Coat Of Arms

The Black Eagle from the Princely House of Vlastislavic is the family's ancient Coat of Arms. A Legend from 1320 tells the story of how the noble Markvartu of Vlasim was able to cure the ill by using the hair of Saint Aneska, the sister of King Ottakar I Premyslid. Markvart z Vlasime's brother was Leva z Jankova na Chrenovskych and maybe brother or cousin was Jan of Kamenice secretary to the King in 1315 and father of Cardinal Jan Ocko z Vlasime.

In 1318 Leva z Jankova na Chrenovskych died. In that same year Jan z Kamenice, also from the House of Vlastislavicu, acquired Kamenice u Jicín in northern Bohemia and Hynek I z Vlasime, who was the son of Markvart, built the Castle at Vlasim.

Markvart's other sons were Zdenek, Marsik and Jaros. The brothers Marsik and Jaros accompanied the Czech King Jan de Luxembourg during his adventures on the battlefields all over Europe. Jaros died in battle in 1325 and Marsik died in battle in 1332. It was during this time, I believe, that the family z Vlasime acquired the coat of arms of the Twin Vultures. Hron, son of Marsik, was Squire to King John of Bohemia and died with the King at the famous Battle of Crecy in France in 1346 fought against the Black Prince of England.




		*de Wlassime*

After the death of Hynek I z Vlasime in 1349 Jan Ocko z Vlasime and his brothers were then the senior members of the family. Jan Ocko was guardian of the King's son and in 1351 when he became Bishop of Olomouc, I belief to honor the dead, he incorporated the Twin Vultures into his coat of arms. Jan Ocko's brother Pavel z Vlasime was given castle Jenstejn in 1368 and new title z Jenstejna with coat of arms of the Twin Vultures. Pavel's son Jan z Jenstejna who was Bishop of Meissen in Germany and then Arch Bishop of Prague also received his own coat of arms.




	*Cardinal Jan Ocko z Vlasime*




	*Arch Bishop Jan z Jenstejna*


	Hynek I z Vlasimi sons were Hynek II and Benes I z Vlasimi. Hynek II had registered coat of arms with the Black Eagle dated 1353 and Benes registered coat of arms with the Black Eagle dated 1363. After Benes death the Castle at Vlasim was transferred to the senior member of the family Michalek z Vlasime, brother of Jan Ocko. Benes sons were Hynek, Benes II, Cec and Zdislav.




		*Jankovskych*

		*z Nemyčevsi and z Turi*

Hynek and his son Matej moved to Horni Cerekev in 1360. In 1373 Matej sold Horni Cerekev and returned to Jankov and later ruled Jankov with his brothers. Matej was last listed in 1397 as Jankovsti z Vlasimi. His son Jan I Jankovsky z Vlasimi moved to northern Moravia in 1390.

Benes II ruled Jankov until about 1385 and is listed as Jankovskych z Vlasimi. Benes II son Jan acquired Butoves u Jicín in 1392 and when Benes II died in 1404 he acquired fortresses at Tur and at Nemyčevses u Jicín and assumed the titles z Turi a z Nemyčevsi. As the senior member of the family in northern Bohemia Petr z Turi acquired Nemyčevses in 1437. Petr z Turi had the coat of arms of the Eagle in 1450. The family z Turi ruled until the mid 1400's.

Cec became the owner of the fortress at Tur u Jicín in 1368. Cec then became the owner of Fortress Nemyčeves in 1376 and assumed the title z Nemyčevsi. Cec z Nemyčevsi died in about 1392 and his sons then ruled Nemyčeves. Petr Cec z Nemyčevsi had the coat of arms of the Eagle in 1452. The family z Nemyčevsi ended in 1513.

Zdislav was the senior member at Jankov after Benes II sold land in 1385. In 1385 Zdislav is listed with coat of arms of the Black Eagle and a Boat. The Boat relates back to Hron z Vlasime. In 1391 Pavel II z Jenstejna is listed with coat of arms of the Twin Vultures and also the Boat honoring Hron z Vlasim. Zdislav ruled the villages near Jankov until 1388. After his death, Matej who was now the senior member of the family then ruled Jankov.

The family of Jan I Jankovsky z Vlasimi moved to northern Moravia in 1390. Jan's wife was Markéta a member of the Royal family de Luxembourg and Jan was given Castle Usov in 1416. His son Jan II Jankovsky of Vlasimi married into the family z Kunstatu and moved to southern Moravia in 1435. After Jan II Jankovsky z Vlasime died in 1447 Jan's brothers at Usov became the senior members of the family. In the year 1456 they received Grace of King George of Podebrady z Kunstatu and assumed title z Vlasimi na Usovsky with coat of arms of the Twin Vultures.

In 1487 Castle Usov was rebuilt with a statue honoring the ancient Squire holding a shield of the Twin Vultures. The family z Vlasimi na Usovsky ended in 1520 but the family's coat of arms was incorporated into the ancient coat of arms of the princely family von Liechtenstein.




