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Aleksandra de Laval de la Loubrerie
At one time, Tsar Peter I The Great when crossing the Volga river paid attention to three young men, watermen of Symbirsk (Simbirsk) – Twierdiszew brothers (Tverdishev) and their brother-in-law Iwan Siemionowicz Miasnikow (Ivan Semenovich Myasnikov). The Tsarcoaxed the young men into giving up their hard work and going behind the Urals, where affluent areas abounding with iron and copper were. He gave them 500 roubles for a journey and promised that everything what they would manage to discover in the wild east would become their property. That is how at the end of their lives 4 humble watermen from the Volga river area became owners of 8 mines, factories and 66 thou. workers. With time all of them also got nobleness. Twierdiszew brothers died without issue, but Miasnikow, being a husband of their sister, had four daughters who inherited the whole fortune after his death.
Due to fabulous dowries Miasnikow’s daughters got married favourably. One of them, Katarzyna (Catherine), married Grigorij Kozicki - secretary to Empress Katarzyna II (Catherine II). From that marriage were born Anna - the future wife of Prince Aleksander Michajłowicz Białosielski-Białozierski (Alexander Mikhailovich Beloselsky-Belozersky) and Aleksandra - the future wife of French refugee Jan Franciszek Laval who run away to Petersburg during the French Revolution. Katarzyna II confirmed his captaincy of the French army and inducted a position of the secretary to Płaton Zubow (Platon Zubov). From that marriage four daughters were born, out of whom Aleksandra de Laval (born on 21 October 1811), married Stanisław Szczęsny Kossakowski.
In 1850, Aleksandra Kozicka countess de Laval, mother of Aleksandra countess Kossakowska, died in Petersburg leaving a huge fortune, which she inherited from her parents and husband. Aleksandra inherited cropland, copper mines, an impressive picture gallery, significant fragments of which are in the collection of the famous Russian Hermitage today as well as jewels which solved many existential difficulties of the countess’ descendants for the next few generations. The total value of the jewellery received by Aleksandra amounted to 10 635 of roubles, whereas the value of the gallery was being evaluated at almost twice as much.
The received inheritance and substantial incomes from Russian properties made it possible for Aleksandra to purchase a palace at 19 Nowy Świat Street in Warsaw in 1853. The countess purchased the palace along with the adjacent park for the amount of 56 732 silver roubles and 1½ copeck. Incomes from the Warsaw palace and Russian properties made it possible for Countess Kossakowska to lead a lavish lifestyle both in Warsaw and Wojtkuszki. Aleksandra had prominent figures over the parlours of the Warsaw palace, a.o. Alexander II Tsar of Russia, Otto von Bismarck and representatives of art and prominent aristocratic families. In spite of the faithfulness to the Orthodox Church, Aleksandra brought up her only son Stanisław Kazimierz in the spirit of the Christian faith, according to her husband’s will. Bilingual, French-Russian Aleksandra, grand lady with the great European spirit, friend of Balzac and Alfred de Vigny.
Aleksandra died in Warsaw on 9/21 June 1886, but was burried in Wojtkuszki. One of newspapers presenting the person of Countess Kossakowska wrote:
«Aleksandra from the Lavals Css Stanisławowa Kossakowska died in Warsaw on 21st of the current month. Although of foreign descent, that lady was an example of traditional Polish hospitality and could alter the house which she kept into exemplification of social life having great social significance. They were arriving to the capital from any side of the country and those (large double) doors opened first, and everybody had to keep in memory appreciative recollection of that extraordinary home having eminently European quality and a native base as well as the memory of a grand lady who could combine worldliness with exceptional allegiance to friendship, captivating by her warmth, understanding both needs of the society as well as missions in social sphere which are falling to prominent houses even in most difficult conditions prevailing in the country».
