Mikołaj Bazyli Potocki

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Mikołaj Bazyli Potocki, (1712-1782), Starost of Kanev, benefactor of the Pochayiv Lavra

Deputy to Sejm, master of the Buczacz castle, member of the Confederation of Bar. (In)famous for his many excesses and habits, immortalised in many Polish and Ukrainian books and legends (especially those of the 19th century). Zygmunt Krasiński in his Nieboskia Komedia referred to him as "him, starost, women shot on the trees and baked Jews alive" ("Ów, starosta, baby strzelał po drzewach i Żydów piekł żywcem").

Near the end of his life, after the first partition of Poland, where many of his lands have passed under Austrian rule, he was ordered to disband his private army. He then attempted to create an image of pious and almost saint person, moving to a monastery and sponsoring many religious buildings and organisations - nonetheless, even until his last years, he retained a harem.