Portret księcia Jerzego Sebastiana Lubomirskiego

Portret księcia Jana Kazimierza Lubomirskiego

Portret księcia Jerzego Aleksandra Lubomirskiego

Portret księcia Jerzego Ignacego Lubomirskiego

Portret księcia Stanisława Herakliusza Lubomirskiego

Portret księcia Hieronima Augustyna Lubomirskiego

The House of Lubomirski is a Polish princely family. The Lubomirski family's coat of arms is the

Drużyna coat of arms Drużyna (''Srzeniawa bez Krzyża'') is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several szlachta families in the times of the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. History Blazon Notable bearers Notable bearers of this c ...

, which is similar to the

Szreniawa coat of arms Srzeniawa is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by several szlachta families in the times of the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. History Blazon Notable bearers Notable bearers of this coat of arms include: * Ho ...

but without a cross.

Origin and the coat of arms

The Lubomirski family have been actors in the history of Poland since the 10th century. There are two theories regarding the family's origin. One, by Adam Boniecki, a Polish heraldist, assumes that there were two branches of the family. One settled at the Szreniawa River in Proszowice County while the other established itself in Szczyrzyc County. The time of this division of the family is not known, but most likely it was before the adoption of Christianity by Poland. The Szreniawici family used a similar coat of arms, which means that the two families had the same ancestry. At the time of

Mieszko I Mieszko I (; – 25 May 992) was the first ruler of Poland and the founder of the first independent Polish state, the Duchy of Poland. His reign stretched from 960 to his death and he was a member of the Piast dynasty, a son of Siemomysł and ...

, the members of the Lubomirski family demonstrated bravery in battle against

pagans Pagans may refer to: * Paganism, a group of pre-Christian religions practiced in the Roman Empire * Modern Paganism, a group of contemporary religious practices * Order of the Vine, a druidic faction in the ''Thief'' video game series * Pagan's ...

. For this they were awarded the rank of knight and a coat of arms, which depicts bends of the Szreniawa River in the form of a letter S of white colour on a red background, instead of the Szreniawici cross, with the motto ''Patriam Versus'' (Turned to the Homeland). This coat of arms has been used by the representatives of the family to the present time. The author of the second theory of the family's origins is the medievalist Władysław Semkowicz. In his article "The fellowship and Śreniawa. Heraldic study" („Drużyna i Śreniawa. Studyum heraldyczne”) he writes that the family used to live on the banks of the Szreniawa River in Szczyrzycki poviat (county), in the area surrounded by the Raba and Stradomka rivers, the Trzciański brook, and the Łososina and Krzyworzeka streams. Semkowicz says that the original territory of the Drużynnici family (ancestors of the Lubomirski, Wieruski, Rupniewski, and Lasocki families) was located there. Semkowicz says that the coat of arms does not show bends of a river, but a curved rod – a sign of episcopal or secular power, signifying that for many centuries before the adoption of the name, the family had exercised significant power. This theory assumes, in its later part, that, in the 15th century, the Polish chronicler Jan Długosz incorrectly ascribed the origin of the coat of arms of the fellowship (Szreniawa without a cross), and other heraldists accepted this view. The history of the Szreniawici, or Drużynnici, family is closely linked with the rulers of the

Piast dynasty The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I (c. 930–992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir III the Great. Branch ...

. One of the Szreniawici was a canon at the Wawel court, and people using this coat of arms belonged to the inner circle of Bolesław Śmiały, according to Jan Długosz, in ''Annals or Chronicles of the Famous Kingdom of Poland'' (''Roczniki czyli Kronikisławnego Królestwa Polskiego''). The oldest document mentioning the Lubomirski family comes from the 11th century. It is in the property section of the Crown Register of 1682 in Kraków. The original no longer exists. There is only a mention in the register under a given year. Successive members of the family took up positions of bishops, for example, Piotr,

Archbishop of Gniezno This is a list of archbishops of the Archdiocese of Gniezno, who are simultaneously primates of Poland since 1418.Łęczyca in 1180. The family performed important functions at the court of the Piast dynasty and extended their estates through investing in land, mainly within the territory of the Małopolska province. Jakub Lubomirski served as a borough writer in the 14th century.

Foundations of economic power

Piotr (d. 1480), the

heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officiall ...

Lubomierz Lubomierz (german: Liebenthal) is a town in Lwówek Śląski County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district ( gmina) called Gmina Lubomierz. It lies approximately south-west of Lw� ...

, the territorial designation that is the basis of the family name, is regarded as the

progenitor In genealogy, the progenitor (rarer: primogenitor; german: Stammvater or ''Ahnherr'') is the – sometimes legendary – founder of a family, line of descent, clan or tribe, noble house, or ethnic group.. Ebenda''Ahnherr:''"Stammvater eines G ...

of the Lubomirski family. The economic foundation of the family rested on the exploitation of salt mines in Kraków province, the mineshafts being leased from rulers of Poland. The Lubomirski family also established private mines in Małopolska province.

Sebastian Sebastian may refer to: People * Sebastian (name), including a list of persons with the name Arts, entertainment, and media Films and television * ''Sebastian'' (1968 film), British spy film * ''Sebastian'' (1995 film), Swedish drama film ...