	*z Vlasimi na Usovsky*




		*Princely family Liechtenstein*

The family of Jan II Jankovsky z Vlasimi continued in Southern Moravia and used the old coat of arms of the Black Eagle. The family members was able to acquire a number of different properties. The principle properties being Slatina, Skalice and Resice which were exchanged between members based upon seniority within the family.

In the early 1500's the family's noble status was reconfirmed mezi osobami vladyckého stavu: for Jindrich (Title d. 1511, September 14) Jankovsky among those gentry status; and for his four sons King Louis (1522, August 2) recognized state and is said to be masters. History of the late 1500's refers to the family as being an ancient but poor noble family but good marriages, skillful administration and support of the Catholic position led to renewed influence and wealth.

In 1615 the coat of arms of the Twin Vultures was added to the ancient coat of arms of the Black Eagle as a new coat of arms for the family. Fridrick of Bitov and brother Wolf Zikmund of Slatina and uncles Adam of Skalice and brother Jiri of Resice were granted coat of arms acknowledging the hereditary titles: Lord Jankovsky, Baron of Vlasim.

In 1702 the family at Bitov was promoted to the position of Count. The coat of arms of Count von Vlasching 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 coat of arms of 1734 includes Angels as supporters. The title of Count was eliminated in 1736 with the end of the family line at Bitov.




		*Jankovsky z Vlasimi*




		*Count von Vlasching*

In 1752 the family of Jan Vaclav Jankovsky z Vlasimi was awarded the Bitov Estates by a King's Tribunal but in 1755 after an inheritance battle Marie Theresa, Empress of Austria, formally transferred the Bitov Estates to powerful Austrian relatives, the family von Daun, and the title Baron of Vlasim was eliminated.

Jan Vaclav is recorded as a military officer, Carabinier von gn. at the time of the Seven Year War in Prussia in 1757. Jan married a German-Prussian noble from the family von Mayenn. After Jan's death his wife and sons moved back to Bohemia from Slatina in Moravia.

Jan Vaclav's two sons were Jan Matous and Karl. His son Jan Jankovsky used the German title Zeman and was Soupis Královských Svobodníků in 1789 and his other son Karl and his family used the name - title Jankovsky von Mayenhorst. The coat of arms is registered in the German archives and reflects back to the historic Jankovsky coat of arms of 1390. The family Jankovsky von Mayenhorst ended in 1860. The last Jankovsky in Bohemia from the ancient family died during WW I.




		*Registered as Bohemian - German Nobility*


	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 Bohemian Nobility. The honorary title Lord Jankovsky von Mayenhorst, Baron of Vlasim was restored to the family by Panstvo (Czech Genealogy Society).




	*Jankovsky von Mayenhorst*


	On Oct. 24th in the year 1615 the family was ennobled. Hereditary titles, granted to the senior members of the family, were confirmed by Mathias, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, on Jan. 14th 1616.




	*Charlemagne*




	*Saint Wenceslaus*

The Coat of Arms of 1615 is the ennobled, i.e. registered, arms of the family in the archives acknowledging the hereditary 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).

In the center is the Family's Coat of Arms, shield and crest, supported by two lions which represent the Kingdom of Bohemia. The Coat of Arms includes: a Helmet representing ancient knighthood; Mantling which depicts the knight's robe torn in battle; the family's Crown of Gold as a symbol of the power to govern granted by the King; the Family's Crest of Eagle Feathers, the Twin Vultures Heads and the Family's Colors that would have flown in battle. Within the Family's Shield is the family's ancient Coat of Arms of the Black Eagle and the Coat of Arms of the Twin Vultures.

On the bottom left are the family's other historic symbols: the Fleur de Lis and the Black Eagle in a gold field which refer to ancient lineage to the Princely House of Vlastislavicu, the ancient Kings of Bohemia and Emperor Charlemagne. Next is a War Drum and Knight's Armor which refer to ancient Battles and Knighthood.

On the bottom right are two War Drums and Knights Weapons that refer back to the two brothers who were knighted. Other symbols relate to past roles as King's Administrators, the Arch Bishop and the Cardinal of Prague.




	*Formal Coat of Arms from before 1615*




	*Formal Coat of Arms after 1615*


				*Major References*

Ancient book on the History of the Rulers of Moravia, scribed by historian Paprocki and completed in the year 1593. The book, which is in a museum in Brno, was discovered by genealogist friend Tomas Tyl. Copies of the pages were then translated from old medieval language. The book has 10 pages of old history on the family and includes drawings of the family's Coats of Arms. Czech Genealogy Site lists 26 generations of the family from the year 1260 to date. History Book written by historian Dr. Sixtus Bolom in 2008 contains 245 pages with photos and the family’s history from year 1300 to date.