The House of Potocki (; plural: Potoccy, male: Potocki, feminine: Potocka) was a prominent Polish noble family in the

Kingdom of Poland The Kingdom of Poland ( pl, Królestwo Polskie; Latin: ''Regnum Poloniae'') was a state in Central Europe. It may refer to: Historical political entities * Kingdom of Poland, a kingdom existing from 1025 to 1031 * Kingdom of Poland, a kingdom exi ...

and

magnates The magnate term, from the late Latin ''magnas'', a great man, itself from Latin ''magnus'', "great", means a man from the higher nobility, a man who belongs to the high office-holders, or a man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or ot ...

of the

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Poland and Lithuania rul ...

. The Potocki family is one of the wealthiest and most powerful aristocratic families in Poland.

History

The Potocki family originated from the small village of Potok Wielki; their family name derives from that place name. The family contributed to the cultural development and history of Poland's

Eastern Borderlands Eastern Borderlands ( pl, Kresy Wschodnie) or simply Borderlands ( pl, Kresy, ) was a term coined for the eastern part of the Second Polish Republic during the interwar period (1918–1939). Largely agricultural and extensively multi-ethnic, it ...

(today Western Ukraine). The family is renowned for numerous Polish statesmen, military leaders, and cultural activists. The first known Potocki was Żyrosław z Potoka (born about 1136). The children of his son Aleksander (~1167) castelan of

Sandomierz Sandomierz (pronounced: ; la, Sandomiria) is a historic town in south-eastern Poland with 23,863 inhabitants (as of 2017), situated on the Vistula River in the Sandomierz Basin. It has been part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy Cross Pr ...

, were progenitors of new noble families such as the Moskorzewskis, Stanisławskis, Tworowskis, Borowskis, and Stosłowskis. Jakub Potocki (c. 1481-1551) was the progenitor of the

magnate The magnate term, from the late Latin ''magnas'', a great man, itself from Latin ''magnus'', "great", means a man from the higher nobility, a man who belongs to the high office-holders, or a man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or o ...

line of the Potocki family. The magnate line split into three primary lineages, called: * "Linia hetmańska" ("Srebrna Pilawa"), in English: "

Hetman ( uk, гетьман, translit=het'man) is a political title from Central and Eastern Europe, historically assigned to military commanders. Used by the Czechs in Bohemia since the 15th century. It was the title of the second-highest military co ...

's lineage" ("Silver Pilawa"). Note some sources refer to Pilawa as Piława. * "Linia Prymasowa" ("Złota Pilawa"), in English: "

Primate Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians (monkeys and apes, the latter including human ...

's lineage" ("Golden Pilawa") * "Żelazna Pilawa", considered the oldest ones, in English: "Iron Pilawa" The "Złota Pilawa" line received the title of

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York ...

from the Emperor of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...

in 1606. The entire family began using the Count title after the

partitions of Poland The Partitions of Poland were three partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that took place toward the end of the 18th century and ended the existence of the state, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland and Lithuania fo ...

. The title was recognized 1777 and 1784 in the

Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria,, ; pl, Królestwo Galicji i Lodomerii, ; uk, Королівство Галичини та Володимирії, Korolivstvo Halychyny ta Volodymyrii; la, Rēgnum Galiciae et Lodomeriae also known as ...

and 1838, 1843, 1859, 1890 1903 in Russia and 1889 by the Pope and in the Kingdom of Poland (

Congress Poland Congress Poland, Congress Kingdom of Poland, or Russian Poland, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland, was a polity created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna as a semi-autonomous Polish state, a successor to Napoleon's Duchy of Warsaw. It w ...

). In 1631 Stefan Potocki, who started the "Złota Pilawa" lineage, died and was buried in Zolotyi Potik (pl. ''Złoty Potok'', ''Golden Potok'', a village owned by this lineage), his descendants started to use the

Pilawa coat of arms Pilawa () is a Polish coat of arms. It was used by many noble families known as ''szlachta'' in Polish in medieval Poland and later under the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, branches of the original medieval Piława Clan (''Pilawici'') family a ...

in golden colour. Because of that the lineage is called the "Złota Pilawa" (Golden Piława). There are also four branches called: * "Gałąź łańcucka" (Branch of

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 ...

) * "Gałąź krzeszowicka" (Branch of

Krzeszowice Krzeszowice (german: 1941-45 Kressendorf) is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. As of 2004, its population was 9,993. Krzeszowice belongs to ''Kraków Metropolitan Area'', and lies 25 kilometers west of the ...

) * "Gałąź tulczyńska" (Branch of Tulczyn) * "Gałąź wilanowska" (branch of Wilanów) Named after the hubs of their respective constellations of properties. The family became prominent in the 16th and 17th centuries as a result of the patronage of

Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law co ...