(c. 1546 – 1613), who in 1581 became a mine administrator of Kraków, was the creator of this economic power. This was the first administrative position in the capital city occupied by a member of the family. While taking up his duties, Sebastian had the support of Stefan Batory. In 1595, Sebastian received the title of Count of

Wiśnicz Wiśnicz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Małogoszcz, within Jędrzejów County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately west of Małogoszcz, north-west of Jędrzejów, and west of the ...

from the Emperor Rudolf II; in 1591, he entered the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

as governor of

Małogoszcz Małogoszcz is a town in the Jędrzejów County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland. The Battle of Małogoszcz. one of the biggest battles of the 1863 January Uprising, took place there. Małogoszcz belongs to Lesser Poland; the name of the ...

. He opened a private salt mine shaft "Kunegunda" in Siercza, which was exploited for about 100 years. Money gained from the salt trade allowed the Lubomirski family to lend money to even the wealthiest people in the country. This enabled them to purchase properties or take them over from insolvent debtors. The family built up its economic position over many generations, accumulating assets that they held for centuries.

Residences

The first mentions of the home in Lubomierz were recorded in 1398. The number of family estates, starting with

Gdów Gdów is a village in Wieliczka County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Gdów. It lies approximately south-east of Wieliczka and south-east of the regiona ...

and Szczyrzyca which the family also possessed in the 13th century, increased significantly. In the 17th and 18th centuries they were located in Lubomierz,

Nowy Wiśnicz Nowy Wiśnicz ( yi, ווישניצא Vishnitsa) is a small town in Bochnia County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,728 inhabitants (2019). Located south of Bochnia, Nowy Wiśnicz is renowned for its Italianate fortified castle which d ...

, Bochnia, Wieliczka,

Łańcut Łańcut (, approximately "wine-suit"; yi, לאַנצוט, Lantzut; uk, Ла́ньцут, Lánʹtsut; german: Landshut) is a town in south-eastern Poland, with 18,004 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009. Situated in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship (si ...

Baranów Sandomierski Baranów Sandomierski is a small town in southern Poland, in the Subcarpathian Voivodship, Tarnobrzeg County on the Vistula River, with 1,420 inhabitants as of December 2021. Baranów lies near the Vistula river, along voivodeship road nr. 985, ...

, Puławy, Rzeszów, Równe, Tarnów, Jarosław, Przeworsk, and Janowiec upon the Vistula, among others. To this day, the castle in Nowy Wiśnicz has been the property of the Family Association of the Princes Lubomirski. Many estates were located in the territories of the largest Polish cities: Warsaw (e.g. Mokotów, Ujazdów, Czerniaków), Kraków ( Wola Justowska, Kamienica Pod Baranami), Rzeszów (castle), Sandomierz, and Lvov. Maintaining foreign residences in Drezno, Vienna, and Paris enhanced family prestige. The members of the family were referred to as "the owners of the bank of the Dnieper River" because many of their estates were located in what is now Ukraine and Slovakia. The Lubomirski family enjoyed political, military, and economic influence, which was concentrated in the provinces of Kraków, Sandomierz, Stanisławów, and

Ruthenia Ruthenia or , uk, Рутенія, translit=Rutenia or uk, Русь, translit=Rus, label=none, pl, Ruś, be, Рутэнія, Русь, russian: Рутения, Русь is an exonym, originally used in Medieval Latin as one of several terms ...

, to eventually cover the whole area of the

Commonwealth of the Two Nations A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

. They kept this state of ownership until the collapse of the Polish state, when they were deprived of many estates as a result of penalties for pro-independence activities. The Lubomirski family looked to invest by buying large estate complexes. They consciously strived to gather them into one contiguous whole. Territorial expansion began in the ancestral territory located south of Kraków and was directed toward the east. The combined estates reached their largest size at the time of Stanisław (d. 1649). It was the third largest holding in the

Republic of Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

, only smaller than the entail of

Ostróg Ostroh ( uk, Остро́г; pl, Ostróg) is a historic city located in Rivne Oblast (province) of western Ukraine, on the Horyn River. Ostroh is the administrative center of the Ostroh Raion (district). Administratively, Ostroh is incorporated ...

and the estates of the

Radziwiłł family The House of Radziwiłł (; lt, Radvila; be, Радзівіл, Radzivił; german: link=no, Radziwill) is a powerful magnate family originating from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later also prominent in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. ...

. In addition to purchasing properties, the Lubomirski family leased rich royal estates, such as the Starosties of Spisz, Sandomierz, and Sącz. Income from the land leased from the king was comparable to that from private estates. The family introduced several innovative facilities and processes to their estates. Their arable farms adopted methods of industrial production; sugar factories, distilleries, and factories were built. They also introduced enlightened social practices, such as granting equal rights for subjects, allowing Jews to buy properties in private towns and to build houses, and vesting them with judicial powers. Jerzy Sebastian was particularly involved in the activities of

democratization Democratization, or democratisation, is the transition to a more democratic political regime, including substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction. It may be a hybrid regime in transition from an authoritarian regime to a ful ...

. He believed that the increase in economic rights of all his subjects would make him get richer, too. Schools and hospitals for the peasant population were founded, which were maintained with private family income. The family estates often hired people from the lowest class, caring about their education, offering a place of residence, clothing, and a salary paid twice a year. For faithful service, workers were given ownership of land in perpetual or inheritable possession.

