Celestyn Czaplic
Encyclopedia
Celestyn Czaplic of the Kierdeja Coat of Arms was a Polish-Lithuanian
szlachcic, politician, writer and a poet. Remembered for his humorous poetry and impeccable moral character, he was a deputy to numerous Sejm
s of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
, and a marshal of the Sejm of 1766. He held the offices
of podczaszy
, podkomorzy, and finally, from 1773, of the Master of the Hunt of the Crown. He was the receipent of the Order of Saint Stanislaus
and the Order of the White Eagle.
to the noble Czaplic family. His father Ignaczy Czaplic, was a podstoli
of Kiev
in the Kiev Voivodeship. He attended schools in Volhynia, and spent time at the court of the magnate and prince Antoni Lubomirski
. Later, he became an ally of the Czartoryski
family.
He became the podczaszy
of Kiev in 1746. He was elected a deputy to the Crown Tribunal
and the Sejm
s of 1752, 1754, 1758, 1766 and 1767–1768 (the infamous Repnin Sejm
). The 1766 Sejm, lasting from October 6 to November 29, was the one where he held the position of the marshal of the Sejm, and thus it was also known as the "Czaplic's Sejm". He became the podkomorzy of Łuck in the Volhynia Voivodeship in 1765; he was known there, as he served as a local judge for some time prior to receiving his new title and office. He received the Order of Saint Stanislaus
in 1766 (soon after received much praise for his marshal-ship of the 1766 Sejm).
In 1767 he joined the Radom Confederation
. His participation in the Sejm of 1767–1768, which bowed to the Russian demands, earned him condemnation from the opposition, particularly from the supporters of the Bar Confederation
; despite that, he was still a popular figure, and highly considered by the king. In 1773 he received the office and title of Master of the Hunt of the Crown (łowczy koronny), which he held to 1783. Between 1778–1780 he was a member of the Permanent Council
. He unsuccessfully campaigned for the position of the Deputy Chancellor of the Crown. During the Great Sejm
of 1788–1792 he served as a member of the Military Commission.
He also participated in the "Thursday dinners
" organized by king Stanisław August Poniatowski.
He was a knight of the Order of the White Eagle from 1775.
Friend of the dramatist Franciszek Bohomolec
, he has been described as "open and friendly", "extremely jolly and witty", also well versed in sarcasm
. He was interested in sciences, and had a sizable library. He was also famous among his contemporaries for his absent-mindedness, but also for his righteousness and impeccable moral character; it is said then when contemporaries at the royal court in Warsaw were considering questions of morality, they would ask themselves "What would Czaplic think of that?" This became a mildly popular proverb
in Poland around the time of his life.
As a writer and poet he has authored fairy tales, idyls, and similar forms of light poetry, some of it published anonymously. He was known to improvise humorous poems and songs on the fly, which he would often perform himself, accompanying himself on a violin
. He might have been the author of a popular festive song, Kurdesz nad kurdeszami, however his authorship of it is not certain.
He married Anna Drzewicka, and they had two daughters, Tekla and Teresa. He died on May 23, 1804 in Warsaw, where he spent the last decade of his life.
Polish-Lithuanian (adjective)
Polish-Lithuanian individuals and groups are those with histories in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This federation, formally established by the 1569 Union of Lublin between the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, created a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state founded on the...
szlachcic, politician, writer and a poet. Remembered for his humorous poetry and impeccable moral character, he was a deputy to numerous Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
s of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, and a marshal of the Sejm of 1766. He held the offices
Offices in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
This article discusses the organizational and administrative structure of the Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthThe Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth This article discusses the organizational and administrative structure of the Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthThe Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth This article...
of podczaszy
Podczaszy
Podczaszy was since the 13th century a court office in Poland and later in Lithuania. Podczaszy was the deputy of Cześnik, with the time more important than his superior....
, podkomorzy, and finally, from 1773, of the Master of the Hunt of the Crown. He was the receipent of the Order of Saint Stanislaus
Order of Saint Stanislaus
The Order of Saint Stanislaus , also spelled Stanislas, was an Order in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and The Kingdom of Poland between 1765 and 1831 and of Russian Empire from 1831 to 1917.-History of the Order of Saint Stanislaus:Stanisław August Poniatowski, King of Poland, established the...
and the Order of the White Eagle.
Biography
He was born on 6 April 1723 in VolhyniaVolhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
to the noble Czaplic family. His father Ignaczy Czaplic, was a podstoli
Podstoli
Podstoli was a court office in Poland and Lithuania. A Podstoli was the deputy of a Stolnik, and was responsible for the King's pantry....
of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in the Kiev Voivodeship. He attended schools in Volhynia, and spent time at the court of the magnate and prince Antoni Lubomirski
Antoni Lubomirski
Prince Antoni Lubomirski was a Polish nobleman, landowner, and general.Antoni was the owner of Przeworsk and Boguchwała. He became Grand Guardian of the Crown in 1748, and was also a Lieutenant-General. From 1778 onward, he was voivode of Lublin Voivodeship, and from 1779 onward of the Kraków...
