Princely houses of Poland and Lithuania
![](../I/m/King_of_Poland.jpg)
The princely houses of Poland differed from other princely houses in Europe. Most importantly, Polish nobility (szlachta) could not be granted nobility titles by the Polish kings in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Therefore, the title of prince either dated to the times before the Union of Lublin, which created the Commonwealth in 1569, or was granted to some nobles (usually magnates) by foreign kings. Due to the longstanding history of common statehood, some noble families often described as "Polish" actually originated in Grand Duchy of Lithuania and are of Lithuanian or Ruthenian descent. Some houses are more correctly described as being of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Kingdom of Poland
# | Name | Coat of Arms | Title recognition | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal Houses | |||||
1 | Piast/Piast-Śląski/Piast-Opolski/Piast-Mazowiecki/Piast-Kujawski/von Liegnitz-Brieg-Wohlau etc. Dynasty | ![]() |
c. 960
The first historical dynasty prevailing in Poland from about 960 to 1370. Their progenitor, the semi-legendary Piast the Wheelwright, son of Chościsko, came from Gniezno. According to the chronicles of Gallus Anonymus, the son of Piast the Wheelwright and his wife Rzepicha – Siemowit, became the first ruler of the Piast dynasty. Followed by Lestek and Siemomysł. The first ruler of the Piast dynasty and Civitas Schinesghe (the first recorded name related to Poland as a political entity), who historically is not questioned, was Mieszko I of Poland. |
died out in 1370, in the Kingdom of Poland; the last man in 1675, the last woman in 1707, in Duchies of Silesia | |
2 | Jagiellonian Dynasty male form: Jagiellończyk, female form: Jagiellonka | ![]() |
1386
Princely (grand ducal) roots of this family are older, but only connected with Lithuania. Previously also known as the Gediminid dynasty in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The dynasty takes its name from Władysław II Jagiełło who was the Grand Duke of Lithuania between 1377–1434 and then alongside his wife queen regnant Jadwiga of Poland (reign 1384-1399) became king of Poland between 1386–1434. |
died out in 1596 | |
2 | Albarosa/Poraj/Kurozwęcki/Męciński/Jabłecki-Męciński dynasty | ![]() |
Prince Porej Slavnikovec (945-995), brother of St. Adalbert, son of Slavnik (his Bohemian dynasty had Italian roots under surname Albarosa) arrived to Poland with Doubravka of Bohemia in 965. His descendants used the name Poraj de Albarosa. They gave their coat of arms to many Polish knights and changed their surname to Kurozwęcki from Kurozwęki after marriage with Anna Bogoria from Skotniki and Kurozwęki. The family were influential persons and held royal power, eg. regent and wiceroy of Poland, Dobiesław Kurozwęcki from Kurozwęki (1319-1397). After the death of Casimir the Great, Dobiesław created the Polish-Lithuanian union, thanks to which Poland became the most powerful and the largest country in Europe. One line of the Kurozwęcki family changed their surname to Męciński from Kurozwęki. The Kurozwęcki family died out, the Męciński family in 1801 received the count's title, and in 1918 they were re-awarded the princely title by Pope Benedict XV for Adam Męciński and his son (with Magdalena Jabłecka), Benedykt Jabłecki-Męciński. In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Kurozwęcki and Męciński families were not mentioned as princes. During the reign of the Piasts and Jagiellonians, this dynasty was called the grey eminence. | family exists | |
