Lithuanian nobility

2025-10-03T15:54:39Z

2604:3D08:897F:6F00:48CB:FA83:A018:E30: paragraph repeated

{{Short description|Legally privileged class in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania}}
[[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|thumb|200px|right|[[Columns of Gediminas]], symbol of the [[House of Gediminas]]]]
[[File:Herb Pogon Litewska.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Medieval Coat of Arms of Lithuania was inherited by oldest families]]
[[File:Herb Kosciesza.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Crossed arrows motive indicates the oldest type of heraldry in Lithuania after formal Christianization, like [[Kościesza coat of arms]]]]The '''Lithuanian nobility''' ({{langx|lt|bajorija}}) or '''''szlachta'' of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania''' ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės šlėkta}}, {{langx|pl|szlachta Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego}}) was historically a legally privileged hereditary [[elite]] class in the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] and [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth]] (including during period of foreign rule 1795–1918) consisting of [[Lithuanians]] from [[Lithuania Proper]]; [[Samogitians]] from [[Duchy of Samogitia]]; following Lithuania's eastward expansion into what is now Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, many ethnically [[Ruthenia|Ruthenian]] noble families (''[[Boyar|boyars]]''); and, later on, predominantly [[Baltic German]] families from the [[Duchy of Livonia]] and [[Inflanty Voivodeship]].<ref name=":02">Krzysztof Buchowski, ''Litwomani i polonizatorzy'', p. 20–50, 2006 Białystok, Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, {{ISBN|978-83-7431-075-8}}</ref>

Initially, the privileged social group of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was called [[Boyar|''boyars'']]. Boyars became part of the [[szlachta]] (nobility) during the [[Union of Horodło]] on October 2, 1413, initiating nobility in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania following the [[Western Europe|Western European]] model (with a hereditary system of heraldic identification), as well as an increase in the position of the Greater Lithuanian nobility. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania adopted Polish institutions of [[Castellan|castellans]] and [[Voivode|voivodes]], and 47 selected boyars of Grand Duchy of Lithuania of the Catholic faith were adopted by Polish noble families and received Polish [[Coat of arms|coats of arms]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Aleksander |first=Semkowicz Władysław |date=1913 |title=Miesięcznik Heraldyczny. Organ Towarzystwa Heraldycznego we Lwowie. R.6 1913 nr9-10 |url=https://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/publication/69052/edition/84543 |journal=PAN Biblioteka Kórnicka |page=144}}</ref>

Families of the nobility were responsible for [[military mobilization]] and enjoyed [[Golden Liberty]]; some were rewarded with additional [[Privilege (law)|privileges]] for success on the battlefield. In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, ducal titles were mostly inherited by descendants of old [[dynasties]] while the relatively few hereditary noble titles in the Kingdom of Poland were bestowed by foreign monarchs. The [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] had one of the largest percentages of nobility in Europe, with [[szlachta]] (nobility) constituting close to 10% of the population, but in some constituent regions, like the [[Duchy of Samogitia]], it was closer to 12%. However, the high nobility was extremely limited in number, consisting of the [[Magnates of Poland and Lithuania|magnates]] and later, within the Russian Empire, of princes.

Over time, the vast majority of the nobility of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania voluntarily became [[Polonization|Polonized]] and recognized Polish national thought as a natural continuation of Greater Lithuanian national thought.''<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Błaszczyk |first=Grzegorz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jhNRzwEACAAJ |title=Litwini na Uniwersytecie Dorpackim (Juriewskim) do 1918 roku i ich dalsze losy: słownik biograficzny |date=2022 |publisher=Adam Mickiewicz University Press |isbn=978-83-232-4075-4 |page=33 |language=pl}}</ref>''

== Cultural affiliation ==
According to the Polish historian [[Grzegorz Błaszczyk]], ''Lithuanian nobility'' doesn’t mean the same as the ''leaders of today's [[Lithuania]]'', as the terms "Lithuanians" and "Lithuanian" have changed over the centuries''.<ref name=":1" />'' According to the Lithuanian historian Vytautas Spečiūnas, the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] was formed on the basis of [[Lithuania proper]], which is a part of the Eastern [[Balts]] ethnic territory.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spečiūnas |first1=Vytautas |title=Didžioji Lietuva |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/didzioji-lietuva/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 December 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> According to the Polish historian {{Interlanguage link|Jerzy Ochmański|pl=Jerzy Ochmański|pl}}, already during the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuania proper was a term designated to land where Lithuanians live.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ochmański |first=Jerzy |title=Litewska granica etniczna na wschodzie od epoki plemiennej do XVI wieku |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SWYdAAAAMAAJ&q=lithuania%20propria |access-date=3 December 2024 |year=1981 |publisher=Wydawn. Nauk. Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza |language=pl |pages= 69–73}}</ref> The Lithuanian Grand Duke [[Vytautas]] in his 11 March 1420 letter sent to [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor]], wrote about [[Duchy of Samogitia|Samogitia]] that "it is and has always been the same Lithuanian land, because there is one language and the same inhabitants. The people of Samogitia have long called themselves as Lithuanians and never as Samogitians, and because of such identity (''sic'') we do not write about Samogitia in our letter, because everything is one: one country and the same inhabitants" (see also: [[Samogitian dialect]], [[Lithuanian language]]).<ref>{{cite book |author1=[[Vytautas the Great]] |author2=Valkūnas, Leonas (translation from [[Latin]]) |title=Vytauto laiškai [ Letters of Vytautas the Great ] |publisher=[[Vilnius University]], Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore |page=6 |url=http://www.šaltiniai.info/files/literatura/LC00/Vytauto_lai%C5%A1kai.LC2100.pdf |access-date=3 December 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

As cultural homogenization and linguistic Polonization of the nobility progressed, the concept of Lithuanian began to mean simply regional difference within the uniform political nation of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]].''<ref name=":1" />'' The main Polonizing factors, as in other areas of the ''[[First Republic of Poland]]'', were the [[Church (building)|church]], the [[Estate (land)|manor]] and the [[city]], where the lower [[Social class|social classes]] adopted and thereby took over the cultural patterns of the higher classes.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Dziewulski |first=Wacław |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SIK0AAAAIAAJ |title=Divertimento: dzieje ziem płn.-wsch. Rzeczpospolitej |date=1997 |publisher=Tow. Miłośników Wilna i Ziemi Wileńskiej |isbn=978-83-907732-4-7 |page=16 |language=pl}}</ref>

