Joanna Grudzinska
Encyclopedia
Joanna Grudzińska was a Polish
noble
, a Princess of Łowicz and the second wife of Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia
, the de facto viceroy of the Kingdom of Poland
. This marriage cost Constantine the crown of Russia.
. Grudzińska was known for her beauty. From 1815, she had a relationship with Grand Duke Constantine of Russia who she married as his second wife on 27 May 1820. Constantine was previously married to Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who left him in 1801. In order to give approval for his marriage to Joanna, Constantine's brother Tsar Alexander I
required him to forfeit his rights to the throne of Russia in favor of their younger brother Nicholas I
. The secrecy of this decision, known only to a very close circle in Saint Petersburg
, contributed to the Decembrist revolt
of 1825 that followed Alexander's death.
After the marriage on 8 July 1820, Alexander styled Joanna Princess of Lovich. A Russian Imperial Navy frigate
named in her honour (Knyaginya Lovich, Княгиня Лович) was launched in 1828 and served in the Mediterranean
fleet during the Greek War of Independence
and the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829).
By some considered a traitor, Joanna remained faithful to her husband even after the November Uprising
in which he fought against his Polish subjects. Interestingly, her twin sister Maria was married to Gen. Dezydery Chłapowski, one of the most notable Polish commanders during the Uprising; another sister married an officer of Russian tsar's retinue
.
Constantine died of cholera
in Vitebsk
in June 1831, shortly before their planned evacuation to Saint Petersburg. Joanna delivered his body to Saint Petersburg, and died the same year. She was buried in Tsarskoye Selo
; in 1929 her remains were exhumed and reburied in the grave of her sister and Gen. Chłapowski in Rąbin near Leszno
.
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...
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...
, a Princess of Łowicz and the second wife of Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia
Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia
Constantine Pavlovich was a grand duke of Russia and the second son of Emperor Paul I. He was the Tsesarevich of Russia throughout the reign of his elder brother Alexander I, but had secretly renounced his claim to the throne in 1823...
, the de facto viceroy of the Kingdom of Poland
Congress Poland
The Kingdom of Poland , informally known as Congress Poland , created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna, was a personal union of the Russian parcel of Poland with the Russian Empire...
. This marriage cost Constantine the crown of Russia.
Biography
Joanna was the eldest of three daughters of Count Antoni Grudziński, the last owner of the town of ChodzieżChodziez
Chodzież is a town in northwestern Poland with 20,400 inhabitants . Situated in the Chodzież County, Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Piła Voivodeship .-Geography:...
. Grudzińska was known for her beauty. From 1815, she had a relationship with Grand Duke Constantine of Russia who she married as his second wife on 27 May 1820. Constantine was previously married to Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who left him in 1801. In order to give approval for his marriage to Joanna, Constantine's brother Tsar Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
required him to forfeit his rights to the throne of Russia in favor of their younger brother Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
. The secrecy of this decision, known only to a very close circle in 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...
, contributed to the Decembrist revolt
Decembrist revolt
The Decembrist revolt or the Decembrist uprising took place in Imperial Russia on 14 December , 1825. Russian army officers led about 3,000 soldiers in a protest against Nicholas I's assumption of the throne after his elder brother Constantine removed himself from the line of succession...
of 1825 that followed Alexander's death.
After the marriage on 8 July 1820, Alexander styled Joanna Princess of Lovich. A Russian Imperial Navy frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
named in her honour (Knyaginya Lovich, Княгиня Лович) was launched in 1828 and served in the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
fleet during the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
and the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829).
By some considered a traitor, Joanna remained faithful to her husband even after the November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as 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 Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
in which he fought against his Polish subjects. Interestingly, her twin sister Maria was married to Gen. Dezydery Chłapowski, one of the most notable Polish commanders during the Uprising; another sister married an officer of Russian tsar's retinue
Retinue
A retinue is a body of persons "retained" in the service of a noble or royal personage, a suite of "retainers".-Etymology:...
.
Constantine died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
in Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
in June 1831, shortly before their planned evacuation to Saint Petersburg. Joanna delivered his body to Saint Petersburg, and died the same year. She was buried in Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo is the town containing a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility, located south from the center of St. Petersburg. It is now part of the town of Pushkin and of the World Heritage Site Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.-History:In...
; in 1929 her remains were exhumed and reburied in the grave of her sister and Gen. Chłapowski in Rąbin near Leszno
Leszno
Leszno is a town in central Poland with 63,955 inhabitants . Situated in the southern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously the capital of the Leszno Voivodeship . The town has county status.-History:...
.