Antoni Radziwi??

Prince Antoni Henryk Radziwi??, Duke of Nie?wie? (today in White Russia) and Olyka (O?yka) (today in the Ukraine), (1775-1833) was a Polish aristocrat, musician, politician and the Duke-Governor (pol. ksi???-namiestnik) of Grand Duchy of Pozna?.

Biography

Antoni Radziwi?? was born on June 13, 1775 in Vilna to Micha? Hieronim Radziwi?? and Helena nee Prze?dziecka. In 1796 he married Louise von Hohenzollern, a niece of king of Prussia Frederick the Great. His new family convinced him that he should be a mediator between the Poles under Partitions and the Prussian authorities in Berlin. During the Napoleon's campaign in Poland in 1806 he tried to incite a Polish uprising against the French army and tried to convince Prince Józef Poniatowski to abandon his French allies and join the cause of Russia and Prussia. He failed on both occasions.

Related Topics:
June 13 - 1775 - Vilna - 1796 - Prussia - Frederick the Great - Partitions - Napoleon's - 1806 - Józef Poniatowski - Russia

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In 1815 he was sent to Pozna? as the Duke-Governor of Grand Duchy of Pozna?. Struggling between his Polish subjects and the Prussian authorities, Radziwi?? found himself with little power. He unsuccessfully tried to oppose the Germanisation campaign started by the Prussians. Shortly after the outbreak of the November Uprising he was deprived of all the powers, the Grand Duchy was abolished and its autonomy was cancelled. It was directly incorporated into Prussia and renamed Province of Posen. Antoni Henryk Radziwi?? returned to his palace in Berlin, where he died on April 7, 1833. He was buried in the Pozna? Cathedral. His children with Louise were germanised and never returned to Pozna?, however, as owners of the manor Nieborów near Warsaw and huge family estates in today's White Russia they paid frequent visits to other parts of Poland.

Related Topics:
1815 - Pozna? - Grand Duchy of Pozna? - Germanisation - November Uprising - Prussia - Province of Posen - April 7 - 1833 - Pozna? Cathedral - Nieborów - White Russia

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Antoni Radziwi?? is better known for his art patronage than for his ill-fated political career. His palaces in Berlin (later Bismarck's and Hitler's Chancellery of the Reich), Pozna? and Antonin near Ostrów Wielkopolski were known for great concerts performed by one of the most notable musicians of his times. Apart from the guitar, cello and opera concertos performed by Radziwi?? himself, among his guests were Nicolo Paganini (concert in Pozna? on May 19, 1829), Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Fryderyk Chopin and Ludwig van Beethoven. Chopin wrote his Introduction and Polonaise Op. 3 for chello and piano especially for Radziwi??. He also performed a concert in his palace in Pozna? on October 2, 1828. Ludwig van Beethoven dedicated his Ouverture Op. 115 (Zur Namensfeier) to him, while von Goethe participated in his efforts to write the music for his Faust. He was also a notable sponsor of Polish theatres and his wife opened the first public school for girls in Pozna? in 1830.

Related Topics:
Bismarck's - Hitler's - Reich - Antonin - Ostrów Wielkopolski - Nicolo Paganini - May 19 - 1829 - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Fryderyk Chopin - Ludwig van Beethoven - October 2 - 1828 - Faust - 1830

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Awarded on September 6, 1793 with the Order of the White Eagle and on December 1, 1815 with the Order of the Black Eagle, Prussia's highest decoration.

Related Topics:
September 6 - 1793 - Order of the White Eagle - December 1 - 1815 - Order of the Black Eagle

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