History of Danielewicz family

Danielewicz vel Danilewicz - one of the oldest lithuanian families, ancient nobility and knights that joined the Clan of Ostoja in the first half of XVth century. Dawid, son of Daniel, was the first to use the name of Danielewicz. Dawid was judge of Vilnius around year 1450.

Origin

It is not known in which way the Danielewicz family started to use Ostoja coat of arms. Either family was adopted to the Clan in the begining of XV century or they took part in Clan society earlier as there are several families in Ostoja that joined forces of Moscic family that was commanind Ostoja forces. Here, Ostoja was a battle cry for all that served Lord Moscic. Its is natural and common that knights serving for the Lord used same sign when the sign deverloped into Coat of arms and so starting to use such Coat of arms, in this case Ostoja

There is no information about Daniel, some historians think that Daniel participated in Union of Horodło in 1413 and there was adopted to the Clan of Rola. This theory is however not likely to be true since already son of Daniel used Ostoja coat of arms in the middle of XV century and there there was or still is a family with name of Danielewicz using this Coat of arms. Therefore, it would be strange that sons of Daniel would use two different Coa.

The DNA of Ostoja Danielewicz show slavic origin, north east group that is typical for bojars in this area. About 1000-1300 years ago, family had same ancestor as families of Ejsmond of Korab Coa and Rudziecki of Ostoja Coa (probalby, it is not finally confirmed since family lost the track of the Coa - it also could be Kosciesza or Drya Coa.

History

It is presumed that Daniel (Danil) participated in the Battle of Grunwald year 1410 and participated in follwing campagne. After the campagne he settled down nearby Vilnius where he was given land and property. According to the records, Daniel had two sons and one dughter. If them, Dawid was the first to use surname of Danilewicz which is very natural since it means son of Daniel. Dawid was judge of Vilnius which also show that family was respected at that time.

Daniel had two sons and one daughter. Of them Dawid was the first to use name Danielewicz, holding different offices including the position as Judge of Vilnius. In 1530 Michal 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.(refEugeniusz Szczepaniak, Bialystok 1986, Informacja genealogiczna(ref)

In coalition with Pac

The Danielewicz family cooperated through many centuries with the Pac family. In 1653 the property of Bohdanow named after Prince Bohdan Sapieha<ref>C. Jankowski, Powiat Oszmanski, t.1, s. 223 i n.</ref> in Belarus were passed to Barbara, daughter of Prince Karzimierz Sapieha. Barbara's daughter Tekla Wollowicz then married Piotr Michal Pac and the property passed to the Pac family. Since Piotr Michal Pac had no children of his own, he adopted Michal Danielewicz,(Starosta of Plotelsk, Inspector of the Hungarian boarder) into the Pac family as he was the son of his sister Katarzyna Pac, daughter of Piotr Pac, Voivode of Trakai. As result of that, the Bohdanow property among others was passed from the Pac family to Danielewicz.<ref>Roman Aftanazy Dzieje dawnych rezydencji na dawnych kresach Rzaczpospolitej, Wojewodztwo Wilenskie, t.4, s.37, 120</ref>

Golden age

Danielewicz of Ostoja coat of arms 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 <ref>Wojciech Wijuk Kojalowicz, Herbarz, Krakow 1897, p.204-208</ref> and therefore was often granted the position of Starosta, (County Mayor), County Judge as they also many times represented their districts and provinces in the Sejm, the Parliament of the Commonwealth. Danielewicz raised in great power and wealth (on local level) during the time when the Pac family took the control of the Grand Duchy if Lithuania.

In the partitions

Plik:Smuglewicz Kosciuszko 2.jpg

Tadeusz Kościuszko taking the oath, 1794

The dominans of Pac family was passed to the Sapieha family because Pac due to lack of heirs. In the middle of 19th century last of the Pac family, Ludwik Michal 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 Russian side.

During the Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth 1772-1918, Danielewicz's participated in many upraising actions witch cause Russian side to confiscate most of the family properties. As the family did not support foreging forces in the Commonwealth and was in opposition, no offices was given to the family anymore. In the end o 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. Jan Danielewicz died on the fields of Olszynka Grochowska in November Uprising, Piotr Danielewicz participated in 1863 Upraising in Vilnius (the January Uprising) and after the uprising failed was sent to Siberia from witch he never come back.

As the consequence of the January Uprising, 80.000 people was deported according to professor Norman Davies<ref>Norman Davies, "Gods playground, History of Poland", Oxford university Press 1981</ref> witch is the largest single deportation in Russian history. "Whole villages and towns were burned down; all activities were suspended and the nobility, szlachta was ruined by confiscation and exorbitant taxes". Although Russia tried to rase polish heritage with military regime to finally end all of the uprisings and problems they faced, in 1905, 41 years after Russian crushing of the uprising, the next generation of Poles rose once again in a new one. Among them, Karol Ostoja Danielewicz was deported for teaching Youth the polish language, preserving polish culture and traditions which was forbidden by the Russian authorities.

At the end of 19th century, the family was divided into three lines; the Prussian, Lithuanian-Belarus and Volhynia line. In total 26 males<ref>Adam Boniecki, Severyn Uruski</ref> was found registered nobility of the Ostoja Clan. The Volhynia line of Ostoja-Danielewicz was excluded from Russian records after taking part in upraising.

Notable family members of Ostoja-Danielewicz

• Pawel Danielewicz, Judge of Vilnius 1648, Marshal of the Lithuanian Court of Justice, Lord of regality (starosta) of Intursk.

• Roman Danielewicz, Starosta of Intursk, Chamberline of Ashmyany 1680, deputy to the Sejm.

• Marcin Danielewicz, Order of the White Eagle.

• Wladyslaw Danielewicz, Lwow Eaglets (Orleta Lwowskie) 1918

• Ludomir Danielewicz, for Enigma machineciphers breaking during World War II<ref>The Magdeburg Sting 1936, part VIII,http://www.minelinks.com/war/boat_ride.html</ref>

Sources=

• Adam Boniecki, Herbarz Polski, Warszawa 1901, V.4, page 80-84