Stefan Potocki, voivode of Bratslav
Polish nobleman (1568–1631)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stefan Potocki (1568 – 1631) was a Polish nobleman and military commander who was palatine of Bratslav.[1] He was also starost of Felin and Kamieniec.[2]
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Stefan Potocki | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1568 |
| Died | 1631 (aged 62–63) |
| Noble family | Potocki |
| Issue | Piotr, Paweł |
Stefan, son of Mikołaj,[3] was born into the prominent Potocki family. In February 1606, he married Maria, the daughter of Ieremia Movilă.[4] In 1607, he campaigned in Moldavia to successfully place Maria's brother, Constantin Movilă, on the Moldavian throne.[5] From 1609 to 1611, he campaigned during the Polish–Swedish War and Polish–Russian War.[6] In 1612, he again entered Moldavia to support Constantin, but Stefan was captured by the Ottomans during the Battle of Cornul lui Sas.[6] He was imprisoned in the Yedikule Fortress until 1615, and his supporters had to pay a ransom of 300,000 ducats for his release.[2][7] The issue of Stefan's capture even reached Sigismund III, who requested Emperor Matthias' diplomatic assistance with the release.[6]
Stefan was a convert from Calvinism to Catholicism. He founded a Dominican convent and church in Potok Złoty where he was later buried.[8][1] As the owner of Buczacz,[7] he also led the development of fortifications in that town.[9]
Stefan is the father of writer Paweł Potocki.[10][3] Stefan is also the grandfather of archbishop Teodor Andrzej Potocki.[3]