Division

The family, originally small in number, grew considerably, which led to divisions of material wealth but enhanced political influence, due to having the support of more people in the

Sejms The Sejm (English: , Polish: ), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland ( Polish: ''Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''), is the lower house of the bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of th ...

, in the Senate, or at the royal court. Members of the family were able to count on the support of their relatives in political or court activities. The family split into five major lineages: of Wiśnicz (from Aleksander Michał, 1614 – 1677), Łańcut (from Stanisław Herakliusz, 1642 – 1702), Przeworsk (from Aleksander Michał, – d. 1675), Rzeszów (from Hieronim Augustyn, c. 1647 – 1706), and Janowiec (from Jerzy Dominik, 1665 – 1727). The most numerous was that of Przeworsk, which was further divided into three branches: dubrowieńsko-kruszyńska, równieńsko-przeworska, and dubieńska. Many members of this line are alive now.

First citizens of Poland

The members of the family served the state as

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

s, starosts, governors, and hetmans. Four of the princes Lubomirski held the office of

Grand Marshal of the Crown Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and co ...

: Jerzy Sebastian, Józef Karol, Stanisław Herakliusz and Stanisław. They were active in the politics, chairing the Sejms, forming a private army, representing the king at the courts Europe. Many times they had a decisive influence on the choice of monarchs. They were defenders of the nobility, who often entrusted the family with their proxy vote at the Sejms and in the election of kings. Although Jerzy Sebastian was Grand Marshal and

Field Hetman of the Crown Field may refer to: Expanses of open ground * Field (agriculture), an area of land used for agricultural purposes * Airfield, an aerodrome that lacks the infrastructure of an airport * Battlefield * Lawn, an area of mowed grass * Meadow, a grass ...

, he supported the nobility in rebellion. Marriages were also important. Members of the Lubomirski family became linked with equally powerful and wealthy families. It enabled them to extend their private estates, and even take over a part of the estate of Ostróg under the

Kolbuszowa Kolbuszowa ( yi, קאלבאסאוו) is a small town in south-eastern Poland, with 9,190 inhabitants (02.06.2009). Situated in the Sandomierz Forest in the Subcarpathian Voivodship (since 1999), it is the capital of Kolbuszowa County. Kolbuszo ...

transaction of 1753. Stanisław Lubomirski (1583 – 1649) married

Zofia Ostrogska Princess Zofia Ostrogska ( lt, Zofija Ostrogiškaitė, links=no; 1595–1622) was a Polish–Lithuanian noblewoman Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below roy ...

; Aleksander Michał Lubomirski married

Helena Tekla Ossolińska Princess Helena Tekla Lubomirska ''née'' Ossolińska (died 1687) was a Polish szlachcianka, noblewoman, wife of Aleksander Michał Lubomirski (d. 1677), Aleksander Michał Lubomirski since 1637. Callot Helena Tekla Lubomirska

; Krystyna Lubomirska married

Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł (1 July 1595 – 12 November 1656) was a Polish nobleman, a Reichfürst and a politician from the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, who served as the Lesser Lithuanian Chancellor from 1619, the Grand Chancellor o ...

. Józef Karol (1638 – 1702) was Teofilia Ludwika Zasławska’s husband; Teresa Lubomirska (d. 1712) married Karol Filip, the Prince of Neuburg, and

Marianna Lubomirska Princess Marianna Lubomirska (1693–1729) was a Polish noblewoman magnate. She was heiress of large Ostróg estates. Daughter of Grand Marshal of the Crown Józef Karol Lubomirski, the son of Voivode of Kraków Aleksander Michał Lubomirs ...

(1693 – 1729) married Paweł Karol Sanguszko, the

Grand Marshal of Lithuania Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and co ...

Royal blood

In 1647, Stanisław Lubomirski received the hereditary title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire from

Emperor Ferdinand III Ferdinand III (Ferdinand Ernest; 13 July 1608, in Graz – 2 April 1657, in Vienna) was from 1621 Archduke of Austria, King of Hungary from 1625, King of Croatia and Bohemia from 1627 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1637 until his death in 1657. Fe ...

. The Lubomirski family itself was a candidate for Poland's crown. Grand Hetman of the Crown Prince Hieronim Augustyn was the most serious candidate for the Polish crown after the death of

John III Sobieski John III Sobieski ( pl, Jan III Sobieski; lt, Jonas III Sobieskis; la, Ioannes III Sobiscius; 17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1674 until his death in 1696. Born into Polish nobility, Sobie ...

. Prince Teodor Konstanty (1683-1745), governor of Kraków, submitted his candidacy for the Crown after the death of Augustus II the Strong. Prince Stanisław Lubomirski, governor of

Kiev Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...

and Speaker of the Radom treasury tribunal, campaigned for the throne in 1764. Lubomirski princes were also candidates for the Czech and Hungarian crowns;

Jerzy Ignacy Lubomirski Prince Jerzy Ignacy Lubomirski (1687–1753) was a Polish nobleman ( szlachcic). Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, awarded on 3 August 1727. Lubomirski was owner of Rzeszów, Rozwadów and Żelechów estates. He was Field Writer of th ...

(1687-1753) sought the throne of Hungary. The culmination of these efforts was Zdzislaw Lubomirski's serving as prince regent from 1917 to 1918. The Lubomirski family was related to almost all the dynasties ruling in Europe, the Capetien,

Bourbon Bourbon may refer to: Food and drink * Bourbon whiskey, an American whiskey made using a corn-based mash * Bourbon barrel aged beer, a type of beer aged in bourbon barrels * Bourbon biscuit, a chocolate sandwich biscuit * A beer produced by Bras ...

