Tarnav coat of arms of the Sas in the Syanock land in the last quarter of the 14th - early 18th centuries.

Ya.B. Lyseiko

 The Tarnavski family belonged to the wealthy nobility. The Tarnavski family began its history in the Syanock land in 1383, when the Hungarian Queen Mary confirmed the right of ownership of the village of Poraz to Joseph Voloch. For more than two centuries, the Tarnavski family strengthened their property position through the establishment and purchase of new estates, royal grants and successful marriages. Representatives of the family held a high position in the noble corporation of the Syanock land, because from generation to generation they were represented in the zemstvo governments, took part in the work of the Vyshensk sejmik, and obtained higher officer ranks in the army. The family ceased to exist at the beginning of the XVIIcentury in connection with the death of the last members of the family...

 

The Tarnawskyfamily was descended from the wealthy nobility. In 1383 the Tarnawsky showed up on Syanock lands for the first time when a Hungarian queen Maria confirmed ownership of the village to Joseph Volokh. During more than two centuries the Tarnawsky were consolidating their financial position by purchasing and mortgaging some new properties, by royal assignments and successful marriages. Representatives of the family occupied a high position among the nobility's Corporation of Sanock lands, because from generation to generation they were represented at the county governments, they participated in the Vyshensky counsel, owned high officer ranks in the army. The last representatives of the kin died out in the early XVII century and the Tarnawskyfamily ceased to exist.

 

The beginnings of the Tarnavsky family, like most noble families in Western Ukrainian lands, coincided with the active granting and confirmation of rights to ownership of estates by the new rulers of Galicia and migration and settlement processes in the region, after their capture by Casimir the Great.

The Tarnawski family began its history in 1383, when the Hungarian Queen Mary confirmed the right of ownership of the village of Kuntzendorf in Sianoŭ County to the brothers Joseph Olah and Matthew, sons of Peter. As a reward for military merits in the Rus' campaigns of Louis, the grant included exemptions from the duties that were attached to the soltystv in this village. The grant did not contain any restrictions or additional obligations, except for military service.[1].

The village of Kuntzendorf, which later became known as Poraz, was founded by Conrad, probably of German origin, by virtue of a privilege granted by Casimir the Great or Władysław of Opole. After Conrad's death, his heirs sold the estate to Joseph, who was then in Russia with his father Peter and brother Matthew.[2]. The village of Poraz became the center of the Tarnavsky property complex in the Syanock land, around which the first representatives of the family began settlement activities and the creation of new settlements, including the future family seat - the village of Tarnavy.

Joseph, named in the privilege as Olah, and his family were Vlachs, possibly originating from Transcarpathia or Maramorosh, as the royal grant was obtained for participation in military campaigns in the service of the Hungarian king Louis. The connection with this region is also indicated by the belonging of the Tarnavskis to the Drago-Sas coat of arms community.[3]. In general, the migration of small feudal lords from Hungary (typically from Transcarpathia), the Moldavian or Wallachian voivodeships to the Ukrainian Podgornia took on a relatively massive character when Galicia was part of the Hungarian Kingdom (1370-1387).^[4].

Numerous references to the Tarnavsky family begin in the 20s of the 15th century, since it is from this time that the oldest Syanock court records have been preserved, which are the main source for the history of the family. It was then that we encounter the sons of the deceased Joseph Tarnavsky - Mykola (1402 - † 1450) and Steszko (1412 - † 1442) Tarnavsky. Already at this time, the family nest was the village of Tarnava, which was located in the southeastern part of the Syanock land, near the border with Sambir district.[5]. Initially, the basis of the Tarnavski property complex in the Syanock land was such estates as Poraz, Oslav, Zahor, Velopolye (only half of the village, the other half was owned by the Yatsymirskis), as well as Lukiv and Seredne.[6]. The property complex was located in the Syanok land above the Oslava River, a left tributary of the Syan in its lower reaches, 5 km from Syanok.[7].