Already in 1576, seven years after the conclusion of the [[Union of Lublin]], [[Augustyn Rotundus]], a historiographer of Greater Lithuania at that time, wrote that the [[Lithuanian language]] previously used by some citizens of Grand Duchy of Lithuania was used by [[Peasant|peasants]], while the nobility widely adopted [[Polish language|Polish]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Eberhardt |first=Piotr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUIqAAAAMAAJ&q=Przemiany+narodowo%C5%9Bciowe+na+Litwie+eberhardt |title=Przemiany narodowościowe na Litwie |date=1997 |publisher=Przegląd Wschodni |isbn=978-83-909013-0-5 |page=20 |language=pl}}</ref> However, this process took place without orders or prohibitions, without coercion, mainly under the influence of civilizational domination and administrative influence (there is also no evidence of administrative coercion).<ref name=":2" />

Polonization processes led to the fact that already in the 17th century, Lithuanian landowners called themselves ''gente Lithuani, natione Poloni'' ([[Latin]]: ''Lithuanians by birth, Poles by nationality'').<ref>Ochmański J, ''Historia Litwy'', Wrocław-Warszawa 1982, s. 139.</ref> In 1697, in the entire Grand Duchy of Lithuania, at the request of the local Lithuanian nobility, Polish was introduced as the official language instead of the previously existing [[Ruthenian language]].<ref name=":2" />

In the 18th century, the Polonization of the lands within the borders of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was a completed process, and the Polonization of Vilnius was a state of affairs.<ref name=":2" /> Despite the lack of their own state, the conviction of the permanent nature of Lithuania's relationship with Poles and the territorial integrity of their common, although enslaved, homeland was strengthening in the minds of all Poles. In the lands of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the cultural unity of inhabitants was strengthening, and many traditionally understood Lithuanians discovered a modern national identity - they became [[Poles (people)|Poles]]. However, that the described processes took place almost exclusively within the nobility and landed gentry and among the intelligentsia.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Buchowski |first=Krzysztof |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQAfAQAACAAJ |title=Litwomani i polonizatorzy: mity, wzajemne postrzeganie i stereotypy w stosunkach polsko-litewskich w pierwszej połowie XX wieku |date=2006 |publisher=Wydawn. Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku |isbn=978-83-7431-075-8 |page=27 |language=pl}}</ref>

The fall of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and unsuccessful armed uprisings led to the strengthening of the Polonization processes of the small nobility of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, identifying spiritually and culturally with Polish traditions. Post-uprising repression resulted in the [[Catholic Church]] becoming the mainstay of Polishness. Because the Catholic Church had a Polish character, it became an element integrating both the conscious classes and the popular masses, who began to identify with Polishness through their religion.<ref name=":3" />

The [[January Uprising]] of 1863-1864 and the wave of post-uprising repressions were a great shock for the people of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania. However, under the influence of painful experiences, the sense of community between Lithuanianness and Polishness became even stronger, and the belief in the identity of both elements became almost a patriotic axiom. Additionally, in the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, the process of linguistic Polonization of the rural population accelerated rapidly, especially in the [[Vilnius Region|Vilnius region]].<ref name=":4" />

In the consciousness of the general Polish society at that time, the multi-ethnic heritage of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was increasingly identified simply with Polish heritage. Such views were held by the most active and opinion-forming layer of the emerging nation. The [[intelligentsia]] grew up in an atmosphere of supremacy of nobility culture, so they easily identified with it. It adopted the nobility's way of perceiving the world, even if it came from other social groups. According to a commonly accepted interpretation, the history of the "peoples" inhabiting the eastern lands of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth constituted an integral part of the history of Poles. The local "peoples" (especially [[Lithuanians]] and [[Belarusians]]) were perceived at best as "younger brothers", naturally subordinated to the Polish national interest. It was therefore necessary to educate them and guide them in the right direction, because they were not yet mature enough to make independent decisions. "Our Polish paternalism - writes [[Roman Wapiński]] - is firmly located in the East.<ref name=":4" />
[[File:Informal Meeting of Health Ministers (Informal EPSCO-Health) 2016-10-03 (30086735705).jpg|thumb|240x240px|[[Konstanty Radziwiłł]], representative of the [[House of Radziwiłł]] ]]
In the [[Second Polish Republic]], Lithuanians lived mainly in the counties on the border with Lithuania: [[Švenčionys|Święciany]], [[Vilnius]]-[[Trakai]] and [[Suwałki]], and almost all of them were rural people engaged in [[agriculture]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Tomaszewski |first=Jerzy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=avpIAAAAIAAJ&q=Jerzy+Tomaszewski:+Ojczyzna+nie+tylko+Polak%C3%B3w:+mniejszo%C5%9Bci+narodowe+w+Polsce+w+latach+1918%E2%80%931939.+Warszawa:+M%C5%82odzie%C5%BCowa+Agencja+Wydawnicza,+1985,+s.+152 |title=Ojczyzna nie tylko Polaków: mniejszości narodowe w Polsce w latach 1918-1939 |date=1985 |publisher=Młodzieżowa Agencja Wydawnicza |isbn=978-83-203-1963-7 |page=152 |language=pl}}</ref> At the beginning of the 20th century, descendants of former noble Lithuanians were most likely to call themselves Poles. Only a part of the nobility, openly referring to the traditions of historical Lithuania, trying to reconcile Lithuanianness with Polishness, called themselves "''old Lithuanians''", "''historical Lithuanians''" or "''The Mickiewicz's''" (i.e. - such as in [[Adam Mickiewicz]], from the first words of the invocation from the poem Pan Tadeusz: "O Lithuania, my country ... " ). In turn, the representatives of the former "[[Semigallians|Semigalian people]]", now "nationalized", called themselves [[Lithuanians]], additionally reserving the exclusive right to this term.<ref name=":5" /> However, attempts were made to create organizations of native Lithuanians of noble descent. On April 4, 1928, the Lithuanian Boyars Society ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos bajorų draugija}}) was established, which operated until 1940.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tamašauskas |first1=Kazimieras |title=Lietuvos bajorų draugija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-bajoru-draugija/ |access-date=30 November 2024 |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |language=lt}}</ref>

Upon adoption of the [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania]] in 1990 and this way ending the [[Soviet re-occupation of the Baltic states (1944)|Soviet occupation of Lithuania]], the Royal Union of the Lithuanian Boyars ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos bajorų karališkoji sąjunga}}) was established in Vilnius in 1994 which continues the [[interwar period]] Society traditions, perform legitimation processes of historical Lithuanian nobles, organize ceremonies of awarding acts of recognition of nobility and unites thousands of Lithuanian nobles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stankus |first1=Jonas |title=Bajorų karališkoji sąjunga |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/bajoru-karaliskoji-sajunga/ |access-date=30 November 2024 |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Apie mus |url=https://www.lbks.lt/lt/apie-lbks |access-date=30 November 2024 |website=Lietuvos bajorų karališkoji sąjunga |language=lt}}</ref> However, the criteria for belonging to the nobility of this organization are treated liberally, accepting members who can prove their descent only through the [[female line]]. Therefore, the Royal Union of the Lithuanian Boyars has no chance of acceptance by international associations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narbutt |first=Maja |date=18 September 2009 |title=Powrót do Wielkiego Księstwa |url=https://www.rp.pl/plus-minus/art7524911-powrot-do-wielkiego-ksiestwa |access-date=1 December 2024 |work=[[Rzeczpospolita (newspaper)|Rzeczpospolita]]}}</ref>

