Background
Wacław Potocki was born to a minor szlachta family, belonging to the Arian Christian sect of the Polish brethren.
Wacław Potocki was born to a minor szlachta family, belonging to the Arian Christian sect of the Polish brethren.
He was the podczaszy of Krakow from 1678 to 1685. He is remembered as one of the most important Polish baroque artists. His most famous works are: Transakcja wojny chocimskiej (also known as Wojna chocimska or The Chocim War) and his collection of epigrams, Ogród fraszek (Garden of Rhymes).
They give a vivid picture of ideas and manners among the szlachta (Polish gentry) towards the end of the Polish Golden Age, and of many political and religious conflicts.
He then worked on his estate in Łuzna in the Podkarpacie region of the Commonwealth. He participated in the fight against the Cossack uprisings in 1638, took part in the Battle of Beresteczko in 1651, and in the wars against Sweden (1656–1657).
Between 1665 and 1666 he supported the rokosz of Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski. Later he supported kings Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki and January III Sobieski.
He argued for the reform of the Commonwealth political system, and for stabilisation through the introduction of an hereditary monarchy instead of the elective monarchy.
He lived with his family until his death in 1696, and was buried in Biecz.