Concerns of the Father Sending his Sons Abroad for Education in the Light of the Correspondence of Stanisław M. Rzewuski, Voivode of Podlasie in the Years 1720–1727

The paper presents educational trips of sons: Seweryn Józef (older) and Wacław (younger) from the viewpoint of their father Stanisław Mateusz Rzewuski – the Voivode of Podlasie, later the Great Crown Hetman. Seweryn’s travel through Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and Austria took place under the custody of Marcin Kawiecki in the years 1720–1723. Knowing his son, the hetman was afraid of the results of the trip, but he did not spare his time and costs to ensure its successful accomplishment. However, he did not expect his son to cause so much trouble to him. The incident in Brussels affected the further course of the trip and forced the hetman to keep reminding the son of his expectations. Seweryn’s attitude also made the whole trip much more expensive. Less turbulent was Wacław’s trip (from circa the middle of 1724 to circa Easter of 1727), which he made on a similar route, also under Kawiecki’s custody. The hetman was satisfied with its results, but he was concerned about his son’s passion for flute playing that had emerged in the meantime. The educational trips under consideration were an example of a typical educational path of a young nobleman, which comprised home education, school lessons and travelling abroad. Their aim was to prepare sons for active participation in political life and to reinforce the family’s position in the Commonwealth.

ЗАБОТЫ ОТЦА, ОТПРАВЛЯЮЩЕГО СЫНОВЕЙ НА ОБУЧЕНИЕ ЗА ГРАНИЦУ В АСПЕКТЕ ПЕРЕПИСКИ СТАНИСЛАВА М. РЖЕВУСКОГО, ПОДЛЯШСКОГО ВОЕВОДЫ В 1720–1727 ГОДЫ

Статья представляет поездки, связанные с получением образования, сыновей Северина Юзефа (старшего) и Вацлава (младшего) с точки зрения отца Станислава Матеуша Ржевуского, Подляшского воеводы, позднее Великого гетмана коронного. Путешествие Северина через Германию, Бельгию, Францию, Италию, Австрию про- ходило под опекой Марцина Кавецкого, и длилось на протяжении 1720–1723 годов. Гетман, зная своего сына, опасался результатов этого путешествия, но и не щадил своего времени и расходов на то, чтобы оно успешно завершилось. Однако Ржевуский не ожидал, что сын доставит ему столько хлопот. Инцидент в Брюсселе повлиял на дальнейший его ход и заставил гетмана постоянно напоминать сыну о своих ожиданиях в отношении его. Поведение Северина также способствовало тому, что значительно увеличились расходы, связанные с этим путешествием. Более спокойно проходило путешествие Вацлава (примерно с половины 1724 года до Пасхи 1727 г.), которое он совершил по похожему маршруту, также под покровительством Кавецкого. Гетман был доволен его ходом, но беспокоился из-за проявившегося большого интереса сына к игре на флейте. Описанные путешествия, связанные с получением образования, были примером типичного пути образования молодого дворянина, которое состояло из домашнего обучения, обучения в школе, заграничных вояжей. Их целью была подготовка сыновей к активному участию в политической жизни и упрочению позиции рода в Речи Посполитой.

Ключевые слова: образовательное путешествие, гувернёр, Северин Жевyский, Станислав Матеуш Жевyский, Марцин Кавецкий

The paper presents educational trips of sons: Seweryn Józef (older) and Wacław (younger) from the viewpoint of their father Stanisław Mateusz Rzewuski – the Voivode of Podlasie, later the Great Crown Hetman. Seweryn’s travel through Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and Austria took place under the custody of Marcin Kawiecki in the years 1720–1723. Knowing his son, the hetman was afraid of the results of the trip, but he did not spare his time and costs to ensure its successful accomplishment. However, he did not expect his son to cause so much trouble to him. The incident in Brussels affected the further course of the trip and forced the hetman to keep reminding the son of his expectations. Seweryn’s attitude also made the whole trip much more expensive. Less turbulent was Wacław’s trip (from circa the middle of 1724 to circa Easter of 1727), which he made on a similar route, also under Kawiecki’s custody. The hetman was satisfied with its results, but he was concerned about his son’s passion for flute playing that had emerged in the meantime. The educational trips under consideration were an example of a typical educational path of a young nobleman, which comprised home education, school lessons and travelling abroad. Their aim was to prepare sons for active participation in political life and to reinforce the family’s position in the Commonwealth.