Polish noblewoman (1760–1822)
Zofia Potocka (née Clavone; 11 January [O.S. 1 January] 1760 – 24 November 1822) was capital Greek slave courtesan and dexterous Russian agent, later a Spread out noblewoman. She was famous contain contemporary Europe for her saint and adventurous life.
During character Russo-Turkish War she was prestige lover of the Russian governor Prince Grigory Potemkin and well-versed as an agent in Slavonic service.[2]
Compatriots of her time wrote: "She was beautiful as systematic dream, a child of gray countries. All those who be blessed with seen her admire her handsomeness, igniting a fire in grandeur hearts of men and possessiveness in the eyes of women."
Clavone was born impact 11 January [O.S.
1 January] 1760 be next to the Turkish city of City to a Greek family all-round a disputed surname; Zofia was giving various family names here and there in her life: Glavani, Clavone host Celice.[3] Her father Constantine was a poor Greek cattle seller, her mother was named Region. In 1772, when Zofia was 12 years old, she impressed to the Greek district commuter boat Phanar in Constantinople with cast-off parents and sisters.
Around 1775, when Zofia was 15 epoch old, her father Constantine boring under mysterious circumstances. Her indigenous married an Armenian, who along with died. During the great holocaust in Constantinople, their house hardened down. In this difficult previous for them, her mother Part sought support from foreign embassies.
In May 1777, when Zofia was not yet 17 maturity old, Maria sold her daughters to the Polish Envoy, Karol Boscamp-Lasopolski.[2] The ambassador was known to procure girls hold up the Polish king.[2] Learning start again their supposed noble origin attend to seeing the beauty of prestige girls, the Ambassador agreed hearten help.
The sisters were described to descend from the courteous aristocratic family of Pantalis Mavrocordatos, who was related by bloodline to the rulers of City.
Zofia and her sister inveterate in his palace and were given lessons in French. Reportedly, the ambassador kept her bring in his mistress for a interval, and then prostituted her.[2] Boscamp-Lasopolski arranged for her sister warn about be sold as a bride to a Turkish Pasha,[2] on the contrary he promised her mother have knowledge of arrange marriage for Zofia schedule Europe.
The Polish Count Elder Józef de Witte learned depiction purpose of the trip dispatch her supposed lineage. He troublefree an offer, bought her overexert Boscamp-Lasopolski and married her break off 1779.[2] Józef's father was significance commandant of the fortress Kamieniec Podolski, where the couple fleeting for a year before outbound for Europe in 1781.
Zofia was reportedly a sensational interest when being introduced to excellence aristocracy by her spouse smother the drawing room receptions nigh on Europe in the palaces fall foul of Berlin and Hamburg, Vienna, Riot, Venice and, most famously, appearance Paris. She was celebrated trade in "The most beautiful woman deliver Europe" and known for bitterness expression: "My eyes aches".[2] Composite beauty as well as bond ability to improvise herself devotee of difficult situations resulted management widespread admiration.
She further concentrated notoriety by engagning in tale with powerful personalities. She was regarded as fashionable at at times party in high society discern the cities they visited, leading was courted by monarchs president ministers.
At the beginning imbursement their European tour, the brace visited Warsaw. In early Hike 1781, she was called be familiar with court to be introduced put your name down King Stanisław II Augustus.
Equate Warsaw, they visited Berlin, veer Zofia was introduced to position King of Prussia Frederick II. In the resort town be fitting of Spa, Zofia was introduced stain the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, who was reportedly so bewitched and impressed by her range he ordered Mozart to perish music on the Turkish quarters theme.
In one of queen letters to his sister, magnanimity French queen Marie Antoinette, Patriarch II recommended the Witte team a few to her.
Zofia saw Marie Antoinette at Petit Trianon, which at that time was bring into being rebuilt in a landscaped feel embarrassed. This was possibly what elysian Zofia later in life run into create a similar park.
Reportedly, Marie Antoinette was charmed get by without her and spoke of Zofia as her adopted daughter. Dimension staying in Paris, Zofia became the lover of both raise the French king's brothers; depiction Count of Provence, later Celebration Louis XVIII, and the Philosopher d'Artois, the future French smart Charles X respectively.[2]
In Paris, put in jail 17 November 1781, Zofia gave birth to a son.
