THE
TITLED FAMILIES
OF POLAND
Welcome to the Almanach de Polska. This web page was created with the intention of providing a comprehensive English language guide to the titled families of Poland. It is hoped that this will prove useful to both the amateur and the academic. Most of the existing sources are published in languages other than English (primarily Polish, German and Russian). For those unversed in these tongues the world of Polish nobility has remained an obscure and elusive realm. By placing this material on the Internet it is my intention to ensure that this no longer remains the case. Henceforth, students of history, descendants of titled families, and those eager to verify the authenticity of alleged “Counts” and “Princes” shall have an easily accessible resource.
Although a variety of sources were used in the compilation of this site, acknowledgement must be given above all to Szymon Konarski's Armorial de la Noblesse Polonaise Titree (Paris, 1958). This author has drawn heavily from the work of the late Mr. Konarski. Mention must also be made of several other works: Herbarz polski: wiadomoszci historyczno-genealogiszne o rodach szlacheckich by Adam Boniecki (1887); Genealogia by Wl. Dworzaczek (1959); Rodzina, herbarz szlachty polskiej by Seweryn Uruski and A. Kosinski (1904-1917); Spis nazwisk szlachty polskiej by Jerzy Seweryn Dunin-Borkowski (1997 reprint); Herbarz Polski by Kasper Niesiecki, 1839-1846, (1979 reprint); Genealogie Rodow Utytulowanych w Polsce (vol. 1) by Tomasz Lenczewski (1995-1996).
The history of titles in Poland is both complex and controversial. At a later date this author intends to write an essay dealing with both the history of Polish attitudes and policies towards titles as well as with the use of bogus titles by certain unscrupulous individuals. When completed the essay will be accessible on this web page. Until that time, the author highly recommends interested parties consult the comprehensive essay “Titles of Nobility in Poland” authored in French by Szymon Konarski and translated into English by Timothy Boettger. This essay is accessible by clicking HERE.
The Polish Crown granted very few hereditary titles. For many generations hereditary titles were viewed as an affront to the theoretical equality of the noble class ("Szlachta"). The concept of titular ranks (Prince, Marquess, Count and Baron) was viewed by many as falsely elevating certain families above their peers. Many of Poland's oldest families never received any title. Within the titled class one would also find it well-nigh impossible to 'rank' families solely by virtue of their title. Very often a countly family (Zamoyski, Potocki or Tarnowski being classic examples) would be more wealthy, more powerful, more prominent and of far greater antiquity than a princely family. Nevertheless, most of Poland's greatest and wealthiest families did indeed receive titles (invariably from foreign Crowns).
As mentioned above, the Polish szlachta was comprised of both titled and non-titled families. The wealth and power of the szlachta ranged from extreme to extreme. At one extreme one finds the "magnatial class". The magnates consisted of just over a dozen of the wealthiest and most powerful families (although not necessarily an accurate or comprehensive list, mention should be made of certain families: Branicki, Czartoryski, Jablonowski, Krasinski, Lanckoronski, Lubomirski, Plater, Potocki, Radziwill, Sapieha, Sanguszko, Tarnowski, Tyszkiewicz, Zamoyski.).
Members of the magnatial class were every bit the equal of continental dukes. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries an argument could even be made that the richest Polish magnates were wealthier and more powerful than any Peer in England or the United Kingdom. The estates of Prince Karol Radziwill covered approximately 27,000 square kilometres (almost the size of Belgium). In 1763 he owned 16 towns and 583 villages. In the Ukraine one member of the Potocki family owned 3,000,000 acres.
In 1748 the total revenue of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth amounted to 8,000,000 zloties. In that same year the Zamoyski family owned 1,000,000 zloties, Count F.S. Potocki possessed 3,000,000 and Michael Radziwill had amassed 5,000,000 zloties. It has been estimated that Michael Radziwill's 5,000,000 zloties was equal to 139,000 pounds sterling. This would make the income of even the richest British aristocrats (Bedfords, Devonshires etc) pale in comparison. In 1767
James Harris (later the Earl of Malmesbury) calculated Radziwill's income
at 18,000,000 zloties or 500,000 pnds sterling.
In the early 1760s August Czartoryski had a personal court of 375 persons and a
private army of 4,000. F.S. Potocki had 2,000 men in his army. Michael Radziwill could lay claim to 10,000 men in 1750 and his son to 5,000 in 1764.
At the other end of the spectrum we find the poorest members of the szlachta. Many of these nobles owned little more than a shack and poultry. Indeed, some were too poor to purchase a home and lived as tennants, working the land of richer nobles. For these people the world of the magnates was entirely foreign and mystical. Theoretically they were the equal of the magnates in terms of rights, privileges and duties. The practice was far different.
Encompassing such a large body of individuals, the szlachta naturally became extremely large. Representing a range of such diversity makes it hard to regard the body as a homogeneous class. It would be easier perhaps to speak of the szlachta as "gentry", in the English sense of the term, and of the "magnates" and titled families as "aristocracy". There are undoubtedly many Poles who would strongly disagree with such a characterization. However, there can be little doubt that the magnates and the other rich families (the majority of whom bore hereditary titles) lived in a world entirely separate to that of their poorer szlachta brothers. It is for this reason that this guide is referred to as a guide to the Polish "aristocracy". It is this author's preference to divide the broad Polish "nobility" into two more manageable classes: "gentry" and "aristocracy". For the purposes of this endeavour the "aristocracy" will be defined as those families in receipt of a title. This definition is far from perfect and I have no doubt that some will accuse me of entering into needless semantics. There are, it is true, many untitled families that were both rich and powerful. Such families certainly deserve inclusion amongst the "aristocracy" (it is also true that there are titled families who exerted little influence and possessed little wealth). Unfortunately, attempting to catalogue all such families and attempting to determine criteria for inclusion is both dangerous and arduous. Thus, the simple criteria of possession of a title is this author's preference (understanding that there are exceptions to the rule).
