Jan Wielopolski

Who was Jan Wielopolski?

Count Jan Wielopolski was a Polish aristocrat and politician.

Son of castellan and voivode Jan Wielopolski and Zofia Kochanowska. He was married to Aniela Febronia Koniecpolska and Konstancja Krystyna Komorowska since 1665. His third wife Marie Anne de la Grande d'Arquien he married in July 1678 in Lwów.

He was Stolnik of the Crown since 1664, General starost of Kraków since 1667, Deputy Chancellor the Crown since 1677 and Grand Chancellor of the Crown since 1678.

Starost of Biecz, Bochnia, Nowy Targ and Dolina.

Educated in Kraków and Strasbourg. Since 1661 frequent deputy to the Sejm from Little Poland province.

He supported King Jan II Kazimierz who wanted to institute an "election vivente rege", where the king's successor was elected before the old king died. This would allow for the king to have input in the election, giving him more power.

Wielopolski was Marshal of the extraordinary Sejm in Warsaw on February 20 - May 1, 1662.

At the end of his life he was in opposition to King Jan III Sobieski.

He was deft in extending the wealth and power of the family.