|}
Duchy of Pomerania
# | Name | Coat of Arms | Title recognition | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dukes of Pomerania | |||||
1 | House of Griffins | ![]() |
1106 | died out in 1660 | |
2 | House of Sobiesław | ![]() |
1227 | died out in 1317 (Duchy of Pomerelia) |
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
# | Name | Coat of Arms | Title recognition | Estates | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Ancient" Princely Houses (Rody „stare”) | |||||
1 | Olelkowicz | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Kopylsko-Słuck | title expired in 1592 |
2 | Ostrogski | ![]() |
1569 | Ordynacja and Duchy of Ostroróg, Jarosław, Tarnów | title expired in 1620 |
3 | Piotrowski | ![]() |
1569 | records destroyed during the Warsaw Uprising | family exists |
4 | Borkowski | 1499 | Duchy of Samogitia[1] | family exists | |
5 | Borowski | ![]() |
~1528 | Princely family of Rurikid origin, Kniaz, Kśiestwo Żmudzkie | family exists [2] |
6 | Zasławski | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Zasław, Ordynacja and Duchy of Ostroróg | title expired in 1682 |
7 | Zbaraski | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Zbaraż | title expired in 1631 |
8 | Wiśniowiecki | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Wiśniowiec, Duchy of Łubniów, Duchy of Zbaraż | title expired in 1744 |
9 | Korecki | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Korets | title expired in 1651 |
10 | Sanguszko | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Koszyrsk, Ordynacja Ostrogska, Duchy of Zasław | family exists |
11 | Czartoryski | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Czartorysk, Duchy of Klewań, Puławy, Sieniawa | family exists |
12 | Czetwertyński | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Czetwertynia | family exists |
13 | Radziwiłł | ![]() |
1569 | Duchy of Birżańsk, Ordynacja and Duchy of Nieświez, Duchy of Dubienica, Ordynacja and Duchy of Ołyka, Ordynacja Kleck, Duchy of Kopylsko-Słuck |
family exists |
"New" Princely Houses (Rody „nowe”) | |||||
14 | Lubomirski | ![]() |
1682 | Wiśnicz, Kolbuszowa, Jarosław, Przeworsk, Ordynacja Ostrogska | family exists |
15 | Poniatowski | 1764 | Wołczyn | family exists | |
16 | Sapieha | 1768 | Różana, Kodeń, Horki, Zelwa | family exists | |
Princes of the Partition Sejm | |||||
17 | Poniński | 1773 | Września | title expired in 1920 | |
18 | Sułkowski | ![]() |
1774 | Leszno, Ordynacja Rydzyńska | family exists |
19 | Jabłonowski | 1775 | Duchy of Ostrog | title expired in 1926 | |
20 | Massalski (Hetmans-Bishops line) | ![]() |
1775 | Lachowicze, Mysz, Werki, Druja | title expired in 1794 |
Ordynacja families | |||||
21 | Zamoyski (Hetman line) | ![]() |
1588 | Ordynacja Zamojska, Szarogród | title expired in 1665 |
22 | Zamoyski (Younger line) | ![]() |
1676 | Ordynacja Zamojska | family exists |
23 | Gonzaga-Myszkowski | ![]() |
1601 | Ordynacja Pińczowska | title expired in 1727 |
24 | Gonzaga-Myszkowski-Wielopolski | ![]() |
1729 | Ordynacja Pińczowska | family exists |
Lords of Principalities | |||||
25 | Potocki family | ![]() |
1696 | Duchy of Zbaraz | family exists |