According to Professor [[Grzegorz Błaszczyk]], the heritage of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] belongs primarily to the descendants of old Greater Lithuanian families, most of whom were Polonized and still live in Poland today.''<ref name=":1" />'' The last representative of the great Lithuanian families living in today's Lithuania, Stefania Maria Romer, died in 2012.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Na Litwie zmarła ciocia Bronisława Komorowskiego |url=https://www.rp.pl/swiat/art13630251-na-litwie-zmarla-ciocia-bronislawa-komorowskiego |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Rzeczpospolita |language=pl}}</ref> Meanwhile, in Poland, about 2,000 Polish families with Lithuanian origins live and use the Polish language,''<ref name=":1" />'' including the [[Radziwiłł family|Radziwiłł]],''<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Mackiewicz |first=Stanisław |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QpUfAAAAMAAJ |title=Dom Radziwiłłów |date=1990 |publisher=Czytelnik |isbn=978-83-07-01971-0 |page=26 |language=pl}}</ref>'' [[Czartoryski]],<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=ZWIĄZEK SZLACHTY POLSKIEJ Oddział we Wrocławiu |url=https://www.antoniego26.pl/szlachta/lista.htm |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.antoniego26.pl}}</ref> [[Tyszkiewicz family|Tyszkiewicz]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beata Tyszkiewicz |url=https://dzieje.pl/postacie/beata-tyszkiewicz |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=dzieje.pl |language=pl}}</ref> [[Sanguszko]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Małopolskiego |first=Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa |title=Skarb Sanguszków oficjalnie własnością tarnowskiego Muzeum |url=https://www.malopolska.pl/aktualnosci/kultura/skarb-sanguszkow-oficjalnie-wlasnoscia-tarnowskiego-muzeum |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.malopolska.pl |language=pl}}</ref> [[Sapieha]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=webmaster@prw.pl |first=Mateusz Lipiński |title=Księżna z rodu Sapiehów odwiedziła Zamek Książ |url=https://www.radiowroclaw.pl/articles/view/76080/Ksiezna-z-rodu-Sapiehow-odwiedzila-Zamek-Ksiaz |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Radio Wrocław |language=pl}}</ref> [[House of Giedroyć|Giedroyć]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=ks. giedrojć |url=https://www.sejm-wielki.pl/s/?m=N;o=i;v=ks.+giedroj%25E6+h.+w%25B3.;t=N |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.sejm-wielki.pl}}</ref> [[House of Piłsudski|Piłsudski]],<ref name=":7" /> [[Puzyna]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gdańsk |first=Radio |date=2023-06-04 |title=Jak poprawić sytuację polskich szpitali? Wojciech Puzyna przekonywał w Ustce do komercjalizacji |url=https://radiogdansk.pl/wiadomosci/region/slupsk/2023/06/04/jak-poprawic-sytuacje-polskich-szpitali-wojciech-puzyna-przekonywal-w-ustce-do-komercjalizacji/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Radio Gdańsk |language=pl-PL}}</ref> [[House of Woroniecki|Woroniecki]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-06 |title=Polak prowadził w Londynie lokal uwielbiany przez gwiazdy. W jego żyłach płynie książęca krew |url=https://plejada.pl/newsy/jan-woroniecki-polski-ksiaze-ktory-karmil-brytyjczykow-goscil-gwiazdy/7lhb2xw |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Plejada |language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-07 |title=Wielkopostna zaduma w polskim sanktuarium na Kahlenbergu w Wiedniu |url=https://ikrakow.info/artykul/wielkopostna-zaduma-w/194536 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=iKrakow.info |language=pl}}</ref> and [[House of Romer|Romer]] families.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wyborcza.pl |url=https://katowice.wyborcza.pl/katowice/7,35055,29947948,koszutka-miala-swoj-szpiclowski-plac-wszyscy-dookola-wiedzieli.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=katowice.wyborcza.pl}}</ref>''<ref name=":0" />''

The president of the ''Genealogical and Heraldic Society of Lithuania'', Czesław Malewski, commented that ''currently there are no famous families left in Lithuania, and the functioning and competing associations of the Lithuanian nobility gather in their ranks representatives of the minor nobility, most often descending from their families on the distaff side''.<ref name=":6" />

== History ==

=== Lithuania before formal Christianization ===
Prior to the baptism by [[Mindaugas]], lesser members of the nobility were called ''bajorai'' (singular - ''bajoras'') and greater nobles, ''kunigai'' (singular - ''kunigas''), related to the Old {{langx|de|kunig}}, meaning "king", or {{langx|lt|kunigaikštis}}, usually translated as [[duke]], {{langx|la|dux}}. These positions evolved from tribal leaders and were chiefly responsible for waging wars and organizing raids operations into enemy territories. Following the establishment of a unified state, they gradually became subordinates to greater Dukes, and later to the [[King of Lithuania]]. After Mindaugas' death, all [[Lithuania]]n rulers held the title ''[[Grand Prince|Grand Duke]]'' ({{langx|lt|Didysis kunigaikštis}}), or [[king]], which was the title sometimes used by [[Gediminas]] and several others.

Ethnic Lithuanian nobility had different names than common people, as their names consisted of two [[Word stem|stem]]s. Greater noble families generally used their predecessor's [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] pagan given [[Lithuanian name|names]] as their [[family name]]s; this was the case with [[Goštautai]], [[Radvilos]], [[Astikai]], [[Kęsgailos]] and others. Those families acquired great wealth, eventually becoming [[Magnates of Poland and Lithuania|magnate]]s. Their representatives are respectively [[Jonas Goštautas]], [[Radvila Astikas]], [[Kristinas Astikas]] and [[Mykolas Kęsgaila]]. The aforementioned families were granted corresponding [[Polish heraldry|Polish coats of arms]] under the [[Union of Horodlo]] in 1413.

While at the beginning the nobility was almost all Lithuanian or Samogitian, with territorial expansion more Ruthenian families joined the nobility. As early as the 16th century, several Ruthenian noble families began to call themselves ''gente Ruthenus, natione Lithuanus''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=About the Lithuanian Baroque in a Baroque Manner|journal=[[Lituanus]]|year=1995|first=Alfredas|last=Bumblauskas|volume=41|issue=3|url=http://www.lituanus.org/1995_3/95_3_06.htm|access-date=2007-09-22|quote=gente Ruthenus, natione Lithuanus|issn=0024-5089}}</ref> A good example is the [[Chodkiewicz]] family, which attributed its ancestry to the [[House of Gediminas]].

