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 Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of Royal elections in Poland, free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electab ...

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 Gentry (from Old French , from ) are "well-born, genteel and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past. ''Gentry'', in its widest connotation, refers to people of good social position connected to Landed property, landed es ...

to that of senator and then to royalty (in an

elective monarchy An elective monarchy is a monarchy ruled by a monarch who is elected, in contrast to a hereditary monarchy in which the office is automatically passed down as a family inheritance. The manner of election, the nature of candidate qualifications, ...

). 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 Lublin is List of cities and towns in Poland, the ninth-largest city in Poland and the second-largest city of historical Lesser Poland. It is the capital and the centre of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 336,339 (December 2021). Lublin i ...

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. Michel Poniatowski In Tunisia mars1976

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. On 7 September 1764, at

Wola Wola () is a district in western Warsaw, Poland. An industrial area with traditions reaching back to the early 19th century, it underwent a transformation into a major financial district, featuring various landmarks and some of the tallest offi ...

, 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 King's brothers hereditary titles of Princes. Taurus Poniatovii

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: * Stanisław Poniatowski (1676–1762), Podstoli,

Treasurer A treasurer is a person responsible for the financial operations of a government, business, or other organization. Government The treasury of a country is the department responsible for the country's economy, finance and revenue. The treasure ...

, General, Regimentarz * Kazimierz Poniatowski (1721–1800), General, Great Podkomorzy * Ludwika Maria Poniatowska (1728–1781), was married to Jan Jakub Zamoyski * Izabella Poniatowska (1730–1801), was married to Jan Klemens Branicki *

Stanisław August Poniatowski Stanisław II August (born Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski; 17 January 1732 – 12 February 1798), known also by his regnal Latin name Stanislaus II Augustus, and as Stanisław August Poniatowski (), was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuani ...

(1732–1798),

, reigned as Stanisław II August * Andrzej Poniatowski (1735–1773), General, Marshal of Austria * Michał Jerzy Poniatowski (1736–1794),

Primate Primates is an order (biology), order of mammals, which is further divided into the Strepsirrhini, strepsirrhines, which include lemurs, galagos, and Lorisidae, lorisids; and the Haplorhini, haplorhines, which include Tarsiiformes, tarsiers a ...

of Poland * Stanisław Poniatowski (1754–1833), Duke, Grand Treasurer * Konstancja Poniatowska (1759–1830), was married to Ludwik Tyszkiewicz * Józef Poniatowski (1763–1813), General, Marshal of France * Jozef Michal Poniatowski (1814–1873), Tuscan plenipotentiary, French senator, composer and singer * Józef Stanisław Poniatowski (1835–1908), Polish nobleman, son of Jozef Michal * André Poniatowski (1864–1954), was a Polish nobleman, financier and industrialist, son of Józef Stanisław * Michel Poniatowski (1922–2002), French politician * Elena Poniatowska (1932-), Mexican journalist and author

Coat of arms

The Poniatowski family used the Ciołek arms. Image:Herb Poniatowskich.PNG, Coat of arms of Princes Poniatowski since 1764 File:Józef ks Poniatowski CoA.png, Coat of arms of Prince Józef Poniatowski, Marshal of France, with Order of the White Eagle,

Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', ) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was established in 1792 by the last King of Poland Stanislaus II of Poland, ...

and

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

. image:Coat of Arms of Stanislaus II August of Poland.png, Coat of arms of King

File:Coat of Arms of Stanisław August Poniatowski with colland of Order of White Eagle.PNG, Coat of Arms of Stanisław August Poniatowski with collana of Order of White Eagle file:Herb Rzeczypospolitej za Stanisława Augusta RB1.jpg, Coat of arms of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from times of reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski, Guard House,

Poznań Poznań ( ) is a city on the Warta, River Warta in west Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John's ...

File:Ceremonial sword Poniatowski.jpg, Ceremonial sword of King Stanisław August Poniatowski with his coat of arms

Palaces

image:Korsuno-002.jpg, Palace in Korsuń Szewczenkowski image:Jabłonna Palace.png, Jabłonna Palace in Jabłonna image:Kozienice.Zespół pałacowy 01.jpg, Palace in

Kozienice Kozienice (; ''Kozhnits'') is a town in eastern Poland with 21,500 inhabitants (1995). Located four miles from the Vistula, it is the capital of Kozienice County. Even though Kozienice is part of Lesser Poland, it is situated in the Masovian Voi ...

image:Horadnia, Stanisłavova. Горадня, Станіславова (N. Orda, 28.07.1861-77).jpg, Manor house Stanisławówka in

Grodno Grodno, or Hrodna, is a city in western Belarus. It is one of the oldest cities in Belarus. The city is located on the Neman, Neman River, from Minsk, about from the Belarus–Poland border, border with Poland, and from the Belarus–Lithua ...

image:Voŭčyn, Čartaryjski. Воўчын, Чартарыйскі (I. Ryškievič, 1898).jpg, Ruins of the palace in

Wołczyn Wołczyn () is a town in Kluczbork County, Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland, with 5,907 inhabitants . According to 2011 data, it covers , and is the seat of Gmina Wołczyn. It is located within the historic region of Lower Silesia. His ...

Family tree

Notes

External links

Stanisław August Antoni Poniatowski h. Ciołek
* http://pl.rodovid.org/wk/Specjalna:Tree/46352 * {{Authority control Polish noble families Polish princes Princesses of Poland