Wacław Potocki (1621-1696) was a nobleman (szlachcic), moralist, poet and writer in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He was the podczaszy of Cracow from 1678 to1685. He is remembered as one of the most important Polish baroqueartists. His most famous works are: Transakcja wojny chocimskiej (also known as Wojna chocimska or The Chocim War) and his collection of epigrams, Ogród fraszek (Garden of Rhymes). They give a vivid picture of ideas and manners among the szlachta (Polish gentry) towards the end of the Golden Age of the Commonwealth, and of many political and religious conflicts.

Biography

Wacław Potocki was born to a minor szlachta family, belonging to the Arian Christian sect of the Polish brethren. It is likely the he attended the Polish brethren Racibórz academy. After the Deluge (the Swedish invasion and occupation of Poland from 1655 to 1657), the Polish brethren were sentenced to be exiled from the Commonwealth for their support of the invading Swedes. Wacław was given a choice between exile and conversion to Roman Catholicism, and he reluctantly chose conversion. His wife, however, refused at first, and for many years he feared for her life.

He the worked on his estate in Łuzna in the Podkarpacie region of the Commonwealth. He participated in the fight against the Cossack uprisings in 1638, took part in the Battle of Beresteczko in 1651, and in the wars against Sweden (1656–1657). between 1665 and 1666 he supported the rokosz of Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski. Later he supported kings Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki and Jan III Sobieski.

He argued for the reform of the Commonwealth political system, and for stabilisation through the introduction of an hereditory monarchy instead of the elective monarchy.

When the Polish brethren were exiled after the Deluge, he supported them, and for this he was persecuted by some Catholic szlachta.

He outlived his wife and children: two of his sons died during the wars, and his daughter, rumoured to have inherited his literary talent, died young. He lived with his family until his death in 1686, and was buried in Biecz .

Works

He started writing around 1646, mostly for his own pleasure, and initially with no intenttion of publication, but he was convinced to share his works by his relative, Samuel Przypkowski. He wrote many classic poems and novels about the life of the szlachta. During his lifetime only Poczet herbów and two shorter works were published.

His most famous work, Transakcja wojny chocimskiej, was written during the period 1669–1672, and first printed in 1850. It is his biggest novel, and is generally considered to be the best epic novel written in the Commonwealth. Historically accurate, though somewhat idealizing the Polish heroes, it describes the battle of Chocim in 1621.

His epigrams were written around 1670 and 1695, and first published in 1907.

Notes

1. The date of his death is uncertain; several sources indicate earlier dates.

See also

• Jan Chryzostom Pasek