=== Grand Duchy of Lithuania before the Union of Lublin (1386-1569) ===

==== Formation of the noble estate ====
The term ''[[boyar]]'', ''boiarstvo'' ({{lang|lt|bajorai}}) originally denoted all those who fought. Over the course of the 15th century, it changed its meaning to refer to the masses of ordinary nobility who could stand up to fight when called upon. There were also social groups that were personally free but had no military commitments. Such a group were, for example, ''putnie'' boyars, who served as grand-ducal envoys and were in charge of road maintenance.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=306-307}} A significant group of boyars were service boyars who did not own allodial land, but only service estates, which they received and owned only by the grace of the Grand Duke. As the role and wealth of the great magnates increased, the service boyars put themselves at the service of the lords and princes in exchange for tenures.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=304-307}}

The process of the formation of the noble estate in Lithuania accelerated after the union with Poland when there arose a desire to equalize the legal system of both countries. Nobility, or ''[[szlachta]]'', in Poland was already a well-established estate, its legal position was consolidated in the 14th century.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=64}} At this point, it was basically impossible to enter the noble status otherwise than by birth. The development of the idea of ''corona regni'' aroused among the nobility a notion of being the main unifying force of the kingdom and responsible for its rule.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=64-66}} Lithuanian nobles aspired to this position. [[Nobility privileges in Poland|Privileges of 1387 and 1413]] gave legal security of tenure to holders of allodial land and recognized in law the rights of landowners to pass on their estates.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=297}} Although allodial land ownership was previously known in the Grand Duchy, its prevalence increased significantly in the following period. Similarly, the new law of inheritance led to a decline in the importance, outside Kaunas district and Samogitia, of clan kinships, in favour of more nuclear families.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=298}}

This led to a rapid change in the structure of land ownership. While in 1386 80% of the population lived in the lands directly under the Grand Duke's rule, by 1528 this figure had fallen to 30%. It is estimated that 5% of the land was owned by the Church, while as much as 65% of the land was then in the hands of 13 thousand of noble families (6 thousand of them were of Lithuanian origin). Most of it was owned by a small group of several dozen families of lords, which constituted the political elite of the country.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=300}}

New terms emerged for all those of noble birth: ''shliakhta'' (from {{langx|pl|[[szlachta]]}}; {{langx|lt|šlėkta}}) in Ruthenian and ''nobiles'' in Latin. The term ''{{ill|zemianin|pl|Ziemiaństwo}}'' ({{langx|lt|ziemionys}}) began to denote the nobles who possessed land.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=306}} ''Szlachta'' itself was [[Szlachta#Szlachta categories|stratified into several categories]].

As the privileges and political importance of the nobility grew and the burdens and freedoms of the peasantry were reduced, these linguistic differences began to gain importance. Around the beginning of the 16th century, groups of boyars spared no effort to prove their noble status. The grand ducal council resolved that nobility had to be attested by the testimony of two neighbours, of undoubtedly noble lineage, saying that the applicant's family had been "boyars and ''shliakhta'' through the ages".{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=308}} Another opportunity to prove nobility were the military musterings, the first one organised in 1528, where a register of those capable to fight was prepared. A listing in such a register was legal proof of nobility.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=308}}

==== Emergence of a magnate elite ====
Initially, a group distinguished by prestige were the princely families, which members bore the title of [[knyaz]]. These were mostly, at least according to tradition, the descendants of the dynasties who accepted the authority of Gediminids. However, only those who owned land in Lithuania proper, who were of Lithuanian origin and who had accepted Catholicism in 1386, had any influence on central state policy. The Ruthenian princes had influence only on the local situation in their lands.{{sfn|Kiaupa|Kiaupienė| Kuncevičius|2000|p=168}} They varied considerably in terms of wealth and importance, some of them wielding huge estates, while others possessed their land on service tenure from the grand duke or another prince (so-called 'service princes' - ''князя слчжбовiе'').{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=292}} The most powerful princes retained almost total power in their lands, recognising the supremacy of the grand dukes. Vytautas began a policy of limiting the power of the princes and incorporating their appanages into the domain. Many princes died in civil wars after his death. Many appanages, lying in the east, were lost to Moscow in the course of wars in the 15th and 16th centuries. Some families became extinct, and with the restriction of the circle of inheritance, their estates were incorporated into the grand-ducal domain.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=292-293}} In 1499 Alexander regulated the legal system of the few remaining appanages, the magnates ruling them were given the full ''[[ius ducale]]''. This was of little political significance since the princes as a political class were of little importance.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=296}}

Regarding Lithuania proper, not counting descendants of Gediminas seven princely families are known: [[Borowski]], Dowgowd, Giedraitis/[[Giedroyć family|Giedrojć]], Jamontowicz, [[Holshansky]], Sudemund, [[Świrski]].{{sfn|Wolff|1895|p=XXII}} They also used the title knyaz, which is probably a rendering of the Lithuanian ''kunigas'', which in pagan times probably belonged to every person of noble status. It is not clear whether they owed their princely dignity to their former status as sovereigns or to their connection and affinity with the ruling family established in the 14th century (this is confirmed at least for the Gedraitis and Holshanskys).{{sfn|Łowmiański|1932|p=298-302}}

Among them, only the Holshansky played a significant role on the side of the grand dukes, starting from Jogaila and Vytautas, being in the strict power elite. Apart from them, these were the families descended from Gediminas family: [[Olelkovich]], [[Belsky family (Gediminid)|Belsky]], Kobryński and Zasławski.{{sfn|Suchocki|1983|p=39}} The princes of ethnically Ruthenian origin were excluded from the strict power elite and found their place in it only at the end of the 15th century. Then the representatives of powerful [[Volhyn]]ian families: [[Sanguszko]], [[Czartoryski]], [[Ostrogski]] and [[Zasławski]] found their place in the power elite.{{sfn|Suchocki|1983|p=40-41}}

Since the reign of Vytautas, documents began to distinguish a group of great lords, calling them in Latin ''baro'' (pl. ''barones''), ''dominus'' (pl. ''domini'') or, in Ruthenian texts, "great boyars" (''боярe великie''). Soon, the borrowed from Polish term "pan" (plural "pany", ''пан'';{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=298}} {{lang|lt|ponai}} or {{lang|lt|didikai}}), literally meaning "lord" gained popularity.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=298}} This new elite was only partly descended from the old princely families that ruled Lithuania in pagan times. To a large extent, these were new families that appeared during the reigns of Jogaila and Vytautas and whose representatives were among the signatories of the [[Union of Horodło]] (1413).{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=299}} They owed their position to the generosity of the grand dukes, who rewarded them with offices and land granted in allodium.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=299-300}}