The economic activities of the first Tarnawskis were closely related to salt mining. In particular, for some time the Tarnawskis controlled several salt żupas in the Sianock and Przemyśl lands, as well as in the Kraków Voivodeship, which was a very profitable business at that time.[8]. Mykola Tarnavsky held concessions for salt mining from 1428 to 1434.[9] His occupation with these trades is evidenced by his designation as the Župnik of Syanock, Przemyśl and Krakow.[10]. By 1439, Mykola Tarnawski had lost the rights to run the salt mines. In 1440, King Władysław III instructed the Kraków castellan Jan of Chyżów and Jan of Tenczyn to settle accounts and debts with Mykola Tarnawski in connection with the latter's assumption of the county government.[11]. Most likely, it was the salt mines that laid the foundation for the family's further enrichment. The Tarnavskis quickly became part of the wealthy nobility, and in the Syanock land they became the richest family from the Drago-Sas coat of arms community.

Both brothers, Mykola and Steshko Tarnawski, showed initiative in acquiring new estates. In 1424, they bought the village of Chashin in the Syanock land from Ivanko of Chashin.[12], Nezvyske, Gerasymiv, Zyvakhiv, Pidverbtsi, which were located in the Koropetsky district of the Galician land[13]. A year later, the brothers bought the city of Krakovets with an iron deposit and Hniynytsia in the Przemyśl land from Ivan and Abraham Pilikowicz.[14]. The Tarnavskis also acquired by purchase the village of Yablonytsia Ruska from Kostya Yablonytsky (1430s), half of the village of Vysochany (1452-1453).[15], presumably, during their lifetime the village of Plonna was acquired[16].

The brothers acquired a number of estates as grants from the king. It is not known for what merits King Vladislav in 1421 granted Stepan and Mykola of Tarnava the privilege of the location of the city of Salzburg, or Solony (Stara Sil). In the same year, the king sold the brothers the village of Vilshanyk in Sambir County.[17]. In 1430, Mykola Tarnavskyi received another grant from Władysław Jagiellon – a wasteland above the Mala and Velyka Bronytsia rivers in Sambir County.[18].

In the middle of the 15th century. The Tarnavskis sold off their property complexes in the Przemysl land. First, in 1449, Mykola Tarnavski sold Luzhok and both Bronitsy on the border of Drohobych and Sambir counties to Frederick Yatsymirsky.[19], and soon, in 1451, Ivan Tarnavsky sold Krakovets and Hniynytsia to the same Frederick, along with the forge mentioned in this village.[20]. Finally, in 1456 and 1460, Ivan Steškovich sold Stara Sil to the king.[21]. The sale of the Tarnawski estates in Przemyśl by the Tarnawskis could, to some extent, have been due to the desire to concentrate their estates within a single property complex, which would have greatly facilitated the management of the economy.

Steshko Tarnavsky was the first representative of the family to gain a zemstvo government. During 1437-1439 he ruled as the governor of Sianoce, and in 1441 he became a sub-governor, having lost the previous government to Jan Bal.[22]. Also, Steshko Tarnavsky was in the service of King Vladislav III Varnenchyk in Hungary, after he gained the Hungarian throne. This is reported in a court note from 1442 - at the request of Mykola Tarnavsky, the court postponed the case between the vizier of Sianocy, Peter, and Steshko Tarnavsky, since the latter "is in Hungary in the service of the king"« [23]. It is possible that Steszko's participation in this expedition was due to family ties with Hungary, knowledge of local customs and language, because Steszko's father, Joseph, as already mentioned, could have come from the territories subject to the Hungarian king. Steszko himself could have been close to the royal court, as evidenced by the royal grants of Stara Sol in 1421, Velyka and Mala Bronytsy in 1430. Steszko apparently died during his stay in Hungary. In any case, Anna, Steszko's wife, appeared in court cases that same year as a widow.[24].

After Steszko's death, the family was continued by his son, Ivan Steszkowicz Tarnavsky (1442 – † 1483).[25]. Around 1449, Ivan Steszkowicz married Sophia, recording a dowry of half of his estates in Tarnów, Chaszyn, Poraz, Osław, Zagoża, Velopol, Lukowy and Sredne.[26]. In the same year, Ivan Steshkovych's uncle, Mykola Tarnavsky, died. The couple of Mykola and Malgozhata left no descendants, so all of Mykola Tarnavsky's property passed to Ivan Steshkovych, in whose hands the entire property complex of the family was concentrated.[27].

