The House of Sobieski (plural: Sobiescy, feminine form: Sobieska) was a prominent magnate family of Polish nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries, from which the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Jan III Sobieski originated. The family used the Janina coat of arms.

Sobieski

Janina
Parent house
CountryPoland
Founded1674 Free election
Current headExtinct
Final rulerJohn III Sobieski
Titles
Estate(s)Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus

History

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According to the family's legend, it traced its lineage to a Polish duke, Leszek II the Black. Another family legend said that they were the descendants of Duke Sobiesław, the son of Leszko III, a legendary ruler of the Popielids dynasty. The family reached the height of its power and importance in the late 16th and 17th centuries, when one of its members was elected King of Poland: John III Sobieski (Jan III Sobieski). The last male member of the branch of the family that began with John's grandfather, Marek Sobieski, in the 16th century was Jakub Ludwik Sobieski (1667–1737).

Coat of arms

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The Sobieski family used the Janina coat of arms, and their motto was Vel cum hoc, vel super hoc.

 
Apotheosis of John III Sobieski surrounded by his family.
 
John III Sobieski, the victor of the Battle of Vienna.
 
John III Sobieski, the victor of the Battle of Chocim.
 
Scutum Sobiescianum, a constellation created by Jan Heweliusz to commemorate the victory of the Polish forces led by King John III in the Battle of Vienna.

Notable members

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Picture Name Born Death Parents Consorts Functions and Offices
  Stanisław Sobieski c. 1450 1508/1516 Mikołaj Sobieski
Jadwiga
Małgorzata Krzyniecka Szlachcic, owner of Sobieszyn
  Piotr Sobieski c. 1460 after 1508 Mikołaj Sobieski
Jadwiga
Unknown by Name heiress
of the village Bychawka
Szlachcic, owner of Lędo
  Sebastian Sobieski c. 1486 1557 Stanisław Sobieski
Małgorzata Krzyniecka
Barbara Giełczewska Szlachcic
  Jan Sobieski c. 1518 1564 Sebastian Sobieski
Barbara Giełczewska
Katarzyna Gdeszyńska Rotmistrz of Cavalry
  Marek Sobieski c. 1550 1605 Jan Sobieski
Katarzyna Gdeszyńska
Jadwiga Snopkowska
Katarzyna Tęczyńska
Voivode of Lublin Voivodship
  Sebastian Sobieski c. 1552 1614 Jan Sobieski
Katarzyna Gdeszyńska
Anna Zebrzydowska Court Standard-Bearer of the Crown
  Jakub Sobieski 1590 1646 Marek Sobieski
Jadwiga Snopkowska
Marianna Wiśniowiecka
Zofia Teofila Daniłowiczówna
Magnate
Deputy of the Sejm
  Aleksandra Sobieska c. 1590 1645 Marek Sobieski
Jadwiga Snopkowska
Krzysztof Wiesiołowski Wife of Great Marshal of Lithuania
  Zofia Sobieska c. 1586 unknown Marek Sobieski
Jadwiga Snopkowska
Jan Mikołaj Wodyński Wife of Voivode of Podlasie
  Katarzyna Sobieska c. 1582 unknown Marek Sobieski
Jadwiga Snopkowska
Stanisław Radziejowski Wife of Voivode of Rawa and Łęczyca
castellan of Rawa Mazowiecka
  Gryzelda Sobieska c. 1588 1621 Marek Sobieski
Jadwiga Snopkowska
Dadżbóg Karnkowski
Jan Rozdrażewski
Voivode of Dorpat
Carver of Queen Constance of Austria
  Marek Sobieski 1628 1652 Jakub Sobieski
Zofia Teofila Daniłowiczówna
none Starost of Jaworów and Krasnystaw
Rotmistrz of the Crown Army
  John III Sobieski 1629 1696 Jakub Sobieski
Zofia Teofila Daniłowiczówna
Marie Casimire Louise King of Poland
  Katarzyna Sobieska 1634 1694 Jakub Sobieski
Zofia Teofila Daniłowiczówna
Władysław Dominik Zasławski-Ostrogski
Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł
Wife of Deputy Chancellor of Lithuania
and Field Hetman of Lithuania
  Jakub Ludwik Sobieski 1667 1737 Jan III Sobieski
Marie Casimire Louise
Jadwiga Elżbieta Amalia Sobieska Pretender to the thrones of:
Poland
Prussia
Moldavia
Hungary
  Teresa Kunegunda Sobieska 1676 1730 Jan III Sobieski
Marie Casimire Louise
Maximilian II Emanuel Wife of Elector of Bavaria
  Aleksander Benedykt Sobieski 1677 1714 Jan III Sobieski
Marie Casimire Louise
none Prince of Poland
  Konstanty Władysław Sobieski 1680 1726 Jan III Sobieski
Marie Casimire Louise
Maria Józefa Wessel Prince of Poland
  Maria Karolina Sobieska 1697 1740 Jakub Ludwik Sobieski
Jadwiga Elżbieta Amalia Sobieska
Frédéric Maurice Casimir de La Tour d'Auvergne
Charles Godefroy de La Tour d'Auvergne
Princess of Turenne
Duchess of Bouillon
Last surviving member of the family
  Maria Klementyna Sobieska 1701 1735 Jakub Ludwik Sobieski
Jadwiga Elżbieta Amalia Sobieska
James Francis Edward Stuart Wife of a pretender to the thrones of:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Palaces

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Famous descendants

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Among the descendants of John III Sobieski were one Holy Roman Emperor (simultaneously one King of Bohemia and one King of Germany), seven Kings of Saxony (simultaneously one Duke of Warsaw), one King of Bavaria, two Kings of Italy (simultaneously one Emperor of Ethiopia and one King of the Albanians), one Tsar of Bulgaria, one Emperor of Austria (simultaneously one King of Hungary), one Queen consort of Spain and one titular Queen consort of England, Ireland and Scotland.

Tree

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References

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  1. ^ Title of Theresa Kunegunda Sobieska
  2. ^ Title of Maria Karolina Sobieska
  3. ^ Title of Maria Karolina Sobieska
  4. ^ Title of Maria Clementina Sobieska (titular)
  5. ^ Title of Maria Clementina Sobieska (titular)
  6. ^ Title of Maria Clementina Sobieska (titular)
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