Gryf (Polish for "Griffin"), also known as Jaxa, is a Polish coat of arms that was used by many noble families in medieval Poland and later under the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, branches of the original medieval Gryfita-Świebodzic family as well as families connected with the Clan by adoption at ennoblement or even by error.

History

Legend

Leszek III, legendary Prince of Poland, 805?, had 14 sons, of whom the oldest was Popiel I his successor to the throne. Leszek assured special parts of the realm to the remaining sons within his lifetime, obligating them by oath not to make the sovereignty of Popiel contentious. This ensured the safety and liberty of the country with a united army.

  • The other sons:
  • Barnim and Bogdal kept the principality of Pomerania.
  • Kazimierz and Władysław, the principality of Kashubia
  • Vratislav, the island Rügen, with Przybysław.
  • Cieszymierz and Otto, the Lusatia (Łużyce),
  • Ziemowit and Zemornyst, the land of Brandenburg (Brenna & Stodorania).
  • Jaxa with another brother, the Meissen county (Miśnia), in Lusatia (Łużyce)

All these sons united under one war flag given by Leszek. The Lechites originally had a young lion on its war flag, then around 550, the white eagle appeared as a realm flag. The combination of both animal pictures into one figure has developed. Hence a lion's body and an eagle's head, which appears on and above the Gryf shield.

<!-- Feel free to translate the rest into proper English

Representation seize with eagle catches also at the hind feet, or half as a lion probably no correct. The meaning of this compound figure was probably those that the bull the Zusammengehörigkeit of the brothers should suggest, the eagle however that they should stand under the sovereignty the eagle prominent governing prince and also remain. This coat of arms also Swoboda mentioned because of the liberal rights, which were lent to the brothers, to serve in addition, because of their obligation of the liberty of the whole country. The descendants of the Jaxa, which were hard pressed by the Germans and the same tributary become should, returned around 900 for instance to Poland, returning the rights to their country to the duke from Poland, for which they received goods in Krakow and in Silesia from this. After them their coat of arms was also probably called last iaxa, then according to the coat of arms picture Gryf. This coat of arms lead: -->

200px|thumb|right|The Gryf coat of arms on the left side next to the [[Leliwa coat of arms, on the painting Epitafium Wierzbięty z Branic, 1425]]

Blazon

Notable bearers

Notable bearers of this coat of arms have included:

  • Gryfici (Świebodzice)
  • Jaksa Gryfita
  • Andrzej Gryfita
  • House of Branicki
  • Jan Klemens Branicki
  • Jan Klemens Branicki, Marshall of the Crown Tribunal
  • Stefan Mikołaj Branicki, Voivode of Podlasie
  • Grzegorz Branicki
  • Anna Branicka
  • House of Mielecki
  • Mikołaj Mielecki
  • Zofia Mielecka
  • Kazimierz Małachowski
  • Józef Leśniewski, general
  • Abraham z Jaxów Chamiec, first known owner of Międzyrzec Podlaski
  • Bogdan Jaksa-Ronikier, writer and publicist
  • Aleksander Krzysztof Chodkiewicz, Bishop of Kieś and Canon of Wilno
  • Zygmunt Rożen, knight
  • Mateusz Michał Bąkowski, Stolnik of Halicz
  • Szymon Konarski, heraldist
  • House of Otwinowski
  • Erazm Otwinowski poet and Socinian activist
  • Franciszek Jaxa Otwinowski, member of the Sejm
  • August Otwinowski, Burgrave of Kraków

Individual grants based on Gryf

<gallery widths=150 heights=150 align=center>

file:POL COA Dębicki Hrabia.svg|Counts Dębicki

file:POL COA Konarski Hrabia.svg|Counts Konarski

File:Bobowski Baron POL COA.svg|Barons Bobowski

File:POL COA Bałła.svg|Bałła (odm. Gryf)

file:POL COA Rosen.svg|Rosen, a variation of Gryf according to Przemysław Pragert

file:POL COA Jadunka.svg|Jadunka, a variation of Gryf according to Przemysław Pragert

file:Białoskrzydł POL COA.svg|Białoskrzydł coat of arms

<!-- Deleted image removed: Image: S_Chledowski_Arms.jpg|Stephen Chłędowski coat of arms:personal grant by Elizabeth II Queen of Canada -->

</gallery>

<gallery widths=150 heights=150 align=center>

Gryfska vlajka.png|The Gryf brotherhood and knights led by Zygmunt z Bobowej participated at the Battle of Grunwald.

</gallery>

  • Chodkiewicz Coat of Arms
  • Coat of arms of Latvia
  • Coat of arms of Ainaži

See also

  • Polish heraldry
  • Heraldic family
  • List of Polish nobility coats of arms <!--Include in this list after editing this CoA-->
  • House of Griffins
  • House of Sobiesław

Bibliography

  • Tadeusz Gajl: Herbarz polski od średniowiecza do XX wieku : ponad 4500 herbów szlacheckich 37 tysięcy nazwisk 55 tysięcy rodów. L&L, 2007. .
  • Jan Długosz: Jana Długosza kanonika krakowskiego Dziejów polskich ksiąg dwanaście, ks. IX. Kraków: 1867-1870, s. 264.

References