The House of Żeleński is a Polish princely family and one of the most influential

noble families Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. Th ...

in pre-

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Poland. The Żeleński family's coat of arms is the

Ciołek coat of arms Ciołek ( Polish for " bull calf") is a Polish coat of arms, one of the oldest in medieval Poland.Oleg Jardetzky: ''The Ciolek of Poland''. Graz/Austria: Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt, 1992, s. 244. . It was used by many ''szlachta'' (nobl ...

, which is one of the oldest in medieval Poland. The Żeleński family reached notable power under the late

Piast dynasty The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented List of Polish monarchs, Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I of Poland, Mieszko I (–992). The Poland during the Piast dynasty, Piasts' royal rule in Pol ...

, under the

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also referred to as Poland–Lithuania or the First Polish Republic (), was a federation, federative real union between the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ...

, during the

Partitions of Poland The Partitions of Poland were three partition (politics), partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that took place between 1772 and 1795, toward the end of the 18th century. They ended the existence of the state, resulting in the eli ...

, and in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Origins

The Żeleński family have been actors in the

history of Poland The history of Poland spans over a thousand years, from Lechites, medieval tribes, Christianization of Poland, Christianization and Kingdom of Poland, monarchy; through Polish Golden Age, Poland's Golden Age, Polonization, expansionism and be ...

since the 11th century. The surname Żeleński comes from the Polish word "ziel," which is the color green, and as such many of the variants of this name were associated with growing things. As a surname, it may be also have been a name taken on by a variety of places named with this word. The surname Żeleński was first found in the province of

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

History

The surname became noted for its many branches in the Kraków region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history, the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. In 1801, the Żeleński family's nobility was recognized by the

Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...

. In 1803, it was then recognized by the

Kingdom of Poland The Kingdom of Poland (; Latin: ''Regnum Poloniae'') was a monarchy in Central Europe during the Middle Ages, medieval period from 1025 until 1385. Background The West Slavs, West Slavic tribe of Polans (western), Polans who lived in what i ...

, and again officially in 1823 with title confirmation. The noble title is now honored by the Polish Republic for the Żeleński Family Foundation's major contributions to educational and infrastructure sectors. From 1912 onwards it was an acknowledged noble family by England due to the Żeleński family's wealth and business contacts in the Britain, though England did not ever recognize its sovereignty. In 1982, England officially recognized the Żeleński family and the Żeleński Family Foundation (Polish: Fundacja Rodziny Żeleńskich) for their support in the of Britain. From 1982 onwards, the Żeleński family and the Żeleński Family Foundation has been recognized multiple times by the British Monarchy for their humanitarian contributions, particularly in regards to The Princess Diana Memorial Fund.

Family seat

The family seat is the Żeleński Palace (Pałac Żeleńskich) in

Grodkowice Grodkowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kłaj, within Wieliczka County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately east of Wieliczka and east of the regional capital Kraków , officially t ...

near

, which was built in 1902 to a design by Teodor Talowski. It is run as a hotel when the family is not in residence. File:Kiel25DSC 0249.JPG, Eastward garden front of the palace; Orangery and stairwell File:Pałac Tomasza Zielińskiego - Asirek 143.jpg, Main classical building File:Pałac Tomasza Zielińskiego - Asirek 137.jpg, Front of the main classical building File:Pałacyk Zielińskich w Kielcach (9) (jw14).JPG File:Pałacyk Zielińskiego 01 ssj 20060716.jpg File:Pałacyk Zielińskich w Kielcach (1) (jw14).JPG File:Mur z Basztą Plotkarą Kielce jw14.JPG

Notable Żeleńskis

Władysław Żeleński (composer) Władysław Marcjan Mikołaj Żeleński (6 July 1837 – 23 January 1921) was a Polish composer, pianist and organist. Life Żeleński was born in Grodkowice into a landowner family. When he was eight, his father was killed and his mother criti ...

(1837–1921), Polish composer, pianist and organist * Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński (writer) (1874-1941), Polish stage writer, poet, critic, and translator * Władysław Żeleński (lawyer) (1903–2006), Polish lawyer, historian, publicist

Żeleński noble family

* Count Tadeusz Josef Żeleński, 1889-1969 * Countess Ewa Theresa Żeleńska Korab-Karpinska, 1925-2011 * Countess Sará Elżbieta Philoména Korab-Karpinska Żeleńska Eagan, b.1999

References

Sławomir Górzyński: Arystokracja polska w Galicji: studium heraldyczno-genealogiczne. Warszawa: DiG, 2009, s. 187-188. . {{reflist Polish noble families