- Józef Potocki
Józef Potocki (1673-1751) was a Polish nobleman (szlachcic),
magnate , Great Hetman of the Crown.Józef was considered as the richest magnate at that time. He was voivod of
Kijów Voivodship from 1702 to 1744,Regimentarz generalny of the Crown Army since 1733, Great CrownHetman since 1735, voivod ofPoznań Voivodship since 1743,castellan ofKraków since 1748 andstarost ofHalicz ,Warsaw ,Leżajsk ,Kołomyja ,Czerwonogród ,Śniatyn andBolemów .In 1703 he suppressed a peasantry revolt led by S.
Peleja in theUkraine . He was originally a supporter of KingAugust II of Poland but in 1705 he changed sides and became a supporter of King Stanisław I Leszczyński.Józef was defeated at the
Battle of Koniecpol in 1708 and since 1709 after theBattle of Poltava he lived in exile inHungary andTurkey . In 1714 he came back to Poland and became together withTeodor Potocki , the leader of the opposition to the "Familia " and the royal court.In 1733 during the
War of the Polish Succession he again supports Stanisław I Leszczyński. He became aregimentarz of theConfederation of Dzików , guided the polish confederated army against Russian and Saxon forces in many battles. In 1735 he recognized August III as King of Poland but conspired, against him and the royal court, with Turkey,Sweden andPrussia .
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.