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From: "Thomas Lassek" <>
Subject: Query ..
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 23:24:16 -0500


Over the last few weeks I have been interacting here with the final intention of gaining an overall perspective of the Polish Nobility, it's place in Polish society, and such application that may or may not have affected my ancestral Polish Family and their decision to immigrate to the US. (Time frame 1867).

My Family is not ennobled, they were of the Serf Class. So in order to finalize my genealogy work, I feel it necessary to understand this portion (Nobility) of Polish society, in a general way. For the most part I have been successful in this endeavor, owing mainly to the many links put up here for research. I would like to continue my research with specific questions and I would appreciate any and all response, particularly any links that may explain an answer in good detail.

1. In 1921, the first Constitution of the Polish Republic after WW1 terminated all privileges of nobility and forbade the usage of arms (art 96). The later Constitution of 1935 (art 81) cancelled this paragraph, so this meant the restitution of some old laws regarding the use of arms and honorary titles. However, the privileges were cancelled by another paragraph of the same Constitution which says that all citizens are equal by law. Such a situation remains to this day. (www.szlachta.org/heraldry.htm).

Question: By the above, it would be my understanding that the Polish Nobility, as a closed society, a class unto itself, was terminated as an active governmental force as of 1921. Is this understanding correct ??

Question: Although terminated in 1921, the Polish Nobility with all records and documents stayed intact as an entity to this day. Is this correct ??

Question: In today's Poland, are there events or opportunities made available, for the Nobility such as Honorary appearances at governmental functions ?? Does the Polish government maintain an "office" devoted to interaction with the Polish Nobility ??

2. The references are unclear as to when ennoblement ceased in Poland. Does anyone have specifics ??

3. I am not clear as to how to proceed. Several fellow genealogists have surnames that I have seen in the Nobility references that I have researched and I have told them as much. I understand that if they are to claim ennoblement, they must show a direct and unbroken line back to the Noble, however, I am not clear as to how one would do this. Other than Church records which only date to the 1650's if one is fortunate, how would one proceed further back ??

4. I understand that the purpose of the Polish Nobility, say in the 10th century as an example, was to protect the State (general statement), however, I'm not clear as to how this was usually accomplished. The obvious of course was for the Nobility to muster and consequently march off to physically fight the enemy. Is this statement more or less true ??

Thank you for any response.

Tom Lassek
Eufaula Alabama

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