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Jankovsky Coat of Arms

Jankovsky Family Coat of Arms .. from 1755 .. this formal coat of arms displays the family's crest, the family's shield and other historic symbols .. also reflected are the dual titles of nobility that were granted to the family by this time.                photo of painting c/o Tomas Tyl at Bohemian-Nobility

"Ancient Knights of Bohemia,

Nobility of Moravia,

Erb Premysl -

Lords of Vlasimi,

Lords of Jenstejna"

.. translation of Erb from 1615

Erb Kralovsti -

Ancient Kings of Bohemia - from 900's

Kings of Bohemia - from 1300's

The family is listed as "Vladycky rodu " i.e. from the King's family. Specifically the family is listed as being from the House of Vlastislavicu that ruled an area southeast of Prague.

  Nemecky Rytir

  rodu Vlastislavicu

Rytriu Johann

Documentation exists that indicates that the family's origin may have been from the Knights of Johann, " Nemeckych Rytiru " i.e. German Knights, who settled in Bohemia in 1190 by the request of King Ottokar I Premyslid.

All the history and names before the year 1300 is not known. But what is known is that Zdislav of Bratcice, born in the late 1100's,  was from the knights of St. John but also had the COA's of the Black Eagle  -  rodu Vlastislavicu.

His son Jan was honored by King Vaclav I in 1242 and was given the Castle and title z Polna. Baron Vikart von Polna, became Burggraf of Brno and married Eliska one of the daughters of King Ottokar II Premyslid  -  the family line von Polna ended in 1318.

Other documentation indicates that the family's origin was directly from the ancient  Princely House of Vlastislavicu that ruled the area from the years 1000 to 1200

von Polna - 1242

"One of House of Vlastislavicu..

when he step up to Lord's state

to him Eagle with Stripes"

.. translation of Erb

  Jankovsti - from 1200's

reproduction from Archives in Prague

The original Jankovsky Coat of Arms included the Family Shield of Blue and Gold. On the shield is the Family Arms a "Premyslid Orlice" i.e. the Black Eagle.  The stripes are the Family Colors of Blue and Gold that would be carried into battle. The Coat of Arms is among the oldest in existence in Bohemia.

Arms of village of Jankov - from 1200's

copy from History of Jankov

Arms of village of Vlasim - from 1303

  copy from History of Vlasim

Arms of Jankov include the Family Crown, gold with jewels. Beginning in the 1200's the family ruled as the "Lords of Jankov ". The Crown is a symbol of the power to govern which was given by the King. The ancient arms of Vlasim display the family colors. On the Jankov Arms are 5 stars and on Vlasim 5 houses. The meaning of this is unknown, but probably relates to kinship to other families similar to the stars on the King's COA.

  von Chrenovskych

In the 1200's the family also ruled an area southeast of Jankov as the Lords Chrenovskych and owned a Castle at Chrenovice from 1289 to 1318. The owners, I believe, were Marsik, brother of Hynek of Jankov and Vlasim, and his sons Jaros and Marik.

 The Black Eagle from the1200's

Per the History of Jankov "Jaros and Marik accompanied the Czech King Jan of Luxembourg during his adventures on the battlefields all over Europe and they were knighted after one battle".

In 1332 Marshik, father of Jaros and Marik, died on the battlefield of Mailberka in the Tyrol. Hron, son of Marik, was escort to King John of Bohemia and died with the king at the famous Battle of Crecy in France in 1346 fighting against The Black Prince, Edward of England. It was during this time, I believe, that the family at Vlasim acquired a second family shield.  This is the shield and squire depicted / commemorated on the Erb at the Castle Usov with the Arms of Vlasime being twin Vultures.

de Wlassime

 from Armorial Gelre (France)

Painting - Edward and John at Battle of Crecy - while the French retreated - John, who was then blind, along with his loyal knights charged the English line. Edward consider King John to be greatest knight of all times and the motto of John and his knights "I will survive" was adopted as the motto of the Kings of England.

  z Jenstejna - from 1368

      COA's Kralovsti

         from Jenstejn & Archives

In 1368 Pavel who was the "Kralovsti Komory" i.e. King's Administrator, was granted the castle and name i.e. title Jenstejna. The Coat of Arms of the family z Jenstejna displays the twin vultures. The family colors of red and silver are the colors of the Kings of Bohemia of the 1300's ... the family z Jenstejna ended in the early 1400's.

Arms of village of Jenstejna

Arms of Cardinal Jan Ocko - 1351

Arms of Arch Bishop Jan - 1379

Jan Ocko z Vlasime who was guardian of the King's son received his own COA. The arms included the symbol of the Bishop of Olomouc in Moravia. Jan z Jenstejna who was Bishop of Meissen in Germany and then Arch Bishop of Prague also received his own COA.

    Jankovsti  Coat of Arms

Formal Coat of Arms displaying the Eagle of the Lords Jankovsti on the Shield, Family Colors of Blue and Gold as mantling, a Knight's Helmet, a Crown with Jewels and the Family Crest of the Black Eagle.

   from Castle Usov

photo of painting c/o  Bohemian-Nobility

  z  Vlasime na Usove- from 1416

In 1416 Jan  Jankovsti z Vlasime who was the King's Marshall was given the castle at Usov in Moravia. The Coat of Arms of the family z Vlašime, Barons of Usovsky, displays the twin Vultures .. the family line at Usov ended in the early 1500's

Jankovskym z Vlasime - from 1522

Beginning as early as 1435 the family in southern Moravia began ruling using the titles Jankovští z Vlašimi.. Records from Brno indicated that in 1522 the family also received another Erb. The Coat of Arms probably had the original Jankovsti Eagle and a copy of the twin Vultures z Vlasime on the shield. The Erb, on the right, is either that COA or perhaps another one from a later date.

    reproduction from Ministry of Culture

      Jankovskych z Vlasimi - from 1615

reproductions from Archives in Prague c/o Vlastimil Jirout

The Coat of Arms of 1615 is the ennobled, i.e. registered, arms of the family in the archives of Prague reflecting titles Lord Jankovsky, Baron of Vlasim. The Coat Arms includes: a Helmet representing ancient knighthood; Mantling which depicts the knight's robe torn in battle; the Family Crown of Gold as a symbol of the power to govern granted by the King; the Family Crest of Eagle Feathers and historic symbols.  Incorporated within the Coat of Arms is the twin Vulture Heads of the ancient Lords of Vlasime and Lords of Jenstejna.

Jankovsky von Vlasching - from 1702

 copies  from Bitov

The Coat of Arms of the Counts at Bitov, embellishes the early Coat of Arms. A laurel branch was added to the Eagle's mouth .. this I believe reflects the family's diplomatic role in Vienna. The COA's of 1734 includes Angels as supporters. The title of Count was eliminated in 1739 with the end of family line at Bitov.

Formal COA's - 1734 - Maximiliano Ernesto Comti de Wlassim

The title Baron of Vlasim was eliminated in 1755 as the conclusion of a prolonged family dispute and Castle Bitov given to Austrian relatives the family von Daun. A copy / drawing of the family crest existed at the time of WWI when the family attempted to reclaim land in Europe but was lost with the passing of time.

In 1918 with the fall of the Austrian Empire, all titles of nobility were eliminated. The Czech Republic, for historical purposes only, now recognizes hereditary titles of ancient Bohemia Nobility; including Lord of John's Family's Land i.e. Jankovsky