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.
History 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).
According to an alternative version provided by the 18th century chronicle writer Samiilo Velychko, Sobieskis originated from local boyar Sobko from Galicia (Halych region) who converted into the Roman Catholicism.Petro Kralyuk. Eger, the city of the historic bestseller (Петро Кралюк. Еґер: місто історичного бестселера). www.day.kiev.ua (in Ukrainian)
Coat of arms The Sobieski family used the Janina coat of arms, and their motto was Vel cum hoc, vel super hoc.
Notable members PictureNameBornDeathParentsConsortsFunctions and OfficesStanisław Sobieskic. 14501508/1516Mikołaj SobieskiJadwigaMałgorzata Krzyniecka Szlachcic, owner of SobieszynPiotr Sobieskic. 1460after 1508Mikołaj SobieskiJadwigaUnknown by Name heiress of the village BychawkaSzlachcic, owner of LędoSebastian Sobieskic. 14861557Stanisław Sobieski Małgorzata KrzynieckaBarbara GiełczewskaSzlachcicJan Sobieskic. 15181564Sebastian Sobieski Barbara GiełczewskaKatarzyna GdeszyńskaRotmistrz of CavalryMarek Sobieskic. 15501605Jan SobieskiKatarzyna GdeszyńskaJadwiga SnopkowskaKatarzyna TęczyńskaVoivode of Lublin VoivodshipSebastian Sobieskic. 15521614Jan SobieskiKatarzyna GdeszyńskaAnna ZebrzydowskaCourt Standard-Bearer of the CrownJakub Sobieski15901646Marek SobieskiJadwiga SnopkowskaMarianna WiśniowieckaZofia Teofila Daniłowiczówna MagnateDeputy of the SejmAleksandra Sobieskac. 15901645Marek SobieskiJadwiga SnopkowskaKrzysztof WiesiołowskiWife of Great Marshal of LithuaniaZofia Sobieskac. 1586unknownMarek SobieskiJadwiga SnopkowskaJan Mikołaj WodyńskiWife of Voivode of PodlasieKatarzyna Sobieskac. 1582unknownMarek SobieskiJadwiga SnopkowskaStanisław RadziejowskiWife of Voivode of Rawa and Łęczycacastellan of Rawa MazowieckaGryzelda Sobieskac. 15881621Marek SobieskiJadwiga SnopkowskaDadżbóg KarnkowskiJan RozdrażewskiVoivode of Dorpat Carver of Queen Constance of AustriaMarek Sobieski16281652Jakub SobieskiZofia Teofila DaniłowiczównanoneStarost of Jaworów and KrasnystawRotmistrz of the Crown ArmyJohn III Sobieski16291696Jakub SobieskiZofia Teofila DaniłowiczównaMarie Casimire LouiseKing of Poland Katarzyna Sobieska16341694Jakub SobieskiZofia Teofila DaniłowiczównaWładysław Dominik Zasławski-OstrogskiMichał Kazimierz RadziwiłłWife of Deputy Chancellor of Lithuaniaand Field Hetman of LithuaniaJakub Ludwik Sobieski16671737Jan III SobieskiMarie Casimire LouiseJadwiga Elżbieta Amalia SobieskaPretender to the thrones of:PolandPrussiaMoldaviaHungaryTeresa Kunegunda Sobieska16761730Jan III SobieskiMarie Casimire LouiseMaximilian II EmanuelWife of Elector of BavariaAleksander Benedykt Sobieski16771714Jan III SobieskiMarie Casimire LouisenonePrince of Poland Konstanty Władysław Sobieski16801726Jan III SobieskiMarie Casimire LouiseMaria Józefa WesselPrince of PolandMaria Karolina Sobieska16971740Jakub Ludwik SobieskiJadwiga Elżbieta Amalia SobieskaFrédéric Maurice Casimir de La Tour d'AuvergneCharles Godefroy de La Tour d'AuvergnePrincess of TurenneDuchess of BouillonLast surviving member of the familyMaria Klementyna Sobieska17011735Jakub Ludwik SobieskiJadwiga Elżbieta Amalia SobieskaJames Francis Edward StuartWife of a pretender to the thrones of:ScotlandIreland England
Palaces
Famous descendants 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
John III Sobieski, married Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien Theresa Kunegunda Sobieska, married Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria Frederick Augustus I of Saxony Anthony of Saxony Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Saxony, married Princess Carolina of Parma (descendant of King Stanisław I Leszczyński) Princess Maria Anna of Saxony (1799–1832) Archduchess Auguste Ferdinande of Austria Ludwig III of Bavaria Frederick Augustus II of Saxony John of Saxony Princess Elisabeth of Saxony Margherita of Savoy Victor Emmanuel III of Italy Giovanna of Italy Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Albert of Saxony George, King of Saxony Frederick Augustus III of Saxony Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony (1867–1944) Charles I of Austria Maria Josepha Amalia, Queen of Spain James Louis Sobieski Maria Clementina Sobieska (titular Queen consort of England, Ireland and Scotland)
References
External links The Beginnings of the Career of the Sobieski Family at the Wilanów Palace Museum