|
|
Branitski - Polish
magnate family of the arms Greef. The arms Greef or Svoboda (Freedom) was represented as a
white animal with a head and wings of 
the eagle; the bottom half of the body, back pads and a tail were
of the lion, the figure was in a red field. As the founder of families of this arms they
consider Jacksa, the son of the king Leshka III, who lived in X century. Unlike the Pototski’s or Kalinovski’s,
the political weight of the Branitski’s was got rather late - at the beginning of XVII
century. Just at that time they become
the owners of huge manors in Chervona Rus (Galichina) and in
Podillia. The beginning of the power of the family of Branitski was put by Jan-Klemens
Branitskiy, the crown marshalok. Just with him and his son Stefan-Mykolay the process of
expansion of land possession of the family and purchase of the influence at the royal yard
is connected. In the second half of XVIII c. Jan-Klemens Branitskiy (named so in honour of
his grandfather) got the highest military position in Rich Pospolita - he became a great
crown hetman in 1752 and remained on the position for 19 years. Before that he served in
France, and received a rank of a general of artillery. In 1767 Jan-Klemens actively
cooperated at Radom confederacy. After his death that branch of the family of Branitski
faded. The daughters of Jan-Klemens Branitskiy were married to the representatives of the
families of 
Pototski
and Lubomirski and many lands passed into
other hands. At the same period of time on Bratslavshchina and Podillia one more branch of
the family of Branitski - of arms Korchack declared itself. One of the representatives of
that branch Petro Branitskiy at the beginning of XVIII century was a Bratslav’s
kashtelyan. His son Frantishek became one of last great crown hetmans of Rich Pospolita
(1777-1792 ). Before this he struggled actively against Bar confederators; just under his
management the crown forces captured by storm the balwark of confederacy - the town of Bar
(20.06.1768). Frantishek Branitskiy became known also because of the duel with Casanova in
1766, where he was wounded and could hardly survive.
