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Coat of Arms:
The TARNOWSKI Clan
(The origins)
Coat of arms “Leliwa”
Emblem “Tendite in astra viri”
Since 1547, Hereditary title
of Count of the Holy Roman Empire (SIR)
The Leliwa coat
of arms is a six points star within a rising crescent, both gold
in a field of blue. It was used in ancient Persia and also
during the middle-ages in western Europe from where it was most
likely imported to Poland in the early XIII century and since
then has been used by over 150 families. In an ancient Polish
dialect, the word "Leliwa" meant “Look and See” and was used as
a call sign or a password. Form the latest genealogical
studies, it seems that Comes Spycimir, the ancestor of the
Tarnowski family, was originally using the Lubomla (Cross
embedded in a fiery link) as his coat of arms, but changed it to
the Leliwa very early in the XIV century.
The future Lord
of Tarnów was most likely a very bright and intelligent knight
who came from Piaski (de Arenas) and was probably related to the
House of Bobola who had the same coat of arms and with whom he
funded the same churches. In his times, besides being in the
right place at the right time, the path to a successful career
was faithfulness to his Prince or King, and then marriage into
another already more powerful family. His Mother, although her
name is unknown, was probably from the house of Rawicz since he
seems to have inherited half of the old Tarnów before 1327 maybe
from her and then to have called his younger son Rafał
possibly in honor of her clan.
Besides vague
hypotheses, we know absolutely nothing about his ancestors, who
might have come originally from the Rhine region or from the
Upper Łużyce
(currently located in the SW corner of Poland, but then in
Czechoslovakia). Also from the latest expert studies of the
Middle-Ages, it appears that his wife Stanisława
was probably from the ancient and powerful House of Bogoria.
As expected, she brought Comes Spycimir the enormous support and
prestige of her father and brothers (Palatins of Kraków and
Sandomierz as well as Cannon of Kraków and Archbishop of Gniezno)
which helped to propell him to the top of his career and
political power during the reigns of the last two Piast Kings,
Łokietek and Kazimierz Wielki. From the Castellan of
Sandecz in 1317 and Wiślica in 1319,
through the Palatine of Kraków in 1320, he becomes from1330 for
the next 25 years the Castellan of Kraków, the highest political
function in Poland and first counselor to the King.
The power and
prestige that came with these high political positions as well
as the King’s gratefulness for Spycimir support, allowed him to
increase his holdings and wealth considerably. In early 1327 he
bought the second half of Greater Tarnów from Leonardo, a
descendant of Comes Rafał
from the house of Rawicz. Two years later, he received from the
King large tracts of land along the Dunajec river including the
Small Tarnów village situated on top of St.Martin hill, where he
then built a castle as his family principal residence. At the
same time he was enlarging and populating the town of New Tarnów
for which he obtained the King’s permission to be administered
under German city laws. Some 17 years later, he had a second
castle built, this time at Melsztyn higher up on the river
Dunajec, where he lived in his later years and probably died
some time before 1356. He is the first recorded member of high
rank from the Leliwa Lords of Tarnów and is thus considered
rightly as the ancestor of the Tarnowski family.
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Tree:
The TARNOWSKI Clan
(Overview)
Hereunder is a brief genealogical tree
of the Tarnowski clan, covering 700 years of it’s
existence through 17 branches, of which 6 still exist today.
Those branches are specifically indicated hereunder and also in
the Genealogy with the first three capital letters of
their ancestral castles, palaces or domains as well as the
Irn number and name of its first and last hereditary
bearers.
It is important
to note the 2 following points:
As elsewhere in Europe, the Tarnowski ancestors in the XIV and
XV centuries were called the Leliwa Lords of their
original domain which was the fortified city of Tarnów
with its castle founded in the early
XIV century by Comes
Spicymierz. The Leliwa Lords from Tarnów became
simply Tarnowski in the XVI century (since in
Polish, the ending in ski means from).
The Wielowieś-Dzików,
is the main branch or trunk of the Tarnowski Tree as
Wielowieś was the oldest part of
the estate belonging to the Tarnowski since the 2nd generation till 1944. It was there in fact, that
their first ancestral castle was located till its complete
destruction by the Swedish army in mid XVII century. Dzików,
which belonged to the Tarnowski since 1522, became then the main
residence since it was located closer to the city of Tarnobrzeg
founded also by the family. It was not destroyed during the II
world war, but confiscated with the whole estate by the
authorities in 1945 and has been used as a school ever since.
Comes
SPYCIMIERZ Leliwa de Tarnów (Est.1275-1352)
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2.
TAR--TARnów:
1330, Rafał
z Tarnowa (#392) .......... 1567, Jan Krzysztof
z Tarnowa (#756)
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3.
TAR--MELsztyn:
1340, Jan z Tarnowa i Melsztyna (#407) .......... 1540, Jan z
Melsztyna (#446)
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4.
TAR--JARosław:
1395, Spytek z Tarnowa. i Jarosławia
(#576) .......... 1521, Hieronim z Jarosławia
(#718)
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5.
WIElowieś--1449, Jan Feliks z Tarnowa (#384) .......... 1638, Michał
Stanisław
Tarnowski (#364)
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6.
WIE--RZOchów:
1509, Stanisław
z Tarnowa (#783) ..........1647, Jan Tarnowski (#811)
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7.
WIE
PODleszany:
1600,
Jan Gratus Tarnowski (#806) .......... 1767, Stanisław
D. Tarnowski (#857)
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8.
WIE
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9.
WIE--KOZangródek:
1610, Jan Joachim Tarnowski (#888) .......... 1696, Piotr Stanisław
Tarnowski (#926)
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10.
DZIków
POCzajów:
1767,
Jan Amor Tarnowski (#543) .......... 1862, Marcin Tarnowski
(#549)
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11.
DZI--WOŁyń:
1697, Aleksander Dominik Gratus Tarnowski (#568) ..........
1939, Jan Tarnowski (#518)
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12.
DZI
KRAsnobród:
1826,
Feliks Adam Tarnowski (#496) ... 1928, Jan Stanisław
Amor Tarnowski (#490)
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13.
DZI--DRAżgów:
1780, Rafał
Tarnowski (#622) .......... 1847, Władysław
Jan Tarnowski (#629)
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14.
DZI--CHOrzelów-ZAKlików:
1825, Michał
Tarnowski (#84) ........
In 2002, descendants
live in Poland.
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15.
DZI--WROblewice:
1835,
Walerian Spicymir Tarnowski (#73) .......... 1939, Stanisław
Tarnowski (#152)
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16.
DZI--RUDnik:
1874,
Stanisław-Kostka
Tarnowski (#68) .........
In 2002, descendants
live in Poland and England.
