Prince Leon Sapieha’s family relations

Prince Leon Sapieha (1802–1878) came from the Kodeń line of the Sapiehas. He was the son of Aleksander Sapieha and Anna née Zamoyska. The prince’s wife was Jadwiga née Zamoyska (1806–1890), who was the daughter of Stanisław Zamoyski and Zofia née Czartoryska. After the fall of the November Uprising, the prince took refuge in Galicia, and for refusing to accept the Tsar’s amnesty his estates were confiscated. Thanks to the support of his mother, he rebuilt his economic and political position in Galicia.
In his letters, the prince informed his wife about everything that had happened to him and what he had experienced during that period. L. Sapieha surrounded his family with love and respect. He took care of their proper financial security by undertaking numerous economic activities. However, the prince’s special concern was the health of his wife and children. Of his eight children, only his son Adam survived his parents. However, all the deceased children remained in the prince’s memory, but he was most affected by the deaths of Zofia and Teresa, who had already outgrown childhood. Every memory of the deceased children, every anniversary of their death was painful for Sapieha. However, despite his own suffering, he comforted his wife.
Leon Sapieha treated his wife as a friend, confidant and advisor. He informed his wife about everything that happened to him, about the difficult decisions he had to make. He also shared his opinions about the people he had to meet.
Leon Sapieha’s relationship with his children was marked by deep attachment, care and love. This differed from the then accepted principles of strict upbringing, but the death of his children and his constant stays away from home caused Sapieha to reject the conventions of the era. Towards his son Adam, however, the prince maintained a certain severity and determination. The aim of his upbringing was to properly prepare him for the role of a father and a host.
The fall of Sapieha’s political importance in 1875 caused the prince to focus solely on family matters, and above all on caring for his grandchildren. He traveled with them and organized parties at the Krasiczyn Palace.