Nałęcz coat-of-arms

Nałęcz
Details
Battle cry Nałęcz, Nałęcz Jezioro
Alternative names Choczennica, Łęczuch, Nalancz, Nalencz, Nałęczyta, Nałonie, Pomłość, Toczennica,
Earliest mention 1293 (seal), 1398 (record)
Families
Cities Czarnków, Ostroróg
Gminas Gmina Babiak, Gmina Odrzywół

Nałęcz (Polish pronunciation: [ˈnawɛnt͡ʂ]) is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by associated szlachta families in the Kingdom of Poland (see Kingdom of Poland (1320–1385), and Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)) and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795).

History

Nałęcz' is a Polish coat of arms from the 12th century (like the Abdank, Leliwa, Radwan, and Bogorya coats of arms) that represented unity and harmony. It was used by the Gembiccy, Ostrorogowie, Szamotulscy, Chełmicki, Czarnkowscy, Slizewicz, Raczyńscy, Dworniccy, Sadowski, Łowińscy, and other families. It is traditionally described as a silver shawl, tied, on a red background. Most versions had the shawl tied downwards; some were tied upwards. Earlier versions and some modern ones depict the shawl untied. The shawl is similar in the shape to Teutonic image of Rune Othila, the Rune of a Fatherland.

The Nałęcz arms were initially connected with Greater Poland. The Nałęcze were accused of murdering Przemysł II in 1296. They also allied with Brandenburg against Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władyslaw Łokietek), and after the death of Louis I of Hungary waged war against the Grzymalits, attempting to put Ziemowit III of Masovia forcibly on the throne of Poland.

The best-known Poles who bore these arms were Joseph Conrad (Korzeniowski) and Sędziwój Ostroróg. Nałęcz relief is on the Guard House building in Poznań.

Blazon

In heraldic English, the shield may be blazoned: Gules the Nałęcz shawl circled and knotted Argent.

Notable bearers

Notable bearers of this coat of arms have included:

Gallery

Standard variations

Aristocratic variations

Other

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. Not mentioned in the works of Tadeusz Gajl.