The Princely Houses of Poland

The Princely Houses of Poland had some important qualities differentiating them 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 were given to some nobles (usually magnates) by foreign kings.

Princely houses of Poland, including those with title of 'Kniaz':

* Czartoryski h. Pogon Litewska. Dynastic Princely title confirmed in Poland and Lithuania in 1569, in Hungary in 1442 and 1808, in Austria in 1785 and 1863, in the Kingdom of Poland in 1815, 1819 and 1824. Qualification of Serene Highness accorded in Austria, July 20, 1905.

* Czetwertyński h. Pogon Ruska. The Czetwertynski family appears in the 1824 list of persons authorised to bear the title of Prince in the Kingdom of Poland. The title was recognised in Russia in 1843, 1858, 1860, 1875 and 1886.

* Drucki-Lubecki h. Druck. The right to the title of Prince was recognised in Prussia on December 21, 1798, in Russia on January 24, 1851 and May 12, 1852.

* Giedroyc h. Hippocentaurus varied. LP Poland 1569, Vilnius 1811, St Petersburg 1811 & 1873.

Princely title received Russian confirmation in 1811, 1865, 1866, 1873, 1875, 1876, 1878 and 1880.

See Jerzy Giedroyć.

* Jabłonowski h. Prus III. Hereditary title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire granted by Emperor Charles VII to various members of the family in 1743 and 1744. Title was recognised in Poland in 1775, in Austria in 1777, 1820 and 1827 and in Russia in 1844. In 1824 the Jablonowskis appeared in the list of families authorised to bear the title of Prince in the Kingdom of Poland. On July 20, 1905 the Jablonowskis received confirmation of their right to the qualification of Serene Highness (originally granted in 1704).

* Lubomirski h. Szreniawa bez Krzyza. Title of Count of the Holy Roman Empire awarded to Sebastian Lubomirski on July 14, 1595. His son Stanislaw was awarded the hereditary title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Ferdinand III on March 8, 1647. Title was confirmed in Austria on June 6, 1786, in Russia on May 21, 1863 and March 8, 1888. In 1824 the Lubomirskis appeared in the list of families authorised to bear the title of Prince in the Kingdom of Poland. On July 20, 1905 the Lubomirskis were awarded the qualification of Serene Highness.

* Massalski h. Massalski. In 1775 the Massalskis were granted the hereditary title of Prince by the Polish Sejm (parliament). This branch became extinct on May 9, 1794. Various members of the non-titled branch obtained confirmation of their right to the title of Prince in Russia on September 7, 1862, April 7, 1864, June 24, 1868, January 22, 1885 and March 21, 1889.

* Ogiński h. Brama. The right of the family to bear the title of Prince was recognised in Austria by Emperor Joseph II on 17 March 1783, in the Kingdom of Poland by the Senate on 25 March 1821 and in Russia by Czar Alexander II on 3 April 1868. In 1824 the Oginskis appeared in the list of families authorised to bear the title of Prince in the Kingdom of Poland.

* Ossoliński h. Topor. Various titular grants: Jerzy Ossolinski obtained the hereditary title of Prince from Pope Urban VIII on 23 December 1633, the non-hereditary title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire from Emperor
Ferdinand II on 20 January 1634. The hereditary title became extinct upon the death of Jerzy's only son. Franciszek-Maximilian Ossolinski obtained the title of Duke from King Louis XV of France on 1 January 1736. The title became extinct in 1790. Michal Ossolinski obtained the right to the hereditary title of Count of Austria from Emperor Joseph II on 7 July and 9 August 1785. Jozef-Kajetan Ossolinski obtained the hereditary title of Count from Kaiser Frederick-Wilhelm, of Prussia on 15 November 1805 (L.P. 1 October 1806). Wiktor-Maximilian-Josef Ossolinski obtained the hereditary title of Count in Russia on 7 January 1848. In 1824 the Ossolinskis appeared in the list of families authorised to bear the title of Count of the Kingdom of Poland.

* Poniatowski h. Ciolek. In 1764 the brothers of King Stanislaw-Augustus Poniatowski (Kazimierz, Andrzej and Michal) were awarded the hereditary title of Prince of Poland by the Polish Sejm (parliament). On 10 December 1765 Emperor Joseph II also awarded Andrzej the hereditary title of Prince in Austria(succession by primogeniture). Karol and Stanislaw-Michal-Ksawery Poniatowski obtained the hereditary title of Prince from Austrian Emperor Franz-Josef on 19 November 1850.

