CZARTORYSKI, FAMILY OF. The Czartoryski family is descended from Korygello, one of the sons of Olgerd, the founder of the Jagellonian dynasty of Poland. A eon of Korygelln, having in the early part of the 15th century become possessor of a domain called Czartorya, assumed the name of Czartoryski. His descendants in course of time came to be reckoned among the wealthiest and most Influential of the Polish nobility ; but it was not till towards the middle of the 18th century that the Czartoryskis began to take a leading part in public affairs. At that time, PRINCE CZAR Tolima (born 1696, died 1775), who had been successively castellan of Wilna, vice-chancellor of Lithuania, and (in 1752) grand-chancellor, and his brother, PRINCE Aunusxus (born 1697, died 1782), a pala tine and lieutenant-general of the army of the crown, determined to endeavour to raise the country from the state of anarchy into which it bad fallen by changing the constitution of Poland into that of a well-organised and powerful monarchy. They were both men of
considerable activity sod energy, and they held positions of great influence ; but they were opposed by the majority of the nobles, who were unwilling to part with any of their privileges. The nobles were supported by the Saxon dynasty, and by Austria, and the Czartoryskis turned to Russia for assistance. Catharine, who was then on the Hessian throne, readily rendered them her support, and by her influence her favourite, relative of the Czartoryekis, was elected king. But they soon found that in calling in Russian aid they had destroyed the last spark of national independence. The Russian court, within a short time, overturned all the reforms which the Czar toryakis had introduced, and then followed the dismemberment of the kingdom.