Jan Zamoyski Jan Sariusz Zamoyski ( la, Ioannes Zamoyski de Zamoscie; 19 March 1542 – 3 June 1605) was a Polish nobleman, magnate, and the 1st ''ordynat'' of Zamość. He served as the Royal Secretary from 1565, Deputy Chancellor from 1576, Grand Cha ...

and King Sigismund III Vasa.

Notable family members

* Aleksander Stanisław Potocki (1778–1845), landowner, politician * Alfred Józef Potocki (1817–1889),

Sejm Marshal The Marshal of the Sejm , also known as Sejm Marshal, Chairman of the Sejm or Speaker of the Sejm ( pl, Marszałek Sejmu, ) is the speaker ( chair) of the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament. The office traces its origins to the 15th ...

, Minister-President of Austria *

Alfred Wojciech Potocki Count Alfred Wojciech Potocki hr. Piława (1785–1862) was a Polish nobleman (''szlachcic''), landowner, political and economic activist. Alfred was the 1st ''Ordynat'' of Łańcut estates. From 1809 until 1815 he served in the Polish Army. In ...

(1785–1862), landowner, politician * Andrzej Potocki (1630-1692),

Field Crown Hetman 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 ...

* Andrzej Potocki (1618–1663), Obozny and voivode *

Antoni Protazy Potocki Antoni Protazy Potocki (11 September 1761 – 1801), aka Prot, was a Polish nobleman and an early entrepreneur. He was born to Paula née Szembek and her second husband, Count Jan Prosper Potocki, Starosta of Guzów. He was a younger half-broth ...

(1761–1801), banker and voivode *

Artur Potocki Artur Stanisław Potocki (1787–1832) was a Polish nobleman (szlachcic). Biography He was the son of Julia Lubomirska and Jan Potocki, the travel writer best known for his novel Manuscript found in Saragossa. Artur was the owner of Krzeszowic ...

(1787–1832), landowner, officer * Ewa Józefina Julia Potocka (1818–1895), married to Prince Franz de Paula of Liechtenstein *

Feliks Kazimierz Potocki Feliks Kazimierz "Szczęsny" Potocki (1630–1702) was a Polish Szlachta, noble, magnate and military leader. He was the son of Hetman and magnate Stanisław "Rewera" Potocki and Zofia Kalinowska, and brother of Hetman Andrzej Potocki. He mar ...

(1630–1702), Field and Great Hetman of the Crown * Franciszek Salezy Potocki (1700–1772), Krajczy, Field Clerk of the Crown *

Ignacy Potocki Count Roman Ignacy Potocki, generally known as Ignacy Potocki (; 1750–1809), was a Polish nobleman, member of the influential magnate Potocki family, owner of Klementowice and Olesin (near Kurów), a politician, writer, and office holder. ...

(1750–1809), politician, writer and office holder. *

Jan Potocki Count Jan Potocki (; 8 March 1761 – 23 December 1815) was a Polish nobleman, ethnologist, linguist, traveller and author of the Enlightenment period, whose life and exploits made him a celebrated figure in Poland. He is known chiefly for his ...

(1761–1815), writer (''

The Manuscript Found in Saragossa ''The Manuscript Found in Saragossa'' (; also known in English as ''The Saragossa Manuscript'') is a frame-tale novel written in French at the turn of 18th and 19th centuries by the Polish author Count Jan Potocki (1761–1815). It is narrated ...

'') * Jerzy Józef Potocki (1889–1961), diplomat, officer * Józef Potocki (1673–1751), Great Hetman of the Crown * Józef Potocki (?-1723), Great Guard of the Crown * Katarzyna Potocka (?-1642), was married to Janusz Radziwiłł * Konstancja Potocka (1781–1852), was married to Jan Potocki and

Edward Raczyński Edward Raczyński was the name of three members of a Polish aristocratic family: * Edward Raczyński (1786–1845) Polish conservative politician, protector of arts, founder of the Raczynski Library in Poznań * Edward Aleksander Raczyński (1847� ...

Mikołaj Potocki Mikołaj "Bearpaw" Potocki (; 1595 – 20 November 1651) was a Polish nobleman, magnate and Field Crown Hetman of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1637 to 1646, Grand Hetman of the Crown from 1646 to 1651, governor of Bracław Voivodes ...

(1595–1651), Field and Great Crown Hetman * Mikołaj Bazyli Potocki (1712–1782), Starost of

Kaniv Kaniv ( uk, Канів, ) city located in Cherkasy Raion, Cherkasy Oblast (province) in central Ukraine. The city rests on the Dnieper River, and is also one of the main inland river ports on the Dnieper. It hosts the administration of Kaniv u ...

, benefactor of the

Pochayiv Lavra , native_name_lang = , logo = , logo_size = , logo_caption = , image = Панорама Почаївська лавра 02.jpg , image_size = , image_caption = General v ...

