Elżbieta Branicka ( – 3 September 1800) was a Polish

noblewoman A noblewoman is a female member of the nobility. Noblewomen form a disparate group, which has evolved over time. Ennoblement of women has traditionally been a rare occurrence; the majority of noblewomen were linked to the nobility by either their ...

(''szlachcianka'') and politician. She is known for her political career, being the financier of the King

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, and as Stanisław August Poniatowski (), was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuani ...

prior to his election as king, his adviser in 1763–1776, and as one of the leaders of opposition in 1776–1793. She also had an intimate relationship with the king from 1763 to 1776.

Life

Early life

She was the daughter of Piotr Branicki,

Castellan A castellan, or constable, was the governor of a castle in medieval Europe. Its surrounding territory was referred to as the castellany. The word stems from . A castellan was almost always male, but could occasionally be female, as when, in 1 ...

Bratslav Bratslav (, ; ) is a rural settlement in Ukraine, located in Tulchyn Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast, by the Southern Bug river. It is a medieval European city and a regional center of the Eastern Podolia region (see Bracław Voivodeship) founded ...

(1708-1762) and his wife, Melania Teresa

Szembek Szembek or originally von Schönbeck is the name of an old Polish noble family of German origin, whose members held significant positions in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. History First mentioned at the beginning of the 14th century, th ...

(b. 1712). She was the sister of Count Franciszek Ksawery Branicki. She married Prince Jan Józef

Sapieha The House of Sapieha (; ; ; ) is a Polish-Lithuanian noble and magnate family of Ruthenian origin,Энцыклапедыя ВКЛ. Т.2, арт. "Сапегі" descending from the medieval boyars of Smolensk and Polotsk. Vernadsky, George. ...

in 1753; they divorced in 1755 over his adultery. She remarried Prince Jan

, a relative of her first spouse, by whom she was widowed in 1757. She was the mother of Prince

Kazimierz Nestor Sapieha Prince Kazimierz Nestor Sapieha (1757–1798) was a Polish-Lithuanian noble (szlachcic) and one of the creators of the 3 May Constitution. Biography Early life and career Kazimierz Sapieha was educated at the Knight School in Warsaw from 176 ...

Supporter of Poniatowski

Elżbieta Branicka was not regarded a beauty, but described as a fascinating and charming woman, intelligent and with a great interest in politics. In 1761, she became an ally of Stanisław August Poniatowski, and gave him a loan of 300.000 zloty, with a great interest, to fund his political career: he was still paying of the debt six years later.

Political adviser of Poniatowski

Her influence on Poniatowski, both in her capacity as his lover and his moneylender, was well known, and the king included her in his inner circle of advisers and entrusted her with political assignments. In December 1765, for example, the king gave her the task to handle an affair regarding the contract of August Moszyński and the Coinage Commission. Along with another of the king's mistresses, Magdalena Agnieszka Sapieżyna, Branicka was given an allowance of 200 ducats monthly, which was paid until at least 1775. During the summer of 1766, she was given the task by the king to welcome the famous

Madame Geoffrin Madame may refer to: * Madam, civility title or form of address for women, derived from the French * Madam (prostitution), a term for a woman who is engaged in the business of procuring prostitutes, usually the manager of a brothel * ''Madame'' ( ...

on her visit to Poland. In a letter from 1768, the king described her as irreplaceable among his "petites amies" (lovers) and called her wonderful, warm, intelligent and an extremely useful ally. Elżbieta Branicka actively and publicly participated in state affairs and politics. She openly and frequently attended the sessions of the

Sejm The Sejm (), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (), is the lower house of the bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of the Third Polish Republic since the Polish People' ...

and the Tribunals and she also participated in the Diet assemblies, with the king's support. Her gender was no formal bar for this activity; within the contemporary Polish system of an aristocratic elective monarchy, her membership within the nobility was the main criteria. She was known to be able to affect the appointment of offices. Despite their opposition to the king's uncles, the Czartoryski family, she and her brother long kept their place in the circle of the king's political advisers. Reportedly, she also used her position to enrich herself and her family.

Opposition leader

The relationship between Branicka and the king deteriorated during the 1770s. In 1774, her brother, Franciszek Ksawery Branicki, joined the opposition against both the king and the Russian ambassador Stackelberg, with whom Branicka had a bad relationship. In 1776, after having supported her brother against Stackelberg and the king, she was exiled from the royal court to her estate in Kodeń, with a monthly allowance of 200 ducats. To control her activities, Russian troops were placed on her estate at Kodeń. During the Sejm of 1776, she filed complaints and demanded the king's debt to her be paid. She engaged in long-going lawsuits with relatives over inheritance and property issues. During these years, she was regarded one of the most notable leaders of the opposition party of the Branicki, Seweryn and Rzewuski families against the king. During the

Great Sejm The Great Sejm, also known as the Four-Year Sejm (Polish language, Polish: ''Sejm Wielki'' or ''Sejm Czteroletni''; Lithuanian language, Lithuanian: ''Didysis seimas'' or ''Ketverių metų seimas'') was a Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwea ...

, she initially sided with the opposition led by

Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki Count Stanisław Szczęsny Feliks Potocki (; 1751–1805), of the Piława coat of arms, known as Szczęsny PotockiE. Rostworowski, Potocki Stanisław Szczęsny (Feliks) herbu Pilawa, n:Polski Słownik Biograficzny, t. XXVIII, Wrocław–Wars ...

against the suggested constitutional changes, and was one of the significant players in Polish political life during the Sejm. She finally supported the

Constitution of 3 May 1791 The Constitution of 3 May 1791, titled the Government Act, was a written constitution for the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that was adopted by the Great Sejm that met between 1788 and 1792. The Commonwealth was a dual monarchy comprising th ...

. She retired from political life in 1793.

Portrayals

Elżbieta Branicka was a controversial figure in contemporary Poland, and her activity as a politician, particularly during the Great Sejm, made her the subject of satires, pamphlets and poems by, among others,

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, statesman, writer, and offic ...

and Franciszek Zabłocki.