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17.
DZI--Końskie-SUCha:1893,
Juljusz Tarnowski (#53) ...
In 2002,descendants in Poland, France, Switzerland.
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18.
DZI
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19.
DZI
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20.
DZIków:
Tarnów 1330, Rafał
z Tarnowa (#392) ............. Wielowieś
1449, Jan Feliks z Tarnowa (#384) .......
1638, Michał
Stanisław
Tarnowski (#364) ….......
In 2002, descendants live in Poland and Canada.
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History:
*** Historical
notes by the late Ct. Adam Tarnowski from Dzików (1866-1946) ***
Our family’s greatest moments of political
significance, were the XIV, XV and XVI centuries, when lords of
Tarnów, Melsztyn and later Jarosław
were from father to son supporting the Polish Kings (Piast and
Jagellon), and holding the highest ranks in the land, namely ten
times Palatin of Kraków and 6 times Castellan of Kraków. This
line-up of senators began with the trustworthy adviser to the
last Piast Kings, Comes Spicymierz, our ancestor, who in 1320 is
already Palatin of Kraków, and in 1331 becomes the highest
secular dignitary by becoming the Castellan of Kraków. Moreover,
for services rendered to King
Łokietek at times of war, he received
huge tracts of land bordering the river Dunajec where he founded
the city of Tarnów (abt.1320), and built 2 fortified castles
(abt.1330), one in Tarnów and the other in Melsztyn.
After Spicymierz, Melsztyn passed to his
older son, Jan, who, like his father, became in 1360 first
Palatin and later Castellan of Kraków. The younger Rafał
became Castellan of Wiślica and inherited Tarnów, which
property he enlarged with tracts of land around Sandomierz,
parts of which belonged still to the Tarnowski family until in
the XX century: The Dzików estate, and specifically Wielowieś.
Melsztyn passed afterwards to Spytek, Palatin of Kraków, feudal
lord of Podole and hero at the battle of Worskla (1399). After
Rafał,
came his son Jaśko
from Tarnów, General Superintendent of Ruś, then Palatin of
Kraków, and finally Castellan of Kraków. Those two first uncles
attained the highest rank in the kingdom, as well as
exceptional wealth from enormous grants and privileges from
territories like Jarosław,
Sambor, Podole and others... Our ancestors leading role in the
feudal history of Poland was ensured through the bringing
together of Princess Jadwiga from Hungary and Prince Jagiełło
from Lithuania, and then their coronation which began the
Jagellon Dynasty.
Upon the passing away of the Great Spytek,
the Melsztyn line loses its greatness, and declines rapidly,
particularly after the confederation initiated against the king
by his son, who later died at the battle of Grotniki (1439).
From the Tarnów line, Jaśko’s
sons fulfilled their duties as knights at the battle of Grunwald
(1410), and then divided their inheritance. Jan, Palatin of
Kraków settled in Tarnów, whereas Spytek, palatin of Sandomierz,
took over Jarosław
where he founded a new family branch who called themselves
“heredes de Tarnów, Domini in Jarosław”
(issued from Tarnów, Lords of Jarosław).
Jan from Tarnów left 5 sons. Two of them as
well as their first uncle, Spytek from Jarosław,
died with king Władysław
at the battle of Warna in 1444. The third one became a priest,
whereas the last two divided their inheritance. Jan Feliks was
Palatin of Lublin, while Jan Amor, lord of Tarnów, became first
Palatin of Kraków, and then later in 1490 Castellan of Kraków.
When Jan Amor was Castellan of Kraków, his cousin, Spytek from
Jarosław
became Palatin of Kraków. Upon Jan Amor’s death in 1501, Spytek
from Jarosław
became Castellan of Krakow, Jan Feliks “Szram”(scarface), the
son of the above mentioned Palatin of Lublin obtained the rank
of Palatin of Kraków. Together with these two Leliwa emblazoned
leaders of the secular senators, the son of Jan Amor was also
Palatin of Ruś.
In the same period his younger brother, Jan Aleksander died with
king Olbracht during the Bukowina expedition (1497), and his
youngest step-brother, Jan-Amor, the future Great Hetman, was in
1500 only 12 years old, and would attain the highest ranks of
Palatin and then Castellan of Kraków in 1535/36.
Jan Amor became the Great Hetman in 1531
after the battle of Obertyn, where he refused to retreat from a
five times superior enemy, and even succeeded to lead a handful
of the polish knights to a decisive victory. The polish armed
feats of glory were then forever joined with the name of the
Great Hetman Tarnowski, glory which was later even reinforced
through further deeds of arms under his leadership. The Great
Hetman’s pride was the fact, that under his command, the polish
armed forces were never defeated, and it must be said as well
that this uncommon man was also above average in his role as
“Lord Castellan of Kraków”. Raised and educated in his ancestors
tradition of oligarchic government, this man of action must have
lost patience at the sight of the polish nation leadership left
at the discretion of all this multitude of landed gentry, while
the elders lacked the will to govern. As long as he lived and
acted, he was certainly one of the most significant figures of
his period.
In addition to the highest senatorial rank as
palatins and castellans of Kraków, the Leliwa Lords from Tarnów
held three times the palatinate of Sandomierz, four times the
castellany of Sandomierz, three times the palatinate of Ruś,
seven times the general starostie of Ruś,
three times the starostie of Kraków, three times the rank of
marshal to the court, once that of great marshal, twice the rank
of treasurer, once that of Hetman, and many other titles. Often,
the Leliwa Lords held the highest ranks at the same time, and
their importance in the realm was strengthened even more through
the family solidarity with which they acted.
It’s in this fashion, that our family history
and its historical role was forever intertwined with that of the
Polish nation. This role, particularly this ancient one during
the middle-ages, sounds like an epic, noble and beautiful, but
also interesting, since it was not based on fantasy, but on true
historical facts. This epic’s last act happened quickly through
the passing away of all the Leliwa male descendants from
Melsztyn and Jarosław
already in the first half of the XVI century, as well as through
the untimely death in 1567 of Jan-Krzysztof, the Great Hetman’s
son. How differently would have unfolded the Tarnowski’s
history, either if Jan-Krzysztof, upon his death, had left male
descendants, who would have then inherited the enormous Hetman’s
properties including Tarnów, Przeworsk and Jarosław.
Or, having created the Leliwa realm, if the Great Hetman,
through all his connections with the court, and his various
political plays, could have also stipulated through a codicil in
his last will to exclude Tarnów with castle and properties for
one of his nephews, who would have known how to love, defend and
preserve this ancestral family residence for future generations
of the Leliwa Tarnowski.
