House Glazov

Glazov (the Baltic branch styles itself as “Glasow”) is a 600 year old boyar dynasty, originally from Novgorod region, later amassing estates in Tula (XVI century), Pskov and Kursk (XVII century), Vologda and Samara (XVIII century).

Being a boyar house, Glazov didn’t use a family crest as such – which was quite typical for boyar dynasties. Most, but not all, boyars were descendants of royal families of Russia or Lithuania who have lost their princely titles and armaments. Some of the oldest Russian noble families, including boyars, as well as certain baronial (e.g. Steingel, Stackelberg) and even comital dynasties (e.g. Stadlitzki) did not use coats of arms either. 

The first documented reference to the Glazov family is dated 1495 – our ancestors named Dmitry, Timothy, Andrew and Yuri, children of Veliamin, are listed as landlords in Novgorod – Russia’s north-western region. One of them, Timothy Glazov was documented as a “son of a boyar” and a guest at the royal wedding of Prince Vasily of Kholm (son-in-law of the ruling monarch Ivan III and son of Prince Daniel of Kholm, descendant of the ancient appanage Princes of Tver) and the monarch’s daughter princess Theodosia in 1500. Our mysterious progenitor Veliamin, born around 1440, was a voevoda (warlord, general), a boyar and a high-ranking one at that (possibly, but not definitely, of royal Rürikid blood).

Ancient nobility of House Glazov has been strictly confirmed by the Heraldry Chamber of the Russian Empire. The original documents are kept in the Russian State Historical Archives, all scans are at Kirill Leonov’s (13th generation Glazov from Ivan) disposal. Some of the most prominent Glazov family members who are not our direct ancestors are listed separately in the appendix. These include several highest ranking Imperial commanders, a parliament member and more.

Never particularly rich, Glazov family was very reputable. Many Glazovs served in the most elite Leibgarde regiments. Noble ladies from several prominent dynasties married into house Glazov (there was a case, for example, when two Strukov family siblings married, respectively, a Glazov and a von Buxhoevden). The Russian Empire’s last Minister of Education was Glazov.

Phenotypically, Glazov family members are quite short, with a tendency to go bald early (alas, something they share with the von Leonrod family), very energetic, wiry, tough, extremely hardy, with light brown hair and green eyes, with an insatiable hunger for travelling and adventure.

Relevance to Leonrod Adria: Kirill’s mother Marina (nee Glazova) is from House Glazov through a direct male line starting in 1585 (Ivan -> Stepan -> Dmitry -> Ivan -> Vasily -> Trophime -> Timothy -> Alexander -> Nicholas -> Michael -> Vladimir -> Marina).

See below our direct uninterrupted line of Glazov ancestors.