The House of Wiśniowiecki ( uk, Вишневе́цькі, ''Vyshnevetski''; lt, Višnioveckiai}) was a Polish-Lithuanian princely family of Ruthenian-Lithuanian origin, notable in the history of the

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi- confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Poland and Lithuania ru ...

. They were powerful magnates with estates predominantly in Ruthenian lands of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, and they used the Polish coat of arms of ''

Korybut Kaributas (''Koribut'', ''Korybut'', baptized ''Dmitry''; after 1350 – after 1404) was a son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and reigned in Severian Novgorod until 1393. Kaributas was born some time after 1350 (exact date is unknown) ...

''. The family is a

cadet branch In history and heraldry, a cadet branch consists of the male-line descendants of a monarch's or patriarch's younger sons ( cadets). In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets— realm, tit ...

of the

House of Zbaraski 200px, Korybut coat of arms The House of Zbaraski was a princely family of Ruthenian origin in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland domiciled in Volhynia (today Ukraine). The name is derived from the town of Zbarazh, the core of their dominions ...

History

The family tradition would trace their descent to the

Gediminids The House of Gediminid or simply the Gediminids ( lt, Gediminaičiai, sgs, Gedėmėnātē, be, Гедзімінавічы, pl, Giedyminowicze, uk, Гедиміновичі;) were a dynasty of monarchs in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that reig ...

, but modern historians believe there is more evidence for them to have descended from the Rurikids. According to the Gediminids relation theory, the ancestor of the family was Duke

Kaributas Kaributas (''Koribut'', ''Korybut'', baptized ''Dmitry''; after 1350 – after 1404) was a son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and reigned in Severian Novgorod until 1393. Kaributas was born some time after 1350 (exact date is unknown) ...

(Ruthenian: ''Dymitr Korybut''),Mytsyk, Yu.
Vyshnevetski
'. Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine. a son of the

Grand Duke of Lithuania The monarchy of Lithuania concerned the monarchical head of state of Kingdom of Lithuania, Lithuania, which was established as an Absolute monarchy, absolute and hereditary monarchy. Throughout Lithuania's history there were three Duke, ducal D ...

, Algirdas. Kaributas was stripped of the Duchy of

Severia Severia or Siveria ( orv, Сѣверія, russian: Северщина, translit=Severshchina, uk, Сіверія or , translit. ''Siveria'' or ''Sivershchyna'') is a historical region in present-day southwest Russia, northern Ukraine, eastern ...

and transferred to

Volhynia Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...

and

Podolia Podolia or Podilia ( uk, Поділля, Podillia, ; russian: Подолье, Podolye; ro, Podolia; pl, Podole; german: Podolien; be, Падолле, Padollie; lt, Podolė), is a historic region in Eastern Europe, located in the west-central ...

where he was given to govern cities of

Vinnytsia Vinnytsia ( ; uk, Вінниця, ; yi, װיניצע) is a city in west-central Ukraine, located on the banks of the Southern Bug. It is the administrative center of Vinnytsia Oblast and the largest city in the historic region of Podillia. ...

and

Kremenets Kremenets ( uk, Крем'янець, Кременець, translit. ''Kremianets'', ''Kremenets''; pl, Krzemieniec; yi, קרעמעניץ, Kremenits) is a city in Ternopil Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center o ...

, while

Zbarazh Zbarazh ( uk, Збараж, pl, Zbaraż, yi, זבאריזש, Zbarizh) is a city in Ternopil Raion of Ternopil Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It is located in the historic region of Galicia. Zbarazh hosts the administration of Zbarazh urb ...

as a private estate. At first Zbarazh was inherited by Ivan, but in 1434 it was passed on to the second son of Korybut Fedor of

Nieśwież Nesvizh, Niasviž ( be, Нясві́ж ; lt, Nesvyžius; pl, Nieśwież; russian: Не́свиж; yi, ניעסוויז; la, Nesvisium) is a city in Belarus. It is the administrative centre of the Nyasvizh District (''rajon'') of Minsk Region ...

. The latter became a progenitor of such princely families like Porycki, Woronecki, Zbarazski. In the 15th century Wiśniowiecki family split away from

. The family place was city of Wiśniowiec (now

Vyshnivets Vyshnivets ( uk, Вишнівець, translit. ''Vyshnivets’''; pl, Wiśniowiec) is an urban-type settlement in Kremenets Raion (district) of the Ternopil Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Vyshnivets settlem ...