The loss of such three bastions like Melsztyn,
Jarosław
and finally Tarnów which through Jan-Krzysztof’s widow and his
sister passed to other families, weakened the Tarnowski family,
bringing closer the end of their important historical role,
which coincided with that of the great Jagellon dynasty. The
other lines of Leliwa Tarnowski could not find within themselves
sufficient stamina and motivation to compete with the newer
aristocratic families and move for gain to the south-eastern
lands. Voluntarily, they had removed themselves from the
political scene. Although they had nobility, they were awkward
and weak, but they never forgot their sworn duty to the armed
defence of their country. They were at the battles of Psków, Połock,
Ostrów, Orynin and Chocim. They fought and died also during the
Swedish and Napoleonic wars, as well as in all the armed
insurrections of the XIX century. We cannot somehow blame our
ancestors for their lack of competitive drive to go after new
fortunes in Ruś,
since belonging to the oligarchy in those times was rather a
dubious honour. It is indeed very pleasant for the Tarnowski to
know that in the XVII and XVIII centuries, during the complete
decay and anarchy of the Polish nation, we were included in the
aristocratic oligarchy only nominally through politeness, and
consideration for our great past. But in reality, we didn’t
belong there at all, and didn’t have any access to important
affairs of state.
This deprived us indeed of the splendour
with which shone the families who were then more powerful than
ours. However, it had its good side as well, since an error or
omission wouldn’t have to weigh heavily upon our conscience by
the damage it could have caused to the nation. Thus without
influence and importance in the nation, the Leliwa Tarnowski
stayed in their ancient family residences working on their
heritage. When the need arose, they took up arms by either
leading a group of soldiers, or by putting their own lives on
the firing line, but they would have nothing to do with
politics, and for this reason they had never been mixed up in
any shady affair, or God forbid any treason. During the final
decline and the dismemberment of Poland, the Tarnowski were not
at the forefront of these tragic happenings. One of the few
living in those times, Rafał
from Dzików (1741-1803), motivated by a noble reaction to the
Russian violence, joined the Bar Confederation as one of its
Marshals. The next national reflex was the Kościuszko
uprising, which drew Marcin Tarnowski from Kozin (1778-1862)
straight from his school bench. In 1803, hearing about the
armed revolt against tyranny, he joined the uprising and took
part in the defence of Warsaw and Praga. In the years 1809-1815,
his soldier’s soul spoke up again, when he participated in the
Napoleonic wars, this time leading his own regiment, armed
partly at his own cost. Wounded several times, he received at
Moscow the French Medal of Honour, the Polish Virtuti Militari
as well as a special citation from the emperor, but at the end
was taken prisoner at the capitulation of Drezden, This noble
man was then condemned by the Russian oppressors to four years
of hard labour in St-Petersburg, and then exiled to Kursk, from
where he returned only after the uprising in 1831.
Besides Marcin Tarnowski, Stanisław
Tarnowski from Dzików fought also in the Kościuszko
uprising. Michał
Tarnowski from Dzików, later in Chorzelów, joined Marcin
Tarnowski’s regiment as a lieutenant, and came back from the
campaign with the Virtuti Military medal for valour. This
honourable distinction received as well Władysław
Tarnowski from Drążgów, Rafał’s
son, while serving on the staff of a cavalry division.
Moreover, young Kazimierz Tarnowski from Krasnobród took part
also in the 1812 campaign, and was killed at the battle of Mir.
In addition to the mentioned Tarnowski who fought on their
country fields of glory, there were others who wished to serve
in a different manner, like for instance, Jan Feliks from Dzików
educated in the atmosphere of the 4 years parliament by his
grand-father, Stanisław
Małachowski,
and by his mother’s brother, Tadeusz Czacki, and in 1815, under
the leadership of Stanisław
Zamoyski, he took part in the delegation to the Russian emperor
in the Congress at Versailles. After the resurrection of the
Polish Kingdom, he became a castellan-senator, member of the
National Council, and member of the Education Commission as well
as other functions. His son, Jan Bogdan, began slowly to take
over his father’s responsibilities, but unfortunately, while
proceeding to join the 1831 uprising, an inflammation of the
brain kept him bedridden for several weeks and prevented him to
fulfil this sacred duty. His younger brother, Walerian, did it
in his stead, serving in the cavalry corps led by general
Różycki, and came back decorated with the Medal of Merit.
The oldest among Jan Bogdan three sons, Jan
Dzierżysław,
had to replace his dead father prematurely, guarding the
ancestral residence, and taking care of the whole family
destiny. Nevertheless, with his usual conscientiousness, he
worked in the Lwów parliament, as president of the agrarian
society in Kraków, in the Vienna House of Lords, in the district
council for Tarnobrzeg, and in 1886 as the Marshal for the
nation. People said of him: “ He worked like he would live
forever, and lived like he would die tomorrow “. The second
son, Stanisław,
began his adult life with a prison term, when upon the failure
of the 1863 uprising, he was first locked up in Kraków and Lwów,
to be afterwards condemned to 12 years of hard labour in a
fortress, of which he served only two thanks to an amnesty. He
devoted the rest of his life to higher learning. He became a
professor of polish literature, dean of the Jagellon University
and president of the Polish Academy of Science in Kraków. He
left many books, wrote and spoke beautifully in Polish. At the
50th jubilee celebration of his professorship, the great polish
writer, Henryk Sienkiewicz said: “ The professor is leaving
us, but the bearer of the national colours remains ... You
defended the purity of the polish spirit, the purity of our
thoughts, the purity of the white eagle’s emblem “. The
youngest of the three brothers, Juljusz, was born in 1840. He
was cheerful, witty, noble, and at the first news of the
uprising, he said: “It’s a duty for one to get killed! “.
And in spite of his conviction, that the 1863 uprising was
doomed from the start, he nevertheless decided to join up, since
he believed it was part of the family’s tradition and ancestral
duty. When others are sacrificing themselves, then there must
be also someone from Dzików. On the 20-th of June, 1863, he
joined a small detachment of cavalry, crossing the river Wisła
just above Dzików, and then volunteered for the first attack on
foot with bayonets, during which he died a heroes death,
bringing sorrow and glory to the family. Juljusz was killed at
Komorów, just like 464 years earlier, Spytek from Melsztyn at
Worskla, who stayed and fought on the field of battle, while the
Grand Prince Witold and others were fleeing to save their lives,
and also like all those Tarnowski, who didn’t desert King Władysław
Jagiello in 1444 at the battle of Warna. The Juljusz memorial in
the Dominican church at Tarnobrzeg, is at the same time a
monument for the whole Leliwa Tarnowski family. It’s a
magnificent testimonial to the level of their commitment and
duty to the nation maintained for so many centuries. But first
and foremost it’s a clear sign tracing the path of duty for the
youngest generation, and for all those that will follow
there-after.
