Love, Loyalty, or Duty? The Marriage of Margrave Aleksander Wielopolski and Paulina Wielopolska, née Potocka

The aim of the article is to present and discuss the marital relationship between Paulina Wielopolska née Potocka and her husband, margrave Aleksander Wielopolski and to assess whether the woman’s attitude fit the model of the 19th-century ideal wife. The basis for developing the topic is the correspondence exchanged between spouses and other family members, collected in the State Archives in Kielce, which reveals both a close emotional bond and tensions in their relationship, as well as handbooks from the 19th century.
Paulina née Potocki’s letters addressed to her husband show her concern for her partner’s health and affairs and her involvement in family life, but also reveal the difficulties resulting from Aleksander’s absence and everyday challenges. Despite emerging tensions and hidden grievances, Paulina remained loyal and devoted, as was expected from women at that time. The analysis of the couple’s relationship allows us to understand the dynamics of their relationship and Paulina’s role in Alexander’s life and decisions, at the same time constituting an example of a typical 19th-century relationship of the Polish aristocracy.