In the [[Union of Horodło]] (1413) forty-five Polish families adopted forty-seven Lithuanian Catholic families, lending them their coats of arms. It is assumed that the representatives of Lithuanian nobility gathered in Horodło constituted the elite of that time on which Vytautas based his authority.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=115-116}} The adoption of Polish coats of arms, an important marker of nobility with a well-established tradition in Western Europe, elevated this narrow group above other privileged population groups.{{sfn|Kiaupa|Kiaupienė|Kuncevičius|2000|p=155}} Despite the fact that some of them abandoned the Horodło coats of arms and replaced them with others, the political significance of this gesture did not lose its significance. In the system built by Vytautas, central offices were restricted to Catholics only, which excluded nobles of Ruthenian origin. The basis of the Grand Duke's power was the lands of Lithuania proper, basically the provinces of Trakai and Vilnius. Nobles from this region constituted the ruling elite.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=116}} The situation began to change in the 1430s when nobility privileges began to be extended to the Ruthenian nobility.

The cementing of the new elite was strengthened by the emergence of the institution of the council. Initially, it had no institutionalized form but gathered the ruler's closest associates. However, from 1430 onwards, it began to take shape as a permanent institution, to which one automatically became a member by virtue of holding the relevant office.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=303}} Possession of the princely title gave the right to participate in wider councils, called Sejm (''сеймь'', ''сoймь'') a term borrowed from Polish.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=303}} Their position grew especially during the period when the Grand Duke was also King of Poland and was away from the country for long periods. Crucial to this was the privilege of 1492, which gave the council enormous influence over the politics of the Grand Duchy. Practically giving it full control over the actions of the ruler. While in Poland at that time the limitation of royal power was associated with an increase in the role of the ordinary nobility, in the Grand Duchy, where nobility assemblies (''sejmiks'') did not exist, full power passed into the hands of the great lords.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=304-306}} Grand Duchy of Lithuania offices were held almost exclusively by magnates.

Potent [[Radziwiłł family]] (Radvila) received the title of the prince ({{langx|de|Reichsfürst}}; {{langx|pl|książę}}) from the Holy Roman Emperor in 1518, similarly some other families received titles of counts ([[Goštautai]]/Gasztołd in 1529/30; Ilinicz in 1553; [[Chodkiewicz]] in 1568; possibly [[Kęsgailos]]/Kieżgajło in 1547) from the Emperor.{{sfn|Kowalski|2013|p=89-92}} The elevation of the Radziwiłł family resulted in the abandonment of the title of "knyaz" by those Ruthenian families that still retained significant power, wealth and often appanages (for example [[Wiśniowiecki]], [[Ostrogski]], [[Zbaraski]]). They adopted instead the Polish title "książę", which in Ruthenian texts was translated as "knyazhe".{{sfn|Wolff|1895|p=XX}} As a result, the poorer prince families that still used the title of knyaz fell completely into insignificance, and the Lithuanian magnate elite consisted of "princes and lords" ({{langx|pl|"książąt i panów"}}).{{sfn|Wolff|1895|p=XX}}{{sfn|Kowalski|2013|p=86-88}}

==== Privileges ====
Following his distribution of state land, the Grand Duke became dependent on powerful landowners, who began demanding greater liberties and privileges. The nobles were granted administrative and judicial power in their domains and increasing rights in state politics. The legal status of the nobility was based on several privileges, granted by the Grand Dukes:

* In 1387 the [[Grand Duke of Lithuania]], [[Jogaila]], newly crowned King of Poland, granted a privilege to nobles and soldiers. They received personal rights, including the right to inherit and govern land as well as estates inherited from ancestors or gifted by the Grand Duke. At the same time, the nobles had duties to serve in the military, build, maintain and safeguard castles, bridges, roads and other vicinities.
* In 1413 Vytautas and Jogaila signed [[Union of Horodło]]. The act served to renew [[Polish–Lithuanian union]] and establish a common [[Sejm]], guaranteeing the right to inherit lands gifted by the Grand Duke. Forty-three Lithuanian noble families were granted Polish coats of arms. Most of the ''[[veldamas|veldamai]]'' became [[serfdom|serfs]].
* Jogaila's privilege in 1432 in essence repeated previous acts. Military service remained the primary means to receive land.
* Privilege of May 6, 1434 was granted by [[Sigismund Kestutaitis]] to Catholic and Eastern Orthodox nobility. They were guaranteed freedom to dispose of their land. Significantly, the act also prohibited persecution without a fair trial.
* In 1447 [[Casimir IV Jagiellon|Casimir I Jagiellon]] limited positions within the Catholic Church or state institutions only to people from Lithuania. Certain nobles were released from their duties to the Grand Duke. This privilege also marked the beginnings of [[serfdom]] in Lithuania, as peasants were removed from the Grand Duke's jurisdiction.
* 1492 privilege by [[Alexander Jagiellon]] renewed the 1447 privilege and added a few more provisions, the most important of which limited the Grand Duke's rights in regards to foreign policy. The Grand Duke became dependent on the [[Lithuanian Council of Lords]]. Without the consent of the Council no high official could be removed from his position. Lower posts had to be appointed in the presence of [[Vilnius Voivodeship|voivodes of Vilnius]], [[Trakai Voivodeship|Trakai]], and other voivodeships. The privilege also prohibited selling various state and church positions to nobility. In turn, the Grand Duke was limited from exploiting conflicts between higher and lower nobility and profiting by selling the positions. This privilege also signified that city residents could not become officials.
* In 1506 [[Sigismund I the Old]] confirmed the position of the Council of Lords in state politics and limited acquisition of positions within the noble class.
* On April 1, 1557, [[Sigismund II Augustus]] initiated the [[Wallach reform]], which completed the establishment of [[serfdom]]. The implementation of serfdom deprived the peasants of land ownership as well as personal rights, making the serfs completely dependent on nobles.
* [[Union of Lublin]] in 1569 created the new state, the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. The nobility was granted the right to elect a common ruler for Poland and Lithuania.
* The [[Statutes of Lithuania#Third Statute|Third Statute of Lithuania]], completed in 1588, further expanded the rights of nobility. Laws could be enacted only by the [[Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|general sejm]]. The nobility was granted triple immunity: legal, administrative and tax exemption. The statute finalized the division between nobility, peasants, and city residents.

Most of the nobility rights were retained even after the [[Partitions of Poland|third partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in 1795.