After the cruel loss suffered in1863, came a
long period of quiet and peaceful work. This work was
undertaken by Juljusz Tarnowski’s brothers, Jan-Dzierżysław,
the nation’s marshal, and Stanisław-Kostka,
the professor, as well as the following generation, which began
to fulfill its citizenship duties towards the end of the XIX
century. This important and essential work was possible and
difficult under the Austrian parliamentary rules, but under the
Russian rule, and the terror that reined there, it was dreadful
and really dangerous. The Tarnowski never stayed away from this
volunteer activity. This is confirmed by the fact that in Kraków,
Radom or Warsaw, through personal choice they became presidents
of the agrarian societies.
In addition three members of my own
generation (XIX), Zdzisław
from Dzików, Stanisław
from Wróblewice and Jan-Józef from Chorzelów, were elected to
the parliament from Galicia. During the times, when Poles were
participating in the Austrian government in Vienna, which
constantly was looking for this kind of support, I too entered
this service, first in the administration and later in the
diplomatic corps. After the Polish revival, the year 1920 gave
the youngest generation of the Tarnowski the possibility to
fulfil the sacred soldier’s duty for their country. Ten
volunteered to defend Poland against the Russian attack, and
with pride, they brought back 7 Medals for valour. “
Unfortunately, the regained freedom lasted
only about twenty years. Already on September 1 1939, Germany
invaded from the west, and some two weeks later Russia attacked
from the east. As always, the Tarnowski were ready to defend
their country. Over the next six years, they fought and died on
all fronts for Poland’s freedom, while some of them were locked
up in German and Russian camps, and others simply disappeared
during the turmoil of war. It was all for nothing, since after
Germany’s capitulation, Poland never regained its real freedom,
being within the Soviet Union’s orbit. The consequences of the
war were tragic, as with the changes of Poland’s borders and the
new law on agrarian reform, we lost everything including our
ancient family residences full of souvenirs and mementos
accumulated over centuries. In addition, the communist system
caused the family to disperse, and to emigrate partly abroad.
Six years after the fall of communism, in
August 1996, many from the family in Poland and abroad gathered
in Dzików. Among the various resolutions discussed, they decided
to form an Association of the Tarnowski Family. This successful
first reunion, and a second one 4 years later drew the family
once again closer together. It also confirmed that war,
communism, emigration and all the other difficulties of modern
life didn’t destroy our spirit, and like all our ancestors
before, we are ready, wherever we live, to reach once again for
the stars
(Marcin J. Tarnowski).
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Residences:
Dzików
By Paul Tarnowski
The bulk of the information comes from the following
publications: "Tarnowski's Castle in Dzików" by Alexander
Janas and Adam Wojcik and "Castle in Dzików" by Adam
Wójcik.
The most interesting and possibly the most important moments of
the Tarnowski history happened before Dzików belonged to our
family. It took place in the XIV, XV and XVI centuries, when our
ancestors from Melsztyn, Tarnów and later from Jarosław stood
next to the kings of Poland, from father on to son, occupying
the highest positions in the kingdom.
Starting with our oldest ancestor Comes Spycimierz from Melsztyn
(around 1300) who during the time of King Władysław
Łokietek, contributed greatly to the unification of the Polish
lands and to the restoration of the Polish Kingdom. For these
services the Monarch granted Tarnów the right to become a city.
Thanks to a very favourable location on the river Vistula and
intelligent management by the Tarnowskis, especially during the
times of their greatest star, the Great Hetman Jan, Tarnów
quickly became the most attractive city and the most important
cultural and industrial centre in South-Eastern Poland. The high
position enjoyed by the Tarnowski family at the King's court and
the favourable development of Tarnów greatly contributed to
increase the family's fortune.
Ian Tarnowski (1488-1561) the first Great Hetman for life was a
prominent politician and an unequalled tactician on the field of
battle. Under his command the Polish army gained great respect
in Europe and was feared by its neighbours, making Poland's
borders very secure. Hetman gained fame and glory at Obertyn in
1531, when he soundly defeated a much superior Moldavian army
that was threatening the Polish borders.
Hetman Ian also defended Christianity against the Turks at the
head of a privately outfitted army. This deed brought him the
hereditary title of Count, awarded to him by Charles V,
Roman-German Emperor. It can be truly said at that time about
Hetman Ian that in Poland he was only second to the King.
Unfortunately his son Ian Krzysztof (1537 -1567) died with- out
leaving a son which put an end to the Hetman dynasty and Tarnów
passed on to the Ostrogski family.
Dzików was added to the Tarnowski estate in 1522 and remained so
until 1944 under 13 owners:
Jan Spytek Tarnowski (1493-1533,
1st owner), cousin of the Great Hetman, purchased the Dzików
property with a wooden castle from the Toporczyk family, in
order to consolidate the family estate in that region. Their
main family residence was located at that time in Wielowieś and
remained there for another 200 years. Worthy of mention is
that King "Zygmunt Stary" wishing to honour Jan Spytek for
services rendered to the throne, was his guest in Wielowieś with
the entire court when a plague devastated the region of Kraków
in 1543.
If one wanted to find a dark moment in the history of the
Tarnowski family, it took place in 1570. Not able to accept the
loss of their family nest Tarnów, the Tarnowskis with Stanisław
(1541-1618, 3rd owner), leading them,
conquered once again
the city of Tarnów by force. The King, exasperated by this
behaviour ordered Stanisław to give back Tarnów to the Ostrogski
family, levied a very heavy fine on him, and forced him to
renounce forever any rights to that property. He regained his
popularity at the king's court very quickly and in 1593 King
Zygmunt III Waza granted him permission to build a new town in
the vicinity of Dzików.
During the next 150 years, the Tarnowskis expanded and fortified
the castle of Dzików. During that period the Tarnowski family
greatly contributed to the development of the new town that took
the name of Tarnobrzeg. Our family strongly believed in those
days that you must develop not only the people's minds but also
their souls. The schools and churches that the family built
confirms that: secondary school, called Miechocin's Academy,
well known in the area for its high standards; a chapel in the
Dzików castle, churches in Wielowieś and Miechocin, also a
cloister and a church for the Dominican fathers in Tarnobrzeg;
the last one was erected to deposit and care for the portrait of
the Madonna from Dzików. It is at that time that the 'General
Confederation" (1734) was signed in Dzików in support of King
Stanisław Leszczyński and the freedom of Poland. Józef Mateusz
(1708-1744) the 6th squire of Dzików played a minimal role in
this treaty as he did not participate in politics. He was of
poor health and died at a young age.