Liudolfing The Ottonian dynasty (german: Ottonen) was a Saxon dynasty of German monarchs (919–1024), named after three of its kings and Holy Roman Emperors named Otto, especially its first Emperor Otto I. It is also known as the Saxon dynasty after ...

, Wittelsbach,

Hohenzollern The House of Hohenzollern (, also , german: Haus Hohenzollern, , ro, Casa de Hohenzollern) is a German royal (and from 1871 to 1918, imperial) dynasty whose members were variously princes, electors, kings and emperors of Hohenzollern, Brandenb ...

, and Rurykowicz dynasties. The family is maternally related to the Piast of Masovia family. Zofia Lubomirska was the great-granddaughter of Anna Lubomirska, the daughter of Konrad III Rudy, the prince of Mazovia. Katarzyna Lubomirska (c. 1585 – 1620) was the wife of Konstanty Bazyli II, Prince of Ostróg, who was closely related to

Bolesław IV Boleslav or Bolesław may refer to: In people: * Boleslaw (given name) In geography: * Bolesław, Dąbrowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland * Bolesław, Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland * Bolesław, Silesian Voivodeship, ...

, a descendant of Konrad Mazowiecki. The Polish princely House of Lubomirski appears to belong to

Y haplogroup In human genetics, a human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup is a haplogroup defined by mutations in the non- recombining portions of DNA from the male-specific Y chromosome (called Y-DNA). Many people within a haplogroup share similar numbers of sh ...

; J-L283 > Z585 > Z628 > Y15058 (aka CTS3617) according to the testing of a member of the family (reportedly Ladislas Jean Lubomirski, father of the photographer Alexi Lubomirski) at Family Tree DNA.

Military exploits

Prince Stanisław Lubomirski was famous for commanding at the Battle of Chocim in 1621, fought against Turkish-Tatar forces. Stanisław initially took part in the battle at the head of a private regiment, but when hetman Karol Chodkiewicz died, and hetman Koniecpolski was taken captive, Stanisław took command and ended the multi-day battle quickly, with the Turks being repelled on October 10, 1621. Prince Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski (1616 – 1667) was the only Polish

aristocrat The aristocracy is historically associated with "hereditary" or "ruling" social class. In many states, the aristocracy included the upper class of people (aristocrats) with hereditary rank and titles. In some, such as ancient Greece, ancient Ro ...

during the Deluge to not take the oath to

Charles X Gustav Charles X Gustav, also Carl Gustav ( sv, Karl X Gustav; 8 November 1622 – 13 February 1660), was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. Afte ...

. Jerzy gave shelter to Jan Kazimierz on his estate in Lubowla (today’s Slovakia) and launched a counteroffensive of Polish troops. He lent his private army, which fought the Battle of Warka, and recaptured Warsaw and Toruń, which had been occupied by the

Swedes Swedes ( sv, svenskar) are a North Germanic ethnic group native to the Nordic region, primarily their nation state of Sweden, who share a common ancestry, culture, history and language. They mostly inhabit Sweden and the other Nordic countr ...

. Stefan Czarniecki supported the campaign. In 1660, at the head of private and royal armies, Prince Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski conducted a lightning campaign that ended with the defeat of Russian forces at

Cudnów Cudnów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jedlnia-Letnisko, within Radom County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately east of Jedlnia-Letnisko, east of Radom, and south of Warsaw Warsaw ...

and Połonka. In 1661, a worsening of relations with the king resulted in rebellion. The prince withdrew to Silesia; and, degraded by the Sejm court, fought for his political rehabilitation. His sons succeeded in this matter. Prince Hieronim Augustyn, a member of the

Order of Hospitallers The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headqu ...

, devoted his life to fighting the Turks, who were considered a cultural threat to European civilization. He defeated Piotr Doroszenko in the

Cossack uprising The Cossack uprisings (also kozak rebellions, revolts) were a series of military conflicts between the cossacks and the states claiming dominion over the territories the Cossacks lived in, namely the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russian ...

. In 1670, he fought against the Crimean Horde at

Bracław Bratslav ( uk, Брацлав; pl, Bracław; yi, בראָצלעוו, ''Brotslev'', today also pronounced Breslev or '' Breslov'' as the name of a Hasidic group, which originated from this town) is an urban-type settlement in Ukraine, located ...

and . In 1683, during the

Battle of Vienna The Battle of Vienna; pl, odsiecz wiedeńska, lit=Relief of Vienna or ''bitwa pod Wiedniem''; ota, Beç Ḳalʿası Muḥāṣarası, lit=siege of Beç; tr, İkinci Viyana Kuşatması, lit=second siege of Vienna took place at Kahlenberg Mou ...

, his troops were the first to reach the

city gates A city gate is a gate which is, or was, set within a city wall. It is a type of fortified gateway. Uses City gates were traditionally built to provide a point of controlled access to and departure from a walled city for people, vehicles, goods ...

. During the period of the first Republic of Poland, eight members of the family served as generals. Two of them took part in the war with Czarist Russia, which gave rise to the Kościuszko Insurrection.

