Shakhovskoy

Princely arms of the Shakhovskoy family

Shakhovskoy (alt. Shahovskoy, Shahovskoi, Russian: Шаховские, French: Chakhovskoï, German: Schachowskoi, Italian: Šachovskoj) is the name of a princely Russian family descending from the Rurik Dynasty, and as such, one of the oldest noble families of Russia. Most members of the family fled Russia in 1917 during the Russian Revolution.

In the 19th Century, and especially after the abolition of serfdom, the "'Shakhovskoy" surname began to appear among peasants who adopted their employers' name but were not themselves descendants of the princely family.

Family history

The family was founded by Prince Konstantin Glebovich, nicknamed “Shah.” Konstantin was a direct descendant of Rurik, whose dynasty formed ancient Rus' and ruled from the 9th to the 17th century.[1] At the time, the land comprised many city-states and principalities, each of which was ruled by its own prince, or knyaz (Russian: князь). The Rurik dynasty brought these together under the authority of the Grand Duchy of Kiev and later Moscow. The land would later become modern-day Russia, Belorussia, and Ukraine.

Pedigree from Rurik

Prince Konstantin Glebovich “Shah”

Prince Konstantin was the youngest of three sons of Prince Gleb Vasilievich, whose brother Vasili Vasilievich ruled the Principality of Yaroslavl. The rule was passed down to Vasili's sons.

Nevertheless, Konstantin managed to earn the nickname "Shakh" - from Persian "Shah", meaning king. He eventually moved to the Grand Duchy of Moscow and held service under the high prince. In 1482 Konstantin appears as a voivode in Nizhny Novgorod. His sons, princes Andrei and Yuri, also held their service in Moscow. In the XVI Century, the descendants of Andrei split into eight primary branches.[2]

Military & government service

As was true of many nobles, and particularly of those descending from Rurik, members of the Shakhovskoy family held high ranking leadership positions throughout Russia's history. They frequently appear in the role of voivode (Russian: воевода), literally "war-leader" or "war-lord", denoting principal command of a military force. When not performing military service, members of the family often held roles of senator or judge. Aside from a few outliers, the Shakhovskoy family has maintained loyalty to the Grand Prince, later Tsar, and finally Emperor of Russia.

After the Russian Revolution

Most members of the Shakhovskoy family fled their homeland during the Russian Revolution of 1917. Today, many who bare the name are descendants of peasants who had adopted the surname of their employers. Of the princely family, there are several known[3] descendants in France and in other parts of the world, as well as matrilineal descendants in a branch of the Derugin family.

Title

Members of the Shakhovskoy family bare the title of “prince” (knyaz, Russian: князь). Female members bare the title “princess” (knyaginya referring to the wife of a knyaz, and knyazhna referring to the daughter of a knyaz). Originally, the title suggested royal ancestry from a current or former ruling dynasty. From the 18th century onwards, the title was occasionally granted by the Tsar to exceptional persons not descending from a ruling house.

Coat of arms

The first and third sections of the shield are the arms of the Great Duchy of Kiev. The second and fourth sections are the arms of the Principality of Smolensk. In the middle of the arms a smaller shield bares the arms of the Yaroslav Principality.

Notable family members

Shakhovskoy family portrait from the early 19th Century

References

  1. ↑ Pedigrees of Famous People. http://geneal.ru/
  2. ↑ History of Russian Families. The Princes Shahovskoy. http://www.russianfamily.ru/sh/shakhovskii.html
  3. ↑ Дмитрий Шаховской: «Служим России одиннадцать веков». http://portal-kultura.ru/svoy/articles/drugie-berega/65465-dmitriy-shakhovskoy-sluzhim-rossii-odinnadtsat-vekov/?print=Y&CODE=65465-dmitriy-shakhovskoy-sluzhim-rossii-odinnadtsat-vekov
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