Pac (family)
Encyclopedia
Nobility in Lithuania
The Lithuanian nobility was historically a legally privileged class in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania consisting of Lithuanians, from the historical regions of Lithuania Proper and Samogitia, and, following Lithuania's eastern expansion, many Ruthenian noble families . Families were primarily granted...
in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
during the era of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
. Numerous high ranking officials of the Commonwealth came from their ranks. Their coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was Gozdawa
Coat of arms of Gozdawa
Gozdawa - is a Polish Coat of Arms. It was used by several szlachta families in the times of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-Notable bearers:Notable bearers of this Coat of Arms include:* Pac Magnate Family* Hermann von Salza* Jan Mikulicz-Radecki...
.
The family reached the height of its influence during the second half of the 17th century. Their lands were located mainly in Hrodna
Hrodna
Grodno or Hrodna , is a city in Belarus. It is located on the Neman River , close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania . It has 327,540 inhabitants...
and Lida
Lida
Lida is a city in western Belarus in Hrodna Voblast, situated 160 km west of Minsk. It is the fourteenth largest city in Belarus.- Etymology :...
.
The family's ancestor Kimantas was mentioned in the privilege of 1388 issued by Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas the Great
Vytautas the Great
Vytautas ; styled "the Great" from the 15th century onwards; c. 1350 October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
as Kymunt. The estate of the family in proximity of Grodno was mentioned in the road description, charted by the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
, as Kymundsdorf. Kimantas and his son Daukša (Dowkszewicz) were among the signatories of the Union of Vilnius and Radom of 1401. Daukša's son Pac is considered the first member of the family; his ancestors took his first name as their family name, beginning with his son Jerzy Pac (d. 1505/6).
Their lands were concentrated in the southern Lithuania propria, around the county of Jieznas
Jieznas
Jieznas is a small city in the Prienai district municipality, Lithuania. It is located east of Prienai along the northern shores of Lake Jieznas.-History:...
. The family sponsored the construction of several notable examples of Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
; the most significant of these, St Peter and St Paul's Church in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
and the Monastery of Pažaislis, were commissioned by family members.
In 1753, following a visit to the Pazzi
Pazzi
The Pazzi family were an ancient, noble Tuscan family who had given up their titles so that members could be elected to public office. Their main trade, during the 15th century was banking. They are linked to the "Pazzi conspiracy"—to assassinate Giuliano de' Medici and simultaneously attempt...
household in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Stefan Pac
Stefan Pac
Stefan Pac was a Polish-Lithuanian szlachcic.He was a secretary of King Sigismund III Vasa since 1611, Grand Clerk of Lithuania since 1615, Recorder of Lithuania since 1626, Court Treasurer of Lithuania since 1630, Grand Treasurer of Lithuania since 1630, Deputy Chancellor of Lithuania since...
advanced the theory that the two families were related. The Pacs later dedicated a church to Magdalena de Pazzi
Magdalena de Pazzi
Saint Maria Magdalene de Pazzi is an Italian saint of the Roman Catholic Church.- Life :...
. The supposed ancestry was mentioned by 19th century authors, including Balzac.
The family's influence was overwhelmed in the late 17th century by that of the Sapieha
Sapieha
The Sapieha is a Polish-Lithuanian princely family descending from the medieval boyars of Smolensk. The family acquired great influence in the sixteenth century.-History:...
s. Michał Kazimierz Pac (1624–1682) was a Grand Hetman of Lithuania
Hetmans of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Hetmans of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were the highest-ranking military officers, second only to the King, in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The first Polish title of Grand Crown Hetman was created in 1505. The title of hetman was given to the leader of Polish Army and till 1581 it was...
and Voivode of Wilno, Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac
Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac
Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac was the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.He was the brother of Michał Kazimierz Pac, the Great Lithuanian Hetman who sponsored St Peter and St Paul's Church in Vilnius, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. After their deaths, the influence of the Pac family...
(1621–1684), Grand Chancellor of Lithuania, Mikołaj Stefan Pac (?-1684), voivode of Trakai and bishop of Vilnius, and Kazmierz Pac (?-1695), bishop of Samogitia. During their adulthood, in late 17th century, they exerted major influence on the politics of the Grand Duchy. After their childless deaths, the Pac family was weakened, and much of their influence passed to others, primarily the Sapiehas. The last notable member of the Pac family was Ludwik Michał Pac (1778–1835), who fought in the November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
. After its failure, with his estates confiscated by the Russians, he emigrated to France
Great Emigration
The Great Emigration was an emigration of political elites from Poland from 1831–1870. Since the end of the 18th century, a major role in Polish political life was played by people who carried out their activities outside the country as émigrés...
.
Notable family members
- Jerzy Pac (d. c. 1505), the first bearer of the family name
- Stefan PacStefan PacStefan Pac was a Polish-Lithuanian szlachcic.He was a secretary of King Sigismund III Vasa since 1611, Grand Clerk of Lithuania since 1615, Recorder of Lithuania since 1626, Court Treasurer of Lithuania since 1630, Grand Treasurer of Lithuania since 1630, Deputy Chancellor of Lithuania since...
(c.1587-1640), Grand Treasurer and Deputy Chancellor of LithuaniaKanclerzKanclerz was one of the highest officials in the historic Poland. This office functioned from the early Polish kingdom of the 12th century until the end of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. A respective office also existed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 16th... - Krzysztof Zygmunt PacKrzysztof Zygmunt PacKrzysztof Zygmunt Pac was the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.He was the brother of Michał Kazimierz Pac, the Great Lithuanian Hetman who sponsored St Peter and St Paul's Church in Vilnius, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. After their deaths, the influence of the Pac family...
(1621–1684), Grand Chancellor of Lithuania - Michał Kazimierz Pac (1624–1682), Grand Hetman of LithuaniaHetmans of Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthHetmans of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were the highest-ranking military officers, second only to the King, in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The first Polish title of Grand Crown Hetman was created in 1505. The title of hetman was given to the leader of Polish Army and till 1581 it was...
- Ludwik Michał Pac (1778–1835), general of the NapoleonicNapoleon I of FranceNapoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
La Grande ArméeLa Grande ArméeThe Grande Armée first entered the annals of history when, in 1805, Napoleon I renamed the army that he had assembled on the French coast of the English Channel for the proposed invasion of Britain...