Lubomirski family in the history of Warsaw

To build his numerous residences, Prince

Stanisław Herakliusz Lubomirski Prince Stanisław Herakliusz Lubomirski a.k.a. "Mirobulius Tassalinus" (4 March 1642 – 17 January 1702) was a Polish noble, politician, patron of the arts and writer. Biography Lubomirski was the son of Marshal and Hetman Jerzy Sebastian L ...

(1642 – 1702) hired Tylman of Gameren, later court architect to King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki. Stanisław Lubomirski owned residences in Puławy, Czerniaków, (where he founded a monastery and church of the Bernardines), and in Ujazdów (now part of Warsaw), where, at the end of the 17th century, he built a bathhouse that became the

Palace on the Water The Palace on the Isle ( pl, Pałac Na Wyspie), also known as Baths Palace ( pl, Pałac Łazienkowski), is a classicist palace in Warsaw's Royal Baths Park, the city's largest park, occupying over 76 hectares of the city center. From 1674 the pro ...

Stanisław August Poniatowski Stanisław II August (born Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski; 17 January 1732 – 12 February 1798), known also by his regnal Latin name Stanislaus II Augustus, was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1764 to 1795, and the last monarch ...

, and the Ermitage, which was planned as a place of meditation and relaxation. Stanisław Herakliusz was a friend of many European artists and patrons of the arts, as evidenced by correspondence. He had relations with the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

and Spanish courts, as well as members of the

Medici family The House of Medici ( , ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici, in the Republic of Florence during the first half of the 15th century. The family originated in the Muge ...

. These facilitated his carrying out a number of missions and negotiations on behalf of the Polish king. Stanisław Herakliusz was a talented author, a precursor of the

Polish Baroque The Polish Baroque lasted from the early 17th to the mid-18th century. As with Baroque style elsewhere in Europe, Poland's Baroque emphasized the richness and triumphant power of contemporary art forms. In contrast to the previous, Renaissance styl ...

in literature. He spoke several languages and made use almost all known literary forms in his works. However, he was interested mostly in the new trends coming from Italy. His philosophical work "Dialogues of Artakses and Ewander" entered the canon of the Old Polish Literature and became required reading. An example of building in the very centre of Warsaw is a reconstruction of the

Copper-Roof Palace The Copper-Roof Palace ( pl, pałac Pod Blachą) is an 18th-century palace in Warsaw, Poland. It takes its name (which is less precisely phrased in the original Polish) from the copper roof, a rarity in the first half of the 18th century. Since 19 ...

(''Pałac Pod Blachą''), commissioned in the early 18th century by

Jerzy Dominik Lubomirski Prince Jerzy Dominik Lubomirski ( en, George Dominic; 1654–1727) was a Polish noble (szlachcic). He was the son of Grand Marshal and Hetman Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski and Barbara Tarło. In 1695 he married Ursula Katharina of Altenbockum, U ...

. The palace, classical in form and situated on the south side of the Royal Castle, was bought by the king himself, in 1777, who later added the library. The previous owner of this building was Prince Jerzy Marcin Lubomirski (1738 – 1811), distinguished in service to the

Polish theatre In common with other European countries, the most frequent and most popular form of theatre in Poland is dramatic theatre, based on the existence of relatively stable artistic companies. It is above all a theatre of directors, who decide on the ...

. He financed exhibitions of family and European art and organized numerous concerts, balls, and meetings. Celebrations organized by him were a meeting place for artists and aristocrats from across Europe, while in local memory he was remembered as an organizer of public events with fireworks displays. Prince Jerzy Marcin was also an adventurer and a member of the

Bar Confederation The Bar Confederation ( pl, Konfederacja barska; 1768–1772) was an association of Polish nobles (szlachta) formed at the fortress of Bar in Podolia (now part of Ukraine) in 1768 to defend the internal and external independence of the Polish� ...

. From 1758, he served in the Prussian and Russian armies. He was barred from political life in Poland by his family, but he went down in history as a lover of music and theatre. In 1777, he financed a production of '' Tartuffe'' by Molière; in 1783 leased the privilege of the theatre and made

Wojciech Bogusławski Wojciech Romuald Bogusławski (9 April 1757 – 23 July 1829) was a Polish actor, theater director and playwright of the Polish Enlightenment. He was the director of the National Theatre, Warsaw, (''Teatr Narodowy''), during three distinct peri ...

its director. He also opened a ballet drama school for 1000 people. Prince Stanisław Lubomirski went down in history as an administrator of Warsaw. He introduced permanent

street light A street light, light pole, lamp pole, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or path. Similar lights may be found on a railway platform. When urban electric power distribution ...

ing and supported a police unit with his private money. Above all, he wished to care for the health of the Varsovians, wherefore he decided to surround the city, on both sides of the Vistula, with an earthen embankment, initially to protect against the spreading plague epidemic. There were only three crossings in the embankment, by which traffic in and out of the city was controlled. Later, the embankment, reinforced with guns, was used to defend the capital during the

Kościuszko Uprising The Kościuszko Uprising, also known as the Polish Uprising of 1794 and the Second Polish War, was an uprising against the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia led by Tadeusz Kościuszko in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Pr ...

and the

November Uprising The November Uprising (1830–31), also known as the Polish–Russian War 1830–31 or the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in W ...

