Coat of arms Pogonia

The coat of arms was designed and interpreted by Prof. sculptor  Konstantinas Bogdanas.

The coat of arms Pogonia IV  was used by  clan of Vambutas.
Origin of Lithuanian word "herbas" is from German language “erbe” , which means inheritance, heritage. The coat of arms is the distinctive family badge or crest, which indicates the state, city, estate, and family. The shield with herald sign is the basis of all coats of arms.

The first coats of arms appeared in Lithuania in the 13th and 14th centuries. The knights used to get distinctive badges in fights with enemies. The nobles used their coats of arms on shields, helmets, coats and flags.

These badges were inherited from one generation to other. The knights were proud of deserts their ancestors. They didn't changed anything in their badges except if they did some offence and were forced to change the heraldic sign on the shield. The oldest son inherited the coat of arms of family  in West Europe, and must to add some special changes in it.
The heraldry traditions mostly from Hungary and Czech came to Poland and later after 1413 to Lithuania. It is believed that such version of coat of arms "Pogonia" came from Hungary. In 1434 king Jogaila (Jogiella) of Poland granted coat of arms Pogonia to steward Michail of Lelov. Later it became more popular and used to granted by kings or Seimas (Parliament), also used bought from other noblemen in Lithuanian Poland commonwealth.

Four versions of coat of arms Pogonia are known in heraldry. They are different in color of shield. One of them are in red, other in gold color. There is no data, which version of Pogonia was used by noblemen Vambutas; therefore the most spreaded description will be written here.

In the gold shield there is an armour hand from blue cloud which hold the sword. The same hand with sword rises from the helmet. The coat of arms is adorned with black bands with gold lining.

It is unknown when this coat of arms was granted to noblemen Vambutas because of lacks historical data. But it is known that there are families Vambutas with coat of arms Pogoniain the list of legitimized noblemen in Siauliai and Telsiai districts in 14th century in Lithuania. According to the metrics books the Vambutas families lived in  Luokė, Kuršėnai, Pievėnai, Kantaučiai, Varniai, Užventis, Šaukėnai and other parishes.

The family tree is formed according the metrics from Šaukėnai and Tytuvėnai RKB (churches) data.
The ancesstor and initiator of family is hold the knight Vembutas Ruskaitis (highland of Lithuania), mentioned in the agreement with the knight of Volynia in 1219. It is supposed that in next centuries the family of Vambutas loose the politics power in the life of state of Lithuania, and the members of family found themselves in the variors, later in noblemen status. The Vambutas families possesed the manors near by Varniai in 14-17th centuries besides other estates in Lithuania. There is survived the judicial documents about conflicts with other owners in neighborhood because of border of these manors (they are keep in Vilnius University manuscripts depository).

The familes Alkimowicz, Algiminowicz, Andzejkowicz, Badurko, Bepliński, Bereżko, Bielunka, Chożowski, Chrapkiewicz, Czarnowski odm., Czorb, Dziubandowski, Gorzycki, Haushild, Humorowski, Kamieniczny, Kłajkowsky,  Kokatorowicz, Magóra, Minczer, Niedzieski, Nowowiejski, Odłaniski, Papini di Gambusi, Pełka, Pleszkowski odm., Pliskowski, Pliszczyński, , Potemkin (granted by king of Poland in 1775, April 10), Radański,  Repliński, Rohland, Rzeszotko, Sando, Saniewski, Siemionowicz, Stradoń, Sudymont, Szvarc, Wałęga, Wandzon, Wambut, Zagórski, Zaleski, Załuczski, Żdżarski,  Żręcki, Żurawnicki, Żynowicz used the coat of arms Pogonia. 

 Historian Sigita Gasparaviciene
Translated by Audrone Musteikiene

 

Page 20