Sapiegų giminės politika Augusto III valdymo metais

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Sapiegų giminės politika; Augustas III, 1696-1763 (Frýdrichas Augùstas II, Friedrich August II); Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); Sapiega family policy; Reign of Augustus III.

ENThe reign of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Augustus III was more fruitful for the Sapieha family than the reign of his father, Augustus II. The Sapiehas, despite numerous conflicts, not only managed to retain their political position, but also to strengthen it. This was possible owing to the far-sighted and prudent politics the Sapieha family conducted during the reign of Augustus III. The brothers Michał Antoni and Józef Stanislaw were the family’s leaders at that time. Such a small number of leaders in comparison with the period of Augustus IIs reign contributed to the consolidation of the family, and to decisions being made and carried out more quickly. In 1738, the Sapieha family introduced a sudden change in their politics - they abandoned the ranks of the anti-monarchist opposition and began collaborating with the royal court. There was no point continuing to act in the anti-monarchist opposition in a situation where the Sapieha family were forced to defend themselves against the Radziwiłł family, who held the dominant position in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In the Sejm of 1738, a coalition was set up against the Radziwiłłs, which the Sapieha and Czartoryski families, the Voivode of Mstsisław, Michał Józef Massalski, and the Lithuanian Treasurer Jan Sołłohub all joined. As a result of help by the coalitionists in the years 1741-1743, the Sapieha family were able to recover their estates, which had been lost after the deaths of Kazimierz Lew and Antoni Kazimierz Sapieha. In the years 1744-1748, the politics of the Sapieha family were based on collaboration with the Czartoryski and Radziwiłł families, as it was these two families that had emerged as leaders in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In order to preserve their position, the Sapieha family decided to enter an alliance with the Radziwiłł family.Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł counted on taking possession of his sister Tekias estate. This led to a conflict between him and the Sapieha family. The grandchildren of Michał Wiśniowiecki also asserted their claim to the legacy, backed up by the support of Michał Fryderyk Czartoryski. Tekla’s death intensified the conflict with the Radziwiłł and Czartoryski families. As a consequence of political miscalculations, the Sapieha family came into conflict simultaneously with the Radziwiłł and Czartoryski families. Differences of opinion amongst the Sapiehas’ leaders also emerged. Michał Antoni was in favour of a political alliance with the Czartoryskis, and Józef Stanisław with the Radziwiłłs. The position of Michał Antoni Sapieha prevailed after he married Aleksandra nėe Czartoryska in 1748 and joined the Familia. The independent aristocratic faction of the Sapiehas ended its existence and began to be active among the ranks of the Familia. This had its positive side in terms of the growth of the Sapiehas’ political importance in' the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1752, with the support of the Familia, Michał Antoni Sapieha gained the position of Deputy Chancellor of Lithuania, and Aleksander Michał Sapieha took the position of Voivode of Polotsk. The Sapiehas remained loyal to the Familia after its rift with the royal court in 1754. Everything changed in 1758, when Michał Antoni Sapieha joined the ranks of supporters of the royal court. Among the political goals of this break were attempts by Michał Antoni Sapieha to establish a third force, independent of the Radziwiłłs and Czartoryskis. It was planned to be achieved by gaining direct influence - promised by the royal court - over the free distribution of vacant offices in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.An alliance with the royalty-supporting Radziwiłłs permitted the Sapiehas to take control of the Lithuanian Tribunal in 1759. The Radziwiłłs were not interested in the Sapiehas’ advancement, however. The outbreak of the conflict with the Radziwiłłs led to the political isolation of the Sapiehas in 1760. Owing to the intervention of the royal court midway through 1760, it became possible to enter into collaboration with the Radziwiłłs, which lasted until the end of Augustus Ill’s reign. The death of Michał Antoni Sapieha at the end of 1760 weakened the position of the Sapiehas. The royal court was interested in preserving the aristocratic faction of the Sapiehas. In 1762, in order to strengthen their political position, Aleksander Michał Sapieha was appointed to the position of Lithuanian Field Hetman. [From the publication]