Ivan Steshkovich showed the same entrepreneurial spirit as his father and uncle. He expanded the family's property complex by purchasing half of the village of Vysochany from Anna Vysochanska in 1452.[28] In 1460, Ivan Steshkovych bought a third part of the village of Morokhov from Clemens of Navoiych, but the following year he was forced to cede this estate to Stanko Morokhovsky, who returned it to himself using the right of proximity to the estate.[29]. Another acquisition was the purchase of the village of Smolnytsia sometime between 1468 and 1482.[30] However, the property complex expanded mainly through the establishment of new settlements. Apparently, it was during the lifetime of Ivan Steshkovych that such settlements as Kalnytsia (1483), Karlykiv (1483), Olkhove (1483) and Sukovate (1483) were founded.[31].

Ivan Steškovich's descendants were numerous. Even during his father's lifetime, starting from 1476, his sons took part in the family's economic affairs - Ivan (1473-1502), Rafal (1473-1483), Mykola (1476-1491), Severyn (1476-1505) and Josyp (1476 – † 1507) Tarnavski.[32]. Of the daughters of Ivan Tarnawski – Sophia, was married to the Przemysl hunter Adam Dunikowsky, Felicia married Mykola Lipnytsky, Malgorzata became the wife of Szczesny sz Hermanowicz, Anna – to the Przemysl nobleman Stanisław Kormanytsky[33]. Ivan Steszkowicz Tarnawski himself died around 1483. One of Ivan's sons, Rafal, was educated in Kraków, but died at a young age, the same year as his father.[34].

Judging by the names of the family members, the first Tarnawskis – Josyp, his sons Steshko and Mykola were Orthodox, which was typical for the representatives of the Drago-Sas coat of arms community. However, the name of Ivan’s son – Rafal indicates that the children of Ivan Steshkovych were already Catholics. In any case, some representatives of the following generations were already among the Catholic clergy. The Tarnawskis’ conversion to Catholicism was undoubtedly facilitated by marriages with Polish Catholic families, active participation in the zemstvo self-government of the region, and in general, the adoption of the lifestyle of the wealthy nobility of that time.

The sons of Ivan Steszkovich Tarnavsky – Mykola, Severyn, Ivan and Josyp Tarnavsky – divided the estate after the death of their father in 1483. According to the division, Tarnava, Chaszyn, Lukova, Seredne, Kalnytsia, Olkhove, half of Stankovata went to Ivan and Josyp Tarnavsky; Osław, Velopolie, Smolnytsia, Poraz, Plonna, Karlykiv, Velopolie, Zaguż, the other half of Stankovata went to Mykola and Severyn Tarnavsky.[35].

Among the brothers, Josyp Tarnavskyi, who was the Syanock zemstvo judge in 1498-1506, particularly stood out.[36] Instead, his brother, Mykola, became a Lviv canik, and later a vicar in Prukhnyk.[37].

Regarding the brothers' marriages, it is known that Severyn married Kateryna, daughter of the Sianock voivode Jan, in 1487, receiving a dowry of 100 zlotys from her.[38]. Josyp Tarnavsky was married to Barbara, daughter of Mykola Lyatoshynsky.[39].

The brothers did not show such active economic activity as their father and grandfather, moreover, individual shares of the estate were sold off. In 1486, Ivan Tarnavsky sold his shares in Plonna and Vysochany to Peter Felshtynsky.[40]. Severyn Tarnawsky did the same in 1492, also selling his shares in these villages to Peter Felshtynsky.[41]. Thus, Plonna and Vysochany were most likely sold entirely to the Felshtyn family. After the sale of shares in these villages, there is no mention of their belonging to the Tarnavsky property complex. Another sale took place in 1502, when Joseph Tarnavsky ceded the villages of Chashin, Chashinska Volya and Lukove to Mykola Ulynsky. The sale of the villages was preceded by a long possession - since 1487 the Ulyn family had been possessors of these villages.[42].

