| Karol Stanisław "Panie Kochanku" Radziwiłł | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 27, 1734 Nieśwież |
| Died | November 21, 1790 (aged 56) Biała |
| Spouse | Maria Karolina Lubomirska Teresa Karolina Rzewuska |
| Children | None |
| Parents | Michał Kazimierz "Rybeńko" Radziwiłł Urszula Franciszka Wiśniowiecka |
Prince Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł (Lithuanian: Karolis Stanislovas Radvila; 1734–90) was a Polish-Lithuanian szlachcic, voivod of Vilnius and starosta of Lwów. He is frequently referred to by his idiolect "Panie Kochanku" ("My Dear Sir") to distinguish him from his earlier namesake (1669–1719).
Radziwiłł held many posts in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. From 1752 he was Master Swordbearer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. On 3 August 1757 he was awarded the Order of the White Eagle and was one of that decoration's first recipients. From 1762 he was voivod of Vilnius.
In 1767 he became Marshal General of the Radom Confederation and, the following year, Marshal of the Bar Confederation. After its fall in 1772 he emigrated, but in 1777 returned to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and resumed all his previous posts after having first pledged his loyalty to King Stanisław August Poniatowski, whom he had opposed.
During the Four-Year Sejm (1788–92) he was a leading opponent of reform, King Stanisław August and the Familia.
Radziwiłł was the wealthiest magnate in Poland in the second half of the 18th century, and one of the richest men in Europe. His properties included 16 cities, 683 villages and 25 Starostwos. Legends about him abounded, and he was featured in novels and poems. On the one hand, he was pictured as a drunkard and degenerate reveler; on the other, as a flamboyant character, the best representative of Sarmatism, and a great patriot. He was popular among the poorer szlachta and remains today a symbol of his era.