26 | Mniszech | 1744 | Duchy of Wiśniowiec | died out in 1905 | |
Royal Houses | |||||
27 | Sobieski | ![]() |
1674 | Żółkiew | died out in 1737 |
28 | Leszczyński | ![]() |
1705 | Leszno | died out in 1766 |
Dukes of Polish fiefs | |||||
29 | Hohenzollern | ![]() |
1525 | Duchy of Prussia, Lębork, Bytów, Taurogi, Sereje | family exists |
30 | Kettler | ![]() |
1561 | Duchy of Courland and Semigallia | title expired in 1737 |
31 | Movilești (Mohyłowie) | ![]() |
1595 | Principality of Moldavia, Wielkie Oczy | title expired |
32 | Wettin | ![]() |
1759 | Duchy of Courland and Semigallia | title expired in 1763, family exists |
33 | Biron | ![]() |
1737 | Duchy of Courland and Semigallia | family exists |
Clergy Princes | |||||
34 | Bishops of Gniezno | ![]() |
traditionally | Duchy of Łowicz | liquidated in 1795 |
35 | Bishops of Krakow | ![]() |
traditionally | Duchy of Siewierz | liquidated in 1790 |
36 | Bishops of Warmia | ![]() |
traditionally | Duchy of Warmia | liquidated in 1772 |
37 | Bishops of Płock | ![]() |
traditionally | Duchy of Pułtusk | liquidated in 1795 |
38 | Provost of Płock | ![]() |
traditionally | Duchy of Sieluń | liquidated in 1790 |
Old Lithuanian and Ruthenian (Rurikid) Princely Houses
# | Name | Coat of Arms | Remarks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princely Houses | |||||
1 | Giedroyć | ![]() |
family exists | ||
2 | Światopełk-Mirski | family exists | |||
3 | Drucki | Branches: Druccy-Sokoliński, Drucki-Konopla, Drucki-Ozierecki, Drucki-Pryhabski, Drucki-Horski, Drucki-Tołoczyński, Drucki-Lubecki family exists | |||
4 | Rużyński | ![]() |
died out in the 17th century | ||
5 | Kurcewicz | ![]() |
family exists | ||
6 | Połubiński | ![]() |
family exists | ||
7 | Łukomski | ![]() |
family exists | ||
8 | Ostrożecki | ![]() |
died out | ||
9 | Zasławski | ![]() |
family exists | ||
10 | Porycki | ![]() |
died out in 1637. Princes of Ruthenian (Ukrainian) origin in the Korybut clan. | ||
11 | Purycki | ![]() |
family exists - Heraldic family of the Korybut clan. Lithuanian origin. | ||
12 | Żyżemski | ![]() |
perhaps died out | ||
13 | Hołowczyński | ![]() |
died out in 1658 | ||
14 | Szujski | ![]() |
died out in 1658 | ||
15 | Holszański | ![]() |
died out | ||
16 | Świrski | family exists | |||
17 | Gliński | ![]() |
died out |
Princely Houses with Tatar origin [3]
Ahmetowicz, Achmetowicz, Adamowicz, Aksak, Axak, Apanowicz-Białobłocki, Assanczukowicz, Assanowicz, Bahryński, Bartoszewicz, Begimowicz,Berbasz Bierbasz, Birbasz, Bohdanowicz, Bułhak, Chazbiejewicz, Dawidowicz, Fursowicz, Gliński, Grocholski, Haraburda, Jachicz, Juchowski, Jurewicz, Juszyński, Kadyszewicz Kejdysz, Kambułatowicz, Karaczewicz, Kasymowicz, Kieński, Kiński, Kordysz, Korycki, Korzon, Kotłubaj, Kryczyński, Lebiedziewski, Lipski, Łostajski, Łowczycki, Malibakszycz, Maluszycki, Małyszycki, Maślakiewicz, Minbułatowicz, Najman-Kadyszewicz, Niekraszewicz, Nowosielski, Obulewicz, Okęcki, Ostryński, Petyhorski, Piotrowski, Puński, Rodkiewicz-Szpakowski, Rudnicki, Sayna-Kryczyński, Siehdziński, Skirmunt, Smólski, Sołtan, Starzyński, Sulimanowicz, Sulkiewicz, Szymkowicz, Szyryński, Talkowski, Tarak-Buczacki, Taraszewski, Tuhan-Baranowski, Ułan, Ułan-Maluszycki, Waliła-Łowczycki, Zawacki, Zackiewicz-Sulimanowicz.
These princely houses lived like average rich nobility, but sometimes part of these lived like peasants.