). At first Wiśniowiecki estates were located predominantly in

, but since 1580s also included on

left-bank Ukraine Left-bank Ukraine ( uk, Лівобережна Україна, translit=Livoberezhna Ukrayina; russian: Левобережная Украина, translit=Levoberezhnaya Ukraina; pl, Lewobrzeżna Ukraina) is a historic name of the part of Ukrain ...

in a region around

Lubny Lubny ( uk, Лубни́, ), is a city in Poltava Oblast (province) of central Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of Lubny Raion (district), the city itself is administratively incorporated as a city of oblast significance and does no ...

, Romny, others that in the past belonged to the princes Glinski and Daumantas. From their days as Ruthenian nobility, they held the title of ''

Kniaz , or (Old Church Slavonic: Кнѧзь) is a historical Slavic title, used both as a royal and noble title in different times of history and different ancient Slavic lands. It is usually translated into English as prince or duke, dependin ...

'' (prince). By the late 16th century, the family converted from

Orthodox Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to: Religion * Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pa ...

Catholicism The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

and became

Polonized Polonization (or Polonisation; pl, polonizacja)In Polish historiography, particularly pre-WWII (e.g., L. Wasilewski. As noted in Смалянчук А. Ф. (Smalyanchuk 2001) Паміж краёвасцю і нацыянальнай ідэя� ...

. They gained much importance in the

, with vast possessions in the 16th to 18th centuries on the territories of today's

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

, particularly the town of

(''Wiśniowiec''). Their estates were so vast and their position so powerful that they were known as the most powerful of magnates – the "little kings" (''"królewięta"''). Their ancestral seat was the Vyshnivets Castle. The family's golden age was the 17th century, when its members accumulated much wealth and influence, held numerous important posts within the Commonwealth. Likely the most notable members of this family were

Michael I Michael I may refer to: * Pope Michael I of Alexandria, Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in 743–767 * Michael I Rhangabes, Byzantine Emperor (died in 844) * Michael I Cerularius, Patriarch Michael I of Constantin ...

, king of Poland and

from 1669 to 1673, his father

Jeremi Wiśniowiecki Prince Jeremi Wiśniowiecki ( uk, Ярема Вишневецький – Yarema Vyshnevetsky; 1612 – 20 August 1651) nicknamed ''Hammer on the Cossacks'' ( pl, Młot na Kozaków), was a notable member of the aristocracy of the Polish–Lith ...

, as well as

Dmytro Vyshnevetsky Dmytro Ivanovych Vyshnevetsky ( uk, Дмитро Іванович Вишневе́цький; russian: Дмитрий Иванович Вишневе́цкий; pl, Dymitr Wiśniowiecki) was a magnate of Ruthenian (Ukrainian) origin and an organi ...

who was a important Cossack leader.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the House of Wiśniowiecki was the

Korybut coat of arms Korybut is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by the Princely House of Wiśniowiecki-Zbaraski and several branches of the House of Nieświcki in the times of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Notable bearers Notable bearers of this coat of ar ...

. File:Coat of Arms of Michal Korybut Wisniowiecki as king of Poland.svg, Coat of Arms of King

Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki Michael I ( pl, Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, lt, Mykolas I Kaributas Višnioveckis; 31 May 1640 – 10 November 1673) was the ruler of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 29 September 1669 un ...

Notable family members

* Michał Zbaraski Wiśniowiecki (died after 1516), Prince at Wiśniowiec, progenitor of the Wiśniowiecki family ** Iwan Wiśniowiecki (died after 1516),

courtier A courtier () is a person who attends the royal court of a monarch or other royalty. The earliest historical examples of courtiers were part of the retinues of rulers. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the official ...

, married Nastazja Olizarowicz h. Chorągwie *** Konstanty Wiśniowiecki (before 1516–1574), courtier, starost of

Żytomierz Zhytomyr ( uk, Жито́мир, translit=Zhytomyr ; russian: Жито́мир, Zhitomir ; pl, Żytomierz ; yi, זשיטאָמיר, Zhitomir; german: Schytomyr ) is a city in the north of the western half of Ukraine. It is the administrative ...

