Aleksander Wielopolski

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Aleksander Wielopolski
Noble Family	Wielopolski
Coat of Arms	Starykoń
Parents	Jozef Stanislaw Wielopolski Leona Dembinska
Consorts	Teresa Potocka Paulina Apolonia Potocka
Children	with Paulina Apolonia Potocka Zygmunt Andrzej Wielopolski Jozef Wielopolski
Date of Birth	March 13, 1803
Place of Birth	Sedziejowice
Date of Death	December 15, 1877
Place of Death	Dresden, Germany

Count (margrave, pol. margrabia) Aleksander Wielopolski (born in Sedzijowice1803 (Poland), died in Dresden (Germany)1877) was a Polish aristocrat, owner od the latifundium, 13th lord of the manor of Pinczów estate, appointed the head of Poland's Civil Administration within the Russian Empire under the rule of tsar Alexander II in 1862.

Conservative, pro-Russian, proponent of regaining of the pre-1830 authonomy of Poland, and of the emancipation of Jews. He undertook educational reform (increasing the number of Polish-language schools, establishing the Central School in Warsaw (Szkola Glowna w Warszawie) the first high level school in Russian part of Poland which played the role of an university), banking system reforms, and agricultural reform (introduction of rents instead of serfdom for peasants).

In his opinion the difficult international and internal situation of the Russian Empire would force the tsarist administration to few liberal steps toward Polish nobles. From the other side nobles should - in his opinion - accept the tsarist rule, and take part of the political life of the Empire instead of unreal cry for freedom.

His project was based on decisions of 1815 when tsar Alexander I signed the Constitution and made some promisses toward liberties for parts of Poland incorporated to Russia (so-called "Taken Territories", pol. Ziemie zabrane). Finally Wielopolski resigned of such ideas, and proposed instead: formal condemnation of November Uprising, and accordance for everlasting rule of the Romanov's dynasty over Poland, expecting from tsar restoration of Polish provincional liberties, with semi-independent government, limitation of the censorship, and closing down Russian Military Courts. His proposition, unfortunately, was rejected, and tsar decided to make some limited contribution when it was to late, and streets of Warsaw were running with blood: "No constitution, no Polish Army, nothing like political authonomy; instead administrative freedoms with nominations for Poles, not excluding Russians".

Wielopolski knew that the revolt of desperate Poles is closing, what he wanted avoid at any cost. In attempt to pacify Polish National movement, he organised conscription of the young Polish activists into Russian Army (for 20 years long service). Thus provoked the January Uprising of 1863, exactly the effect, that he wanted to avoid.

During the hottest days of Uprising Wielopolski asked for 2-month vacations from his office. Vacations were granted by Russian Royal Prince in the begining of July 1863, and on July 16 he left Warsaw heading North. Oficially he traveled to the spa at the Island of Rügen, but in fact chose an emigration, and left the country forever. He settled himself in Dresden (Saxony) where he died 14 years later.

Wielopolski had a Göttingen University Ph.D.