Polish clans
Encyclopedia
Polish clans differ from most clan systems in that while they are mostly composed of families sharing male-line origin there can also be some genealogically unrelated families bearing the same coat of arms
and clan name because of a formal adoption upon ennoblement or sometimes because of a misattribution petrified in heraldic literature. This is discussed under the topic of Polish Heraldry
.
Polish nobility, the szlachta
, has its origins in Middle Ages
chivalric clan
s who provided military support to the king, the dukes, or various overlords. Over the centuries, various families, indeed whole noble classes from other nations, for example Lithuania, have been incorporated into the Polish clan system, by adoption.
Exceptions apart, all Polish families belonging to the same noble clan used and continue to use the same coat of arms, sometimes with minor variations of tincture
. The original Polish word herb encompasses the meanings clan as well as coat of arms
simultaneously.
Membership in a Polish clan does not always connote consanguinity or even territoriality, as do Scottish clan
, but refers to the fact that member families belong to the same heraldic clan. This is why hundreds of different, sometimes unrelated families are to be found within the same clan with all of them being entitled to use the same coat of arms. For this reason, rather than being parallel to the Scottish clan
model, the Polish clan system may be considered as being more akin to the Scandinavian ætt
and the Germanic sippia
.
Polish coats of arms have their own name, which usually stem from the clan's ancient seat, war cry
or from a description of the way the arms are depicted (the so called canting arms). The war cry or battle cry derivation of many Polish clan and armorial names has given rise to the now outdated term proclamatio-arms, refer to the hortatory nature of the name which proclaims or invokes something. In fact war-cries consisting of the clan's name alone are nothing particularly Polish and are found in other medieval European nobilities.
The German word Wappengemeinschaft (Armorial-Association), as difficult as it seems to be, may be the best simple description of the concept of Polish Herb and the Polish institution of the clan / coat of arms.
Nevertheless, in daily life, (from the 17th to the 20th centuries), the sense of belonging to a family predominated. This is indicated by the organisation of most Modern-Era Polish armorials, which are arranged by specific family names and not by the names of their coat of arms, unlike their 15th-century models that were arranged by clans, which were still a legal, genealogical and social reality.
It is known that a sense of belonging and attachment to a shared noble armorial lineage existed in the consciousness of the old Polish nobility carried down from the Middle Ages, but it was probably more ceremonial and symbolic than actual. This was especially true because fairly frequently, particularly among the poorer nobility in 19th century, accidental, and sometimes deliberate, instances occurred wherein people misidentified themselves with various coats of arms to the heraldic offices of the partitioning countries
. In this way, members of a the same family sometimes formally obtained recognition for different coats of arms.http://www.szlachta.org/2dziadulewicz.htm At the same time, Magnate
families and some middling landowning families obtained titles such as Prince
, Count
, Baron
along with their “own” particular coats of arms, (variations of their original Herb), contrary to Polish armorial custom, from the three partitioning powers, the French empire, the Pope, and other sovereigns.http://web.archive.org/web/20091027003317/http://geocities.com/polishnobles/
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
and clan name because of a formal adoption upon ennoblement or sometimes because of a misattribution petrified in heraldic literature. This is discussed under the topic of Polish Heraldry
Polish heraldry
Polish heraldry is a branch of heraldry focused on studying the development of coats of arms in the lands of historical Poland , as well as specifically-Polish traits of heraldry. The term is also used to refer to Polish heraldic system, as opposed to systems used elsewhere, notably in Western Europe...
.
Polish nobility, the szlachta
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
, has its origins in Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
chivalric clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
s who provided military support to the king, the dukes, or various overlords. Over the centuries, various families, indeed whole noble classes from other nations, for example Lithuania, have been incorporated into the Polish clan system, by adoption.
Exceptions apart, all Polish families belonging to the same noble clan used and continue to use the same coat of arms, sometimes with minor variations of tincture
Tincture (heraldry)
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to emblazon a coat of arms. These can be divided into several categories including light tinctures called metals, dark tinctures called colours, nonstandard colours called stains, furs, and "proper". A charge tinctured proper is coloured as it would be...
. The original Polish word herb encompasses the meanings clan as well as coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
simultaneously.
Membership in a Polish clan does not always connote consanguinity or even territoriality, as do Scottish clan
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
, but refers to the fact that member families belong to the same heraldic clan. This is why hundreds of different, sometimes unrelated families are to be found within the same clan with all of them being entitled to use the same coat of arms. For this reason, rather than being parallel to the Scottish clan
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
model, the Polish clan system may be considered as being more akin to the Scandinavian ætt
Norse clans
The Scandinavian clan or ætt was a social group based on common descent or on the formal acceptance into the group at a þing.-History:...
and the Germanic sippia
Sippe
Sippe is German for "clan, kindred, extended family". It continues a Proto-Germanic term *sibbja, which referred to a band or confederation bound by a treaty or oath, not primarily restricted to blood relations. The original character of sibb as a peace treaty is visible in Old English, e.g. in...
.
Polish coats of arms have their own name, which usually stem from the clan's ancient seat, war cry
Battle cry
A battle cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same military unit.Battle cries are not necessarily articulate, although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religious sentiment....
or from a description of the way the arms are depicted (the so called canting arms). The war cry or battle cry derivation of many Polish clan and armorial names has given rise to the now outdated term proclamatio-arms, refer to the hortatory nature of the name which proclaims or invokes something. In fact war-cries consisting of the clan's name alone are nothing particularly Polish and are found in other medieval European nobilities.
The German word Wappengemeinschaft (Armorial-Association), as difficult as it seems to be, may be the best simple description of the concept of Polish Herb and the Polish institution of the clan / coat of arms.
Nevertheless, in daily life, (from the 17th to the 20th centuries), the sense of belonging to a family predominated. This is indicated by the organisation of most Modern-Era Polish armorials, which are arranged by specific family names and not by the names of their coat of arms, unlike their 15th-century models that were arranged by clans, which were still a legal, genealogical and social reality.
It is known that a sense of belonging and attachment to a shared noble armorial lineage existed in the consciousness of the old Polish nobility carried down from the Middle Ages, but it was probably more ceremonial and symbolic than actual. This was especially true because fairly frequently, particularly among the poorer nobility in 19th century, accidental, and sometimes deliberate, instances occurred wherein people misidentified themselves with various coats of arms to the heraldic offices of the partitioning countries
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
. In this way, members of a the same family sometimes formally obtained recognition for different coats of arms.http://www.szlachta.org/2dziadulewicz.htm At the same time, Magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
families and some middling landowning families obtained titles such as Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
, Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
along with their “own” particular coats of arms, (variations of their original Herb), contrary to Polish armorial custom, from the three partitioning powers, the French empire, the Pope, and other sovereigns.http://web.archive.org/web/20091027003317/http://geocities.com/polishnobles/
See also
- ClanClanA clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
- SzlachtaSzlachtaThe szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
- Polish namePolish nameA Polish personal name, like names in most European cultures, consists of two main elements: imię, the first name, or given name, followed by nazwisko, the last name, surname, or family name....
- Polish heraldryPolish heraldryPolish heraldry is a branch of heraldry focused on studying the development of coats of arms in the lands of historical Poland , as well as specifically-Polish traits of heraldry. The term is also used to refer to Polish heraldic system, as opposed to systems used elsewhere, notably in Western Europe...
- Clan of OstojaClan of OstojaThe Clan of Ostoja was a powerful group of Knights and Lords in late medieval Europe. The clan encompassed several families in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Upper Hungary , Hungary, Transylvania, Belorus, Ukraine and Prussia....