During this period, shares of the Tarnawski estate were circulated within the family through mutual sales. Thus, Mykola Tarnawski transferred ownership of his shares in Osław, Zagóża, Smolnytsia and Velopol to his brother Severyn, who in turn resold them together with his shares in Płonna and Wysochany to his brother Josyp in 1486.[43]. In 1505 he sold the village of Poraz to Josyp Tarnavsky.[44].

The next generation of Tarnawskis was represented by Josip Tarnawski, apparently the son of the Sianock judge Josip Tarnawski (1508 – † 1544).[45]. Like his father, Josyp Tarnavsky was active in the public life of the Syanock land, as indicated by his command of the Syanock army during 1539-1543.[46] His sons were Andriy (1523-1545), Mykola (1523-1562), Stanislav (1543-1562) Tarnavski.[47]. The desire to provide his children with a more respectable social position, and perhaps his own ill health, led to the fact that, while still alive, in 1443, Joseph Tarnavsky transferred his government to the son of the Syanock army officer, Andriy.[48]. Andriy Yosypovych Tarnavsky himself married Anna, it is not known from which family. In 1533, the father recorded a dowry for his son's wife in Zaguzha, Osław and Smolnytsia.[49]. Another of the brothers, Stanislav, chose a spiritual career, becoming a parish priest in the family estate of Poraz, as well as in Ivonych.[50]. Later, Stanislav became a canon of Przemysl, and being well educated, he wrote some works that are not known to most people.[51].

Shortly after their father's death, in 1545, the brothers Mykola, Andriy and Stanislav, Tarnavsky, divided their inherited estate. According to the division, Mykola received the villages of Oslava, Velopolye, Smolnytsia and Kalnytsia, Andriy - Poraz, Seredne, Kamianka together with half of Stankovata. The youngest of the brothers, Stanislav Tarnavsky, received the villages of Tarnava, Olkhova and Sukovata.[52]. At the same time, the village of Kamyanka was mentioned for the first time as the property of the Tarnavskis.

Mykola Tarnavsky's marriage to a relative, an unknown representative of the Stadnytsky family, was particularly successful, with whom they had a son, Stanislav.[53]. The Stadnicki family from the second half of the 16th century played an increasingly important role in the Syanock land. Here, representatives of the family gained important governments, and in 1580, as heirs, they received an extensive property complex of local authorities Kmit. As a result, the conclusion of family ties with the Stadnicki family in the future had a positive impact on the social and property positions of the Tarnavski family. This marriage also testified to the fact that the Tarnavskis at that time held a particularly respectable position among the Syanock nobility. On the one hand, such a position was due to the active social activities of the family representatives, on the other hand, the property positions of the Tarnavskis were powerful. Mykola Tarnavski was married twice. The second marriage was with a representative of the ancient Syanock family of Humnyskis. From this marriage, Mykola had two sons - Joseph and Sigismund[54].

The already mentioned brother of Mykola and Stanislav, Andriy, had two sons – Mykola (1577 – † until 1602), heir in Tarnav, and Krysztof (1574-1579) Tarnavsky, heir of Kamianka and Poraz.[55]. Mykola received a good education, distinguished himself in the military field, and was married to Anna Prokhanskaya.[56]. Mykola's brother, Kryshtof Andriyovych Tarnavsky, made a military career. He was a captain under King Stefan Batory, took part in the battles of Polotsk and Velyky Luky.[57]. From the data of the 1589 tax register it follows that Kryshtof's estate consisted of the villages of Poraz (6 lani), Srednye (4.5 lani), Kamyanka (4.5 lani) and Sukovaty (3 lani)[58].

The most active among the representatives of this generation was Stanislav Mykolayovych Tarnavsky, the Syanocki korunzhy, the didych in Tarnav, Zaguzha, Olkhova and Kalnytsia. At that time, he was a participant in the vast majority of agreements among the other members of the family.[59]. Stanislav's estate consisted of the villages of Oslava (4 lanas), Tarnava with Olkhova (11 lanas), Zagozh, Kalnytsia (5 lanas), Velopolye and Smolnytsia (4 lanas in total)[60]. He also proved himself as a public figure – in addition to holding the office of the Syanock district governor, he participated in the work of the Vyshensk sejmik.[61]. On October 26, 1575, at the Vyshen congress of the Russian nobility, in connection with the Tatar threat, Stanislav Tarnavsky was appointed prefect of the Syanock land, whose task was to organize the defense of the region from the Tatar invasion.[62].

