Elżbieta Szydłowska
Encyclopedia
Elżbieta Szydłowska, married surname Grabowska, (b. 1748 d. 1 June 1810) was a member of the Polish-Lithuanian
gentry
, a mistress
and a morganatic wife
of the last elective King of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski.
of Teodor Szydłowski, voivode of Płock, a Polish
nobleman
, and his wife, Teresa Witkowska. In 1768 she married a Polish noble
, General
Jan Jerzy Grabowski (died 1789). Some of the children of this marriage are thought to have actually been children of the last Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
king
, Stanisław August Poniatowski.
In 1789, she became a widow and entered into a secret, morganatic marriage
with the King, remaining known at court
as his maîtresse-en-titre
. She was thought to have exercised some influence on the king during his reign perceived as negative, which made her unpopular.
In 1795, king Stanisław abdicated following the third one of the three Partitions of Poland
, and lived in Grodno under Russian watch until, in 1796, Paul I of Russia
invited him to Saint Petersburg
. Elżbieta, with her two sons, Stanisław and Michał, took the king to Saint Petersburg to care for him there, and she lived with him until his sudden death. Afterwards, she returned to Warsaw, then under Prussia
's rule following the Partitions, where she became a patron
ess of the Tableau vivant
there. She died in Warsaw on 1 June 1810, survived by four of her children.
She had three sons and two daughters with the king, and their second son, Michał Grabowski, distinguished himself in combat, eventually becaming a general in the army of the Duchy of Warsaw
.
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...
gentry
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
, a mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
and a morganatic wife
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
of the last elective King of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski.
Biography
Elżbieta Szydłowska was a daughterDaughter
A daughter is a female offspring; a girl, woman, or female animal in relation to her parents. The male equivalent is a son. Analogously the name is used on several areas to show relations between groups or elements.-Etymology:...
of Teodor Szydłowski, voivode of Płock, a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
nobleman
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
, and his wife, Teresa Witkowska. In 1768 she married a Polish noble
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
, General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Jan Jerzy Grabowski (died 1789). Some of the children of this marriage are thought to have actually been children of the last 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...
king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
, Stanisław August Poniatowski.
In 1789, she became a widow and entered into a secret, morganatic marriage
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
with the King, remaining known at court
Royal court
Royal court, as distinguished from a court of law, may refer to:* The Royal Court , Timbaland's production company*Court , the household and entourage of a monarch or other ruler, the princely court...
as his maîtresse-en-titre
Maîtresse-en-titre
The maîtresse-en-titre was the chief mistress of the king of France. It was a semi-official position which came with its own apartments. The title really came into use during the reign of Henry IV and continued until the reign of Louis XV....
. She was thought to have exercised some influence on the king during his reign perceived as negative, which made her unpopular.
In 1795, king Stanisław abdicated following the third one of the three Partitions of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
, and lived in Grodno under Russian watch until, in 1796, Paul I of Russia
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
invited him to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. Elżbieta, with her two sons, Stanisław and Michał, took the king to Saint Petersburg to care for him there, and she lived with him until his sudden death. Afterwards, she returned to Warsaw, then under Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
's rule following the Partitions, where she became a patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
ess of the Tableau vivant
Tableau vivant
Tableau vivant is French for "living picture." The term describes a striking group of suitably costumed actors or artist's models, carefully posed and often theatrically lit. Throughout the duration of the display, the people shown do not speak or move...
there. She died in Warsaw on 1 June 1810, survived by four of her children.
She had three sons and two daughters with the king, and their second son, Michał Grabowski, distinguished himself in combat, eventually becaming a general in the army of the Duchy of Warsaw
Duchy of Warsaw
The Duchy of Warsaw was a Polish state established by Napoleon I in 1807 from the Polish lands ceded by the Kingdom of Prussia under the terms of the Treaties of Tilsit. The duchy was held in personal union by one of Napoleon's allies, King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony...
.
Issue
Her children were:- Stanisław
- Michał
- Casimir
- Aleksandra (13 April 1771 – 12 May 1789), who married Franciszek Salezy Krasicki in 1787
- Izabela Grabowska (1776–1858), who married Walenty Faustyn Sobolewski in 1795
- Constance