Carte Genealogique de Pologne et les Principales Branches de ses Rois

The monarchs of Poland, from the mythical Lech to Stanislaw Leszczynski.

“Genealogical Map of Poland and the Main Branches of its Kings” – Approximate title translation.

This fascinating chart defines the royal lineage of the Kingdom of Poland, then one half of the powerful Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Rulers from the year 550 to 1704 are named across several branches of a complex family tree, each linked to the coat of arms of a noble family. Accompanying text offers a description of the content and a basic summary of Polish political history.

The copperplate-engraved sheet was originally published in Paris as part of Henri Abraham Chatelain’s important Atlas Historique. This monumental seven-volume set was first issued in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720, but was reprinted until the late 1730s. The scholarly, but approachable, work was aimed at a broad audience, eager for new information during the Age of Enlightenment. The breadth of content offers a nuanced synthesis of geography, cosmography, history, religion, ethnology, and political science. The descriptive text (in French) and skillfully engraved maps, diagrams, and illustrations provide a fascinating window into the world of the early 18th century.