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"Ancient Knights of Bohemia,
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Nobility of Moravia,
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Other 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.
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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.
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The family Coat of Arms from the 1200's 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.
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Arms of Jankov include the Family Crown, gold with jewels.
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.
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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".
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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 in 1487 on the Erb at the Castle Usov with the Arms of Vlasime being twin Vultures.
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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.
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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 mid 1400's.
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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.
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z Nemycevis and z Turi
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The Black Eagle was the Coat of Arms of the northern Bohemian branch of the family Jankovskych of
the late 1300's and the 1400's. They acquired new titles Lords z Nemycevis and z Turi. The two family lines ended by 1513.
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Jankovsky z Vlasimi - from 1615
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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.
On top - are formal acknowledgments by the Holy Roman Emperor, by the King of Hungary (on the left) and by the King
of Bohemia (on the right). Some members of the family had title of Baron in the past but the title was an individual's title not a hereditary title.. this "ennoblement" grants the family the titles forever.
In the center - is the family's Coat of Arms, shield and crest, supported by two lions. The Coat of 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.
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On the bottom left - are the family's other symbols .. the Fleur de Lis and the Black Eagle of Kaiser Charlemagne .. the Black
Eagle in a Gold Field was the Family's first COA's and refers to
lineage to the ancient Kings of Bohemia .. next is War Drum & Knights Armor .. which refer to ancient Battles and Knighthood .. these sets of symbols are represented in the family's 2nd COA's from the 1200's ( top left on Shield ).
On the bottom right - are two War Drums and Knights Weapons .. these refer to the two brothers who were knighted z Vlasime .. the
Twin Vulture heads is the family's 3rd COA's from the 1300's. Other symbols relate to roles as King's Administrators, past Cardinal and Arch Bishops of Prague.
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von Vlasching
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In 1702 the family at Bitov was promoted to the position of Count. The Coat of Arms of the Count
of 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.
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