Sapieha
The Sapieha (Belarusian: Сапега; Lithuanian Sapiega) is a Polish princely family of Ruthenian stock. The family became important in the 16th century.
History
The creator of fortune and power of the Sapieha family was Court and Great Chancellor and Great Hetman of Lithuania Lew Sapieha, a powerful Magnate.On September 14, 1700 Michal Franciszek Sapieha obtained the title of Prince from Emperor Leopold I. The title became extinct upon his death on November 19, 1700. In 1768 members of the Sapieha family obtained recognition of the princely title from the Polish Sejm. After the Partitions of Poland, the family appeared in the list of persons authorised to bear the title of Prince of the Kingdom of Poland in 1824. The title was recognised in Austria in 1836 and 1840, and in Russia in 1874 and 1901. In 1905 the family obtained the qualification of Serene Highness in Austria.
Coat of Arms and Motto
The Sapieha family used the "Lis" arms and their motto was: ?Members
- Lew Sapieha (1557-1633), Court Chancellor and Great Hetman of Lithuania
- Kazimierz Lew Sapieha (1609-1656), Marshal of the Crown, son of Lew Sapieha
- Jan Kazimierz Sapieha the Younger, (ca. 1642–1720), Field Hetman
- Michal Franciszek Sapieha (1670-1700), General, Koniuszy
- Jan Kazimierz Sapieha the Elder (?–1730), Grand Hetman of Lithuania
- Jan Fryderyk Sapieha (1680–1751), Grand Recorder of Lithuania
- Teresa Sapieha (?-c.1784), was married to Hieronim Florian Radziwill and Joachim Karol Potocki
- Kazimierz Nestor Sapieha (1757-1798), political activist, General
- Anna Zofia Sapieha (1799-1864), was married to Adam Jerzy Czartoryski
- Leon Sapieha (1803-1878), political and economic activist
- Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha (1867-1951), Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal