I have done research, and I am aware that we had many Hetmans to the Crown! Much meddling in Politics, and my Great+ Grandfather Count Stanislaus Szczesny Potocki trying to take over Poland in the last 1700s. Evidently, he helped to lead to the downfall of the Lithuania-Polish Commonwealth, though I do believe in his own heart, he just wanted to keep the country the way it was - just with him as the King, basically. It was the only way. He was such a tragic love character, he won his way into my heart (I've not had luck at love myself, so I empathize; I suppose finding someone who is honorable, caring, and stand by you is something eternally in my family we dream for). I feel like I have inherited his curse.
I have seen the many paintings, and my friends have been tickled at how much I look like many, which of course would happen since we have hereditary attributes.
But, I digress.
I am interested in any stories that anyone can add to the Potoccy Family, that I hope to some day tell my family.
I just walked past the Palace in Krzeszowice (near Krakow) that belonged to the Potocki family. It was General Frank's summer residence during WW2, nationalised by the government after the war and used as a children's home but it's now boarded up and near derelict. I'm curious if you know what plans your family has for it as it's absolutely gorgeous?
Did you ever hear the story of a Graf Potocki who became a Jewish scholar? Among Polish and Lithuanian Jews this was a popular legend but I don't know if it's true or not. Look at this link for the story...
I have done research, and I am aware that we had many Hetmans to the Crown! Much meddling in Politics, and my Great+ Grandfather Count Stanislaus Szczesny Potocki trying to take over Poland in the last 1700s. Evidently, he helped to lead to the downfall of the Lithuania-Polish Commonwealth, though I do believe in his own heart, he just wanted to keep the country the way it was - just with him as the King, basically. It was the only way. He was such a tragic love character, he won his way into my heart (I've not had luck at love myself, so I empathize; I suppose finding someone who is honorable, caring, and stand by you is something eternally in my family we dream for). I feel like I have inherited his curse.
Well, yes, Potocki family had meny members who took part in Polish politisc ans such and they gave much of their fortune, blood and heart to the country, but... Stanisław Szczęsny was not one of them. He was a traitor loyal to Russians, under death penalty after 1793. He never tried to be a king and he was never granted with a Count title, he was using it himself. All his family members are ashamed to be related with him and that is why their dhildren and grandchildren (and so long) were doing everything to atone for his crimes.
Anyway, Szczęsny was noone special as a person. His actions were one of the reasons that Poland was not existing on a map of Europe for over 120 years. So, I think it is nothing to be proud of.
Julie, I think you should read more about other Potocki family members, the one who made the family name fame for doing good, not bad. For example Anna z Działyńskich Potocka and her husband Stanisław, or Klaudyna Potocka, also called "Promienna". There are book about them and many others.
Graf Potocki - kaliszer, I have read the story a few times.
Unfortunately, the issue I keep running into on my family over and over again is: most is not in English, and I don't read Polish. I tried to pick it up as a child, but it was forbidden, go figure.
I can't explain the eccentricities of my own parents and grandparents - I shan't even try. They did what they did, and no one condemning what they said will change what they said.
kioko: So - why are you stuck on belittling one of MY ancestors, 'Count Stanislaw Szczęsny-Potocki'?
It really seems that my posts got under your skin, because you had to register, and become a member and all.
He was a Count. I know WHERE the title came from, even for the family...and who gave it to whom.
Riddle me this: who got the title, and from whom? ONE Potocki was given the Count title - the rest of the family used it to advance themselves.
Did you also forget that He constructed the Zofia Gardens in the Ukraine, for his 3rd wife? IT stands to this day, a majestic work of Beauty to this day. I find that to be tragically missing from your litany.
WHAT crimes, do you speak of? I see HISTORY. I don't feel I need to atone for ONE THING he did; I'm not him, I didn't do any of it. History belongs in the past - oh, wait - that's why it's called history!! The winners write history - oh, now I repeated myself once.
That is where the perception comes from. He and his father were also the wealthiest Poles of their time; so being of the Tulczyn line, I should expect insults on my ancestors. I don't appreciate it, so keep it in context with the politics of what was going on back then, not what you FEEL - but what REALLY happened.
