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Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryskiprinter friendly versionPrint this page
1770-1861

1770

Prince Adam Jerzy is born.

1795

After the Warsaw insurrection, and the political involvement of his parents, he is taken hostage with his brother Kostanty to St. Petersburg. He falls in love with the Grand Duke Alexander's wife Elizabeta Alekseyevna during his stays and fathers a girl.

1798

Tsar Paul sends Adam Jerzy to Italy as Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Visits Rome & Florence, corresponds with his mother and buys Leonardo's "Lady with an Ermine" and Raphael's "Portrait of a Young Man" He also starts excavation work at the Roman Forum.

1804

Due to his friendship with Tsar Alexander I he was nominated Minister of Foreign Affairs for nearly Twenty years.

1815

Congress of Vienna sanctions the partition of Poland. Prince Adam Jerzy helps draft the constitution of the New Kingdom of Poland.

1817

Marries Princess Anna Sapieha.

1825

The political climate in Poland deteriorates after ascension of Tsar Alexander's brother Nicolas I.

1830

Warsaw revolution. Prince Adam Jerzy acclaimed as head of the nation. Russian troops march on Warsaw and Pulawy. Prince Adam Jerzy condemned to death. All properties confiscated with the exception of Sieniawa, which was under the Austrian protectorate. Prince Adam Jerzy flees across Europe to Paris, the capital of the only great power sympathetic to Poland. Opens offices in London and Istanbul. Leaves family finances with his wife and mother-in-law, who are both shrewd investors.

1843

Buys Hotel Lambert, as his residence in Paris built in 1642 by Louis le Vau and restores it with Delacroix. The Hotel Lambert is the Court to all Polish Royalists. He also creates many institutions: Polish Library, Historical Society, and Institute for Young Ladies, and the School for Young Men. Only the Library survives to this day. It becomes the greatest center of Polish Life both Political, Cultural, and Social outside Poland. Some of its famous patrons are Chopin, Krasinski, Lamartine, Sand, Balzac, Berlioz, Lizt. Chopin composes "La Polonaise" for the Polish ball held yearly.

1848

Establishes "Adampol" outside Istanbul refuge for Polish deserters from the Russian Army.

1850

Brings to Paris most objects hidden in Poland: Raphael, Leonardo and the Rembrandt walled for over eight years, in the cellars of Sieniawa. Also some important books and manuscripts, and national artifacts, which started Izabela's Museum.

1861

Dies in Paris at the age of 91 years, and is buried in family property crypt in Sieniawa.





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