Franciszek Husarzewski – szlachcic nieubogi, czyli pomyłka historyka
Franciszek Husarzewski – A Gentleman Not Impecunious or the Historian’s Error

Summary/Abstract: The history of a poor gentry family Husarzewski is an interesting example of a career and working one’s way up the ladder of consecutive ranks in the social hierarchy of the past Respublica by the family members. It was a world of poor gentry clientele, now tied up to the tails of the robe of not only a magnate, but of any wealthier neighbour who would be willing to guarantee protection and stable living. The success of the Husarzewskis rested mainly on the magnate patronage and the service at the side of subsequent rulers, in public administration and in the army. However, none of the members of the Husarzewski family took a higher office in the Saxon times. It may indicate that economic barriers, in spite of better and better family connections, were too difficult to overcome for the poorer gentry. The situation of the Husarzewski family improved substantially during the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski, when the ablest of them Aleksy Onufry, became a close collaborator of the king and owing to his connections opened to his descendants the door to further privileges.

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