The Polish noble clan of Nowina, to which the current Grand Master of the Order of Saint Stanislas belongs, and from which the mother of Saint Stanislas was also a member of, was already a very powerful clan in Poland in the XI century.
During the XIII and XIV centuries the clan itself split into several associated families and each took their surnames from the estates or manors that they possessed at the time.
The Nowina-Sokolnicki family took its' name from the estate of 'Sokolniki' near Gniezno; which was the oldest Polish capital in Greater Poland, and was the family seat in the XIII century.
The current Grand Master of the Order of Saint Stanislas is a descendent of the XXth generation of this recorded, well documented and published Polish noble family . In the XIIth and XIVth centuries, ancient Polish armorials show this family bearing the title of Comes (Counts), and in some armorials they are described as being of the ancient nobility since time immemorial. In 1683, the family received the title of Counts of the Holy Roman Empire from Emperor Leopold I (1657-1705) of Germany and in 1817 also the title of Counts of the Kingdom of Prussia from King Frederick William III (1797-1840) of Prussia.
Polish armorials show that Count Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki, 8th Grand Master of the Order of Saint Stanislas is descended many times in the female line from the oldest Polish Royal House of Piasts. Through his grandmother of the House of Counts Potocki, he is descended from the Houses of Mohylas of Moldavia, Bassarbs of Wallachia, Brankovich of Serbia and the ancient Imperial Great Houses of the Byzantine Empire; Comnenus, Angelus, Paleologus and Cantacuzenos.
Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki was a trusted member of the late Polish Government (In Exile) of President August Zaleski, and as a host of documentary evidence shows he was a member of that President's trusted inner circle. On 22 September 1971, as President Zaleski's health was failing he appointed Sokolnicki (a much younger man and regarded in Polish politics as a rising star), as his nominated successor to the appointment of President of the Polish Government (In Exile). This document of succession has been examined by experts here in the United States and legally verified as a legitimate document which has been written on the official stationary of President Zaleski, contains his seal as President, and a verified copy of his personal signature. After the death of President Zaleski on the 6 April 1972, Juliusz Sokolnicki was sworn in as the legitimate President of the Polish Government (In Exile) and was recognised as such by all of the other Governments (In Exile) until the return of democratic rule on the 20 December 1990.
While in the office of President of the Polish Government (In Exile) President Sokolnicki received many awards and and decorations which are documented and in many cases the occasion was photographed. Here in the United States of America, he is an Honorarary Citizen of the States of Texas, Nebraska and California; and also of the Cities of Minneapolis and Baltimore and is a Kentucky Colonel. Resolution #83 of the California Legislature recognises his tenure of President in Exile dating from 1972 - 1990; and as well resolved that January 14, 1995 was to be named "Count Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki Day".
Prince Grand Master of the Order of Saint Stanislas, Count Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki is a descendent of the mother of Saint Stanislas, Bishop and Martyr, and as well a descendent of the original founder of the Order, His Majesty King Stanislas Augustus Poniatowski, the last native King of Poland.