The Dzików castle retained for many years, the shape, appearance
and character, it took during the rebuilding and expansion done
at the time of Jan Jacek (1720-1808, 8th owner). It is during
Jan Jacek's days that began the decorating of the rooms with old
family and national memorabilia as well as period furniture. It
added a very polished touch to the residence.
Ian Feliks (1777-1842, 9th owner), was the most important owner
of Dzików. The transformation of the castle began by his father,
Ian Jacek, was further developed and enriched by him. He
entrusted this project to an excellent Italian architect,
Francesco Maria Lancia, who was able to transform a baroque
castle into an elegant residence. He added other buildings that
complemented Dzików: horse riding school, a carriage garage,
kitchens, ice-house, and a greenhouse. He also transformed the
fortifications and moats surrounding the castle, into a romantic
and picturesque park. Ian Feliks was a lover and an expert
connoisseur of art and culture. Together with his wife Waleria,
they gathered the Dzików collection that later became famous
throughout Poland. Travelling with the family in Italy, France,
Germany and Austria, they purchased works of art from the most
outstanding European artists. I enumerate the best known from
the Italian school: Veronese, Lorenzo Lotto, Salvatore Rossa,
Annibale, Carracci, Francesco Albani, Gaspare Landi; from the
Dutch school: Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Susterman, Ian Gossart.
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The great Hetman Jan (1488-1561 )
Portrait by Bacciarelli |
Jan Felix Tarnowski (1777-1842)
Portrait by Unknown Artist |
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Standing Jan Zdzisław surrounded by his
family in Dzików Portrait by Pochwalski, 1922
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Family portraits painted by Polish artists of that period,
several old Polish paintings and a beautiful collection of
miniatures by Vincent Lesseur completed the Dzików gallery.
The archives and a very rich library where could be found
important documents dealing with the history of the family and
of the Nation, as well as old books and manuscripts, made the
Dzik6w collection one of the most interesting and beautiful in
Poland. With Ian Feliks, the political role of the Tarnowskis
changed. From being military defenders of the nation, they
became protectors and custodians of the national culture and
traditions. Even after the partition of Poland in 1772, in
spite of the fact that our country did not exist on the map of
Europe, Tarnowskis were involved in politics, sitting in
foreign parliaments, but always in defence of individual's
rights, Polish culture or the area's inhabitants; and if duty
called them to take arms, they never faltered and were always
ready to stand up and defend their country.
The last four squires of Dzików Jan Bogdan (1805-1850), Jan
Dzierżysław (1835-1894), Jan Zdzisław (1862-1937), and Artur
(1903-1984), were raised and lived in this kind of atmosphere.
The administration of such a large and diversified estate that
extended for several villages and included more than 30,000
acres of farm land, pastures, orchards and forests as well as
the breeding of various animals, was becoming more complicated
and required more expert supervision. It also included several
enterprises and workshops necessary to support the estate.
The Tarnowski family reacted positively to the changes that
revolutionized the end of the XIX and the beginning of the XX
century by modernizing their large farming and breeding
undertakings as well as their enterprises. They also added new
enterprises like a brewery, distillery, a brick-kiln and large
fish farms, these were necessary to increase the estate's
revenue to cope with rising costs and to gather capital
necessary in modernizing the estate. It is at that time that
Ian Zdzislaw, the second last squire of Dzików, installed
central heating at the castle, built an electric generating
station and made the ceiling of the large hall fire proof by
installing a metal plate.
The owners of Dzików that followed Jan Feliks also added to
the famous collection, but they rather concentrated on Polish
culture and art. Portraits by Matejko, Juliusz and Wojciech
Kossaks, Malczewski and Pochwalski were added. Later Jan
Zdzisław also obtained Mickiewicz's manuscript "Pan Tadeusz"
from his cousin Hieronim Tarnowski. That acquisition became
the most valuable piece of Polish literature in the
collection. That national treasure was miraculously saved from
being deported into Germany at the end of he second World War
and is on permanent deposit at the Ossoliński museum in
Wrocław. At the beginning of the XXth century a very
nationalistic sentiment existed throughout Poland. When a
large tract of a very beautiful forest that bordered on the
Dzików estate came on the market, Jan Zdzisław, after
consulting with the family, sold the most valuable portrait in
the Dzików collection, "the Polish Rider" by Rembrandt, to the
Frick Museum in New York because he felt compelled to acquire
this land and prevent it from falling into foreign hands.
The first World War brought great losses and destruction to
the region as the battle front crossed Tarnobrzeg several
times. However, it marked the beginning of the Polish
Republic. Our country became free and Dzik6w flowered again.
The castle and its collection had come through this cataclysm
without any major problems.
The owners of Dzików, while occupied in gathering and preserving
their Dzików collection, never forgot about the well-being of
the inhabitants of Tarnobrzeg. The good relations that
traditionally existed between the squires of Dzików and the
inhabitants of the region can be attributed to the Tarnowskis'
strong belief in respecting their responsibilities as owners and
the rights of inhabitants. The old inscription above the
entrance to Dzików seems to have guided for four centuries the
action of the Tarnowski family: "Allow us God to live in the
home of our ancestors and grant us good health and a clear
conscience". There are many examples of assistance by the
Tarnowski family to the local population in times of need. I
will remember the roles played by the wives of the last two
owners of Dzików. Zofia, the wife of Jan Zdzisław
organized free kitchens and assistance to the needy at the
hospital in Tarnobrzeg and at the castle during the first World
War. She also personally visited the sick and the wounded at the
hospital. A member of the regional government at that time
wrote: "The Tarnowskis were the greatest protectors of the
region...nobody left their estate empty handed". Rose, Artur's
wife, took in several members of the family exiled by the
Germans during the second World War. She also organized the
delivery of food to needy people in the region in spite of
orders by the German authority to the contrary. She did not
hesitate to conceal partisans while German troops occupied more
than half of the castle.
People magnificently repaid the Tarnowski family. When the fire
broke out at the castle in December 1927, many brave volunteers
took part in saving the collection. There were students and
teachers from the gymnasium, workers from Dzików and the
surrounding farms and many local people from Tarnobrzeg. The
fight to save the collection was lead by Dr. Marczak, the
librarian, because Jan Zdzisław and his family were away at the
time. Unfortunately at the height of the fire, the ceiling in
the large hall, which supposedly was fire proof, collapsed,
killing nine volunteers and seriously wounding seven. The
Tarnowski family will always remember that the people from
Tarnobrzeg saved the Dzików collection.
The Tarnowski residence remained a very happy nest for its last
squire to raise his family until the beginning of World War II.
