The Negro has done his job, the Negro may leave

", that is, the life of black slaves in the Commonwealth - January 16, 2022 "The Negro has done his job, the Negro may leave", that is, the life of black slaves in the Commonwealth Piotr Antoniewski, 30.10.2018 Black slaves on a fragment of Józef Brandt's painting "The Departure of Jan III and Marysieńka from Wilanów" The situation of someone used and then dismissed when he became unnecessary is best reflected in the words written by Fryderyk Schiller in the play "Fiesco": "The black man has done his job, the black man may leave" (der Mohr hat seine Arbeit getan, der Mohr kann gehen). This saying enjoyed extraordinary and enduring popularity in Poland. The reason for this was not the adoration of the German writer, but the presence of black slaves in the Commonwealth. First, let's debunk a myth. The word "Negro" is neutral in Polish, not negative, as some people try to convince today. It is derived from the German der Mohr, which is in turn a transformation of the Latin maurus, referring to a group of people living in the area of ​​Mauritania, i.e. a large part of North Africa. The first images of blacks also came to us from Germany, incl. on the medieval coats of arms of Mohr or Wczele. Augustus II the Strong with a black servant in the painting of Louise de Silvestre. In turn, black slaves began to appear regularly in Poland from the 16th century. If anyone here imagines that they worked in noble farms like their counterparts from North America later on cotton plantations, then I must deduce them from the mistake. Black people in the Commonwealth led a relatively good life (for slaves). Usually they were bought by magnates like souvenirs from distant journeys, or in the turmoil of Polish-Turkish wars they ended up in the hands of Polish knights. At the magnate or royal court, blacks were added to the service. However, they were not a workforce, but more a mascot, an attraction that added splendor to a celebration, a living decoration of a palace. They were not given hard work, as it was feared that such an expensive purchase might "break". Therefore, black slaves most often acted as butlers. Black pipes, whose task was only to serve their master pipes, were also a rare sight. It looked the most spectacular while driving, when an African rider was approaching a nobleman's carriage. Prince Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski, who was touring his estates in Ruthenia, excelled in such performances. At some point, there was even a fashion for Negro servants, to such an extent that other servants were dressed up as Negroes from time to time. No wonder that in such circumstances the saying "The Negro has done his job, the Negro may leave" gained popularity. For the black slave had only one thing to do and he could go on. Many magnates genuinely liked their exotic servants. In the 20s of the 17th century, Andrzej Fredro was trusted by a Negro who took over the local customs and was a saber player, he took an active and outstanding part in his master's brawls. King Jan III Sobieski was very fond of the black butler Józef the Holender and lamented his death in the Battle of Vienna. However, he was not the only Polish monarch to have a Negro servant. It is known that they were already at the court of Stefan Batory. August II not only had footmen from Africa, but also kept a Negro band. In turn, Stanisław August Poniatowski was served by a black man, Jean Ledoux. It is possible that it is captured in one of Canaletto's paintings. Negro servants in Canaletto's painting "The Election of Stanisław August" Aleksander Dynis made quite a career - at the beginning of the 17th century, a servant of the bishop of Krakow, who was endowed with the starosty in Koziegłowy. According to Walerian Nekand Trepka, he later married a bastard, Mr. Chlewicki, whose brother, also a bastard, was called Rudnicki. The first mulattoes in Poland were probably born from this relationship. At a similar time, also the burgrave of Krakow, Jędrzej Czarnecki, gave his black slave a high equestrian function. Such an actual (but not legal) elevation to the nobility of the Negroes was unique. In the rest of Europe, until the 18th century, this group was seen only as a labor force. Another category were children born of fleeting love affairs between noble ladies and one of the African servants. The best known is the fate of Władysław Jabłonowski - the fruit of the accidental acquaintance of the wife of general Konstanty Jabłonowski, Maria Franciszka Dealire with her black butler. However, Władysław was brought up to be a Polish patriot. He fought in the Kościuszko Uprising, and then became a general of the Legions. See also: The extraordinary fate of Władysław Jabłonowski In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, therefore, an African visitor could have awaited a fate that black slaves on American cotton plantations could only dream of.