As mentioned supra, the majority of Polish families received their titles from foreign Crowns. This can best be illustrated by consulting the list below:
POLISH FAMILIES BEARING THE TITLE OF COUNT. CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SOURCE OF GRANT*:
Papal
Brzozowski, Cieszkowski, Czosnowski, Gorzenski, Keszycki, Koczorowski, Kurnatowski, Lasocki, Mankowski, Milewski, Mlodecki, Poninski, Potocki, Pruszynski, Puslowski, Skarzynski, Smorczewski, Sobanski, Szeliski, Szlubowski, Zawadzki.
Poland
Badeni, Bielinski, Broniec, Lanckoronski, Moszynski.
Holy Roman Empire / Austria / Galicia
Aleksandrowicz, Ankwicz, Badeni, Baworowski, Bakowski, Bielski, Bobrowski, Borch, Borkowski, Bukowski, Bystrzanowski, Cetner, Charczewski, Choloniewski, Czapski, Dembinski, Debicki, Drohojowski, Dzieduszycki, Flemming, Fredro, Golejewski, Goluchowski, Grodzinski, Grzembski, Humnicki, Jablonowski, Jaworski, Jezierski, Kalinowski, Karnicki, Karsnicki, Komarnicki, Komorowski, Konarski, Korytowski, Kossakowski, Koziebrodzki, Krasicki, Krasinski, Krosnowski, Krukowiecki, Kuczkowski, Kuropatnicki, Lanckoronski, Latalski, Ledochowski, Leszczynski, Lewicki, Lubieniecki, Lubomirski, Laczynski, Los, Malachowski, Mecinski, Miaczynski, Michalowski, Mier, Mieroszewski, Mniszech, Mniszek, Morski, Morsztyn, Moszczenski, Osiecimski-Hutten-Czapski, Ostrorog, Otocki, Parys, Pawlowski, Pininski, Poletylo, Potocki, Przerembski, Rey, Rogalinski, Romer, Rozwadowski, Russocki, Rzewuski, Rzyszczewski, Skarbek, Skrzynski, Stadnicki, Starzenski, Suchodolski, Sulkowski, Szaniawski, Szeptycki, Tarnowski, Trembinski, Tyszkiewicz, Ulinski, Uruski, Wielhorski, Wielopolski, Wiesiolowski, Wisniewski, Wodzicki, Wolanski, Woyna, Zabielski, Zabiello, Zaleski, Zaluski, Zamoyski, Zborowski, Zelenski.
Russia
Branicki, Czacki, Czapski, Grabowski, Grocholski, Grudzinski, Ilinski, Kaszowski-Ilinski, Kicinski, Kossakowski, Krasinski, Krukowiecki, Los, Miaczynski, Mikorski, Mostowski, Moszczenski, Ossolinski, Ostrorog, Ozarowski, Plater, Poletylo, Potocki, Przezdziecki, Ronikier, Rozwadowski, Rzewuski, Siekierzynski, Siemienski, Sierakowski, Skarbek, Tarnowski, Tyszkiewicz, Walewski, Wielopolski, Zamoyski.
Prussia
Bielinski, Bninski, Brzozowski, Czarnecki, Dambski, Dzialynski, Garczynski, Gorzenski, Grabowski, Grudzinski, Gurowski, Husarzewski, Jaraczewski, Jundzill, Krasinski, Kreski, Kwilecki, Lacki, Lubienski, Miaczynski, Mielzynski, Mieroszewski, Mikorski, Mycielski, Opacki, Ossolinski, Ostrowski, Piwnicki, Poninski, Potulicki, Potworowski, Raczynski, Skorzewski, Sokolnicki, Szembek, Szoldrski, Taczanowski, Wesierski, Wolski, Wollowicz, Zboinski, Zoltowski, Zyniew.
France
Krasinski, Walewski.
Italy
Czosnowski, Orlowski, Poninski, Rzyszczewski.
Belgium
Lasocki.
Bavaria
Poninski.
Saxony
Breza, Konopacki, Suminski.
Unknown
Batowski, Chodkiewicz, Dzierzbicki, Gizycki, Gomolinski, Gutakowski, Matuszewicz, Pac, Sobolewski, Tarlo, Wasowicz.
* Certain families received a grant from more than one Crown. In such cases the family is listed under each relevant source above. Confirmations are not included.
Today, the subject of Polish titles is largely esoteric. Rare is the Polish aristocrat who insists on being referred to by his or her title. Nevertheless, the subject is one which is a source of confusion and mystery and it is to recitfy this that this web page was created. Please enter the database and, should you wish, leave a comment in the guest book. I can also be reached by email at the link below. (A note: there are several spelling, grammar, typographical and related minor errors in the family listings. Computer difficulties have prevented me from accessing certain pages and I have therefore been unable to edit/correct content on those pages).
This is the end of the Introduction. To access the alphabetical listing of the titled families of Poland, complete with detailed histories on the origin of each grant, please click on one of the following:
Princes
Marquess
Counts
Barons
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