That is where I feel you got too personal, and the bit about 'count'. You don't know how we obtained the title, do you? ;)
I personally would love to continue to help the Polish people, and have done things here in America. If there's any guilt I feel, it's a political one...I felt America abandoned Poland to the Russians. Nothing to do with me, nor my family.
And, I have read about other people in my family, but not all. I'll check up 'Promienna', thank you for that tidbit.
So - I am looking for information NOT found in the general history books, but deeper in the dirt. So far, I'm looking at roots and branches going every which way. Guess this dude is the one that ticks everyone off - I wonder why my father was proud of him, eh? Perhaps a private thing.
Jan Potocki (1761-1815) wrote one of my favorate books "The Manuscript Found in Saragossa" (Tales from the Saragossa Manuscript, The Saragossa Manuscript). You can buy it in English on Amazon.com.
In 1965 they made an art film based on the book "The Saragossa Manuscript", which later had become a favorite of Jerry Garcia, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. All three together bought the rights to the movie and restored it. I heard that Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) built a movie theatre in his house because he loved to watch "Saragossa" so much
Dice - thanks for the link! Fortunately, I am an artist... ;> Heheheh - cuuute, plk123. Fortunately, I have that page in English. ;) Dice, you are correct - there's a huge difference between it all, lol. Oh, I haven't had a good laugh in so long, I'm having a great time with this.
I am not belittling all family, only Szczęsny. Maybe if you will read some books or biographies about other GREAT family members, you will know, what they were thinking about, what Szczęsny did, and maybe you will change your mind. I really wish you that, maybe we will talk then. Until then I have nothing to say. But I must say, that non of Potockis I know is so presuming. Take care, hope you'll find those books in English.
I WISH TO KNOW ALL ABOUT MY FAMILY, not just one historical figure, of which you look down upon, kioko. THAT was the purpose of this thread. Stop harping on that one dude, and go on, okay? You are being closed-minded in your obsession.
Now, perhaps the finer nuances of english > Polish may have been lost. Also, you can't answer my question, ergo I seriously question you taking me to Court in the first place (pun intended, okay? I'll spell out all my jokes, if necessary).
There are 13th - 20th Century Potockis, who are my heroes. THAT is why I am alive, why I am here!! And yes - I have spoken to at least one other Potocki.
NOW - onto something different: I reiterate, I didn't start this thread to be stuck on that particular Potocki figure, sheesh. Why start this thread, if that's all I desired?
I've been told of the good our Potocki family did as I grew up, including locking Elizabeth Bathory away, so she couldn't murder any more girls, with a mirror so she could see herself grow old.
If you notice, I desire to KNOW more of my family. I see you have the knowledge, Kioko - but REFUSE to give it to me. Ah, what a conundrum, lol.
So - anyone who has REAL information, and not refer me to books in Polish, since I only read English, I'd appreciate it.
I will share my knowlegde with you Julie, if you want to know more about our family, but in private, ok? Give me some time... There is lot to write about. And as for Szczesny - we will have to agree that we have a totally different points of view.
We agree to disagree on one point, kioko - that isn't bad.
I will be delighted with what you can tell me. And yes, in private is fine.
I think that perhaps that's where I picked the wrong thing to post at the top of this thread. I love history, and have studied ancient history. But I found what I desire most now, is history of my family.
Wow your ancestor Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki had like 20 children. I bet it is more then 10.000 people who can trace back their roots to him. You should make some kind of website where everyone who can trace back their roots to him could gather and maybe meet in real life and have a some kind of festival?
Dont know if it would be so popular to throw a party to honor Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki in Poland, but i guess the russians would't have a problem with it.
I think you can be proud of your relation to Stanislaw Potocki, as he was a very famous noble and came from a respectable family. However, that said, I don't think he really made good political decisions through his lifetime, and was much too naiive. He trusted the Russians to actually care about Polands welfare, when he should have been concentrating on building up Poland from the inside.
An odd quote I found:
After Stanisław August Poniatowski's abdication and the destruction of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: "About past Poland and Poles [I don't want to talk anymore]. Gone is this country, and this name, as many others have perished in the world's history. I am now a Russian forever."