. Throughout the 19th century, the embankment marked the boundary of the city. By the Act of 1770, Stanisław introduced permanent street names, which greatly facilitated the administration of the city and its functioning, especially facilitating registration and correspondence. Princess

Izabela Lubomirska Izabela is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Mrocza, within Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-P ...

(1736 – 1816), the wife of Stanisław, rebuilt the

Łańcut Castle Łańcut Castle is a complex of historical buildings located in Łańcut, Poland. Historically the residence of the Pilecki, Lubomirski and Potocki families, the complex includes a number of buildings and is surrounded by a park. The castle is o ...

and collected art and books from around the world. She was politically active; during the revolution, she sheltered part of the French court at her estate in Łańcut. She extended her residences, often employing the latest architectural solutions. She built a palace on her estate in Mokotów, the district of Warsaw that gets its name from her estate, Mon Coteau (My Hill). She was a lover of theatre and laid the foundation stone of the National Theatre in Warsaw, as well as maintaining a number of theatres in her palaces. The notion of theatre then had a much broader meaning than now. It included not only the theatre performances, but also opera, cabaret, and

acrobatic performance Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most often performed in ac ...

s. For her,

Franciszek Karpiński Franciszek Karpiński (4 October 1741 – 16 September 1825) was the leading sentimental Polish poet of the Age of Enlightenment. He is particularly remembered for his religious works later rendered as hymns and carols. He is also considered ...

wrote the "Song about the Lord’s birth", better known under the title "God is born". In honour of her daughter, Cyprian Kamil Norwid wrote a panegyric. Tadeusz Kościuszko set out from the residence in Łańcut, to Kraków, when he incited the

. They also bore the title of Count of Wisnicz und Jaroslaw.

Philanthropists and patrons

The Lubomirski family, like other affluent aristocratic families, engaged in artistic, cultural, and scientific

patronage Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...

. At Wiśnicz, Wilanów, the Royal Baths, Łańcut, or Mokotów, they supported private theatre groups, financed artists, funded religious buildings, and maintained their residences. The reconstruction of Wiśnicz castle was planned by architect

Maciej Trapola Maciej Trapola (?-1637) was an Italian architect who worked as the court architect under Stanislaw Lubomirski in Poland during the Baroque era. Biography Maciej Trapola was an Italian architect working primarily in Poland in the early 17th cent ...

, the castle chapel being decorated with

stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...

by Giovanni Battista Falconi and wherein Stanisław Lubomirski, who financed the renovation of the castle, installed twenty sacred objects. Marceli Lubomirski for many years supported the work of poet Cyprian Kamil Norwid. He was immortalized by the poet in the book ''White Flowers''. Józef Lubomirski (1751 – 1817) was a promoter of industrialization and reforms, a capable military commander, and a knight of the Order of White Eagle and the

Order of Saint Stanislaus The Order of Saint Stanislaus ( pl, Order Św. Stanisława Biskupa Męczennika, russian: Орден Святого Станислава), also spelled Stanislas, was a Polish order of knighthood founded in 1765 by King Stanisław August Ponia ...

. He supported the Constitution of May 3, 1791. The Lubomirski family built private schools for pupils on their estates. They often put schooling in the hands of professionals – the

Order of Piarists The Piarists (), officially named the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools ( la, Ordo Clericorum Regularium pauperum Matris Dei Scholarum Piarum), abbreviated SchP, is a religious order of clerics regular of the ...

and the

Order of Jesuits , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders = ...

. The members of the family founded monasteries, churches, and other religious buildings. Stanisław Lubomirski founded the Carmelite Monastery in Wiśnicz, which is still the pearl of Renaissance architecture in Poland. For many decades, residents of the castle in Wiśnicz contributed various legacies to the monastery.

(c. 1665 – 1727) gave to the Pauline Monastery at Jasna Góra many valuable objects, including the sacred vessels. It was on his initiative to build the main gate leading to the Monastery. The gate is called the Gate of the Lubomirski Family.

Under partition

After 1795, the princes Lubomirski engaged in clandestine and insurgent activities against the occupying Russians; and, in consequence, they lost estates. Prince Jerzy Roman Lubomirski (1799 – 1865), the owner of Rozwadów, participated in the battles of the

November November is the eleventh and penultimate month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, the fourth and last of four months to have a length of 30 days and the fifth and last of five months to have a length of fewer than 31 days. No ...

and

January January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is also the first of seven months to have a length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the ...

uprisings and organized hospitals for the wounded on his estates. After the collapse of the uprising, his palace became a place where secret meetings of Polish patriots were held. Jerzy was active in social and scientific fields, maintaining a grammar school and poorhouse for the poor and establishing two scientific foundations, one funding the scientific testing of equipment, the other rewarding Polish authors of outstanding scientific works. His brother Adam Hieronim Karol Lubomirski (1811 – 1873) was awarded the Virtuti Militari cross, for participating in the November Uprising. In 1883, Prince Henryk Lubomirski (1777–1850) gave his rich collection of books, archive material, works of art, and other antiques to the Ossoliński National Institute in Lvov, which since has become an important scientific and cultural institution, with its 19th-century publications, on the humanities research conducted there, being still considered of value. Without the material and financial support of Henryk, the facility would have closed at an early stage of activity. Henryk for many years served as a curator of the facility. He also contributed to the formation of the Museum of the Princes Lubomirski, the first private museum in the Polish land generally available to the public. He was on familiar terms with poet

Zygmunt Krasiński Napoleon Stanisław Adam Feliks Zygmunt Krasiński (; 19 February 1812 – 23 February 1859) was a Polish poet traditionally ranked after Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz Słowacki as one of Poland's Three Bards – the Romantic poets who influenced ...

