Tarnowski family

It reached its apex in the 14th, 15th and the 16th centuries, when members of the Tarnów, Melsztyn and later Jarosław branches held prominent positions beside the Piast and Jagiellon kings of Poland.

After the death of Spytek, the castle of Melsztyn was inherited by his son Jan z Melsztyna, who like his father was from 1360 voivode and castellan of Kraków.

The Tarnowski-Melsztyński family achieved the highest offices in the country as well as extraordinary wealth and huge feudal estates, including land in Jarosław, Sambor, Podole, etc.

Their most significant role in the history of Poland was to organise the union of Queen Jadwiga and Władysław II Jagiełło and to initiate their coronation.

In the Tarnów line, the sons of Jan z Tarnowa fought in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 and after that divided the family property.

The Coat of Arms of the family was: Leliwa .
Hetman Jan Amor Tarnowski by Marcello Bacciarelli .
Jan Krzysztof Tarnowski .
After the death of Jan Krzysztof Tarnowski , the majority of the Tarnowski lands passed to the Ostrogski family , marked in pink
Waleria Tarnowska .
Jan Dzierżysław Tarnowski.
Stanisław Tarnowski by Jan Matejko .
Zdzisław Tarnowski by Jacek Malczewski
Tarnowski Family Tree by Augustinus Thille (engraving 1644, reprinted by Adam Piliński, 1872)