Artur married Rose Zamoyska in 1931 and they had a daughter,
Maria and three sons Jan, Marcin and Paweł. Aside from
administering the family estate of Dzików, Artur performed
a number of public functions and was also a member of parliament
respecting the region. When Germans invaded Poland in 1939,
Artur joined the army to defend our country. He was taken
prisoner and spent the rest of the war in a prisoners' camp in
Germany. He never returned to Poland. When he was liberated by
the Allied troops he chose to remain in the west. He knew that
if he returned to Poland he would be put in prison because he
had spoken against communism while a member of parliament before
the war. Rose, his wife, left Poland in 1946 with the children
and was reunited with him in Germany, They later lived in
Belgium from where they permanently emigrated to Canada and
established themselves in Montreal, Quebec.
I would like to emphasize that Artur strongly believed that his
obligations as the owner of Dzików did not stop when he left
Poland. In spite of his limited means as an emigrant to Canada,
on several occasions he helped' inhabitants of Tarnobrzeg in
need, and when the tower on top of the Dominican Church in
Tarnobrzeg was damaged by heavy winds in 1958, he personally
financed most of the repairs. His great dream until the end was
to once again reunite the Tarnowski collection at the Dzików
castle and add to it works of art owned by other branches of the
Tarnowski Family. He corresponded with the Communist Authorities
in Poland on that subject but without results. Artur died in
Montreal on December 19, 1984 and his ashes have been brought
back to the family crypt under the Dominican Church in
Tarnobrzeg.
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Dzików at the end of the XIX century
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Front |
Back
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Wedding of Artur and Rose Tarnowski
July 15, 1931, last Squire of Dzików
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New Altar in
Dzików Chapel
sculpted by Jan Woynarowski |
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Dzików, 2001
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Jaś and
Marychna Tarnowski, 2001 |
Jaś, known as Głowa, Artur's oldest son, returned to Poland in
the early 90's and established himself in Warsaw. He
represents the Dzików Branch in all family matters in Poland
and he is trying to realize Father's last wishes, reuniting
the Tarnowski collection in Dzików and making it accessible to
the local community so those who sacrificed their lives in the
Dzik6w fife did not do so in vain.
After the end of World War II, Agricultural reforms took away
from the Tarnowski Family the entire estate. The collection
was cast away to libraries and museums in Warsaw, Krakow,
Lancut and Rzeszow. In the post-war chaos many valuable
objects and old books were lost or destroyed. The castle and
the surrounding buildings as well as the park were taken over
by an agricultural technical school. The castle seems to have
survived the last 45 years under the school's care in
reasonably good condition. Much worse could have happened and
it could have turned into ruins, like Rudnik and many other
residences in Poland.
Since Jaś' return to Poland and the beginning of procedures to
recover the family estate, only the paintings for which the
family had deposit slips from the National museums, have been
returned to the Tarnowskis. The ownership of the Mickiewiez
manuscript "Pan Tadeusz" by the family was only confirmed
thanks to the Director of the Ossolineum in Wrocław. It is for
that reason that the Tarnowski family has decided to leave it
in Wroclaw as a permanent deposit. The founding of a Museum in
Tarnobrzeg has allowed Jaś to leave there a number of family
paintings that have been returned and thus make them
accessible to the local inhabitants.
Administrative procedures undertaken by Jaś to recover the
family estate and Dzików have been fruitless and the court
procedures have been going on for years without any results
either. However, in the summer of 2000 it appeared that
Dzików's dossier might get resolved. The highest court in the
area had stated that Dzików, the surrounding buildings and the
park had been taken away from the Tarnowski Family illegally.
During the family Reunion in 2000, the three Tarnowski
brothers, Jaś, Marcin and Pawel, met with Tarnobrzeg's
authorities and emphatically stated that in case the castle is
returned to the family, the Technical school will not be
evicted and the family intends to gradually reunite the
Dzików collection and establish a museum for it in the
castle. We also stated that we could not realize this project
alone because the family does not dispose of sufficient
capital for such an undertaking and that we propose to create
a Foundation, with the family donating Dzików and the entire
Tarnowski collection while the governments, national, regional
and municipal must ensure the installation of the museum and
its operation. The mayor of Tarnobrzeg informed us at that
time that new premises are under construction for the school
and that by the end of 2002 the Technical School will
gradually vacate the premises.
Since then Jaś' and Marychna's efforts to obtain a decision
from the Wojewoda (regional government) concerning Dzików have
fallen on deaf ears. Similarly, there has been no reaction
from Tarnobrzeg's Authorities to our proposal of creating a
foundation. Tarnobrzeg has only allowed the restoration and re
consecration of the chapel in Dzik6w.
At the outset of 2001, the interest of local people increased
and lead to the creation of the Association "Dzików". Its main
purpose is to restore the. Dzików castle and create a museum for
the Tarnowski collection. Senator Dr. D. Kreczek, Vice-Mayor
Tadeusz Zych and Jan Wojnarowski are at the head of that
Association. Thanks to Mr. Jan Wojnarowski's work, his
organizational skills and his perseverance the project of
restoring the chapel in Dzik6w has been completed. He personally
sculpted the new altar from an oak tree because the original
altar could not be removed from the Dominican Church in
Tamobrzeg.
The financial support for this project came from the local
population, from the Association of the Tarnowski Family and
from individual members of the family: Rose Tarnowski, Lula
Markowska, Marys Siemieńska, Wilek and Rose Siemieńscy, Stach
Siemieński, Jaś Tarnowski, Marcin, Tomasz, Michał, and Artur
Tarnowski, Yolande, Paul, Julia and John Tarnowski.
The official consecration of the Chapel took place during a
ceremonial mass on May 25,2001 in the presence of dignitaries,
several members of the Tarnowski family, and many local
citizens. The Association "Dzików" and the Director of the
Tarnobrzeg Museum organized a three-day exhibit in the large
hall of the Dzików castle where they were able to show a few
well-chosen valuable documents, old books and major portraits
from the Tarnowski collection. These were brought in from
National Museums thanks to the influence of Senator Dr. Kleczek.
The three day exhibit proved very popular with the local
population. Maybe it will stir public opinion and speed up the
decision about Dzików.
In addition, Jaś and Marychna are conducting four separate court
cases dealing with the return of the portion of the Dzików
collection that has been taken to the National Library in
Warsaw, the Library of the Jagielloński University in Kraków and
the museums in Lańcut and Rzeszow. Jaś received an early
Christmas gift from the National Library in Warsaw in a
statement by which they were confirming ownership by the
Tarnowski family of all the articles in their possession that
were taken from Dzików after the second World War, and that they
were proposing to sign a document confirming the deposit. Jaś
agreed immediately and has since received the document. We
sincerely hope that this will influence other institutions to
follow suit.
The decrease in the price of sulphur in the 90's on the world
markets has resulted in the closing of the mine in Tarnobrzeg
and the loss of the most important employer in the area.
