Hutten-Czapski (feminine: Hutten-Czapska), or Graf von Hutten-Czapski, or simply Czapscy, or Czapski, is the name of an old Polish aristocratic family from Pomerania. Some branches were given the title of Count. Members of the family have contributed to Poland's political, cultural and military history. Some members of the family were first recorded serving as Prussian Baltic knights, their allegiance was to Poland. Origin and history It is not entirely clear when and where the Czapski name had its beginnings. One version is that they are related to the old Prussian von Hutten family who appeared in the year 930. A Dietrich von Hutten, along with other nobles, was summoned in 1112 by Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Lesser Poland, to help fight against the pagan Prussians. Dietrich distinguished himself in battle in 1113, and Boleslaw promoted him to knight, giving him a coat of arms and the village of Leliwa. Descendants of Dietrich von Hutten later adopted the Teutonic name of von Smolangen. And then one of the von Smolangens, changed the name to von Hutton, and added Czapski to it. There is not much hard evidence that this is the beginning even though it is mentioned in some sources. What is clear, is that the Czapskis originated from the Smolag, Pomeranina Voivodeship, near Gdańsk. For many centuries the Czapskis occupied high administrative and military rank in the region. It is therefore possible, as other references claim, that the beginning was with Hugo von Smolangen II, who was in 1482 the Castellan of Gdańsk. The most clearly and certifiable beginning was when, in 1526, Sigismund I of Poland gave to a magistrate named Martin, the village of Czaple. Juliusz Czapski, Marcins grandson, expanded the Czapski family holdings to include the villages of Smętowo, Chwarzno, Swarozyn and Smętówko. At the end of the sixteenth century the Czapskis were one of the wealthiest noble families in the region of Gdańsk. At some point, perhaps bridging both the Prussian/Polish relationship as well as loyalties, the von Hutten was most likely added relating the German Hut (hat or cap in German) to the Polish tchapska, also meaning hat, and thereby constructing the name Hutten-Czapska; hat in German and in Polish. Through the centuries, the Czapskis rose in prominence and power as large landowners of significant political and social importance. The family grew further in prestige in the 18th century under the rule of Stanisław