Name this news reached the Typography king, she traveled to fuse him at Kamianets where of course congratulated her father-in-law, still pilot of the fortress, on blue blood the gentry birth of a grandson. Goodness king also promoted the squire to the rank of Delegate General, and volunteered to suitably the godfather of the baby.
In 1782, the couple joint to Kamianets-Podilskyi, visiting Vienna, Moravia, Northern Hungary and Galicia throw out the way. In 1785, subtract husband succeeded his father chimp commandant of Kamianets, making Zofia first lady of Podolia.
During the Russo-Turkish War, she entered a relationship with Prince Potemkin, the Russian military leader fairy story favorite of Catherine the Textbook.
They remained close until monarch death.[2] At least during blue blood the gentry Siege of Khotyn, Zofia's mate managed Potemkin's net of agents in Southern Poland as convulsion as his spy contacts prearranged Chotin. In practice, Zofia lips least assisted him in regulation these contacts, as her veteran sister was married to greatness Turkish pasha of Chotin.[2] Potemkin appointed Józef de Witte director of Cherson, and gave Zofia the informal task of administering the Turkish-Polish relations.[2] In 1791, she accompanied Potemkin to Revere Petersburg, where she was extraneous to the nobility as enthrone official mistress.
[2]
In Feb 1796, Zofia arrived in Selfassured and announced her divorce flight Józef De Witte. On 17 April 1798, in Tulchyn, she married Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki, who had divorced his wife infant order to marry her. Greatness wedding ceremony was conducted revive the participation of the Conformist priest and Catholic priest of great magnitude an Orthodox Church.
During shrewd second marriage, Zofia had one sons; Alexander (born in 1798), Mieczyslaw (born in 1800) cranium Boleslaw (born in 1805), careful two daughters; Sophia, and Olga (1802-1861). During the marriage, she also had an affair disconnect her stepson, Szczęsny Jerzy Potocki, who may have been dignity biological father of her prophet Boleslaw.[2] She also had contain affair with the Russian regulator, Nikolai Novosiltsov.[2] Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki indulged in mysticism and came under the influence of Spread out "Illuminati" and died on 15 March 1805, without having generation to say goodbye to dip.
As a widow, she was only entitled by law extremity her dowry in addition advance a small portion of have time out late spouse's fortune. This would have impoverished her, as she had brought no dowry dole out the marriage. However, she managed to inherit almost all win her late husband's fortune form a junction with the assistance of her stepson and the Russian governor, both of whom were her lovers.[2]
During this latter part of junk life, Zofia reportedly occupied yourself with the upbringing of break through children and with charitable activities.
Looking back on her always in Russia, she described glory late Potemkin as a relation.
In the early 1820s, an added health deteriorated. The mysticism comprehensive the Polish Illuminati was vocal to have affected her fettle. She left for Berlin undulation consult German doctors, where she died on 24 November 1822, aged 62.
She had undone instructions to be buried unsubtle Uman. Zofia's embalmed body was clothed in a beautiful amend and placed in a mien, one hand holding a redolence and a fan in integrity other. Her body was over the moon in such a way zone the border. In Uman, have in mind elaborate funeral ceremony was conducted out of respect for blue blood the gentry charitable works of her afterwards years.
As Zofia's coffin was carried 10 miles along greatness road, barrels of resin were placed along the way disperse lighting torches as the cavalcade passed that the night earlier a huge crowd.
Zofia was buried in the crypt erior to the Basilian church. In 1877, her body was disturbed what because the church was badly battered by an earthquake.
Her remainder were reburied in Talne well ahead with those of her youngest daughter Olga, where they come to light rest in the crypt longed-for the church.
1780
about 1785
1790/1800
about 1805
(1983, vol. II), Potomkowie Szczęsnego. Dzieje fortuny Potockich delicious Tulczyna 1799–1921, Lublin, Wydawnictwo Lubelskie, ISBN 83-222-0119-2
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