Salomons of Friedberg
At first, when all the family members resided in Frýdek, they used the surname Šalamoun or Šalomun (written as Ssalomon and Ssalomun),[1] inspired by biblical King Solomon of Israel, famous for his wisdom.
Firstly, they began to use the second part of their surname, which in that case wasn’t a particle (With the possible exception of Václav Mořic SvF.
[2][3][4] In the 20th century, when nobiliary particles became forbidden, the family members began to use simple surname Friedberg (With the exception of descendants from the second line living in Canada, who still continue to use the full Latin version.).
Václav Mořic Salomon of Friedberg did approach nobility, after being awarded with a coat of arms and a title of vladyka (country gentleman) sometime between 1648 – 1650 for his military accomplishments against the Swedes, but nevertheless continued as a politically active member of bourgeoisie.
In 1884 was Emanuel Salomon von Friedberg-Mírohorský elevated as a Freiherr (baronet) and also his coat of arms was enhan ced.
[6] Matyáš Václav Salomon of Friedberg sealed official correspondence with a signet showing his personal coat of arms.
Only five exemplars of this correspondence survived into today with no other known representation in existence, hence making it problematic to read the arms.
[7] Václav Mořic Salomon z Friedbergu had his own coat of arms, different to his elder brother’s.
Again, there are only few signet seals,[2] but when the family requested for conformation of nobility in 1863, attached to it was a sketch allegedly copied from a document from 1656.
Notwithstanding that, the request was granted and since 1863 was the family’s coat of arms bearing the charge of Václav Mořic, the lion passant.
Jiří Zeman, Ph.D.)A shield quartered: first and fourth or, an eagle sable, red langued, facing centre; second gules, a lion passant forchée argent; third azure, mur argent masoned sable, thereon a knight affronté armed cap-à-pie argent bordé or, wearing helm ouvert, brandishing a sword ardent proper and in sinister hand a palm branch vert, to the left of him exploding grenade hitting the wall.
[10] As his father before him, he also multiplied his wealth by estate trading, but at that time life Frýdek was a series of catastrophes – fires, plague, military situations, all of those were grave complications [11] and when Václav Younger died in 1628 or 1629 his widow got in a matter of years into financial problems.
Matyáš served as high ranking official to Hanuš Zikmund Freiherr Petřvaldský of Petřvald at his castle Buchlov and later in Horní Moštěnice and the region of Přerov in general.
Their standing, influenced also by them living in their mostly newly renovated employers’ residences, brought the Salomons huge respect.
[17][5] He began his career, as did his ancestors, in official service on dominion Citoliby owned by Ernest Karel, count Pachta of Rájov, but as first of his family left his home country and crossed the borders of Bohemia.
[11] Salomons of Friedberg used their social status throughout the history to enhance their standing even more by marrying their sons with daughters from both important and noble families.