Stanislav Mykolayovych Tarnavsky left behind two sons – Stanislav (1580-1601) and Josip-Theodor († 1603) Tarnavsky, who were destined to become the last representatives of the family in the Syanock land. Stanislav Tarnavsky also had daughters Eva and Barbara, who married Martin Sinnensky.[63]. The latter was a representative of a wealthy family, which in terms of property and social status belonged to the powerful. Although the Sinnenskis came from the Sjandomir Voivodeship, they had long been connected with the Sjanoczyna region, as they owned estates there and also held local zemstvo governments.

Stanislav Stanislavovich Tarnavsky inherited his father's government of the Syanock Korunzhy[64]. Like his father, he participated in the congresses of the Vyshensk sejmik. In particular, during the period of kinglessness in 1586-1587, after the death of Stefan Batory, he took part in the confederation of the Ruthenian nobility, and was present at the election of the Syanock Kaptur judges on May 8, 1587.[65] He also served in the army, and in 1602 he was mentioned as a captain, in the same year he was in the Syanock land with his banner.[66].

The kinship of Stanislav's grandfather, Mykola, with the Stadnytskys led to the Tarnavskis becoming one of the heirs of the Kmit estate in 1580. The heir was Stanislav Stanislavovich Tarnavski, who received the town of Babychi, the villages of Sokole, Sokolova Volya, Dydova, Stupnytsia, Bakhiv, Uhertsi, Skopkiv, and Sufchyna, which belonged to him through his maternal line.[67].

Josyp-Theodor Tarnavsky apparently chose the priesthood, so he left no descendants behind.[68]. In 1603, while in Przemyśl, Joseph-Theodor was seriously wounded in the head in a fight with Andriy Fredr. The reasons for the fight are unknown, but manifestations of aggression in the noble society in the form of fights and armed attacks were not uncommon for this period. For some time he was treated by Przemyśl barbers, but the wound, which periodically opened, could not be cured, so in November of that year Joseph-Theodor died. One way or another, at the beginning of the 17th century. the family ceased to exist in the Syanock land. Most of the estates passed to the Stadnicki, the closest relatives of the Tarnavskis. It is difficult to determine whether there were any objective reasons for the extinction of the Tarnavski family. Compared to other noble families, the Tarnavskis were never distinguished by their large population. Only the fifth generation of the family had five male members, other generations did not exceed three adult male members. Perhaps the sharp enrichment of the Tarnavskis in the last quarter of the 16th century. in connection with receiving a significant inheritance allowed the last generations of the family to lead a life of power, characterized by permissiveness in food and entertainment, neglect of moral values[69]. At the same time, it is not excluded that individual branches of the family could continue their history outside the borders of the Syanock land, because the Tarnavskis owned estates in other regions, in particular in the Galician land. K. Nesetsky provides information about some Tarnavskis in the last third of the 16th century, but they no longer had anything in common with the Syanock land.

The history of the Tarnavski family against the background of the histories of other noble families of the Syanock land with similar property and social status - the Gumnyskis, Bals or Pobedenskis - is not something exceptional, moreover, it fits into the characteristic course of development of most of these families, when, after they established themselves as landowners in the Syanock land by virtue of royal grants in the second half of the 14th - first third of the 15th century, they expanded the property complex of the family through active economic activity - either through purchases or as a result of settlement campaigns. Economic activity was combined with socio-political activity. Like other representatives of the Syanock middle and wealthy nobility, the Tarnavskis obtained zemstvo offices - stolnik, vojskogo, korunzh, judge, and participated in the congresses of the Vyshensk sejmik. Thus, at the local level of the Syanock land, the Tarnavskis established themselves as wealthy landowners, with family ties among the local nobility, and influential political positions in the local noble corporation. The low population, characteristic of this family, contributed to the fact that the family became extinct at the beginning of the 17th century.