Aniela Radziwiłłowa née Miączyńska – third wife of Hieronim Florian Radziwiłł

Abstract

This study focuses on Aniela Radziwiłłowa née Miączyńska, third wife of Hieronim Florian Radziwiłł. The foundation for the article are letters written by Miączyńska to her husband and his family. The first part of the article introduces Hieronim Florian Radziwiłł, a well-recognised figure in Polish history. It includes a short explanation of his lineage and duties, as well as a description of his character and interests. The second part introduces Radziwiłł’s the three wives: Teresa Sapieżanka, Magdalena Radziwiłłowa née Czapska, and Aniela Radziwiłłowa née Miączyńska. Although the first two of them are well-known to researchers, the third one, Aniela, has not, as of yet, received the attention matching her role in Radziwiłł’s life. Later on, the study analyzes the history of Aniela and Hieronim Florian’s marriage. It is shown that, despite the romantic beginnings of their relationship, soon after the wedding Miączyńska was forced to fight for the attention of her husband, who was more focused on his interest in hunting than married life. Aniela’s letters help us complement the image of Hieronim Florian Radziwiłł as a husband and a household member. It also allows us to better understand women’s life in the middle of XVIII century. Lastly, it is a valuable source of information about correspondence rules at that given time. It's worth adding that the present study is only an introduction to a more extensive analysis of Aniela’s letters.