Prince Zdzisław Lubomirski | |
|---|---|
 Lubomirski in 1919 | |
| 23rdMayor of Warsaw | |
| In office August 5, 1916 – October 6, 1917 | |
| Preceded by | Aleksander Miller |
| Succeeded by | Piotr Drzewiecki |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1865-04-04)April 4, 1865 |
| Died | July 31, 1943(1943-07-31) (aged 78) Mała Wieś, Poland |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Occupation | Aristocrat, lawyer, politician |
Prince Zdzisław Lubomirski (pronounced[ˈʑd͡ʑiswaflubɔˈmirskʲi]; 1865–1943) was a Polisharistocrat, landowner, lawyer, a conservative politician and social activist. The Prince was chairman of the "Central Civil Committee" (Centralny Komitet Obywatelski) in 1915. From 1916 to 1917mayor of Warsaw. He was an activist of the "Real Politics Party" (Stronnictwo Polityki Realnej) and from 1917 to 1918 member of theRegency Council of the newKingdom of Poland.[1] From 1928 until 1935 member of theSenate and chairman of the "Council of Landowner Organisations" from 1931 to 1935.[2]
In 1893, Lubomirski married Maria néeBranicki, with whom he had three children: daughters Julia Maria (born 1894) and Dorota (born 1904), and son Jerzy Aleksander (born 1896). Together with his wife, he lived in a house in Warsaw district of Frascati, and in a family real estate located in the village ofMala Wies, nearGrójec.
Zdzislaw Lubomirski was born on April 4, 1865, in theRussian city ofNizhny Novgorod. He was the son of Prince Jan Tadeusz Lubomirski, and Maria néeZamoyska. Since his patriotic parents wanted their son to be raised in a Polish spirit, as a child he was sent to AustrianGalicia, where he attendedKraków's St. Anna High School. In 1883–1887, Lubomirski studied law atJagiellonian University andUniversity of Graz.[3]
In the early 20th century, Lubomirski became a well-known public figure inpartitioned Poland, due to his charity work. In 1904, he became a deputy chairman of Warsaw Association of Charity, and a curator of the Ophthalmic Institute, which provided free eye exams for the poor. Since official education in Russian-controlledCongress Poland was carried out in theRussian language, Lubomirski helped with foundingPolish language schools and libraries. He co-founded administrative and organizational foundations of the future Polish education system. He co-created an organization called Spojnia Narodowa (National Unity; 1905), and participated in meetings of teachers – members of Association of National Education.
During World War I, the prince continued his charity activities. Among others, he was chairman of such bodies, as Committee of Support of Social Work, Polish Sanitary Help Committee, and Temporary Self-Help of Landowners. On August 3, 1914, Lubomirski became a member of Civic Committee of the City of Warsaw. Since Russian oversight of this body was almost non-existent, the Civic Committee enjoyed wide autonomy. His activities were highly praised by residents of Warsaw. In August 1915, during theGreat Retreat, the armies of theGerman Empire entered Warsaw. Lubomirski refused to leave the city, and with permission of German authorities, he was named chairman of the Central Civil Committee. Under his leadership, a network of Polish language schools was created, and Lubomirski served as a mediator between Polish residents and German government (the committee was later renamed intoCentral Welfare Council). In order to win maximum autonomy for Poland, Lubomirski cooperated with the Germans. At the same time, he tried to democratize political life of the country. On July 16, 1916, with permission of German authorities, elections for Warsaw local government took place, after which Lubomirski became the mayor of the city. On December 13, 1916, Lubomirski for the first time met withJózef Piłsudski, offering him a post in the future Polish government.
On November 5, 1916, the emperors of Germany andAustria-Hungary issued the so-calledAct of 5th November, in which they promised an independent Polish state (see alsoKingdom of Poland (1916–18)). A year later, on September 16, 1917, the Germans created a provisional government of Poland, theRegency Council, led by Prince Lubomirski,[4] one of its three members along with ArchbishopAleksander Kakowski, and Józef Ostrowski. The council had its first meeting at Warsaw'sRoyal Castle on October 27, 1917.[1]
On October 7, 1918, on initiative of Prince Lubomirski, Polish declaration of independence was announced. Seven days later, the firstPolish Army soldiers pledged allegiance to the Polish flag. Lubomirski himself regarded Józef Piłsudski as an excellent politician and statesman, and supported Pilsudski's nomination for the post of the head of state (seeNaczelnik Panstwa). On November 10, 1918, Lubomirski welcomed Pilsudski at Warsaw's Rail Station, and four days later, Pilsudski became the Polish head of state.
In the early 1920s Lubomirski stayed away from political life. He decided to return to politics after theMay Coup. On May 13, 1926, he talked with Piłsudski atWarsaw East Rail Station. Soon afterwards, he was among four men considered for the post ofPresident of Poland, but refused to accept the nomination. In 1928–1935, Lubomirski was a senator of theNonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government, and a chairman of two Senate commissions – foreign affairs and military. He frequently participated in different international events, such as 1929 funeral of MarshalFerdinand Foch.
In 1930, Lubomirski resigned from the Senate in protest against theBrest trials, but Prime MinisterWalery Sławek did not accept the resignation. Lubomirski disliked the so-calledcolonels’ regime, and in the late 1930s, he organized several secret meetings in which the political situation of theSecond Polish Republic was discussed. Thesanacja government was aware of this, and blocked Lubomirski's run for Senate election in 1938. Meanwhile, Lubomirski continued his charity activities as a member of several civic organizations.
In September 1939, during theSiege of Warsaw, Lubomirski actively participated in the Civic Committee, headed byStefan Starzynski. In the early months ofGerman occupation of Poland, he worked on creating an underground government under GeneralJuliusz Rómmel, in which he was to be foreign minister. It was never created, as Polish leaders decided to open thegovernment-in-exile, first in Paris and since summer 1940, in London. Lubomirski decided to stay in occupied Poland. On November 10, 1942, he was arrested by theGestapo, and spent two months in prison. During this time, his health deteriorated, and he never recovered. Lubomirski died on July 31, 1943, in his real estate in Mała Wieś nearGrójec. He was buried in a parish church at Bielsko Duże.
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