Maria Plater-Zyberk

The countess has been remembered as a good woman and an unattainable landlady at Wojcieszków estate [1].

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Maria Pia Elżbieta Apolonia Plater-Zyberk was born on 5th November 1872. She was the third of five children of Tadeusz Plater-Zyberk and Zofia Aleksandrowicz. She died on October 4, 1964 in Warsaw. She is buried in the Powązki Cemetery in the family tombs of the Plater-Zyberk family.

The countess’s father was an outstanding breeder and a farmer. He started horse breeding in Wojcieszków and his horses supplied military stables up to 1939.

In the interwar period, the Stud Farm in Wojcieszków had about 30 half-bred mares and stallions from the Stallion Depot of Janów Podlaski based there. Among others, the world famous stallion Ramzes was born in Wojcieszków.

In 1929, Maria Plater Zyberk bought a mare Jordi at auction at the Stud Farm in Janów Podlaski; the grey mare Jordi was born in 1928 by Schagya out of Demeter by Bakszysz oo out of Astarte by Amurath (Weil) out of Dahoman XII. Three years old Jordi was included into dams in Wojcieszków.

Ramzes’s father, English thoroughbred Rittersporn, that had good results in steeple-chase in Germany, stayed and mated (probably for life) at the Stud Farm Wojcieszków since 1930 (district Łuków).

In 1937, dam Jordi gave birth to a colt named Ramzes.

In early January 1940, German invaders started reconstruction of the stud farm and the stallions’ depot in Janów Podlaski. The dozen or so young stallions saved at the training institution in Kozienice were brought; in addition, stallions from East Prussia arrived. Tadeusz Marchowiecki remembers in his article “Ramzes”:
“I took advantage of the fact that further stallions were sought to purchase and I informed Gustaw Rau about four Rittersporn’s sons in Wojcieszków. All stallions were bought for PLN 20 thousand.” [2]

The countess made also a contribution to foundation of the parish Polish Young Women Association. The Association had its own banner, a library, a stall with devotional articles, conducted retreat, organized agricultural courses. Members played volleyball, organized Nativity play, sang at chorus. They participated in various courses; they even went by farm trailers to the cinema in Łuków. They conducted collection for poorest people for Christmas.

At first,the countess Maria Plater-Zyberk lived with her daughter Marylka in Wojcieszków but due to introduction of a German administrator and several robberies committed on her home, they moved from the palace with nothing and then lived at Krakowskie Przedmieście in Warsaw.

The countess Maria Plater – Zyberk died in Warsaw on 4th October 1964. She has been buried at Powązki cemetery in the Plater – Zyberk family grave.

Memory of people and horses that made Poland famous worldwide did not get lost at the Ramzes’s birthplace, the commune Wojcieszków. Ms Jadwiga Józwik, the president of Wojcieszków Friends Association, said: “We want at last to inform wide circles of people on Wojcieszków. Our commune can build its identity and future on Ramzes’s history. It was a city in 16th century. Within 1970s, we still were first in the province as regards horse breeding. We have weak soil and no industry but by contrast – excellent conditions to develop tourism. I think, Ramzes can become an attraction that, besides the glorious church and the regional exhibition room with numerous showpieces, will attract people here and the agricultural tourism will develop. Not only the commune will earn due to this but also the district.”[3]

[1]http://wolabystrzyckafotografie.blogspot.com/2015/11/maria-plater-zyberk-hrabina-z.html, access of 20.11.2019, 14:00

[2]Koń Polski, 1968 no 4 p. 20

[3]http://www.lukow24.pl/wiadomosci/informacje/pomnik-konia-w-wojcieszkowie,p29687820, access of 20.11.2019, 14:20