* Natalia Potocka (1810–1830), was married to Roman Sanguszko *

Roman Ignacy Potocki Count Roman Ignacy Potocki, generally known as Ignacy Potocki (; 1750–1809), was a szlachta, Polish nobleman, member of the influential magnate Potocki family, owner of Klementowice and Olesin, Puławy County, Olesin (near Kurów), a politicia ...

(1750–1809), co-author of the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791 * Roman Potocki (1852–1915), landowner * Seweryn Potocki (1762–1829), curator of Kharkov educational district in

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. T ...

Stanisław Kostka Potocki Count Stanisław Kostka Potocki (; November 1755 – 14 September 1821) was a Polish nobleman, politician, writer, public intellectual and patron of the arts. Life Potocki was a son of General and starost of Lwów, Eustachy Potocki and Ann ...

(1755–1821), writer, publicist, collector and patron of art * Stanisław "Rewera" Potocki (1579–1667), Field and Great Hetman of the Crown * Stanisław Potocki (1659–1683),

starost The starosta or starost ( Cyrillic: ''старост/а'', Latin: ''capitaneus'', german: link=no, Starost, Hauptmann) is a term of Slavic origin denoting a community elder whose role was to administer the assets of a clan or family estates. T ...

of Halicz and Kołomyja,

rotmistrz __NOTOC__ ( German and Scandinavian for "riding master" or "cavalry master") is or was a military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in the armies of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Scandinavia, and some other countries. A ''Rittmeister'' is typi ...

and pułkownik of cavalry * Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki (1753–1805), Marshal of the

Targowica Confederation The Targowica Confederation ( pl, konfederacja targowicka, , lt, Targovicos konfederacija) was a confederation established by Polish and Lithuanian magnates on 27 April 1792, in Saint Petersburg, with the backing of the Russian Empress Cather ...

. * Stefan Potocki, voivode of Bratslav (1568-1631), starosta of Fellin * Stefan Potocki (1624–1648), starosta of

Nizhyn Nizhyn ( uk, Ні́жин, Nizhyn, ) is a city located in Chernihiv Oblast of northern Ukraine along the Oster River. The city is located north-east of the national capital Kyiv. Nizhyn serves as the administrative center of Nizhyn Raion. I ...

* Stefan Aleksander Potocki (? — 1726/1727), the founder of the Basilian Buchach basilian monastery * Teodor Potocki (1664–1738), Primate of Poland and

interrex The interrex (plural interreges) was literally a ruler "between kings" (Latin ''inter reges'') during the Roman Kingdom and the Roman Republic. He was in effect a short-term regent. History The office of ''interrex'' was supposedly created follow ...

in 1733 * Wiktoria Elżbieta Potocka (died c. 1670), was married to Adam Hieronim Sieniawski and Andrzej Potocki

Other relatives

*Count Geoffrey Potocki de Montalk (1902–1997), an accomplished New Zealand poet, has been erroneously described as a "feigned member" of the Pilawa Potocki family. In fact, he is a direct descendant of the Bocki Potocki line, until recently believed to have died out with the death of Count Jozef Franciszek Jan Potocki, his great-grandfather, in Paris.

Purported members

* Avraham ben Avraham, birth name Valentin Potocki. Purportedly converted to

Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...

, moved to

Vilna Vilnius ( , ; see also #Etymology and other names, other names) is the capital and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the munic ...

to hide his identity but was executed for heresy on May 23, 1749 (the second day of the Jewish holiday of

Shavuot (''Ḥag HaShavuot'' or ''Shavuos'') , nickname = English: "Feast of Weeks" , observedby = Jews and Samaritans , type = Jewish and Samaritan , begins = 6th day of Sivan (or the Sunday following the 6th day of Sivan in ...

). His remains are believed to be have been secretly buried next to the

Vilna Gaon Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, ( he , ר' אליהו בן שלמה זלמן ''Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman'') known as the Vilna Gaon (Yiddish: דער װילנער גאון ''Der Vilner Gaon'', pl, Gaon z Wilna, lt, Vilniaus Gaonas) or Elijah of ...

, with a monument to that effect first erected in 1927. Though his existence is generally accepted among Orthodox Jews, many secular scholars contest his existence due to a lack of primary sources. He was first mentioned in writing by Rabbi Yaakov Emden in 1755, six years after he would have died. * Maria Patocka: said to be the mother of Crimean khan Adil Giray.

Coat of arms and motto

The Potocki family used the Piława coat of arms, and their motto was ''Scutum opponebat scuto'' (Latin for "Shield opposing shield"; literally "He opposed shield to shield"). Image:POL COA Pilawa.svg, Silver Pilawa Image:POL COA Pilawa Złota.svg, Golden Pilawa Image:POL COA Potocki Hrabia.svg, Arms of the Counts Potocki Image:Wilanow herb Pilawa na mauzoleum.jpg, Pilawa at the Potocki mausoleum at Wilanów Park Image:Pilawa CoA in Lezajsk monastery.JPG, Pilawa at Leżajsk monastery

References

External links

Family album from about 1860-1875(Public Domain)
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