Nałęcz coat of arms

Nałęcz is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by associated szlachta families in the Kingdom of Poland (see Kingdom of Poland (1320–1385), and Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)) and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795).

History
Nałęcz is a Polish coat of arms from the 12th century (like the Abdank, Leliwa, Radwan, and Bogorya coats of arms) that represented unity and harmony. It was used by the Gembiccy, Ostrorogowie, Szamotulscy, Chełmicki, Czarnkowscy, Slizewicz, Raczyńscy, Raczkowski, Dworniccy, Sadowski, Łowińscy, Grąbczewscy and other families. It is traditionally described as a silver shawl, tied, on a red background. Most versions had the shawl tied downwards; some were tied upwards. Earlier versions and some modern ones depict the shawl untied. The shawl is similar in shape to the Teutonic image of Rune Othila, the Rune of a Fatherland.

The Nałęcz arms were initially connected with Greater Poland. The Nałęcze were accused of murdering Przemysł II in 1296. They also allied with Brandenburg against Władysław I Łokietek, and after the death of Louis I of Hungary waged war against the Grzymalites, attempting to put Ziemowit III of Masovia forcibly on the throne of Poland.

The best-known Poles who bore these arms were Joseph Conrad (Korzeniowski) and Sędziwój Ostroróg. A Nałęcz relief is on the Guard House building in Poznań.

Blazon
In heraldic English, the shield may be blazoned: Gules the Nałęcz shawl circled and knotted Argent.

Notable bearers
Notable bearers of this coat of arms have included:
 * Józef Karol Konrad Chełmicki
 * Kazimierz Franciszek Czarnkowski
 * Adam Sędziwój Czarnkowski
 * Benedykt Dybowski
 * Apollo Korzeniowski
 * Joseph Conrad Korzeniowski
 * House of Małachowski
 * Jacek Małachowski
 * Stanisław Małachowski
 * Fryderyk Józef Moszyński
 * Mikołaj Ostroróg
 * Edward Raczyński (1786–1845)
 * Edward Aleksander Raczyński
 * Edward Bernard Raczyński
 * Józef Sosnowski
 * Demeter Ritter von Tuschinski

Gallery
Standard variations