Augustyn Józef Czartoryski

Who was Augustyn Józef Czartoryski?

Prince Augustyn Józef Czartoryski was a Polish noble. He was the son of Prince Adam Ludwik Czartoryski and Countess Maria Ludwika Krasińska.

After the death of his father Prince Augustyn took over the running of the Family Museum and became ordynat of the Sieniawa Ordynacja properties. On 12th August 1937, He married Princess Maria de los Dolores of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, daughter of Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Princess Louise of Orléans.

Due to the prospect of war The most precious objects were transported to Sieniawa Palace and walled up. The rest of the items were carried down to the Museum cellars, but in September as the bombs fell on Kraków Prince Augustyn and Princess Dolores, who was pregnant, decided to leave Sieniawa for a better refuge. On 18 September German troops found the cases and looted them.

After the Germans moved on, Prince Augustyn removed all the treasures to his cousin's estate in Pelkinie saving them from the Russian army, but the Gestapo traced all objects and removed all important cases from their hiding places. Soon after, Prince Augustyn and Princess Dolores were picked up by the Gestapo and put under arrest. After heavy negotiation and thanks to their Royal Italian and Spanish connections they were deported and managed to reach Spain before the end of 1939.During his exile in Spain Prince Augustyn was very active in the Polish resistance, but his poor health and his desperation had its toll on his life. He died at the age of 39 leaving his young son Adam Karol to be brought up in Spain.