Pochodzenie rodu Branickich herbu Gryf. Pogląd historyka ustroju i prawa
The origins of the house of Branicki of the crest of Griffin. From the perspective of a law and state structure historian

Summary/Abstract: The author redefines the subject of origins of the magnate House of Branicki (Gryf) due to the despicable manner in which his views were criticized. Ultimately, he argues that the origins of the House of Branicki are more likely to be descendants from Pomeranian Dukes through the House of Griffin. Disputes over the methodology of researching knightly families in Poland will most probably continue. In this context, views of Jan Adamus are worth mentioning, albeit distantly considered by Krzysztof Mosingiewicz. Mosingiewicz perceived in Adamus’s views a dangerous tendency to draw opposing conclusions from what he was discussing. Although Adamus could not find more relevant arguments, which could be used against the ancestral tradition, he still stated that “tradition is not to be trusted equally as a tradition reaching a distant time segment.” As we can see, the scholar attached importance only to the facts resulting from existing, remaining sources. In the House of Branicki (Gryf), it is precisely visible how the cited author was mistaken. Teresa Zielińska found in the Central Archives of Historical Records an important document treating about the appointment of Jan Klemens Branicki for the Great Crown Ensign in 1724, when the origins of the House of Branicki from the Dukes of Pomerania were pointed. The views of T. Zielińska — outstanding scholar — cannot be treated as unquestionable, and it results from a simple ascertaining that this time it is not a certificate from a private magnate’s office, but a legal act application. As the office of Augustus II the Strong did not certify any such reasoning, it can lead to various conclusions. According to the rule, the accuracy of applied tradition is denied. In this case it would have to be proven that the mentioned origins of the House of Branicki in the nomiation were different. The article conludes with a discussion regarding the ancestors of the House of Branicki.

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