==== After the Union of Lublin ====
The nobility was particularly numerous in the ethnically Lithuanian lands and is estimated to have constituted about 10-11%, while in the Ruthenian lands of the Grand Duchy only about 3-4%. The nobility in Samogitia was particularly numerous, but usually, it was a poor nobility living in gentry villages. In the right-bank part of Kaunas county the nobility accounted for as much as 25% of the [[hearth]]s in the late 18th century.{{sfn|Rachuba|2010|p=31}} In 1777 there were 16,534 noble houses registered (5.2% of the total) in the whole Grand Duchy. In 1790 the register showed 100 palaces, 9,331 manors, 494 noblemen's houses in towns, and 13,890 houses of noblemen without subjects.{{sfn|Rachuba|2010|p=31}}

Linguistic Polonization did not always mean full Polonization in the state or ethnic sense. The Lithuanian nobility felt united with the Polish nobility as part of one political nation of the Commonwealth, enjoying privileges, freedom and equality.{{sfn|Rachuba|2010|p=34}} In this sense, they often referred to themselves as "Polish nobility" or outright "Poles". At the same time, separatism and the defense of Lithuanian national separateness within the federation state were very strong. The Lithuanian nobility was warmly attached to the laws, traditions and symbols of the Grand Duchy.{{sfn|Rachuba|2010|p=34}} Moreover, the Lithuanian separateness was also defended by the members of ethnically Polish families settling in Lithuania.{{sfn|Rachuba|2010|p=34}}

== Ties to the Kingdom of Poland ==

Following the [[Union of Horodło]] (1413), the Lithuanian nobility's rights were equalized with those of the ruling class of the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]] (''[[szlachta]]''). During the following centuries, the Lithuanian nobility began to merge with the Polish nobility.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}} The process accelerated after the [[Union of Lublin]] (1569), resulting in the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]].

Lithuanian nobility [[Polonization|polonised]], replacing [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] and [[Ruthenian language|Ruthenian]] languages with [[Polish language|Polish]] although the process took centuries. In the 16th century, a newly established theory amongst Lithuanian nobility was popular, claiming that Lithuanian nobility was of Roman extraction, and the [[Lithuanian language]] was just a morphed [[Latin]] language.<ref name='Gudmantas'>{{cite journal|title= Vėlyvųjų Lietuvos metraščių veikėjai ir jų prototipai: "Romėnai" (The personages of the Lithuanian chronicles and their prototypes: The "Romans")|journal=Ancient Lithuanian Literature|year=2004|first= Kęstutis|last=Gudmantas |volume=XVII|pages=113–139}}</ref><ref>unlikely, especially because the Romans had very little hold, if any, in the lands so far north) (see also [[sarmatism]]</ref> By that time, the upper nobility and the ducal court already used Polish as their first language.<ref name=Stone>{{cite book|last1=Stone|first1=Daniel|title=The Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386-1795|date=2001|publisher=[[University of Washington Press]]|page=63}}</ref> The last Grand Duke known to have spoken Lithuanian was [[Casimir IV Jagiellon]] (1440-1492).<ref name=Suziedelis/> In 1595 [[Mikalojus Daukša]] addressed Lithuanian nobility calling for the Lithuanian language to play a more important role in state life.<ref name=Suziedelis/><ref name=Stone/> The usage of Lithuanian declined, and the Polish language became the predominant administrative language in the 16th century,<ref name="Zukas"/> eventually replacing Ruthenian as the official language of the Grand Duchy in 1697.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kołodziejczyk|first1=Dariusz|title=The Crimean Khanate and Poland-Lithuania: International Diplomacy on the European Periphery (15th-18th Century). A Study of Peace Treaties Followed by Annotated Documents|url=https://archive.org/details/crimeankhanatepo00kolo|url-access=limited|date=2011|publisher=BRILL|page=[https://archive.org/details/crimeankhanatepo00kolo/page/n277 241]|isbn=9789004191907 }}</ref> Nonetheless, spoken Lithuanian was still common in the Grand Duchy courts during the 17th century.<ref name=Suziedelis>{{cite journal|last1=Sužiedėlis|first1=Saulius|title=Language and Social Class in Southwestern Lithuania before 1864|journal=Lituanus|date=1981|volume=27|issue=3|pages=36–37|publisher=Lituanus Foundation}}</ref>

At first, only Lithuanian [[magnate]] families were affected by Polonization,<ref name=Suziedelis/> although many of them like the [[Radziwiłłs]] remained loyal to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and safeguarded its sovereignty vis-à-vis the Kingdom of Poland. Gradually Polonization spread to a broader population, and for the most part, the Lithuanian nobility became part of both nations’ [[szlachta]].

The middle nobility adopted the Polish language in the 17th century, while the minor rural nobles remained bilingual up to the period when the question of language related-nationality appeared.<ref name="Zukas">{{cite book|last1=Žukas|first1=Saulius|title=Lithuania: Past, culture, present|date=1999|publisher=Baltos lankos|page=77}}</ref>

The Lithuanian nobles did preserve their national awareness as members of the Grand Duchy,<ref name=Stone/> and in most cases recognition of their [[Lithuania]]n family roots; their leaders would continue to represent the interests of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the [[General sejm]] and in the [[royal court]].

Lithuanian language was used during [[Kościuszko Uprising]] in the [[proclamation]]s calling to rise up [[For our freedom and yours]]. And Lithuanian nobles did rise to fight for the independence of their nation.

== After partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth ==

In [[Lithuania proper]], the Polonization of the nobility, gentry and townspeople was practically complete by the early 19th century, relegating the Lithuanian language to the status of a peasant's tongue.<ref name=Suziedelis/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Butterwick|first1=Richard|title=The Polish Revolution and the Catholic Church, 1788-1792: A Political History|url=https://archive.org/details/polishrevolution00butt|url-access=limited|date=2012|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/polishrevolution00butt/page/n27 5]|isbn=978-0-19-925033-2 }}</ref> The processes of Polonization and russification were partially reversed with the [[Lithuanian National Revival]]. Despite origins from mostly the non-noble classes, a number of nobles re-embraced their Lithuanian roots.

The lesser Lithuanian nobility, still partially preserving the Lithuanian language,<ref>ALEKSANDRAVIČIUS E., KULAKAUSKAS A. Carų valdžioje: XIX amžiaus Lietuva. Vilnius, 1996.</ref> subsequent to the [[Partitions of Poland|partitions of the Commonwealth]] left most of the former Grand Duchy under control of the [[Russian Empire]]. The situation worsened during the years of tsar [[Nicholas I of Russia]]'s rule. After the [[November uprising]] imperial officials wanted to minimize the social base for another potential uprising and thus decided to reduce the noble class. During the period 1833–1860, 25,692 people in [[Vilna Governorate]] and 17,032 people in [[Kovno Governorate]] lost their noble status. They could not prove their status with monarchs' privileges{{clarify|date=February 2022}} or land ownership.<ref name='caru217'>Aleksandravičius, p.207</ref> They did not lose personal freedom, but were assigned as ''one steaders''{{clarify|date=February 2022}} {{langx|ru|однодворцы}} in rural areas and as ''citizens'' in towns.

