„Nic w świecie nie jest w stanie przekonać mnie do powrotu” – Franciszek Rzewuski wobec konfederacji barskiej
“Nothing in the world can convince me to return” – Franciszek Rzewuski and the Bar Confederation

Summary/Abstract: The article presents attitudes of the Polish noble Franciszek Rzewuski (ca. 1730–1800) towards the Bar Confederation, a period during which he resided abroad. The paperis based on a collection of letters from F. Rzewuski to his mother, Franciszka née Cetner, kept in the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv. The analysis of the correspondence shows Rzewuski’s great interest in the course of events taking place in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Interestingly, he tried to maintain neutrality and appear indifferent in the eyes of his contemporaries, but the letters reveal his negative opinion about the confederates. Throughout the conflict, he blamed them for ruining the country and he hoped for a rapid restoration of peace. Although the decision on the First Partition of Poland desolated him, he was relieved that military operations would be over. He promptly made efforts to secure the interests of his family, whose properties came under Habsburg rule. This is why he sought the favour of the court and its officials in Vienna. Lastly, the analysed material indicates Rzewuski’s confusion in the face of the partition. On the one hand, he believed that he should be a good subject of the emperor, but on the other, he felt that this could conflict with his obligations towards the Commonwealth that was his first homeland.

• Details
• Contents