list of szlachta

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Image:Rembrandt. A Polish Nobleman. 1637.PNG, 1637]]

The szlachta ({{langx|pl|szlachta}}, {{IPAc-pl|AUD|Pl-szlachta.ogg|'|sz|l|a|ch|t|a}}) 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 "możnowładcy" (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.

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  • Borkowski (Borkowscy){{Cite news|author=Michael Subritzky-Kusza|title=The Titled Families of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|url=https://pgsa.org/polish-history/polish-heraldry-nobility/the-titled-families-of-the-polish-lithuanian-commonwealth/|access-date=2023-01-01|website=Polish Genealogical Society of America|language=en-US}}
  • Chodkiewicz (Chodkiewiczowie){{Cite book|last1=Dunning|first1=Chester|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9FusgXypm7MC&dq=%2522Chodkiewicz+family%2522&pg=PA486|title=The Uncensored Boris Godunov: The Case for Pushkin's Original Comedy|last2=Emerson|first2=Caryl|last3=Fomichev|first3=Sergei|last4=Lotman|first4=Lidiia|date=2006-04-15|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|isbn=978-0-299-20763-2|language=en|page=498}}
  • Czartoryski (Czartoryscy){{in lang|pl}} [http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/9652,,,,czartoryscy,haslo.html Czartoryscy], Encyklopedia WIEM
  • Gorczewski (Gorczewscy){{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DtZ3tgAACAAJ|title = The Nobility of Poland: Landowners of Poland : A Personal View|isbn = 9781456488338|last1 = Puslowski|first1 = Xavier Jon|date = 29 December 2011| publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform }}
  • Lanckoroński (Lanckorońscy)Wieslaw Filipczyk, [http://www.poland.pl/archives/ww1/article,,id,284221.htm Charles I the emperor of Austria confirms membership of the Lanckoronski family] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204201905/http://poland.pl/archives/ww1/article,,id,284221.htm |date=2009-02-04 }}, poland.pl
  • Litwicki (Litwiccy){{cite book|title=Feet First: A Memoir|year=2003|author1=Walter A. Baran |publisher=Xlibris Corporation|page=238| isbn=978-1-4691-0920-6}}
  • Lubomirski (Lubomirscy)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
  • Mielzynski (Mielzynscy) .
  • Odrowąż (Odrowąż – herb szlachecki)
  • Ogiński (Ogińscy){{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|year=1996|author1=Jerzy Jan Lerski |author2=Piotr Wróbel |author3=Richard J. Kozicki |publisher=Greenwood Publishing|page=399|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPxhOu_n1VYC&q=Oginski&pg=PA399 | isbn=978-0-313-26007-0}}
  • Ostrogski (Ostrogscy){{in lang|pl}} [http://encyklopediar.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=3952444 Ostrogscy], PWN Encyklopedia
  • Ostroróg (Ostrorogowie){{in lang|pl}} [http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=3952470 Ostrorogowie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331124725/http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=3952470 |date=2012-03-31 }}, PWN Encyklopedia
  • Pac (Pacowie){{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|year=1996|author1=Jerzy Jan Lerski |author2=Piotr Wróbel |author3=Richard J. Kozicki |publisher=Greenwood Publishing|page=415|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPxhOu_n1VYC&q=pac+lithuanian&pg=PA415 | isbn=978-0-313-26007-0}}
  • Poniatowski (Poniatowscy){{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|year=1996|author1=Jerzy Jan Lerski |author2=Piotr Wróbel |author3=Richard J. Kozicki |publisher=Greenwood Publishing|page=464}}
  • Potocki (Potoccy){{in lang|pl}} [http://encyklopedia.interia.pl/haslo?hid=96741 POTOCCY], Encyklopedia Interia{{in lang|pl}} [http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/7337,,,,potoccy,haslo.html Potoccy], WIEM Encyklopedia
  • Radziwiłł (Radziwiłłowie){{in lang|pl}} [http://encyklopedia.interia.pl/haslo?hid=98645 RADZIWIŁŁOWIE], Encyklopedia Interia{{in lang|pl}} [http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/47883,,,,radziwillowie,haslo.html Radziwiłłowie], WIEM Encyklopedia
  • Rzewuski (Rzewuscy herbu Krzwyda)
  • Sapieha (Sapiehowie){{in lang|pl}} [http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/75156,,,,sapiehowie,haslo.html Sapiehowie], WIEM Encyklopedia
  • Sanguszko (Sanguszkowie){{in lang|pl}} [http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/50519,,,,sanguszkowie,haslo.html Sanguszkowie], WIEM Encyklopedia
  • Skarzynski{{cite web | url=http://www.mglin-krai.ru/chernigovskaya-guberniya/357-predvoditel-dvoryanstva-skarzhinskij-aleksandr-matveevich-i-otdelnye-predstaviteli-ego-roda | title=Предводитель дворянства Скаржинский Александр Матвеевич и отдельные представители его рода }}
  • Tarnowski (Tarnowscy){{in lang|pl}} [http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=3985522 Tarnowscy], PWN Encyklopedia
  • Tęczyński (Tęczyńscy){{in lang|pl}} [http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=3986965 Tęczyńscy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165747/http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=3986965 |date=2014-07-14 }}, PWN Encyklopedia
  • Tyszkiewicz (Tyszkiewiczowie){{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|year=1996|author1=Jerzy Jan Lerski |author2=Piotr Wróbel |author3=Richard J. Kozicki |publisher=Greenwood Publishing|page=616}}
  • Wiśniowiecki (Wiśniowieccy){{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|year=1996|author1=Jerzy Jan Lerski |author2=Piotr Wróbel |author3=Richard J. Kozicki |publisher=Greenwood Publishing|page=654|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPxhOu_n1VYC&q=Wisniowiecki&pg=PA654 | isbn=978-0-313-26007-0}}
  • Zamoyski (Zamoyscy){{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|year=1996|author1=Jerzy Jan Lerski |author2=Piotr Wróbel |author3=Richard J. Kozicki |publisher=Greenwood Publishing|pages= 677–678|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPxhOu_n1VYC&q=Zamoyski&pg=PA677 | isbn=978-0-313-26007-0}}
  • Żeleński (Żeleńscy)

