Jerzy Ossoliński
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| Jerzy Ossoliński | ||
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| Noble Family | Ossoliński | |
| Coat of Arms | Topór | |
| Parents | Jan Zbigniew Ossolinski Anna Firlej |
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| Consorts | Izabella Daniłowicz | |
| Children | with Izabella Daniłowicz Franciszek Ossoliński Urszula Brygida Ossolińska Helena Tekla Ossolińska Anna Teresa Ossolińska |
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| Date of Birth | December 15, 1595 | |
| Place of Birth | Sandomierz | |
| Date of Death | August 9, 1650 | |
| Place of Death | Warsaw | |
Prince Jerzy Ossoliński (1595-1650) was a Polish szlachcic, Crown Court Treasurer from 1632, voivode of Sandomierz from 1636, Reichsfürst Imperial Prince since 1634, Crown Deputy Chancellor from 1639, Great Crown Chancellor from 1643, starost of Bydgoszcz (1633), Lubomel (1639), Puck and Bolim (1647), magnate, politician and diplomat. Famous for being extensively educated, skillful politician and speaker.
He was sent with diplomatic missions to the Pope in Rome in 1633. He negotiated with Brandenburgians of Duchy of Prussia in 1635 and led another diplomatic mission to Emperor Ferdinand II and his parliament in Regensburg (Polish Ratyzbona) in 1636. As a leader of the pro-Habsburg faction at the royal court, he found an ally in the second wife of Władysław IV Waza, Cecilia Renata of Austria, daughter of Ferdinand II. In 1639 and 1641 he once again negotiated with envoys from the Duchy of Prussia. A Catholic, he opposed Protestants and advocated limiting their rights and privileges. In his pro-Habsburg and anti-Protestant stance he was allied with Chancellor Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł and Queen Cecilia Renata, first wife of Władysław.
In 1643 he was appointed Chancellor of the Crown. He often supported king Władysław IV Waza from the House of Vasa, arguing for increasing monarch power, although he was known for limiting and withdrawing his support if he knew it was impossible to win. He was among the few who supported Władysław plans in late 1640s to wage an offensive war on the Ottoman Empire. He had few friends among the lesser szlachta, whom he mostly disliked and treated the Sejm and regional sejmiks the 'necessary evil', although he rarely broke any laws.
From 1644 he switched his alignment from pro-Habsburg to pro-French and supported the second marriage of King Władysław with Ludwika Maria Gonzaga. During his life he became the enemy of Adam Kazanowski and Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, whose power diminished with the marriage between Władysław and Cecylia in 1637. Rival of bishop and chancellor Piotr Gembicki, whom he eventually forced to retire from politics in 1642, receiving his position of Great Crown Chancellor.
He was not the wealthiest of magantes, his possessions were fairy small - compared to those of Radziwills or Wisniowieccy's, but almost none of them were mortaged or loaned. In 1635 he funded the expansion of his family castle in Ossolin. Between 1639-1642 he funded the palace in the capital city of Warsaw.
After the death of Władysław IV in 1648 he supported the election of his half brother John Casimir.
Ossoliński also was in favour of treaties with the Cossacks, he took part in the negotiations and was an important contributor to the Treaty of Zborów in 1649.
He was a well regarded speaker and orator (he served twice as the Speaker of the Sejm in 1631 and 1635). He was also an author of:
He also wrote the diaries of the embassy to Germany (published in 1877) and to Rome (1883).
Brother of Krzysztof Ossoliński (1587-1645), voivode of Sandomierz (1638), and Maksymilian Ossoliński (1588-1665), chorąży sandomierski (1624), Deputy Court Treasurer.
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