. Later, he became an ally of the Czartoryski
Czartoryski
Czartoryski is the surname of a Polish-Ukrainian-Lithuanian magnate family also known as the Familia. They used the Czartoryski Coat of arms and were the leading noble family of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 18th century.-History:The Czartoryski is a family of a Grand Ducal...
family.
He became the podczaszy
Podczaszy
Podczaszy was since the 13th century a court office in Poland and later in Lithuania. Podczaszy was the deputy of Cześnik, with the time more important than his superior....
of Kiev in 1746. He was elected a deputy to the Crown Tribunal
Crown Tribunal
Crown Tribunal – was the highest appeal court in the Crown of the Polish Kingdom for most cases, exceptions being the cases were a noble landowner was threatened with loss of life and/or property - then he could appeal to the Sejm court .In 1578 king Stefan Batory created the...
and the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
s of 1752, 1754, 1758, 1766 and 1767–1768 (the infamous Repnin Sejm
Repnin Sejm
The Repnin Sejm was a Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that took place between 1767 and 1768 in Warsaw. This session followed the Sejms of 1764 to 1766, where the newly elected King of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski, attempted with some successes to push through reforms to...
). The 1766 Sejm, lasting from October 6 to November 29, was the one where he held the position of the marshal of the Sejm, and thus it was also known as the "Czaplic's Sejm". He became the podkomorzy of Łuck in the Volhynia Voivodeship in 1765; he was known there, as he served as a local judge for some time prior to receiving his new title and office. He received the Order of Saint Stanislaus
Order of Saint Stanislaus
The Order of Saint Stanislaus , also spelled Stanislas, was an Order in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and The Kingdom of Poland between 1765 and 1831 and of Russian Empire from 1831 to 1917.-History of the Order of Saint Stanislaus:Stanisław August Poniatowski, King of Poland, established the...
in 1766 (soon after received much praise for his marshal-ship of the 1766 Sejm).
In 1767 he joined the Radom Confederation
Radom Confederation
Radom Confederation was a konfederacja of nobility in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth formed in Radom on 23 June 1767 to prevent reforms and defend the Golden Liberties...
. His participation in the Sejm of 1767–1768, which bowed to the Russian demands, earned him condemnation from the opposition, particularly from the supporters of the Bar Confederation
Bar Confederation
The Bar Confederation was an association of Polish nobles formed at the fortress of Bar in Podolia in 1768 to defend the internal and external independence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth against Russian influence and against King Stanisław August Poniatowski and Polish reformers who were...
; despite that, he was still a popular figure, and highly considered by the king. In 1773 he received the office and title of Master of the Hunt of the Crown (łowczy koronny), which he held to 1783. Between 1778–1780 he was a member of the Permanent Council
Permanent Council
The Permanent Council was the highest administrative authority in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between 1775 and 1789 and the first modern government in Europe...
. He unsuccessfully campaigned for the position of the Deputy Chancellor of the Crown. During the Great Sejm
Great Sejm
The Great Sejm, also known as the Four-Year Sejm was a Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that was held in Warsaw, beginning in 1788...
of 1788–1792 he served as a member of the Military Commission.
He also participated in the "Thursday dinners
Thursday Dinners
The Thursday Dinners were meetings of artists, intellectuals, and statesmen held by the last King of Poland, Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski in the era of Enlightenment in Poland....
" organized by king Stanisław August Poniatowski.
He was a knight of the Order of the White Eagle from 1775.
Friend of the dramatist Franciszek Bohomolec
Franciszek Bohomolec
Franciszek Bohomolec was a Polish dramatist, linguist, and theatrical reformer who was one of the principal playwrights of the Polish Enlightenment....
, he has been described as "open and friendly", "extremely jolly and witty", also well versed in sarcasm
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is “a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt.” Though irony and understatement is usually the immediate context, most authorities distinguish sarcasm from irony; however, others argue that sarcasm may or often does involve irony or employs...
. He was interested in sciences, and had a sizable library. He was also famous among his contemporaries for his absent-mindedness, but also for his righteousness and impeccable moral character; it is said then when contemporaries at the royal court in Warsaw were considering questions of morality, they would ask themselves "What would Czaplic think of that?" This became a mildly popular proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
in Poland around the time of his life.
As a writer and poet he has authored fairy tales, idyls, and similar forms of light poetry, some of it published anonymously. He was known to improvise humorous poems and songs on the fly, which he would often perform himself, accompanying himself on a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
. He might have been the author of a popular festive song, Kurdesz nad kurdeszami, however his authorship of it is not certain.
He married Anna Drzewicka, and they had two daughters, Tekla and Teresa. He died on May 23, 1804 in Warsaw, where he spent the last decade of his life.
External links
Further reading
- T. Mikulski: „Kurdesz nad kurdeszami!" Zagadnienie tekstu i autorstwa. „Pamiętnik Literacki" 1959