In view of the [[January Uprising]], imperial officials announced that "Lithuanians are Russians seduced by Poles and Catholicism" and [[Lithuanian press ban|banned press in the Lithuanian language]] and started the ''[[Lithuanian press ban#Origins and legal basis|Program of Restoration of Russian Beginnings]]''.

Over the course of time, the Lithuanian nobility increasingly developed a sense of belonging to the Polish nation.<ref name="Kotljarchuk">{{cite book|last1=Kotljarchuk|first1=Andrej|title=In the Shadows of Poland and Russia: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden in the European Crisis of the Mid-17th Century|date=2006|publisher=Stockholm University|pages=282–283}}</ref> During the 19th century, a self-designation, often represented using a Latin formula ''gente Lithuanus, natione Polonus'' (''Lithuanian by birth, Polish by nationality'') was common in [[Lithuania Proper]] and the former [[Samogitian Eldership]].<ref>Russia saved Lithuanian nation from becoming Polonised [https://archive.today/20130628110021/http://archive-lt.com/page/453644/2012-10-16/http://www.lietuviais.lt/straipsnis/Lietuvos-istorija/Lietuva-ir-Rusija-suklastota-istorija.php]</ref> With Polish culture developing into one of the primary centers of resistance to the Russian Empire, Polonization in some regions actually strengthened in response to official policies of [[Russification]]. An even larger percentage of Lithuanian nobility was Polonised and adopted Polish identity by the late 19th century. A Russian census in 1897 showed that 27.7% of nobility living within modern Lithuania's borders recognized Lithuanian as the mother language.<ref name='caru'>{{cite book | last =Aleksandravičius | first = Egidijus | author-link = Egidijus Aleksandravičius |author2=Antanas Kulakauskas | title = Carų valdžioje | publisher = Baltos lankos| year = 1996 | location = Vilnius| pages = 232–233 | isbn = 9986-403-69-3 }}</ref><ref name='Vėbra'>{{cite book | last = Vėbra | first = Rimantas | title = Llietuvių visuomenė XIXa. antrojoje pusėje | publisher = Mokslas | year = 1990 | pages = 152 | isbn = 9986-403-69-3 }}</ref> This number was even higher in [[Kovno Governorate]], where 36.6% of nobility identified the Lithuanian language as their mother language.<ref name='caru'/>

Most descendants of the Lithuanian nobility remained ill-disposed to the modern national movements of Lithuania and Belarus and fought for Poland in 1918-1920.<ref name="Kotljarchuk"/> The landowning nobles in the new Lithuanian state saw themselves predominately as Poles of Lithuanian background.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Liekis|first1=Šarūnas|title=1939: The Year that Changed Everything in Lithuania's History|url=https://archive.org/details/yearthatchangede00liek|url-access=limited|date=2010|publisher=Rodopi|page=[https://archive.org/details/yearthatchangede00liek/page/n44 28]}}</ref> During the [[interbellum]] years the government of Lithuania issued land reform limiting manors with 150 hectares of land while confiscating land from those nobles who were fighting alongside the Polish in [[Polish-Lithuanian War]]. Many members of the Lithuanian nobility during the interbellum and after [[World War II]] emigrated to Poland, many were [[Soviet deportations from Lithuania|deported to Siberia]] during the years 1945–53 of Soviet occupation, many manors were destroyed. The Association of Lithuanian Nobility was established in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lietuvos bajorų karališkoji sąjunga - Home|url=https://www.lbks.lt/en/|website=www.lbks.lt|access-date=3 November 2017|language=en-gb}}</ref>

== Heraldry ==
Lithuanian and Samogitian families possessed heraldry predating formal Christianization. The most archaic type of post-1413 heraldry has a motive of crossed arrows. According to the [[Union of Horodło]] of 1413, 47 Lithuanian and Samogitian noble houses adopted [[List of Polish nobility coats of arms|Polish nobility coat of arms]]. As the nobility expanded during the following centuries more coats of arms were created.

== Influential Lithuanian families ==

=== Families from ethnic Lithuania ===
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* [[House of Olelkovych|House of Olelkowicz]] (Olelkovych, Alelkaičiai)

* [[House of Holszański]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | last = Jonynas | first = Ignas | editor = Vaclovas Biržiška | encyclopedia = Lietuviškoji enciklopedija | title = Alšėniškiai | year = 1933 | publisher = Spaudos Fondas | volume = I | location = Kaunas | pages = 347–359 |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia | editor = Jonas Zinkus| encyclopedia = Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title = Alšėnų kunigaikščiai | year = 1985 | publisher = Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume = I | location = Vilnius, Lithuania | pages = 52 |language=lt|display-editors=etal}}</ref>
* [[House of Ościkowicz]] (Astikai)
* [[Balnyte]]
* [[House of Borkowski]]
* [[House of Czartoryski]] (Čartoriskiai)
* [[:lt:Gedgaudai|House of Giedygołd]] (Gedgaudai)
* [[Gediminids|House of Gediminid]] (Gediminaičiai)
* [[Giedraičiai family|House of Giedroyć]] (Giedraičiai)
* [[House of Gasztołd]] (Goštautai)
* [[House of Kieżgajło]] (Kęsgailos)
* [[Mangirdaičiai]]
* [[Mantautaičiai]]
* [[Pac (family)|House of Pac]] (Pacas)
*[[Piłsudski family|House of Piłsudski]]
* [[Purickas]] (Puricki) (Puriška)
* [[House of Radziwiłł]] (Radvila)
* [[House of Sakowicz]]
* [[House of Siesicki]] (Dowmont-Siesicki, Szeszycki)
* [[Siručiai]]
* [[House of Sudymuntowicz]] (Sudimantaičiai)
* [[House of Świrski]] (Sviriškiai)
* [[Valmantaičiai]]
* [[House of Narutowicz]]}}

=== Families from Ruthenia ===
* [[Chodkiewicz|House of Chodkiewicz]]
* [[Ostoja Danielewicz|House of Danielewicz]]
* [[House of Dubikowski]]
* [[Olelkovich|House of Olelkowicz]]
* [[Gulka]]
* [[Hlebowicz|House of Hlebowicz]]
* [[Kalinowski family|House of Kalinowski]]
* [[Krupski|House of Krupski]]
* [[Ogiński|House of Ogiński]] (Oginskiai)
* [[Sapieha|House of Sapieha]] (Sapiegos)
* [[Tyszkiewicz family|House of Tyszkiewicz]] (Tiškevičiai)
* [[Wiśniowiecki|House of Wiśniowiecki]] (Višnioveckiai),
* [[Zasławski|House of Zasławski]]
* [[Ostrogski|House of Ostrogski]]
* [[Zbaraski|House of Zbaraski]]
* [[Domontovich|House of Domontovich]] (via [[Daumantas of Pskov]])