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By year of birth

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=

File:Jan Amor Tarnowski.PNG]]

File:Johannes a Lasco.JPG]]

  • Wojciech Jastrzębiec (Jastrzebski) 1362-1436 Archbishop of Gneizno

=16th century=

File:Jan Karol Chodkiewicz 1.PNG]]

File:Stefan Czarniecki (737987) (cropped).jpg]]

File:Stanisław Rewera Potocki.PNG]]

File:Mikołaj Spytek Ligęza.jpg]]

File:Mikołaj Rej.PNG]]

File:Jan Tęczyński.PNG]]

File:Jan Zamoyski.PNG]]

File:Mikołaj Zebrzydowski.jpg]]

File:Stanisław Żółkiewski 11.PNG]]

=17th century=

File:Bacciarelli Blue Marquise.jpg]]

File:Palloni Jan Dobrogost Krasiński.png]]

File:Portrait of Stanisław I Leszczyński.jpg]]

File:Marianna Lubomirska (1693-1729).PNG]]

File:Prince Joseph Poniatowski by Józef Grassi.jpg]]

File:Stanisław Poniatowski (1676-1762).PNG]]

File:Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki.jpg]]

File:Michał Kazimierz Ogiński.PNG]]

File:Anonymous Elżbieta Sieniawska as Minerva.png]]

File:Hyacinthe Rigaud (circle of) - Portrait of Aleksander Benedykt Sobieski - Google Art Project.jpg]]

File:Rigaud Konstanty Sobieski.jpg]]

=18th century=

File:Prince Czartoryski by Nadar.jpg]]

File:Peszka Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski.jpg]]

File:Jan Henryk Dąbrowski 1.PNG]]

File:Carle Van Loo - Marie Leszczinska, reine de France (1703-1768) - Google Art Project.jpg]]

File:Michał Kleafas Aginski. Міхал Клеафас Агінскі (F. Fabre, XIX) (2).jpg]]

File:Portrait of Charles of Saxony, misidentified with Stanisław Poniatowski.png]]

File:Kucharsky Ignacy Potocki.png]]

File:Jan Potocki by Alexander Varnek.PNG]]

File:Jacques-Louis David - Equestrian portrait of Stanisław Kostka Potocki - Google Art Project.jpg]]

File:Kazimierz Pułaski.PNG]]

File:Konstanty Aleksandrowicz - Portrait of Karol Stanislaw Radziwill - MNK I-220 (165375).jpg]]

=19th century=

File:Alexander Roslin 003.png]]

File:WP Agenor Goluchowski der Jüngere.jpg]]

File:Waldmüller - Porträt der Mme Hanska (Eva Hanska).jpg]]

File:Emilia Plater (284384).jpg]]

File:Alfred Józef Potocki foto (cropped).jpg]]

File:Edward Bernard Raczyński.jpg]]

=20th century=

File:Adam Zamoyski.JPG]]

File:Beata Tyszkiewicz TZG.JPG]]

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.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

Fictional nobles

See also

References

{{Reflist|2}}