she is a descendant of the famous figure.
To work out if you are related to Charlemagne, it is just a case of knowing where you are originally from – or where your ancestors are from.
If you are from Europe, or have any European ancestor who existed after the time of Charlemagne (AD 748-814), you are related to the famous king.
But if you are not from Europe, it is just a case of tracing back your ancestors until you reach the European ones.
If you are uncertain of your ancestry it may be worth using a genetic test (such 23AndMe or MyHeritage) to uncover any European relatives.
If, for example, you are an American person with African or Asian heritage, you’d be an ancestor of Charlemagne only if you have had some kind of European ancestor in the last 1,200 years.
Charlemagne, who towered at a hefty 6ft 4in, reigned as King of the Franks in what is now France from AD 768 until his death in 814. His successful military campaigns in the eighth century saw him conquer Saxony and enforce the region’s conversion to Christianity
Charlemagne fathered at least 18 children during his lifetime – from which all Europeans are descended, according to experts. This is a depiction of Charlemagne being crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III
Professor Adam Rutherford, geneticist at University College London, previously said everyone in Europe is related to the historic Franko king.
He told the Chalke Valley History Festival in 2017: ‘Literally every person in Europe is directly descended from Charlemagne.
‘Literally, not metaphorically. You have a direct lineage which leads to Charlemagne.’
He added: ‘Looking around this room, every single one of you … is directly descended between 21 and 24 generations from Edward III.’
Back in 2015, Professor Rutherford wrote for the Guardian: ‘If you’re vaguely of European extraction, you are also the fruits of Charlemagne’s prodigious loins.
‘Basically, everyone alive in the ninth century who left descendants is the ancestor of every living European today, including Charlemagne.’
The academic pointed out that we all have two parents, who also had two parents, and so on, working backwards to form an ever expanding family tree.
‘This ancestral expansion is not borne back ceaselessly into the past,’ he explained.
Sharon was lost for words when host Henry Louis Gates Jr. said: ‘Charlemagne (the former king who transformed Europe) is your 38th great-grandfather. The first Holy Roman Emperor’
‘If it were, your family tree when Charlemagne [was king] would harbour more than a billion ancestors – more people than were alive then.’
Sir Richard Branson is another famous figure who has boasted of his relation to Charlemagne.
The Virgin boss found out he is 40 generations away from Charlemagne, describing it as ‘one of the extraordinary family facts I’ve discovered’.
Meanwhile, the late Lord of the Rings and Hammer Horror actor and singer Christopher Lee released music dedicated to the legend.
In 2010, at the age of 87, he released a heavy metal album called Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross.
Three years later, the Dracula actor’s fourth and final album, Charlemagne: The Omens of Death, was released.
