I. Krasicki's Opinion About King Stanisław August

Abstract

Ignacy Krasicki expressed his opinion about King Stanisław August Poniatowski in the coronation homily on 25 November 1764, and then in the satire entitled On the King written in 1779. In the homily he said that it was a man of `a splendid mind and righteous heart'; he also tried to convince the audience that the King should be respected. In the satire he defended the King against the charges of the opposition who said that he was not a king's son, that he was too young, too good and that he loved learned people. The charges resulted from envy, spite and foolishness, as during his reign Stanisław August effected far-reaching reforms in Poland. Among others, he established the Commission for National Education – the first ministry of education in the world, that played an important role after the political collapse of the state.