It was customary for Polish noble families, as well as royal ones, to send their sons on a tour of Western Europe. Upon arriving in foreign countries, many enrolled as students at the famous universities there. In some cases, university education ended with matriculation. However, many months' (or many years') stays outside the borders of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth provided the opportunity to get to know foreign customs, culture, languages, and sometimes also the secrets of Western military art and European courts. Young people returned from such journeys richer in experience and knowledge of all kinds, some with souvenirs that they could not remove for the rest of their lives.

The young men did not go on the journey alone. Efforts were made to add experienced chaperones, familiar with the realities of the countries that were their destinations. The retinue also included servants to take care of the travellers' daily needs. This role was often played by the sons of minor noble families.

Such a journey was associated with heavy financial burdens for the parents. A note from one of the Radziwills from the early 18th century has survived. He calculated that the cost of his sons' travels and rambles around western Europe amounted to 600,000 zlotys. As he concluded, for such a sum he would have maintained a hundred-horse hussar troop for a year (NGAB, F. 694, op. 1, no. 55, k. 30v).

In 1694, Queen Maria Kazimiera decided to send her two younger sons, Aleksander Benedykt (b. 1677) and Konstanty Władysław (b. 1680), on a tour of western Europe. They were to take the opportunity to set off with their sister Teresa Kunegunda to visit her newly married husband, Maximilian Emmanuel, Elector of Bavaria and Governor of the Spanish Netherlands. In Brussels, they were to part and continue on their own to Paris and then to Rome.

The energetic queen quickly set about organising the whole thing. It seems that she did not immediately inform her husband of her intentions. At some point, she was faced with the problem of providing adequate care for the royals, especially after their separation from her sister. A letter from Maria Kazimiera to Bishop of Kraków Jan Małachowski, written on 9 September 1694, has been preserved in the RGAD collection. According to its contents, John III already knew about everything and requested that Stanisław Małachowski, Voivode of Kalisz, set off with the royals as their guardian. He was a brave soldier and a skilful diplomat, and spoke four languages well. It is clear from the content of the letter that, although the voivode agreed, he was not enthusiastic about the royal decision. He quickly wriggled out of it, pointing to his wife Aleksandra Żelecka's pregnancy and imminent birth.

Concerned, the Queen wrote a letter to his uncle, Jan Małachowski, Bishop of Kraków, asking him to persuade his nephew to agree to the trip. In order to dispel Małachowski's doubts and fears about leaving his pregnant wife, she declared that she would take care of the lady governor of Kalisz. She proposed that she should move to Warsaw and, under the supervision of the best midwives, live to give birth and have the baby herself.

Maria Kazimiera's actions had the desired effect and Małachowski set about preparing for the journey. He needed cash, so he borrowed. However, on 9 November, Jan III suddenly changed his decision and cancelled the departure of his younger sons. He was deeply affected by the separation from his beloved daughter. Perhaps he could not bear the thought that Aleksander and Konstanty would also leave him. The governor did not seem to worry too much about this sudden change of decision. As soon as he received the news, he rushed home to his wife.

The royal couple once again, in 1696, appointed Małachowski as guardian of their younger sons. However, the plans for the expedition backfired when Maria Kazimiera presented her ailing husband with an estimate of 100,000 florins for the expedition, and suggested that he cover the expenditure of 60,000 florins. The king angrily rejected her proposal. Malachowski again took advantage of this and hurried home to his wife, who was struggling with consumption.

The royals set off for the western countries after the death of John III. They left on 5 October 1696, and were chaperoned by John III's long-standing and faithful companion in arms, Marie Casimire's associate Philippe Dupont.

Maria Kazimiera to Bishop of Cracow Jan Małachowski, Warsaw, 9 September 1694, RGADA, F. 12, op. 1, no. 41.
. Most Reverend in God Kindly to Us. It is the good pleasure of His Majesty the King, Our Lords and Gentlemen, to see that in the person of His Majesty the Governor of Kalisz, the son of His Majesty the King. Your Lordship, that the noble Krolewicz, the younger sons of our beloved, did not want to let other countries visit them, so that the above mentioned Voivode assisted them. This royal aesthema, as much as it did not allow him to excuse himself, so we do not doubt that Your Majesty himself, having found a place of residence in the city, was not able to do so. We do not doubt that Your Majesty, having found a place for him, will not only not disapprove of him, but will even bring him every satisfaction, because for such a peculiar Lord our spouse cannot be fond of Your Majesty's blood. For so peculiar to Your Lordship's blood, Your Majesty's good pleasure, He cannot but expect peculiar respect for His Name. To which we shall always be obliged to assist on occasions. And that the Reverend Voivode of Kalisz, being on time, could bring to Your Reverend Majesty's attention some remarks, which we shall always be obliged to do. And since Your Magnificent Voivode of Kaliska being on time could bring any scruples with the departure of her spouse, we wish to take this one into our special care and with this end we strongly request that she be able to perform her happy service not elsewhere, but only here in Warsaw. All this to Your Excellency. Your Excellency, as a token of our affection, we wish him God's good health. Dan in Warsaw on the 9th of September in the year of our Lord MDCXCIV of the reign of the XX. Maria Kazimiera. Ps. For this reason we wish for your confinement in Warsaw, that not only Białegłowy may be very opportune for this, but also that we ourselves will be able to declare diligent care and every comfort.

The text comes from PASAŻ WIEDZY , where you can find more reliable texts on the history and culture of Old Poland

. Courtesy of the King John III Wilanów Palace Museum