Gryfit family
The Gryfit, also known as Świebodzic, was a medieval Polish knightly family. They occupied a dominant position among the nobles of Lesser Poland in the 12th and 13th century.
History
The family name comes from the emblem Gryf of their coat of arms. In particular for the period before the 14th century they are also called Świebodzice, because of their battle cry: Świeboda,. Jan Długosz connected the family with the House of Griffins. According to some historians, the Gryfici family, the House of Griffins and the House of Sobiesław are descendants of a branch of the Piast dynasty and their progenitor was one of the younger brothers of Bolesław the Brave - Świętopełk.Notable members
- Jaksa z Miechowa – crusader, możnowładca in Lesser Poland, son-in-law of Piotr Włostowic
- Janik – Bishop of Gniezno
- Mikołaj – Voivode of Kraków, commander of the forces of Lesser Poland at the Battle of Mozgawa
- – Voivode of Kraków
- Teodor – Voivode of Kraków
- Klemens z Brzeźnicy – castellan of Kraków, died at the Battle of Chmielnik
- Jan Klimontowic – castellan of Cieszyn and Toszek
- Andrzej z Brzeźnicy – Bishop of Płock
- Klemens z Ruszczy – castellan and Voivode of Kraków, closest associate of Bolesław V the Chaste
- Wierzbięta z Ruszczy – castellan and Voivode of Kraków
- Wierzbięta z Branic – Stolnik of Kraków