Princely titles granted by foreign monarchs
# | Name | Coat of Arms | Title recognition | Country | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princely Houses | |||||
1 | Saszowski von Saszow (historically equally spelt Szassowski, Szaszowski, Schaschowsky) | ![]() |
before 1380 | Holy Roman Empire; ancient nobility (German Uradel) family of German princely house origin, German title Fürsten (Latin Princeps).[4] Its family descendants extended from their German origin to Upper Hungary during the High Middle Ages and arrived in the Duchy of Silesia during the 14th-century.[4][5] During the 16th-century the family were also appointed the Burgraves of Kraków (Poland's former capital) and Wawel Royal Castle.[6][7] Branches of the Silesian House of Saszowski von Saszow: Saszowski-Palczowski (Palczewski), Saszowski-Gierałtowski (Geraltowski/Geraltowsky).[4][5] | family exists |
2 | Czartoryski | ![]() |
1433[8] | Holy Roman Empire
A confirmation of the old princely title |
family exists |
3 | Radziwiłł | ![]() |
1515/18 and 1547 | Holy Roman Empire
A confirmation of the old princely title |
family exists |
4 | Ossoliński | ![]() |
1633, 1634, 1736 | Papal States, Holy Roman Empire, France | entitled family lines died out |
5 | Denhoff | ![]() |
1637 | Holy Roman Empire | entitled family line died out |
6 | Koniecpolski | ![]() |
1637 | Holy Roman Empire | entitled family line died out |
7 | Lubomirski | ![]() |
1647 | Holy Roman Empire, | family exists |
8 | Jabłonowski | 1698, 1733/34, 1743 | Holy Roman Empire | entitled family line died out | |
9 | Sapieha/Sapieha-Rożański/Sapieha-Kodeński | 1700 | Holy Roman Empire
A confirmation of the old princely title |
family exists | |
10 | Sułkowski | ![]() |
1752 | Holy Roman Empire | family exists |
11 | Lichnowski | ![]() |
1773 | Prussia | family exists |
12 | Poniatowski | 1765, 1847, 1850 | Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (Bohemian title of Prince), Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy |
family exists | |
13 | Zajączek | ![]() |
1818 | Russia | title expired in 1826 |
14 | Łowicki | ![]() |
1820 | Russia
An additional title of prince donated to the wife of Grand Duke Konstantin and for their descendants |
family died out in 1929 but title is not expired |
15 | Radoliński | ![]() |
1888 | Prussia | family exists |
16 | Męciński/Jabłecki-Męciński | ![]() |
1918 | Vatican
A confirmation of the old princely title and the new coat of arms, which is a richer version of the old (Poraj) |
family exists |
Principality of Mińkowce (1772-1832)
# | Name | Coat of Arms | Title recognition | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princely Houses | |||||
1 | Ścibor-Marchocki | ![]() |
1772 | family exists | |
Kingdom of Poland (Congress Poland)
# | Name | Coat of Arms | Title recognition | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princely Houses | |||||
1 | Światopełk-Mirski | 1821
A confirmation of the old princely title |
family exists | ||
2 | Puzyna | ![]() |
1823
A confirmation of the old princely title |
family exists | |
3 | Ogiński | 1824
A confirmation of the old princely title |
family exists | ||
4 | Woroniecki/Korybut-Woroniecki | ![]() |
1844 and 1852
A confirmation of the old princely title |
family exists | |
See also
References
- ↑ "The Titled Families of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth – Polish Genealogical Society of America". pgsa.org. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
- ↑ Borowscy książęta. Kniaź Wołodimir Andrejewicz Chrobry, żonaty z He- leną, córką Olgerda, wnuk w. ks. moskiewskiego Iwana Danifowicza Kalety, pozostawił pięciu synów, z których Semen otrzymał Horowsk. Czy jednak książęta Borowscy, zjawiający się na Litwie, pochodzą od niego, trudno o tym orzec coś stanowczego, skoro Borowsk przeszedł następnie w posiadanie synowców Semena, a synów Jarosława; stanowisko zaś, jakie zajmowali na Litwie kniaziowie Borowscy, tak jest różne od stanowiska potomków Jarosława, brata Semena, że prędzej należy przypuścić, iż litewscy kniaziowie Borowscy stanowią zubożałą odrośl jednej z licznych kniaziowskich rodzin, o pochodzeniu których nic nie wiemy. Z kniaziów Borowskich spotykamy na Litwie kniazia Bohdana, który ma sprawę z Chłupiniczami w 1499 roku i kniazia Juriego, męża Barbary, córki Marcina Jurłowa, który w 1542 r. ma sprawę z kniaziem Illnszonką o dom w Wilnie (ML G i 32). Kniaź Juri, pomimo że nabył w 1547 r. od Chodkiewicza różne majątki, nie musiał być bogatym, skoro pełnił obowiązki marszałka dworu Hlebowicza, wojewody wileńskiego (ML 48 I 62). Kniaź Juri Borowski pozostawił syna Lwa i córkę Helenę, która w 1570 roku była żoną Hieronima Kwileckiego (ML 51). Kniaź Lew Juriewicz Borowski z synami, Janem i Mikołajem, I córką Maryną, żoną Stanisława Burby, wnosi skargę w 1599 r. na (jintowta o za- branie spadku, który im się po Podbercskim przynależał (Akta T. YIII).* https://archive.org/stream/poczetrodwwwie00boniuoft/poczetrodwwwie00boniuoft_djvu.txt source: Adam Boniecki: Poczet Rodów w Wielkim księstwie Litewskim
- ↑ http://www.genpol.com/module-subjects-printpage-pageid-37-scope-all.html
- 1 2 3 Okolski, Szymon (1641–45). Orbis Polonus splendoribus coeli, triumphis mundi, pulchritudine animantium condecoratus, in quo antiqua Sarmatorum gentiliata pervetusta nobilitatis insignia etc. specificantur et relucent [Polish Encyclopedia of the ancient Sarmatian families, the history of the coats of arms of the nobles of Poland old and new, their origin as awards for honorable deeds & the arms themselves specifically described and emblazoned] (in Latin). III. Kraków: In Officina Typographica Francisci Cæsarii. pp. 94&ndash, 98.