Tarnobrzeg has deteriorated ever since. Jaś has recently
suggested the possibility of Dzików becoming an extension of the
Jagiellonski University in Kraków. It is hoped that this,
coupled with the restoration of the Dzików castle to house the
Tarnowski collection, will spark new interest in the area and
improve Tarnobrzeg's position for the future.
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Końskie
By Marcin Brzeziński
The
history of Końskie is closely linked to three great Polish
Families: Odrowąż, Małachowski and Tarnowski. The first ruled
over those lands from the XII to the XVII century. Końskie's
period of grandeur began when Jan Małachowski, the King's Grand
Chancellor, acquired the settlement and made it the centre of
his estate.
Thanks to his efforts, Końskie was granted the right to become a
city in 1748. A period of rapid expansion followed. New
manufacturing plants were opened, large steel smelters and a
foundry were erected just outside the city limits. Special
gunsmiths were brought in from Bavaria to manage the pistol
factory established by Ian Małachowski.
The
Chancellor began the construction of a magnificent palace to
replace the old residence. During his lifetime only two wings of
the palace and a pavilion in the park that are still in use
today were completed. The centre, which was to be the main
element of this project, was never built.
Unfortunately the heirs of Ian Małachowski were not skilled
administrators and one of the largest fortunes in contemporary
Poland started to decline rapidly. The majority of institutions
and establishments had been leased to Jewish interests, large
tracts of forests had been cut down without a re-seeding
program, and the property was heavily mortgaged. Włodzimierz
Małachowski, the Chancellor's great-grand son, declared
bankruptcy in 1870 and the estate was auctioned.
It
is at this moment that the Tarnowski Family became involved in
the history of Końskie. Jan Dzierńysław Tarnowski of Dzików, his
brother professor Stanisław of Rudnik, their cousin Jan
Stanisław Tarnowski of Chorzelów, and Franciszek Mycielski,
decided to save the Końskie estate by purchasing it for 250,000
rubles. Their decision was dictated by two reasons: primarily
because Końskie was their mother's home (Gabriela Małachowska -Tarnowska
was Jan Dzierżysław's and Prof Stanisław's mother), and because
they wanted to prevent the estate from falling into German
hands.
Jan
Dzierżysław was a good businessman and an even better
administrator. He very quickly and successfully rebuilt and
modernized the commercial establishments on the estate. This
allowed him to buyout his partners within 14 years and became
the sole proprietor of an estate that included a magnificent
residence and park in Końskie, a second residence in
Modliszewicach, foundries in Stąporków, Wąsosz and Gosan, iron mines
in Osicowa Góra i Smarków, paper mill in Stadnicka Wola, several
flour mills, saw mills, a brewery and 20,000 acres of forests
and agricultural lands.
In
1893, his son, Juliusz (1864-1917) took over a very well-managed
estate, which included industrial establishments that could
compete with the best in Poland. The new owner, a graduate from
the mining Academy of Loeben, greatly modernized the foundry of
Stąporków which employed 800 miners and became the pride possession
of the Końskie estate. It was eventually purchased by the Lilpop
Brothers from Warsaw.
Juliusz was interested in many matters outside the local affairs
in Końskie. From 1901 he presided over the association
assisting in trade and commerce with Russia. Also from 1899 to
1910 he sat on the board of the association of industrial Mines
and Foundries in Poland. These organizations included amongst
their members representatives of large financial institutions
and technical associations.
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Juliusz
Tarnowski, 1864 - 1917 |
Anna Branicka Tarnowska |
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Wedding of Władysław
Tarnowski, last squire of Końskie, to Maria Wielopolska
26/09/1928, |
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Juliusz
Tarnowski married twice. His first wife, Gabriela Starzeńska
left him no children. Anna Branicka, his second wife, came
from Stawiszcze in the Ukraine. They settled permanently in
Końskie at the beginning of 1900. Anna remodeled the
private apartments and the guest rooms in the residence. Under
her influence the home and gardens took on new life. Anna and
Juliusz had four children: Władysław (1899-1941), Juliusz
(1901-1989), Gabriela (1903-2000), and Stefan (1906-1943). They
became very involved with and supported various organizations
and associations in Końskie, even presiding over a number of
them. They organized the volunteer fire brigade, founded the
expansion of St. Michael's Church and spearheaded the
establishment of the first high school in Końskie. In 1911
Juliusz was one of the first large landowners in Poland to
establish a foundation to ensure that upon retirement each
worker on the estate received a suitable pension. He was amongst
the founders and sat on the advisory committee of the School of
Agriculture in Warsaw; also he presided over the Regional
Farmers Association located in Radom. His wife was just as
active socially, organizing lotteries for charitable
organizations, running a summer camp for the children of mines
in the area and even financing personally a residence for
orphaned children.
During the
four years of the first World War, Russian, German and Austrian
officers were successively stationed at the Tarnowski residence.
Anna, very conscious of the suffering, organized a field
hospital in the park for wounded soldiers and fugitives from the
war. At that time Juliusz Tarnowski became involved with the
Regional Citizenship and Rescue Committees, both organizations
assisting and protecting local civilians from compulsory
deportation. He died in 1917 at age of 53 and never enjoyed a
free Poland. He willed half of the estate to his wife and the
remainder to his children. At that time the estate included: the
main residence Końskie and the second home in Modliszewice,
12,500 hectares of forests and agricultural lands; the
farmsteads of Modliszewice, Pomorzany, Karolinów, Browary,
Koczwara, Kościeliska and Dyszów; commercial establishments -two
saw mills, two turpentine producing plants, two foundries, an
iron mine, a quarry, a brick-kiln and seven flour mills.
For 18
years Anna administered the estate with the assistance of a
Family Committee. In October, 1935, Władysław, their oldest son,
took over and gradually became the sole proprietor after buying
out his sister Gabriela Tarnowska Potocka and his brother
Stefan. Juliusz, Władysław's second brother, received the
property of Sucha, near Kraków, as his share.
During the
period between the two World Wars about a third of the
agricultural land and forests was parceled off and sold in order
to finance modernization of the commercial establishments and
repairs caused by the war. In 1936 the estate had an area of
8,000 hectares. All those lands were taken over by the
communist government in 1945, as well as two residences, all
commercial establishments and farmsteads.
Władysław
Tarnowski, the last squire of the Końskie estate, began his
adult life by participating in the Bolshevik War. He joined the
First Krechowiecki Regiment of Lancers in November, 1918, and
was later decorated for bravery. He completed his secondary
education in 1920 at the Stanisław Kostka Academy in Warsaw and
later graduated from the Kraków Business School. In 1928
he married Maria Wielopolska from Chrobrza. She bore him three
sons: Juliusz (1929), Marek (1933) and Alexander (1934).
