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« on: October 28, 2006, 08:46:24 AM »
Augusta, Princess of Montléart was half-sister of King Carlo Alberto of Sardaigne (the Italian Charles-Albert of Piemonte, from the Savoia-Carignano royal family).
Princess Augusta de Montléart was born from the second marriage of Maria, Princess of Saxe-Kurland (deceased in Paris, 24 Nov 1851). Augusta received the title of Princess of Montléart from her father Júlio Maximiliano Thibault, prince of Montléart (deceased in Paris, October 1865). She had a brother, called Jules-Maurice, Prince of Montléart (also known as Moritz Julius of Montléart-Sachsen-Kurland) who married Wilhelmine Marie von Arnold and lived in the famous Wilhelminenberg Palace of Viena.
It is not easy to know better the profile of Augusta, for she was a rather discrete princess and her generosity was never used as self-promotion. On the other hand, she lived in several countries, leaving too many trails yet to be discovered and assembled. She died in Poland, in the region of Myslenice (near Cracow).
Here is what I have already know about the last years of Augusta de Montléart in Poland:
- She lived in Poland in a large property with a manor house named Krzyszkowice, in the region of Myslenice, near Siepraw, Zawada and Lanckorona. This property was bought from Lukarz Dobrzanski (married with Natalie Wessel Dobrzanska), probably in 1869. After the death of Augusta de Montléart, according to her will, this property returned to the Dobrzanski family.
- Augusta de Montléart founded the Gimnazium nº 1 (school nº 1) of Myslenice. She also founded other schools in Krzyszkowice and Siepraw and gave numerous scholarships to local young people, in order to finance their studies.
- Augusta de Montléart established a hospital in the yard of her manor house, where she personally cared for local poor people. There were numerous other acts of generosity by the princess, who dressed and lived with simplicity. She was also one of the first to care about animals' rights.
- Augusta de Montléart died tragically in 1885 and was buried in the cemetery of Siepraw. In 1937 her mortal remains were transferred to a tomb in Krzyszkowice.
I would like to find out a lot more about her last years of life in Poland, which is very difficult, since I can't understand Polish.
Here are some examples of important doubts still remaining about Augusta de Montleart:
1) why did she left Paris and decided to live in a rural region of Poland?
2) What kind of relationship she had with his brother Jules-Maurice (Moritz Julius), that owned also some land in the region of Myslenice?
3) Did Augusta de Montléart took any political part or any political role in that time?
4) Why did she died in such a tragic way?
5) What is still left from the princess legacy in this region?
6) Is there any portrait of the princess?
7) Her manor house and the tombs in Siepraw and Krzyszkowice still exists?
8 ) The schools she founded, do they have any architectural features of that time?
9) Is it possible to know exactly how many schools she founded and where?
10) Are there any texts published about the profile of Augusta of Montleart?
11) which are her exact date and place of birth?
12) was she married?
Can anybody help me? I will wait for Alexander Palace Members's amazing knowledge. I would be very grateful for any kind of infomation. Thank you very much.