Zamoyski family

Zamoyski coat of arms, Jelita, one of the oldest in Polish heraldry. This version was bestowed by Empress Maria Theresa.

Coat of arms at the main gate of Kozłówka Palace

The House of Zamoyski (plural: Zamoyscy) is the name of an important Polish noble (szlachta) family, which used the Jelita coat of arms. It is the Polish term for "de Zamość" (Polish "z Zamościa"), the name they originally held as lords of Zamość. The family was influential in Polish politics for several centuries, and its members held various official titles, including those of Count and Countess.

Family history

The family traces its origins to the Łaźniński family. In the 15th century, Tomasz Łaźniński bought an estate in Stary (Old) Zamość. His sons Florian (died 1510) and Maciej assumed the name Zamoyski, and the family began to rise in prominence. Florian’s grandson Stanisław was the castellan of Chełm, and his son, Jan Zamoyski, arguably the most famous member of the family, became a chancellor, hetman, and founded the Zamoyski's Ordynat - a large estate that was a major source of the family's wealth. He was the 1st Ordynat of the Zamoyski Family Fee Tail. His son, Tomasz Zamoyski, the 2nd Ordynat, was also a chancellor in Poland. Many of their descendants held important positions within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, often that of a voivode.

In the 18th century, the 10th Ordynat, Andrzej Zamoyski, became the third chancellor of Poland in the family's history. He was one of the authors of a plan for general reform of the nation, known as Zamoyski Code. The family received the title of count from the Holy Roman Emperor in the late 18th century. Brothers Andrzej Artur Zamoyski and Władysław Stanisław Zamoyski, supported Polish movements aimed at regaining independence during the partitions period; Władysław was exiled after participating in the November Uprising, and Andrzej, in the aftermath of the January Uprising.

Andrzej's grandson, Maurycy Zamoyski, was a Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Second Polish Republic for seven months in 1924.

Notable members

Jan Zamoyski (1542–1605), Great Crown Chancellor and Great Crown Hetman
Tomasz Zamoyski (1594–1638), Vice-Chancellor of the Crown
Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska (1623–1672), mother of King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki
Jan "Sobiepan" Zamoyski (1627–1662), magnate, voivode
Andrzej Zamoyski (1716–1792), Great Crown Chancellor, humanist and reformer
Władysław Stanisław Zamoyski (1803–1868), politician, general, activist of Hôtel Lambert
Andrzej Artur Zamoyski (1800–1874), political and economic activist
Maurycy Zamoyski (1871–1939), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland
Andrzej Przemysław Zamoyski (1852–1927), landowner
Jan Kanty Zamoyski (1900–1961), landowner
Jan Tomasz Zamoyski (1912–2002), Polish Armed Forces and Home Army soldier, Polish Senator, the last Ordynat of Zamość estate
Marcin Zamoyski (born 1947), Mayor of Zamość (1990–92, 2002-2014)
Count Adam Zamoyski (born 1949), historian
Michael Bisping former UFC fighter. Michael is the great-grandson of Countess Marie Josepha Zamoyska (1887–1961), who in turn was the daughter of Count Andrzej Przemysław Zamoyski and his wife Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1856–1941)