=== Muscovite and later Russian princely and noble families originating in Lithuania===
* [[Golitsyn family|Golitsyn]]
* [[Kurakin]]
* [[Ivan Andreyevich Khovansky|Khovansky]]
* [[Trubetskoy]] (via [[Demetrius I Starshy]], son of [[Algirdas]])
* [[Woroniecki]]
* [[Nieswicki]] (via [[Kaributas]], son of [[Algirdas]])
* [[Artemy Volynsky|Volynsky]] (via [[Bobrok]])

* [[Tolstoy]]
* [[Mikhalkov]]
* [[Stolypin]]
* [[Stravinsky]]

* [[Bulgakov]]
* [[Mstislavsky]]
* [[Belsky family (Gediminid)|Belsky]]

* [[Sheremetev]] family (via [[Feodor Koshka]])
* [[Skarzynski]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mglin-krai.ru/chernigovskaya-guberniya/357-predvoditel-dvoryanstva-skarzhinskij-aleksandr-matveevich-i-otdelnye-predstaviteli-ego-roda | title=Предводитель дворянства Скаржинский Александр Матвеевич и отдельные представители его рода }}</ref>

=== Families from Livonia ===

* [[Plater]] (Pliateriai)
* [[Tyzenhaus]] (Tyzenhauzai)
* [[Römer (Family)|Römer]] (Riomeriai)
* [[Pahlen]]
* [[Barclay de Tolly]]
* [[Lieven]]

=== Families from the Republic of Venice ===

* [[Dražba]] (Dražbos){{cn|date=May 2023}}

=== Families from Republic of Lucca ===
* Moriconi{{cn|date=May 2023}}

=== Families from Ferrara and/or Modena ===
* Carpi{{cn|date=May 2023}}

=== Families from Courland ===

* [[Landsberg family|Landsberg]] (Landsbergis)

== See also ==
* [[List of early Lithuanian dukes]]
* [[List of Lithuanian rulers]]
* [[Germanic monarchy]] for references to Germanic synonym of kuningaz (Modern German: König, English: king).
* [[Szlachta]]
* [[List of szlachta]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
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* {{cite book |last=Frost |first=Robert |author-link=Robert I. Frost |title=The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania |volume=I: The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385—1569 |location=Oxford |date=2015}}
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* {{Cite book |last=Łowmiański |first=Henryk |title=Studja nad początkami społeczeństwa i państwa litewskiego |year=1932 |volume=2 |location=Vilnius |language=pl |trans-title=Studies on the beginnings of Lithuanian society and state}}
* {{cite journal |last=Wolff |first=Józef |author-link=Józef Wolff |title=Kniaziowie litewsko-ruscy od końca czternastego wieku |journal=Biblioteka Instytutu Historii Uam |location=Warsaw |trans-title=Lithuanian-Ruthenian knyazes from the end of the fourteenth century |date=1895 |url=https://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/publication/130049/edition/139252/content|language=pl}}
* {{Cite book |last=Buchowski |first=Krzysztof |url=https://repozytorium.uwb.edu.pl/jspui/bitstream/11320/12855/3/K_Buchowski_Litwomani_i_polonizatorzy.pdf |title=Litwomani i polonizatorzy: Mity, wzajemne postrzeganie i stereotypy w stosunkach polsko-litewskich w pierwszej połowie XX wieku |publisher=Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku |year=2006 |isbn=978-83-7431-075-8 |location=Białystok |language=pl |trans-title=Lithuanomans and Polonizers: Myths, mutual perceptions and stereotypes in Polish-Lithuanian relations in the first half of the 20th century}}

== Further reading ==
* {{in lang|lt}} Rimvydas Petrauskas Giminaičiai ir pavaldiniai: Lietuvos bajorų grupės XIV a. pabaigoje-XV a. I pusėje in: ''Lietuva ir jos kaimynai: nuo Normanų iki Napoleono: prof. Broniaus Dundulio atminimui''. Vilnius, 2001, p. 107-126.
* {{in lang|lt}} Rimvydas Petrauskas, Lietuvos diduomenė XIV a.pabaigoje - XV a.:sudėtis-struktūra-valdžia. Aidai, Vilnius; 2003.
* {{in lang|lt}} N. Asadauskienė, V. Jankauskas, V. Kamuntavičienė, ''Lietuvos didikai'' (''Lithuanian noblemen''). Šviesa, Vilnius; 2011. {{ISBN|978-5-430-04453-4}}
* {{cite journal|title=The double fate of the Lithuanian gentry|journal=[[Lituanus]]|year=1999|first=Egidijus|last=Aleksandravičius|volume=45|issue=3|url=http://www.lituanus.org/1999/99_3_05.htm |access-date=2007-09-06 }} Historiographical notes on the research of Lithuanian nobility.
* {{cite book |title=Mes, Lietuva: Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės bajorija XVIa. Viešasis ir privatus gyvenimas |last=Kiaupienė|first=Jūratė|author-link= Jūratį Kiaupienė|year=2003 |publisher= Lithuanian institute of history|location=Vilnius |isbn=9955-595-08-6|language=lt}}
* {{cite book |last=Rachuba |first=Andrzej |editor-last1=Kopczyński |editor-first1=Michał |editor-last2=Tygielski |editor-first2=Wojciech |date=2010 |title=Pod wspólnym niebem. Narody dawnej Rzeczypospolitej |trans-title=Under a Common Sky. Peoples of the former Commonwealth |chapter=Litwini |url= |language=Polish |location=Warsaw |publisher= |isbn=978-83-11-11724-2}}
* {{cite journal|title=Lithuanian names|journal=[[Lituanus]]|year=1982|first=William R.|last=Schmalstieg|volume=28|issue=3|url=http://www.lituanus.org/1982_3/82_3_01.htm|access-date=2007-09-06 }}
* {{cite journal|title=Formowanie się i skład narodu politycznego w Wielkim Księstwie Litewskim późnego średniowiecza|journal=[[Zapiski Historyczne]]|year=1983|first=William R.|last=Suchocki|volume=48|issue=1–2|pages=31–79|language=pl|trans-title=Formation and composition of a political nation in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the late Middle Ages}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|author= J. Lyčkoŭski|title = The Gentry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania|url=http://www.lyczkowski.net/pl/informator/rejestr-szlachty/szlachta.html}} The Alphabetical Lists. {{in lang|pl}}

* [https://www.lbks.lt Lithuanian Royal Union of Nobility]

{{European nobility}}
{{Nobility by nation}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lithuanian Nobility}}
[[Category:Lithuanian nobility| ]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Lithuanian nobility