Danielewicz family


Danielewicz vel Danilewicz - descendants of Daniel or Danilo. Until the end of the 18th century, mainly used by highly ranked nobility of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Danielewicz vel Danilewicz of the [Clan of Ostoja]

Danielewicz vel Danilewicz was an ancient noble family name in Lithuania, Russia and in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. On the political scene Danielewicz supported the Clan of Ostoja expansion in the 15th century and in Lithuania was closely related to the Pac family. In medieval times, nobles in Lithuania with the power of judging like Danielewicz were called barones according to Jan Długosz.
During many centuries, Ostoja Danielewicz family was holding high offices as Lords of Regality and Judge.

Ostoja Danielewicz vel Danilewicz during the time of Commonwealth

The Danielewicz of Ostoja family are to be found mainly among officials in the districts of Vilnius, Ashmyany, Trakai and Vilkmergė. Sources tell about Daniel that had had two sons and one daughter and of them Dawid Danielewicz was the Judge of Vilnius in the middle of the 15th century. In 1530 Michał Danielewicz was in possession of 10 villages with different economic buildings on the property. His grandson, Jan Karzimierz Danielewicz was deputy to the Sejm from the Vilnius district. Iwaszko Iwanowicz Danielewicz attended at the Royal Court in Kraków year 1511, his brother Fedor attended same court year 1523.

In coalition with [Pac family]

The Pac family rose into the power of controlling Belarus and Lithuania after the war between the Commonwealth and Sweden, then, at the same time, the Cossack war and also the war with Russia and when the Catholic and Protestant movements in Europe struggled for the power. The time was the middle of the 17th century when Pac and Danielewicz families stood strong behind the King and did not support the Radziwiłł family. After those wars, on behalf of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, John II Casimir Vasa, the Pac family could rule together with their closest allies like Danielewicz.
The Danielewicz family supported the Pac family and where their closest ally. In 1653 the property of Bohdanow named after Prince Bohdan Sapieha in Belarus were passed to Barbara, daughter of Prince Karzimierz Sapieha. Barbara's daughter Tekla Wollowicz then married Piotr Michał Pac and the property passed to the Pac family. Since Piotr Michał Pac had no children of his own, he adopted Michał Danielewicz, into the Pac family as he was the son of his sister Katarzyna Pac. As result of that, large property of Bohdanow, the town of Kartena and other properties was passed from the Pac family to Danielewicz.
Danielewicz of Ostoja family owned several big properties in Lithuania, Prussia, Belarus and Volyn, Ukraine and held high ranking offices in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, mostly in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Through the centuries Danielewicz was highly respected for and their knowledge in jurisdiction and therefore was often granted the position of Starosta or County Judge as they also many times represented their districts and provinces at the Sejm, the Parliament of the Commonwealth. Danielewicz raised in great power and wealth during the time when the Pac family was in the control of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

During the partitions

The dominance of the Pac family ended because of a lack of heirs and their position was overtaken by the Sapieha family. In the middle of the 19th century the last of the Pac family, Ludwik Michał Pac lost all great properties as they were confiscated by the Russian side for his involvement in November Uprising and his participation in Napoleonic wars against the Russian side. Since the Pac family become extinct, descendants of the line of the Michał Danielewicz are the only ones to continue the heritage of the Pac due to adoption of him and his descendants.
During the Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth 1772–1918, Danielewicz's of Ostoja participated in many upraising actions witch cause Russian side to confiscate most of the family properties. As the family did not support foreign forces in the Commonwealth and was in opposition, no offices were given to the family anymore. In the end of 18th century part of the family moved to Preussen where they joined Prussian army as officers in hope to fight Russian side that was holding control of the east part of the Commonwealth. After the Napoleonic wars, Marcin Danielewicz received the Order of the White Eagle for his efforts in the fight for the independence of the Commonwealth and Wincenty Danilewicz received French Order of Legion of Honour. Jan Danielewicz died on the fields of Olszynka Grochowska in November Uprising, Piotr Danielewicz participated in 1863 Upraising in Vilnius and after the uprising failed was sent to Siberia from where he never came back.
At the end of the 19th century, the family was divided into three lines; the Prussian, Lithuanian-Belarus and Volhynia line. Of over 26 male lines recorded very few survived and the Volhynia line of Ostoja-Danielewicz was excluded from Russian nobility ranks after taking part in uprisings and Anti-Russian activities. The main line of the family that sold all major properties including Bohdanow moved to Prussia and later settled down in the town of Sieradz where they held their properties including Danielewicz Palace.

Notable family members of Ostoja-Danielewicz vel Danilewicz

References for the below named historical persons: Adam Boniecki "Herbarz Polski" Warszawa 1899-1913, Łoza S.: Legia honorowa w Polsce 1803–1923 and Oleg Horowiec, Herbarz Szlachty Wołyńskiej Tom 7 s. 101-109.
Spelling: Danielewicz, Danilewicz, Daniłowicz, Daniełowicz, Danieliwicz, Danielewitz.
Another family that took their name after Daniel goes back to Daniel, whose descendants settled down in Lithuania. Daniel's son Afanasy Danielewicz was Prince of Novgorod followed by Jerzy III Danielewicz, the prince of Novgorod 1322–1325. Following years in 14th century another family is noted in the books as Daniel Alexandrowicz and his son Włodzimierz Danielewicz were elected as princes of Pskov.
Furthermore, in the Armorial of Tadeusz Gajl there are more families of different clans listed with different spelling. Daniełowicz - clan Godziemba and Sas, Daniłowicz - clan Leliwa, Ostoja, Rola, Sas and Sulima, Danielewicz - clan Godziemba, Ostoja and Rola, Danilewicz - clan Boncza I, Leliwa, Ostoja, Prus I and Sas, Danieliwicz - clan Ostoja.
All above are noble families of Danielewicz vel Danilewicz being part of different clans and not family related with each.

Notable people with name Danielewicz vel Danilewicz