Poraj coat of arms

Poraj is a Polish Coat of Arms. Used by several knighthood families of medieval Poland and noble families of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth - those descended in the male-line from the Poraj family and those allowed into the heraldic clan by adoption.

History
The Poraj coat of arms is of Bohemian origin. The name comes from the progenitor of the Polish clan Prince Poraj (Pořej), brother of Adalbert of Prague, son of the Bohemian Duke Slavník. According to a legend the sons of Duke Slavník bore the coat of arms of roses, each in a different color.

Prince Poraj came to Poland with the procession of Dobrawa of Bohemia, the spouse of Mieszko I of Poland and settled down in Greater Poland.

Blazon
Gules, a rose Argent barbed Vert seeded Or.

Notable bearers
Notable bearers of this Coat of Arms include:
 * Jan Gruszczyński, Primate of Poland and Viceroy
 * Jan Bodzanta, Bishop of Kraków
 * Bogufał I, Bishop of Poznań
 * Bogufał II, Bishop of Poznań
 * Bogufał III z Czerlina, Bishop of Poznań
 * Benedykt Izdbieński, Bishop of Poznań
 * Franciszek Antoni Kobielski, Bishop of Lutsk
 * Maciej Garnysz, Bishop of Chełmno
 * Stanisław Pstrokoński, Bishop of Chełmno
 * Piotr Goryński, Voivode of the Duchy of Masovia
 * Jan Samuel Chrzanowski, lieutenant colonel
 * Adam Mickiewicz, national poet, see: Three Bards
 * Wincenty Kadłubek, Bishop of Kraków and chronicler
 * Roman Grodecki, professor at the Jagiellonian University
 * House of Kurozwęcki
 * Krzesław Kurozwęcki, Grand Chancellor of the Crown and Bishop of Kujawy
 * Dobiesław Kurozwęcki, Voivode of Krakow
 * Stanisław Kurozwęcki, Vice-Chancellor of the Crown
 * Zawisza Kurozwęcki, regent of the Kingdom of Poland
 * Dobiesław "Lubelczyk" Kurozwęcki, Voivode of Lublin
 * Mikołaj "Lubelczyk" Kurozwęcki, Voivode of Lublin
 * Krzesław Kurozwęcki, castellan of Nowy Sacz
 * Piotr Kurozwęcki, Court Marshal of the Crown
 * Krzesław "Półtorabek" Kurozwęcki, starost of Krakow
 * Adam Kurozwęcki, starost of Brzeziny
 * Janusz Zakrzeński, film and theatrical actor
 * Stanislaw Chlebowski, painter
 * Józef Biernacki, general, participant of the Kosciuszko and November Uprisings
 * Alojzy Prosper Biernacki, Chancellor of the Exchequer during the November Uprising
 * Andrzej Boryszewski, Archbishop of Lwów, Primate of Poland
 * Mikołaj Róża Borzyszowski, Crown Master of the Kitchen, castellan of Małogoszcz
 * Hieronim Bużeński, Grand Treasurer of the Crown
 * Antoni Madeyski, sculptor
 * Andrzej Madeysk, engineer, associate professor
 * Jerzy Madeyski, art historian
 * Adam Gruszczyński, judge, castellan of Gniezno
 * Włodzimierz Gruszczyński, architect and professor
 * Wojciech Męciński (Alberto Polacco), Jesuit, missionary in Japan
 * Wojciech Męciński, general of the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw
 * Cezar Męciński, officer of the Polish Army
 * Cezary Chlebowski, writer and historian
 * Wincenty Wiszniewski, astronomer
 * Józef Kuczewski, judge and wójt of Wiłkomierz, member of the Grodno Sejm
 * Stanisław Wybranowski, Standard-Bearer of Lublin
 * Stanisław Goczałkowski, Burgrave of Krakow
 * Jan Chlebowski, Royal Rotmistrz in the times of John II Casimir Vasa

Gallery
Variations