Hutten-Czapski (feminine: Hutten-Czapska), or Graf von Hutten-Czapski, or simply Czapscy, or Czapski, is the name of an old Polish aristocratic family from Pomerania. Some branches were given the title of Count. Members of the family have contributed to Poland's political, cultural and military history. Some members of the family were first recorded serving as Prussian Baltic knights, their allegiance was to Poland.
It is not entirely clear when and where the Czapski name had its beginnings. One version is that they are related to the old Prussian von Hutten family who appeared in the year 930. A Dietrich von Hutten, along with other nobles, was summoned in 1112 by Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Lesser Poland, to help fight against the pagan Prussians.[1] Dietrich distinguished himself in battle in 1113, and Bolesław promoted him to knight, giving him a coat of arms and the village of Leliwa. Descendants of Dietrich von Hutten later adopted the Teutonic name of von Smolangen. And then one of the von Smolangens, changed the name to von Hutton, and added Czapski to it. There is not much hard evidence that this is the beginning even though it is mentioned in some sources.
What is clear, is that the Czapskis originated from the Smolag, Pomeranina Voivodeship, near Gdańsk.[2] For many centuries the Czapskis occupied high administrative and military rank in the region. It is therefore possible, as other references claim, that the beginning was with Hugo von Smolangen II, who was in 1482 the Castellan of Gdańsk.[3]
The most clearly and certifiable beginning was when, in 1526, Sigismund I of Poland gave to a magistrate named Martin, the village of Czaple.[4] Juliusz Czapski, Marcins grandson, expanded the Czapski family holdings to include the villages of Smętowo, Chwarzno, Swarozyn and Smętówko. At the end of the sixteenth century the Czapskis were one of the wealthiest noble families in the region of Gdańsk.[5] At some point, perhaps bridging both the Prussian/Polish relationship as well as loyalties, the von Hutten was most likely added relating the German Hut (hat or cap in German) to the Polish tchapska, also meaning hat, and thereby constructing the name Hutten-Czapska; hat in German and in Polish.
Through the centuries, the Czapskis rose in prominence and power as large landowners of significant political and social importance. The family grew further in prestige in the 18th century under the rule of Stanisław August Poniatowski, and branched out to Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.[6] Through marriage, the Czapskis were connected to some of the well known Polish families such as the Princes Czetwertyński and Radziwiłł, Counts Chodkiewicz, Działyński, Goetzendorf-Grabowski, Małachowski, Miełżyński, Plater-Zyberg, Potocki, Potulicki, Pusłowski, Raczyński, Rzewuski, Zamoyski. The family is also closely related to other European aristocratic families, such as Thun und Hohenstein, Stackelberg and the Meyendorff von Uexküll.[7] In particular, the marriage of Franciszek Stanisław Hutten-Czapski, Voivode Chelmiński to Princess Weronika Joanna Radziwill (b. 1754) in the 18th century brought great wealth and properties to what was called the Chelmno branch of the Czapskis.[8] Among the Czapskis are thirteen senators, various Governors, Castellans, Counselors, Chamberlains, Bishops and Generals. There are six recipients of Poland's highest award, the Order of the White Eagle, four recipients of Poland's highest award for bravery in battle: the Virtuti Militari, and two Bailiffs of the Order of Malta. In the 17th century, a Sebastian Czapski married a Konopacka, the maternal aunt of the famous astronomer Copernicus.[9]
On 27 September 1804 brothers Nicolas and Joseph Czapski, both former generals of the First Polish Republic (the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth), received from King Frederick William III of Prussia,[10] the hereditary title of Count with the Prussian name Graf von Hutten. On 3 November 1861, as a result of the friendship of his mother with King Wilhelm I of Prusia, Bogdan Hutten-Czapski was confirmed as a Prussian count.[11] On 12 June 1874 the brothers Adam, Igancy and Emeryk Hutten-Czapski were confirmed as counts by the Tsar of the Russian Empire. On 28 June 1895 the title was reconfirmed by the Russian Empire, and on 14 June 1900 the title was confirmed for Stanisław Antoni and Mikolaj (Nicolas) Hutten-Czapski.[12]
The Leliwa coat of arms, or crest, 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.[citation needed] There are several forms of the arms, all of which bear the name Leliwa. The Leliwa coat of arms was historically used by the Czapskis as well as other well known noble Polish families such as the Tarnowski, Sieniawski, Morsztyn, Hlebowicz, Tyszkiewicz, and Średziński families.[13][circular reference] As of 1874, with the confirmation by part of Imperial Russia of the Hutten-Czapski title, the descendants of Karol Hutten-Czapski (1777–1818), began to use a new family achievement.[14] The new coat of arms includes two eagles, with Leliwa crests on their chests, on either side acting as supporters of the shield. Below the shield and two eagles is the family motto: "Vitam Pariae Honorem Nemini" (No life Without Honor for Country). The shield is quartered into four squares, upper left and lower right with the Hutten crest, and upper right and lower left, the Leliwa crest. Above is a nine pointed crown representing the title of Count. Above the crown, to the right, Representing the Czapski name, is a crowned helmet with five peacock feathers on which is placed the half moon and star of Leliwa. To the Left, representing the Hutten name, mounted on a helmet, is a bearded man dressed in red and white robe and cap.
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Main articles: Hutten-Czapski and Czapski |