, married Anna Elżbieta Swierszcz z Olchowca h. Jastrzębiec **** Konstanty Wiśniowiecki (1564–1641), voivode of Belz and Ruthenia, married Anna Zahorowska h. Korczak, Urszula Mniszech h. Mniszech, Katarzyna Korniaktowna h. Krucyni and Krystyna Strusiowna h. Korczak ***** Marianna Wiśniowiecka (1600–1624), married

voivode Voivode (, also spelled ''voievod'', ''voevod'', ''voivoda'', ''vojvoda'' or ''wojewoda'') is a title denoting a military leader or warlord in Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe since the Early Middle Ages. It primarily referred to the ...

of Bełz and Ruthenia Marshal

Jakub Sobieski Jakub Sobieski (5 May 1590 – 23 June 1646) was a Polish noble, parliamentarian, diarist, political activist, military leader and father of King John III Sobieski. He was the son of castellan and voivode Marek Sobieski and Jadwiga Snopko ...

h. Janina, the father of King of Poland

Jan III Sobieski John III Sobieski ( pl, Jan III Sobieski; lt, Jonas III Sobieskis; la, Ioannes III Sobiscius; 17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1674 until his death in 1696. Born into Polish nobility, Sobie ...

***** Janusz Wiśniowiecki (1598–1636), Master of the Stables of the Crown, married Katarzyna Eugenia Tyszkiewicz h.

Leliwa Leliwa is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several hundred szlachta families during the existence of the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and remains in use today by many of the descendants of these families. The ...

******

Dymitr Jerzy Wiśniowiecki Prince Dymitr Jerzy Wiśniowiecki (1631–1682) was a Polish magnate and szlachcic. Great Guard of the Crown from 1658, Field Hetman of the Crown from 1668, Great Crown Hetman from 1676, voivode of Belz 1660–1678 and Kraków 1678&nd ...

(1631–1682), Great Guard and

Hetman ( uk, гетьман, translit=het'man) is a political title from Central and Eastern Europe, historically assigned to military commanders. Used by the Czechs in Bohemia since the 15th century. It was the title of the second-highest military co ...

of the Crown, voivode of Belz and

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...

, married Marianna Zamoyska h. Jelita ****** Konstanty Krzysztof Wiśniowiecki (1633–1686),

voivode of Podlasie Podlaskie Voivodeship or Podlasie Province ( pl, Województwo podlaskie, ) is a Voivodeships of Poland, voivodeship (province) in northeastern Poland. The name of the province and its territory correspond to the historic region of Podlachia. The ...

of Bracław and Bełz, married

Urszula Teresa Mniszech The House of Mniszech (plural: Mniszchowie, historical feminine forms: Mniszchówna (unmarried), Mniszchowa (married or widow)) was a Polish magnate and noble family bearing the Mniszech Coat of Arms. Notable members * Andrzej Jerzy Mniszec ...

h. Mniszech and Anna Chodorowska h. Korczak ******* Janusz Antoni Wiśniowiecki (1678–1741), voivode of

Wilno Vilnius ( , ; see also #Etymology and other names, other names) is the capital and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the munic ...

and Marshal, married Teofilia Leszczyńska h. Wieniawa ******** Urszula Franciszka Wiśniowiecka (1705–1753), dramatist and writer, married voivode of Troki and Hetman Prince

Michał Kazimierz "Rybeńko" Radziwiłł Prince Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł (, be, Міхал Казімер Радзівіл; 13 June 1702 – 15 May 1762) was a Polish–Lithuanian noble. A member of the aristocratic Radziwiłł family, he was frequently refe ...

h. Trąby *******

Michał Serwacy Wiśniowiecki Prince Michał Serwacy Wiśniowiecki ( lt, Mykolas Servacijus Višnioveckis; 13 May 1680 – 18 September 1744) was a Lithuanian nobleman, magnate, politician, diplomat, general, a successful military commander and the last male representative ...

(1680–1744), the last male representative of the Wiśniowiecki family, Hetman, Castellan and Voivode of Wilno, Great Chancellor of Lithuania, married Katarzyna Dolska h. Kościesza,

Maria Magdalena Czartoryska The House of Czartoryski (feminine form: Czartoryska, plural: Czartoryscy; lt, Čartoriskiai) is a Polish princely family of Lithuanian- Ruthenian origin, also known as the Familia. The family, which derived their kin from the Gediminids dyna ...

