The Chernyshev (also Czernyszew or Černyšev) are an ancient noble family of Polish origins, recognized in Russian nobility in 1614.

Michael Czernicki left Poland to serve Grand Duke Ivan IV of Ryazan in 1493, was appointed the voevoda (“warlord”, general) of the Rearguard and started spelling his name as Chernyshev; he died without an heir. His nephew Elias was fighting for Poland, taken prisoner in 1534 and pledged loyalty to Moscow. Elias became the ancestor to the Russian branch of the Chernyshev house.

Many Chernyshev dynasty members became voevodas (Zacchary in 1626, Stepan in 1649, Vladimir in 1690), politicians (another Zacchary, b. 1722, General-Governor of Moscow; Peter, 1712-1773 – senator and chamberlain); Theodor (1805-1869) was a General; finally, Ivan (1726-1797) was Field Marshal. Arguably, the most notable Chernyshev was the aforementioned Field Marshal’s son Alexander (1786 – 1857) – a decorated veteran of Napoleonic wars, hero of the Battle of Austerlitz, a General of Cavalry, Russian Minister of War, chairman of the State Council and Cabinet of Ministers. He was granted the title of a Count (1826) and Serene Highness (1849). He was married thrice (first marriage being with Teofila Morawska, widow of no less than Prince Dominik Hieronim Radziwiłł), having no children from the first two marriages. His third wife was Countess Zotova. Their great-great-grandson Anatoly (b. 1919) is the last Duke Chernyszev known to us; his fate is unknown, as the Revolution separated us.

Another notable dynasty member, General-in-Chief Gregory Chernyshev was granted a title of a Count in 1742. When this comital branch ceased to exist in 1908, Emperor Nicholas II allowed his chamberlain Alexander, the most senior untitled Chernyshev, and his wife Sophia (nee Bezobrazova) to inherit the name and the title of the late Count and thereafter be known as Chernyshev-Bezobrazov. Alexander’s son Sergey (b. 1894) inherited the title but had to leave the country after the Revolution; he went to France, where he married Countess Sheremeteva and died without a male heir in 1972. Their daughter Xenia married Archduke Rudolf of Austria, the youngest son of Emperor Charles I of Austria, in 1953, and died in a car crash in 1968.

Relation to Leonrod Adria: Anna Chernysheva married into house Glazov in the 1860s, becoming the spouse of Alexander Glazov – Kirill Leonov’s matrilineal great-great-grandfather.