House of Poniatowski

This article is about the Polish noble family. For the village in Wisconsin, see Poniatowski, Wisconsin.
House of Poniatowski

Princely arms of the Poniatowski family
Country Poland
Titles King of Poland
Grand Duke of Lithuania
Grand Duke of Ruthenia
Grand Duke of Prussia
Grand Duke of Masovia
Grand Duke of Samogitia
Grand Duke of Kiev
Prince of Bohemia[1]
Prince of Monterotondo[2]
Founded 15th century
Final ruler King Stanisław II August
Deposition 1795
Ethnicity Polish
Cadet branches Poniatowski di Monterotondo

The House of Poniatowski (plural: Poniatowscy) is a prominent Polish family that was part of the nobility of Poland. A member of this family, Stanisław Poniatowski, was elected as King of Poland and reigned from 1764 until his abdication in 1795. Since Polish adjectives have different forms for the genders, Poniatowska is the equivalent name for a female member of this family.

History

The Poniatowski family became most prominent in the late 18th century and 19th century. In three generations, the family rose from the rank of gentry to that of senator and then to royalty (in an elective monarchy).

The first information about the family dates back to the end of the 15th century, when they appeared in Poniatowa, 40 km west from Lublin in about 1446. Their family name derives from that place name. Poniatowa was the residence of several branches of the Poniatowski family: Tłuk, Jarasz and Ciołek.

King Stanisław II August.

According to the family's history, the family had ties with the Italian nobility: Giuseppe Salinguerra, a member of the Italian family of Torelli, settled in Poland about the middle of the 17th century, and there assumed the name of Poniatowski from the estate of Poniatow, belonging to his wife, who was the daughter of Albert Poniatowski and Anna Leszczyńska. Modern historians however consider this story dubious, particularly as around the 18th century it was fashionable for Polish nobility to have relatives in Italy.

Józef Antoni Poniatowski

On September 7, 1764, at Wola, the most famous member of the family, Stanisław Poniatowski, was elected as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. In the same year, the Coronation Sejm awarded the Poniatowski family the title of Prince of Poland.

Taurus Poniatovii – a constellation created by Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt in 1777 to honor Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, king of Poland

Nowadays, there are still Poniatowscy living in Poland, France, Mexico, Italy, Russia, the United States, Germany, and many other countries in the world.

Members

Among most known members are:

Coat of arms

The Poniatowski family used the Ciołek arms.

Palaces

Family tree

See also

References

  1. ↑ Granted to Andrzej Poniatowski in 1765 by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
  2. ↑ Granted to Józef Michał Poniatowski and Karol Poniatowski in 1847 in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
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