* Poniński h. Lodzia. Various grants: Princely title awarded to Adam and Calixte Poninski by the Sejm on 19 April 1773. The descendants of Adam were granted the hereditary title of Prince in Austria on 30 December 1837 and 22 May 1841. Alexsander-Franciszek Poninski was awarded the qualification of Serene Highnessby Emperor Francis Joseph on 20 July 1905. Ignacy-Augustus Poninski obtained the Prussian hereditary title of Count on 4 August 1782. This title was later confirmed in Austria on 8 March 1842 and 8 March 1862. Wladyslaw-Augustus obtained the hereditary title of Count in Italy on 24 February 1880. The title became extinct in the following generation. Stanislaw obtained the Prussian hereditary title of Count on 10 September 1840 (succession by primogeniture with added stipulation that the mother of each heir be noble in her own right). Antoni Poninski obtained the Bavarian title of Count on 18 August 1841. Adolphus Poninski obtained the Papal title of Count from Pope Pius X in 1908. On 25 March 1888 Bronislaw Poninski obtained the non-hereditary title of Count from King Umberto I of Italy.

* Puzyna h. Puzyna od. Brama. The right to bear the title of Prince was recognised by the Kingdom of Poland in a senate decision in 1823, in Russia on 17 May and 6 June 1910, 3 July and 24 September 1915 and 21 January 1916. In 1824 the Puzynas were listed among those families authorised to bear the title of Prince in theKingdom of Poland.

* Radziwiłł h. Traby od. Radziwiłł. The Radziwills received confirmation of their right to the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1547; in Poland in 1564/1569; in Austria in 1784 and 1882; in the Kingdom of Poland in 1824 and in Russia in 1845, 1867 and 1899. The qualification of Serene Highness was accorded in Prussia in 1859 and 1861 and in Austria in 1905.

* Sanguszko h. Pogon Litweska. The Sanguszko dynasty received confirmation of the title of Prince in Poland in 1569; in Austria in 1785, 1833 and 1835 and in Russia in 1858 and 1906. In 1905 the Princes Sanguszko received the qualification of Serene Highness from Austrian Emperor Franz-Josef.

* Sapieha h. Lis. Michal-Franciszek obtained the hereditary title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire from Emperor Leopold I on 14 September 1700. The title became extinct upon his death without issue on 19 November 1700. In 1768 all the members of the Sapieha family obtained recognition of the princely title from the Polish sejm (parliament). In 1824 the Sapieha family appeared in the list of persons authorised to bear the title of Prince of the Kingdom Poland. The title was also recognised by the Austrians in 1836 and 1840, and in Russia in 1874 and 1901. In 1905 they obtained the qualification of Serene Highness in Austria.

* Sułkowski h. Sulima. Title of Count of the Holy Roman Empire obtained in 1733. Title of Prince obtained in Bohemia in 1752 (succession by primogenitue). Twelve years later the right of succession was extended to all descendants. In 1774 the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire was recognised in Poland. TheSulkowskis received the Prussian qualification of Serene Highness in 1819 and the Austrian qualification of Serene Highness in 1905.

* Woroniecki h. Korybut. In 1824 the Woronieckis were listed amongst those persons authorised to bear the title of Prince of the Kingdom of Poland. The princely title was recognised in Russia on 28 June 1844 and 5 July 1852.

* Zajączek h. Swinka. On 17 April 1818 Joseph Zajaczek (29 March 1752-13 February 1845) obtained the hereditary title of Prince of the Kingdom of Poland from Emperor Alexander I. The title became extinct upon his death without issue.

Families of Ancient Princely Origin

* Borowski, h. Gozdawa.

* Glinski, h. Hlinski.

* Kurczewicz, h. Kurcz.

* Łukomski, h. Roch III/Pierzchała od. Łukomski.

* Mirski, h. Białyna.

* Podhorski, h. Podhorski.

* Polubinski, h. Jastrzębiec od. Polubinski.

* Radolin, h. Leszczyc

* , h. Pogon Ruska.

* Swirski, h. Lis.

ee also

* List of szlachta
* List of Polish coats of arms
* List of Polish rulers
* Offices in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Sources

* [http://genealog.home.pl Dynastic Genealogy]
* [http://www.geocities.com/polishnobles/ Rafal Heydel-Mankoo's Guide to the Polish Aristocracy]