Zofia Potocka

Europe

Zofia was reportedly a sensational success when being introduced to the aristocracy by her spouse in the drawing room receptions of Europe in the palaces of Berlin and Hamburg, Vienna, Rome, Venice and, most famously, in Paris. She was celebrated as "The most beautiful woman in Europe" and known for her expression: "My eyes aches". Her beauty as well as her ability to improvise herself out of difficult situations resulted in widespread admiration. She further gathered notoriety by engaging in affairs with powerful personalities. She was regarded as fashionable at every party in high society in the cities they visited, and was courted by monarchs and ministers.

At the beginning of their European tour, the couple visited Warsaw. In early March 1781, she was called to court to be introduced to King Stanisław II Augustus. After Warsaw, they visited Berlin, where Zofia was introduced to the King of Prussia Frederick II. In the resort town of Spa, Zofia was introduced to the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, who was reportedly so fascinated and impressed by her that he ordered Mozart to compose music on the Turkish harem theme. In one of his letters to his sister, the French queen Marie Antoinette, Joseph II recommended the Witte couple to her.

Zofia saw Marie Antoinette at Petit Trianon, which at that time was being rebuilt in a landscaped park. This was possibly what inspired Zofia later in life to create a similar park. Reportedly, Marie Antoinette was charmed by her and spoke of Zofia as her adopted daughter. While staying in Paris, Zofia became the lover of both of the French king's brothers; the Count of Provence, later King Louis XVIII, and the Comte d'Artois, the future French king Charles X respectively.

In Paris, on 17 November 1781, Zofia gave birth to a son. After this news reached the Polish king, she traveled to meet him at Kamianets where he congratulated her father-in-law, still commandant of the fortress, on the birth of a grandson. The king also promoted the man to the rank of Lieutenant General, and volunteered to be the godfather of the newborn.

Russia

In 1782, the couple returned to Kamianets-Podilskyi, visiting Vienna, Moravia, Northern Hungary and Galicia on the way. In 1785, her husband succeeded his father as commandant of Kamianets, making Zofia first lady of Podolia.

During the Russo-Turkish War, she entered a relationship with Prince Potemkin, the Russian military leader and favorite of Catherine the Great. They remained close until his death. At least during the Siege of Khotyn, Zofia's husband managed Potemkin's net of agents in Southern Poland as well as his spy contacts within Chotin. In practice, Zofia at least assisted him in managing these contacts, as her elder sister was married to the Turkish pasha of Chotin. Potemkin appointed Józef de Witte governor of Cherson, and gave Zofia the informal task of managing the Turkish-Polish relations. In 1791, she accompanied Potemkin to Saint Petersburg, where she was introduced to the nobility as his official mistress.

Later life

In February 1796, Zofia arrived in Uman and announced her divorce from Józef De Witte. On 17 April 1798, in Tulchyn, she married Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki, who had divorced his wife in order to marry her. The wedding ceremony was conducted with the participation of the Orthodox priest and Catholic priest in an Orthodox Church.

During her second marriage, Zofia had three sons; Alexander (born in 1798), Mieczyslaw (born in 1800) and Boleslaw (born in 1805), and two daughters; Sophia, and Olga (1802-1861). During the marriage, she also had an affair with her stepson, Szczęsny Jerzy Potocki, who may have been the biological father of her son Boleslaw. She also had an affair with the Russian governor, Nikolai Novosiltsov. Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki indulged in mysticism and came under the influence of Polish "Illuminati" and died on 15 March 1805, without having time to say goodbye to her. As a widow, she was only entitled by law to her dowry in addition to a small portion of her late spouse's fortune. This would have impoverished her, as she had brought no dowry to the marriage. However, she managed to inherit almost all of her late husband's fortune with the assistance of her stepson and the Russian governor, both of whom were her lovers.

During this latter part of her life, Zofia reportedly occupied herself with the upbringing of her children and with charitable activities. Looking back on her time in Russia, she described the late Potemkin as a brother.

Death

In the early 1820s, her health deteriorated. The mysticism of the Polish Illuminati was said to have affected her health. She left for Berlin to consult German doctors, where she died on 24 November 1822, aged 62.

She had left instructions to be buried in Uman. Zofia's embalmed body was clothed in a beautiful dress and placed in a carriage, one hand holding a bouquet and a fan in the other. Her body was transported in such a way across the border. In Uman, an elaborate funeral ceremony was conducted out of respect for the charitable works of her later years. As Zofia's coffin was carried 10 miles along the road, barrels of resin were placed along the way for lighting torches as the procession passed that the night before a huge crowd.

Zofia was buried in the crypt under the Basilian church. In 1877, her body was disturbed when the church was badly damaged by an earthquake. Her remains were reburied in Talne along with those of her youngest daughter Olga, where they still rest in the crypt of the church.