In ancient times, the nobility was the ruling class of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the exclusive right to enjoy full citizenship. Nobility was hereditary in the male line, and the knight's shield was an outward sign of this. The power to ennoble resided originally with the King, but after the end of the XVIth century the approval of the Diet was required. In the year of Our Lord, 1795, Poland was removed from the map of Europe. From then, until the end of WWI, the nation ceased to exist; however, the old nobility remained, as did the dream of a free Poland-Lithuania

The Polish Nobility Association was born out of the ashes of the Polish uprisings of the 1830s, as a loosely associated group of noblemen and ex-officers. Their original goal was the establishment of the Polish monarchy, with a Pole as the elected King. Poland regained her independence, in 1918. From that time onward the Polish Nobility Associations activities became primarily devoted to genealogical and heraldic research. The preservation of Polish cultural heritage then began with a small group of Polish and Lithuanians under the chairmanship of Prince Zygmund Polubinski, Poland.

 

Villa Anneslie, Anneslie, Maryland; USA.
International Headquarters of the PNAF
(National Register of Historic Places)

On January 27, 1927, the PNA was formalized into a noble society, for the continuation of the "Stewardship" of the chivalric customs of the Commonwealth of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; and for the perpetuation of genealogical and heraldic traditions of the Polish Commonwealth. Two (2) Chivalric Orders were also created on that day (January 27, 1927) along the lines of Poland's ancient Dragonet Societies; they are as follows:

These Orders were established,to recognize the Kingdom ofPoland-Grand Duchy ofLithuania’s ancient dynasties, and to recognize contemporaryindividuals for their efforts in the areas of Education, Business, Cultural andPhilanthropyacknowledging contributions of Polish-Lithuanian People and other nationalities promoting awareness of individual’s contributions and efforts.

In the 1960s, the Polish Nobility Association re-located to the United States of America wheresuch an organization could exist outside the ruling governments in Eastern Europe during this time. Prince Zygmunt immigrated to the United States followed by his wifeIrenaand resided at Villa Anneslie until their deaths. The Polubinski, Giedroyce, Galitzin families as well as other descendants of Gedymin and Rurik are prolific (many other princely branches have become extinct) and can be found in numerous countries pursueing various professions. The PNAF is based at Villa Anneslie a National Register of Historic Places property. The current chairman, Dr. Roger Chylinski-Polubinski resides at Villa Anneslie. The current president is Dr. Felix von Leski-Holewinski. Dr. Chylinski-Polubinski accompanied by Dame Barbara Bromont-Slawinska, PNAF Poet Laureatepersonally received the Papal Blessing for the PNAF Historical and Cultural efforts and for the PNAF members and supporters in private audience with Pope John Paul IIfor the Association on October 4, 1983, at Castelo Gandolfo, (after previously attending the mass offered by His Holiness at Kalenberg celebrating the 300th anniversary of the defeat of the Turks at Vienna) the Holy Father's summer residence.

• Ancestor "Name Search" assistance
• Issuance of "Surname Nobility Diplomas" and registry based on public documents.
• Provide "Heraldic Assistance" in identifying authentic Polish arms

The current legal status of the Polish Nobility Association Foundation, in the United States, is that of a private non-profit foundation 501 (c) 3. Membership is international, and through the PNAF members can be updated on International Monarchist League activities. The Association has, for many years, published a semi-annual journal (The White Eagle) which relates mainly to historic, nobility, heraldry and other topics from Eastern Europe and related to Monarchy. Membership is available as PNA (proven nobility) and PNAF for others. All PNA are part of the PNAF and is open to any individual interested in, or identifying with, "Georgaphical Areas historically associated with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth" Annual membership dues are progressive.