Branitski
Branitski - Polish magnate family of the arms Greef. The arms Greef or Svoboda (Freedom) was represented as a white animal with a head and wings of the eagle; the bottom half of the body, back pads and a tail were of the lion, the figure was in a red field. As the founder of families of this arms they consider Jacksa, the son of the king Leshka III, who lived in X century. Unlike the Pototski’s or Kalinovski’s, the political weight of the Branitski’s was got rather late - at the beginning of XVII century. Just at that time they become the owners of huge manors in Chervona Rus (Galichina) and in Podillia. The beginning of the power of the family of Branitski was put by Jan-Klemens Branitskiy, the crown marshalok. Just with him and his son Stefan-Mykolay the process of expansion of land possession of the family and purchase of the influence at the royal yard is connected. In the second half of XVIII c. Jan-Klemens Branitskiy (named so in honour of his grandfather) got the highest military position in Rich Pospolita - he became a great crown hetman in 1752 and remained on the position for 19 years. Before that he served in France, and received a rank of a general of artillery. In 1767 Jan-Klemens actively cooperated at Radom confederacy. After his death that branch of the family of Branitski faded. The daughters of Jan-Klemens Branitskiy were married to the representatives of the families of Pototski and Lubomirski and many lands passed into other hands. At the same period of time on Bratslavshchina and Podillia one more branch of the family of Branitski - of arms Korchack declared itself. One of the representatives of that branch Petro Branitskiy at the beginning of XVIII century was a Bratslav’s kashtelyan. His son Frantishek became one of last great crown hetmans of Rich Pospolita (1777-1792 ). Before this he struggled actively against Bar confederators; just under his management the crown forces captured by storm the balwark of confederacy - the town of Bar (20.06.1768). Frantishek Branitskiy became known also because of the duel with Casanova in 1766, where he was wounded and could hardly survive Source: http://www.library.vinnitsa.com/podolia/eng/K_Branickie.htm
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