- 1 2 Sinapius, Johannes (1720). Schlesische Curiositäten, darinnen die ansehnlichen Geschlechter des Schlesischen Adels mit Erzehlung des Ursprungs, der Wappen, Genealogien (etc.) [Silesian curiosities, containing eminent families of the Silesian nobility with narratives of origin, the coat of arms, genealogies (etc.)] (in German). I. Leipzig: Verlag des Autoris. pp. 389&ndash, 390.
- ↑ Dokumenty pergaminowe Oddziału I Archiwum Państwowego w Krakowie do 1600 r. (Parchments until 1600, Department of State Archives in Krakow); Data (Date): 1569.07.11, Miejsce (Place): Lublin, Sygnatura (Signature): W 028.
- ↑ Paprockiego, Bartosza (1584). Herby rycerstwa polskiego [Armorials of Polish Knights] (in Polish). Kraków: Wydawnictwa Biblioteki Polskiej. pp. LXXXIII & CVII, 710-711 & 891.
- ↑ Czartoryski at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine
- Konarski S., 1958, Armorial de la noblesse polonaise titrée, Paris.
- Kowalski M., 2007, Księstwa w przestrzeni politycznej I Rzeczpospolitej, [w:] I. Kiniorska, S. Sala (red.), Rola geografii społeczno-ekonomicznej w badaniach regionalnych, Instytut Geografii AŚ, PTG, Kielce, 2007, s. 177-186.
- Leitgeber S., 1993, Nowy Almanach Błękitny, Oficyna Wydawnicza „Audiutor”, Poznań-Warszawa.
- Olszewski H., 1969, Ustrój polityczny Rzeczpospolitej (w:) Tazbir J. (red.), Polska XVII wieku – państwo, społeczeństwo, kultura. Wiedza Powszechna, Warszawa, s. 52-83
- Niesiecki K., Herbarz Polski (Polish Armorial) full title: "Korona Polska przy złotey wolnosci starożytnemi Rycerstwa Polskiego y Wielkiego Xięstwa Litewskiego kleynotami naywyższymi Honorami Heroicznym, Męstwem y odwagą, Wytworną Nauką a naypierwey Cnotą, nauką Pobożnością, y Swiątobliwością ozdobiona Potomnym zaś wiekom na zaszczyt y nieśmiertelną sławę Pamiętnych w tey Oyczyźnie Synow podana TOM ... Przez X. Kaspra Niesieckego Societatis Jesu", Lwów, 1738.
"Korona Polska..." vol. 1 "Korona Polska..." vol. 2 "Korona Polska..." vol. 3 "Korona Polska..." vol. 4 edition expanded by other authors: Herbarz Polski... vol. 4-10, published by Jan Nepomucen de Bobrowicz, Leipzig, 1841
- Jasienica P., Myśli o dawnej Polsce, Warszawa: Czytelnik, 1990, ISBN 83-07-01957-5, OCLC 69526168
- Klubówna A., Królowa Jadwiga. Warszawa 1986
- Tęgowski J., Krąg rodzinny Jarosława Bogorii (w:) Genealogia – polska elita polityczna na tle porównawczym, Toruń 1993