Czartoryski The House of Czartoryski (feminine form: Czartoryska, plural: Czartoryscy; lt, Čartoriskiai) is a Polish princely family of Lithuanian- Ruthenian origin, also known as the Familia. The family, which derived their kin from the Gediminids dyna ...

and Tekla Róża Radziwiłł h. Trąby ***

, also known as ''Baida'', first Ataman of the Ukrainian Cossacks, Hetman of the

Registered Cossacks Registered Cossacks (, , pl, Kozacy rejestrowi) comprised special Cossack units of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth army in the 16th and 17th centuries. Registered Cossacks became a military formation of the Commonwealth army beginni ...

** Aleksander Wiśniowiecki (c. 1500–1555), starost of Rzeczyce, married Katarzyna Skoruta h. Korczak ***

Michał Wiśniowiecki Michał Wiśniowiecki ( uk, Михайло Михайлович Вишневецький; died 1616) was a Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth szlachcic, prince at Wiśniowiec, magnate, son of Michał Wiśniowiecki, grandfather of future Polish– ...

(1529–1584), castellan of Bracław and Kiev, married Halszka Zenowiczówna h. Deszpot ****

(died 1616), starost of Owrucz, married Regina Mohyła *****

(1612–1651), Prince at Wiśniowiec, Łubny and Chorol,

voivode of Ruthenia The Ruthenian Voivodeship (Latin: ''Palatinatus russiae'', Polish language, Polish: ''Województwo ruskie'', Ukrainian language, Ukrainian: ''Руське воєводство'', Romanization of Ukrainian, romanized: ''Ruske voievodstvo''), als ...

, married Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska h. Jelita ******

(Michael I, 1640-1673), King of Poland 1669–1673, married Eleanor of Austria, Queen of Poland ***** Anna Wiśniowiecka, married starost of Lublin

Zbigniew Firlej Zbigniew Firlej (c. 1613–1649), of Lewart coat of arms, was a noble of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Starost of Lublin. Son of Mikołaj Firlej and Regina Oleśnicka. Married to Anna Wiśniowiecka, daughter of Michał Wiśniowiecki (a ...

h. Lewart *** Aleksander Wisiowiecki (1543–1577), courtier, married Aleksandra Kapusta h. Kapusta ****

Adam Wiśniowiecki Adam Wiśniowiecki (c. 1566 – 1622) Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth szlachcic and magnate. Supported False Dmitriy I during the Muscovy Time of Troubles, famous, together with Konstanty Wiśniowiecki (1564-1641), for being the 'finders' ...

(c. 1566–1622), married Aleksandra Chodkiewicz h. Kościesza, daughter of Hetman

Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz ( lt, Jonas Chodkevičius, be, Ян Геранімавіч Хадкевіч) (1537 – 4 August 1579) was a 16th-century Polish-Lithuanian noble. He was Grand Pantler of Lithuania 1559, general starost of Samo ...

h. Kościesza and

Krystyna Zborowska Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz ( lt, Jonas Chodkevičius, be, Ян Геранімавіч Хадкевіч) (1537 – 4 August 1579) was a 16th-century Polish-Lithuanian noble. He was Grand Pantler of Lithuania 1559, general starost of Samog ...

h. Jastrzębiec

Gallery of estates

file:Вишневець. Палац 04.jpg,

Vyshnivets Palace The Vyshnivets Palace ( uk, Вишнівецький палац) or the Wiśniowiecki Palace ( pl, Pałac Wiśniowieckich) is located in the urban-type settlement of Vyshnivets (near the city of Zbarazh) in Ternopil Oblast of western Ukraine. His ...

file:Zbarazh Castle Park3.jpg, Zbarazh Castle file:Ostroh Castle (Klymenko).jpg, Castle of Ostróg file:Lodygowice dwor.jpg, Manor house in Łodygowice file:Pałac Zbaraskich, Kraków.JPG, Zbarski Palace in

file:7 Warszawa 162.jpg, Palace of the Minister of the Treasury in

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...

(rebuilt from the former Wiśniowiecki Palace) file:BialyKamienZamek.JPG, Ruins of the Castle of Biały Kamień File:Капл. Вишневецьких.JPG, Wisniowiecki Chapel ( Latin Cathedral in

Lviv Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukrain ...

)

References

External links