, who memorialized the prince in his ''Non-Divine Comedy'', in the person of Orcio. In 1823, Henryk created the entail of Przeworsk; but, as a result of his subversive activities, the entail was legalized by the partitioning authorities only after his death. In 1869, his son Prince Andrzej Lubomirski became the first recognized entailer. Prince Aleksander Lubomirski (1802 - 1893) founded centres for poor boys (at today's seat of the University of Economics) and girls (in Łagiewniki) in the centre of Kraków. At these centres, young poor were prepared for adult life, being instructed for free in practical professions that could be the basis for future employment. Prince Jan Tadeusz Lubomirski (1826 – 1908) founded the Warsaw Charity Society. He was the long-standing president of the Ophthalmology Institute in Warsaw, which conducted ophthalmology research according to European standards. On his initiative, special teams were set up which helped poor people to get free eye care. During the January Uprising the prince was a member of the

National Government A national government is the government of a nation. National government or National Government may also refer to: * Central government in a unitary state, or a country that does not give significant power to regional divisions * Federal governme ...

Romuald Traugutt Romuald Traugutt (16 January 1826 – 5 August 1864) was a Polish general and war hero best known for commanding the January Uprising of 1863. From October 1863 to August 1864 he was the leader of the insurrection. He headed the Polish national g ...

, where he served as a head of the Department of Internal Affairs. For anti-Tsarist activities, he was exiled deep into Russia, to Nizhny Novgorod. He supported Polish education. He protected Polish vocational organizations from competition from Russian and Prussian ones and established credit unions. He tried to regain possession of Polish art stolen by the Russians; and among others, he helped to reconstruct the

Poniatowski The House of Poniatowski (plural: ''Poniatowscy'') is a prominent Polish family that was part of the nobility of Poland. A member of this family, Stanisław Poniatowski, was elected as King of Poland and reigned from 1764 until his abdication ...

monument standing in front of the Presidential Palace. He also restored and renovated the Zygmunt's Column, and bought Polish castles in Czersk and

Iłża Iłża () is a small town in Masovian Voivodeship, Poland. In 2006 Iłża had approximately 5,165 inhabitants. The town belongs to the historical region of Lesser Poland, and from its foundation until 1795, it was part of Lesser Poland’s Sandom ...

, in order to save them from being demolished. In 1875, he established the

Museum of Industry and Agriculture The Museum of Industry and Agriculture ( pl, Muzeum Przemysłu i Rolnictwa) is a former museum of technology and agriculture at 66, ''Krakowskie Przedmieście'' in Warsaw, Poland. History It was founded in 1866 on the initiative of Jan Tadeusz Lu ...

in Warsaw. He established evening schools for

craftsmen Craftsman may refer to: A profession *Artisan, a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative * Master craftsman, an artisan who has achieved such a standard that he may establish his own workshop and take ...

and journeymen as well as penny-saving banks for the poor. He financed the publishing of sources important in the history of Poland, as well as professional magazines. He organized free libraries. Władysław Emanuel Lubomirski supported the Zoological Cabinet of the University of Warsaw, helping to purchase teaching aids and financing travel by employees of the university. He donated his collection of shells. He was interested in floristics and studied the behavior of plants in the changed climate conditions. The Zoological Museum of the Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) has been making use of his collections to this day. Prince Władysław Lubomirski (1866 – 1934) was a patron and founder of Music Young Poland. To facilitate the operation of the organization, he founded a company that promoted talented young Polish artists. He supported music education. He helped to promote

Karol Szymanowski Karol Maciej Szymanowski (; 6 October 188229 March 1937) was a Polish composer and pianist. He was a member of the modernist Young Poland movement that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th century. Szymanowski's early works show the inf ...

, Artur Rubinstein, and Grzegorz Fitelberg. He helped to protect the Warsaw Philharmonic from closure by Tsarist officials. Władysław and Jan Tadeusz Lubomirski were important in creating the Family Association of the Princes Lubomirski. Prince Stanisław Sebastian Lubomirski (1875 – 1932) founded the Warsaw aviation association Aviata in 1910. His aim was to establish the first civilian pilot school and aircraft factory on Polish soil. The first airport of Aviata was located at Mokotów Field, with the permission of Tsarist officials.

Independent Poland

On 7 of October 1918, after 123 years under the third partition, on the initiative of Prince Regent Zdzisław Lubomirski (1865 – 1943), Polish independence was proclaimed and published in the Monitor Polski. Zdzisław was a politician, president of the Civic Committee, and the president of Warsaw. He extended self-government, organized intervention works, credit unions, and cared for the education and living conditions of the Varsovians. His activities mapped out the direction that future politicians of the independent state would follow. In 1926, he undertook the role of mediator between the parties to the May coup. In the 1930s, he was a senator on the foreign affairs and military committees. During World War II he was imprisoned and tortured by the Gestapo. He died of wounds sustained in prison.

