List of szlachta

Polish Nobleman, by Rembrandt, 1637

The szlachta (Polish: szlachta, [ˈʂlaxta]) was a privileged social class in the Kingdom of Poland. The term szlachta was also used for the Lithuanian nobility after the union of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with Poland as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Union of Lublin, 1569) and for the increasingly Polonized nobilities of territories controlled by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, including Ducal Prussia and the Ruthenian lands.

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was a semi-confederated, semi-federated monarchic republic from 1569 until 1795, comprising the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The head of state was an elected monarch. The Commonwealth's dominant social class was the nobility. This article chiefly lists the nobility's magnate segment (the wealthier nobility), as they were the most prominent, famous, and notable. These families would receive non-hereditary 'central' and Land dignities and titles under the Commonwealth law that forbade (with minor exceptions) any hereditary legal distinctions within the peerage. They would later be 'approximated' to honorary hereditary titles in the Partition period with little real-power privileges but would still be venerated among the Polish upper class and the rest of the society as 'senatorial', 'palatinal', 'castellanial' or "dignitarial' families.

"Szlachta" is the proper term for Polish nobility beginning about the 15th century. Most powerful members of szlachta were known as magnates ("magnaci" or the "magnateria" class). A Polish nobleman who lived earlier is referred to as a "rycerz" ("knight"); the class of all such individuals is the "rycerstwo" (the "chivalry" class). Most powerful members of "rycerstwo" were known as "możnowładzcy" (the "moznowładztwo" class).

By family

Below is a list of most important Polish noble (szlachta) families. The families listed are the famous magnates families - ones that had accumulated great wealth and political power, generally preserved across several centuries. Please note that this list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all szlachta families. For the list of lesser known but still notable Polish noble families, see the corresponding category

All names are given first in the singular, then (parenthetically) in the plural.

By year of birth

Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł, the most prominent nobleman of his times.

Listed below are prominent szlachta of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, by century and year of birth.

In many cases, birth year is uncertain or unknown. Under the Commonwealth, most people—including szlachta—paid little attention to their birth dates.

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

Nobility privileges were abolished under the Second Polish Republic (1918–1939). Nobility obligations are not addressed. This would leave the legal status of nobility as consisting of obligations only had the article been not later revoked anyway.

Fictional nobles

See also

References

  1. ↑ Michael Subritzky-Kusza Ct, PNA, "The Titled Families of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth",
  2. ↑ Chester S. L. Dunning, Caryl Emerson, Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin, The Uncensored Boris Godunov, Univ of Wisconsin Press, 2007, SBN 0299207641, Google Print, p.498
  3. ↑ (Polish) Czartoryscy, Encyklopedia WIEM
  4. ↑ Wieslaw Filipczyk, Charles I the emperor of Austria confirms membership of the Lanckoronski family, poland.pl
  5. ↑ Adam Hornecki, Produkcja i handel zbożowy w latyfundium Lubomirskich, c.1650–1750 [Grain Production and Trade in the Lubomirski Latifundium, c.1650–1750], PAN: Prace Komisji Nauk Historycznych, Wrocław, 1970
  6. ↑ Jerzy Jan Lerski; Piotr Wróbel; Richard J. Kozicki (1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. Greenwood Publishing. p. 399. ISBN 978-0-313-26007-0.
  7. ↑ (Polish) Ostrogscy, PWN Encyklopedia
  8. ↑ (Polish) Ostrorogowie, PWN Encyklopedia
  9. ↑ Jerzy Jan Lerski; Piotr Wróbel; Richard J. Kozicki (1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. Greenwood Publishing. p. 415. ISBN 978-0-313-26007-0.
  10. ↑ Jerzy Jan Lerski; Piotr Wróbel; Richard J. Kozicki (1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. Greenwood Publishing. p. 464.
  11. ↑ (Polish) POTOCCY, Encyklopedia Interia
  12. ↑ (Polish) Potoccy, WIEM Encyklopedia
  13. ↑ (Polish) RADZIWIŁŁOWIE, Encyklopedia Interia
  14. ↑ (Polish) Radziwiłłowie, WIEM Encyklopedia
  15. ↑ (Polish) Sapiehowie, WIEM Encyklopedia
  16. ↑ (Polish) Sanguszkowie, WIEM Encyklopedia
  17. ↑ (Polish) Tarnowscy, PWN Encyklopedia
  18. ↑ (Polish) Tęczyńscy, PWN Encyklopedia
  19. ↑ Jerzy Jan Lerski; Piotr Wróbel; Richard J. Kozicki (1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. Greenwood Publishing. p. 616.
  20. ↑ Jerzy Jan Lerski; Piotr Wróbel; Richard J. Kozicki (1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. Greenwood Publishing. p. 654. ISBN 978-0-313-26007-0.
  21. ↑ Jerzy Jan Lerski; Piotr Wróbel; Richard J. Kozicki (1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. Greenwood Publishing. pp. 677–678. ISBN 978-0-313-26007-0.

External links

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