The young
couple, like their parents, became very quickly involved with
the social economical and cultural life in Końskie. They
supported schools, sports and charitable organizations in the
area with generous donations. Władysław took great pride in
presiding over the voluntary fire brigade. Maria assisted
her mother-in-law with the shelter for orphaned children and the
collection of food and clothing for the poor through the
organization of St. Vincent and Paul. She also worked at the
Polish Red Cross In Końskie.
The second
World War brought ruin to the rural economy. It started in
Końskie in early September, 1939. Władysław, fearing the worst
for his family, decided to flee East, which proved to be a fatal
decision. He was arrested in Minsk and jailed by the
Russians. He was never heard from again, dying most likely in
one of the camps for Polish officers.
Maria
Tarnowska luckily made it back with her three sons and decided
to settle in Modliszewice because by then the main residence was
already occupied by the Germans. She lived in Modliszewice
until the fall of 1942, when the German authorities exiled her.
She then moved in with the Potocki Family in Chrząstów. At
the end of the war, in the fall of 1945, Maria moved permanently
with her sons to Kraków. She remained there until her death in
1979. After the second World War Juliusz and Róża Tarnowski and
Gabriela Potocki emigrated from Poland. When the communist
government took over the Końskie estate in 1945, little was left
in the main residence. Most of the furniture and the
valuable paintings had been taken away during the occupation by
the Germans and the balance had been plundered in early 1945 by
the local population. A few family portraits that have
been preserved can be seen at the Museum in Oporów. The town's
administration moved into one wing of the main residence in
Końskie, the other being occupied by the municipal library.
After the
fall of communism in the early 1990s, Juliusz, Władysław's
oldest son, initiated several court cases to recover the family
estate. To this day, he has recovered less than 100 hectares of
land. Several cases are currently in front of the courts
each representing a specific part of the estate. The case
involving the recovery of the main residence in Końskie is being
reviewed not only by the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland, but
also by the International Tribunal for the protection of the
individual's rights in Strasbourg. Juliusz Tarnowski underlines
that "Today, it is still too early to plan the future of the
Końskie estate. First we must resolve the case of ownership".
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Rudnik
By Adam Tarnowski
In 1898, when Poland was still under Austrian domination,
Sophie Honpesch sold the Kopecko-Rudnicki estate to Rose
Branicka-Tarnowska, wife of professor Stanisław. Upon their arrival, the couple was very
cordially greeted with bread and salt by the residents of the
estate and the town of Rudnik who had decorated the entrance
gate with their coat of arms and flowers.
The estate covered an area of 6,500 hectares of pastures and
forests and included a mansion, a chapel, stables, and a large
grain warehouse. The home was located 2 km from the town of
Rudnik on the San River in the southeastern part of Poland.
The Rudnik mansion was originally a one-story building and was
first referred to in 1750. During the first half of the XIX
century a second floor was constructed and towards the end of
that century a wing was added. Next the residence was
remodeled in a gothic style by adding two towers and a number
of ornate balconies. Today's shape and neo-classical
appearance of Rudnik is owed to the rebuilding project that my
grandfather, Hieronim Tarnowski began in 1913.
Since my great-grandfather, Stanislaw Tarnowski, was professor
and rector of the Jagiellońlski University, he spent most of
his time in Kraków, only accompanying his wife and the
children to Rudnik during the summer. Shortly before World War
I, Hieronim took over the administration of the estate and
eventually became its owner in 1920. He was an excellent
administrator, erecting a generating station, a mill and adding
a chapel. He brought in telephone lines and running water,
adding at the same time modern bathrooms. Finally he installed
new kitchens in the basement, from which ready-to-serve food
was shipped by special elevator to the dining room. At that
time the family also brought in specialists to Rudnik, such as
a doctor and a pharmacist, which also benefited the residents
of the region. It should be mentioned that each worker at the
estate was fully covered for medical care at the owner's
expense. He also had an allowance for personal needs in terms
of firewood, crops and food. In addition he could count on the
owner's assistance in case of a disaster or major sickness.
During World War I, the Russian front passed directly through
Rudnik, resulting in considerable damage to the estate and a
lot of suffering to the local population. My Grandfather
Hieronim took part in the campaign of 1914-18 against the
Russians. Upon his return he found the crops destroyed, a
shortage of food and much sickness amongst the local
population. To this day he and his wife, Wanda, are remembered
for the compassion that they showed the residents of Rudnik
during those difficult times. Rudnik was well known for its
hospitality and a good hunt. It was often visited not only by
members of the Tarnowski family, but also by such people of
prominence as Brother Albert Chmielowski, Bishop Pelczar from
Przemyśl, the young Polish, writer Lucjan Rydel, General Bór
Komorowski who later became the leader of the Polish
underground Army during the German occupation, and even an
Indian Maharaja. The beautiful forest
that surrounded Rudnik was well populated by large game and
guaranteed a successful hunt which was so highly valued by uncle
Zdzisław Tarnowski from Dzików.
During the II World War, only Hieronim and his mother, Rose
Tarnowska, resided in Rudnik. My father, Stanisław Tarnowski
fought in the West and his sister, aunt Sophie Tarnowska-Moss,
worked for the Polish Red Cross. Half of the home was occupied
by the German Air Force, who displayed a rather civilized
behavior. My grand- father is well remembered because of the
assistance that he provided to the Polish underground and to the
local population during the German occupation.
In July 1944 the house was occupied by the communists and on
October 30 of the same year, the authorities evicted my
grandfather from his home only allowing him to take a small
suitcase even though workers from the estate and local peasants
had intervened on his behalf. This was not only an expression of
respect and devotion for the owner but also a demonstration of
courage. It didn't help my grandfather and he was expelled
mercilessly. For a short while NKWD occupied the house.
Afterwards it was taken over by a girls school for Domestic
Sciences and finally until 1990 it was used as sleeping quarters
for students from a local trade school. During the next six
years the house was left empty while the local authorities
pondered the sale of the property to the Tarnowski family, a
period during which the house fell into disrepair.
In May 1996, with the consent of its rightful owners, namely
aunt Sophie Tarnowska-Moss and my father, Stanisław Tarnowski, I
became the new owner of Rudnik. My wife Dorota and I have
already put in a tremendous amount of work and energy to bring
the house to a livable condition. A much greater challenge
awaits us however to restore Rudnik to its prewar splendor.
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First Squire,
Professor
Stanisław Tarnowski
(1854-1917) |
Rose Branicka Spouse
to Stanisław
(1854 - 1942) |
Their son Hieronim
(1884-1945) |
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Rudnik 1913 View from the front
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Rudnik 1913 View from the
back
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top of page
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