Interwar period

In the years 1919 – 1939, princes Lubomirski served as Members of Parliament, senators, and in the ministries. They were also engaged in the industrialization of the country. They belonged to the key organizations involved in the modernization of roads, railways, and aviation. They took part in the reconstruction of the Polish army. They formed banking centres and credit unions, which provided cheap loans to the poorest, and were active in educational organizations, financing schools, as well as being engaged in

Polish culture The culture of Poland ( pl, Kultura Polski ) is the product of its geography and distinct historical evolution, which is closely connected to an intricate thousand-year history. Polish culture forms an important part of western civilization and ...

. Prince Stefan Lubomirski (1862 – 1941) was a founder of the Polish Olympic Games Committee (later the Polish Olympic committee, PKOL), becoming its first president (its next president being his cousin, Prince Kazimierz Lubomirski), and a member of the International Olympic Committee. Prince Stefan was passionate about racehorse breeding, forming with his brothers the most modern horse-breeding farm in Poland at

Widzów Widzów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kruszyna, within Częstochowa County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately east of Kruszyna, north-east of Częstochowa, and north of the regional capit ...

manor near

Częstochowa Częstochowa ( , ; german: Tschenstochau, Czenstochau; la, Czanstochova) is a city in southern Poland on the Warta River with 214,342 inhabitants, making it the thirteenth-largest city in Poland. It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship (admin ...

. Stefan was the owner of the Warsaw Commuter Railways (

Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa Warsaw Commuter Railway ( pl, Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa, WKD) is a light rail commuter line in Poland's capital city of Warsaw. The line, together with its two branches, links Warsaw with the municipalities of Michałowice, Pruszków, Brwinów, ...

) company, which created the narrow gauge passenger and freight railways of

Grójec Grójec is a town in Poland, located in the Masovian Voivodeship, about south of Warsaw. It is the capital of the urban-rural administrative district Grójec and Grójec County. It has 16,674 inhabitants (2017). Grójec surroundings are consid ...

, Jabłonków, and Wilanów. Railways allowed capital city dwellers to reach factories located outside the city and residents of suburban areas to get to the capital city. During World War II, the railways built by Lubomirski delivered supplies to the occupied city and brought employees to Warsaw offices and factories. Prince Stanisław Sebastian Lubomirski established the central union of Polish industry Leviatan, where he was the president from 1932. The union promoted the ideas of development of industry – lowering taxes, social security benefits for workers, and increasing state aid to industry. Members of the organization were elected to the Sejm, the Senate, were members of governments of the Second Republic of Poland, and served other state institutions. They published three magazines: ''Economic Review'' (''Przegląd Gospodarczy''), ''The Polish Courier'' (''

Kurier Polski The ''Kuryer Polski'' was the first Polish-language daily newspaper in the United States. It was founded by Michał Kruszka in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in June 1888. History Kruszka had come to the United States in 1880 and relocated in 1883 to Mil ...

''), and ''The Telegram'' (''Depesza''). Stanisław Sebastian established the Industrial Bank of Warsaw SA (Bank Przemysłowy Warszawski S.A.) and was the president of the Commercial Bank (Bank Handlowy) in Warsaw, the Central Union of Polish Industry (Centralny Związek Przemysłu Polskiego), the Polish Bank Association (Związek Banków Polskich), and the Association of Polish Industrialists (Stowarzyszenie Przemysłowców Polskich). He devoted his life to the struggle for the independence of the Polish economy from the influence of the partitioners, and, after regaining independence, from that of neighbouring countries.

World War II. Armed struggle

Prince Stefan Lubomirski (1898 – 1948) during the occupation was a member of the Western Union. For keeping a secret storehouse of medicines for the Home Army, he was arrested and detained in prison in Montelupich. He was on the list to be shot but escaped to Kraków, where he was hidden. The Germans set the date for the transportation of his family to the concentration camp near Oświęcim. Prince Eugeniusz Lubomirski (1895 – 1982) was arrested by the NKVD and put in the Lubyanka Prison, where he met

General Anders A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...

, later becoming the general's

adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

, fighting at the general's side throughout Europe. He eventually reached the United Kingdom and was a candidate for President of Poland in Exile. Prince Hieronim Lubomirski was killed at the age of 17, during the rescue of prisoners in

Pawiak Pawiak () was a prison built in 1835 in Warsaw, Congress Poland. During the January 1863 Uprising, it served as a transfer camp for Poles sentenced by Imperial Russia to deportation to Siberia. During the World War II German occupation of ...

code-named ''Action "Pawiak"'' ("Akcja Pawiak"). On July 19–20, 1944, a Ukrainian Wachmeister (guard) Petrenko, and some prisoners attempted a mass jailbreak, supported by an attack from the outside, but failed. Petrenko and several others committed suicide. The Resistance attack detachment was ambushed and suffered very heavy casualties, practically ceasing to exist. In reprisal, over 380 prisoners were executed the next day. Prince Jerzy Ignacy Lubomirski (1882 – 1945) was active in the local community. He travelled to Vienna to discuss the construction of the bridge over the San River. He helped people particularly affected during the war. He was arrested in 1944 and detained and tortured in Tarnobrzeg prison. He was murdered by the Secret Police ( Urząd Bezpieczeństwa) as a member of the Home Army.

Recent times

In 2010, family members established the Princes Lubomirski Foundation (''Fundacja Książąt Lubomirskich''), to facilitate charitable activities. The foundation supports the development of various social and heritage projects in Poland. Jan Lubomirski-Lanckoroński is the current president of the foundation. Downloaded on 18.10.2011.