- Financial difficulties of Lentvaris Manor after World War I
- Documents show a deeper look into their lives
Financial difficulties of Lentvaris Manor after World War I
Owning a manor used to be a symbol of status and wealth, but it was also a responsibility that required financial acumen and diligent management. Unfortunately, Lentvaris Manor, owned by the Tyshkevich family, fell victim to historical circumstances, mismanagement, and betrayal, leading to its collapse in the aftermath of World War I.
The First World War proved to be a catastrophic event for Lentvaris Manor. The palace and essential infrastructure, such as sewerage, electricity, and water supply, were destroyed or damaged. Despite the end of the war, the Treaty of Riga signed in 1921, which divided the Lentvaris estate between two countries, dealt another blow to the Tyshkevich family[1].
Additionally, the family discovered that the estate's manager, Pavel, had been mismanaging and embezzling assets for his personal gain, leading to a lack of investment in breeding, agriculture, and illegal deforestation.
Documents show a deeper look into their lives
Surviving documents from the collection of Adamas Miliauskas provide a glimpse into the desperate situation of Lentvaris Manor. In 1921, a letter requesting a plan of the estate and referring to promissory notes hinted at the growing debt and declining ability to pay it.
The dismissal and escape of Pavel, the manager, likely caused a lack of trust in hiring a new governor for the estates near Vilnius, leaving the Tiškevičius family to face the mounting problems on their own.
Despite their struggles, the Tiškevičius family refused to abandon their homeland, surviving for a few more years with reduced luxury and status. In 1925, the family's financial troubles became apparent when Count Vladislav's son, Eugene, had to hold his wedding at the Radvilas' due to the lack of money and premises. The family no longer lived in the palace but in auxiliary buildings, struggling to keep their remaining staff and horses fed and cared for.
In the same year, a letter requesting a loan from a neighboring estate for fodder for the horses further demonstrated the dire situation of Lentvaris Manor. Eventually, Count Władysław and his wife, Maria Kristina, decided to move to Warsaw, and Eugene took over Lentwari. Although he purchased the Karpiškės farm for $18,500, covering 91.47 decimals in 1929, it is unclear whether he paid his debts to Maria Kristina.
These documents[2] from Lentvaris Manor provide a glimpse into the tragic tale of a once-grand estate's fall from grace. The Tyshkevich family's mismanagement, historical circumstances, and betrayal led to the estate's collapse in the aftermath of World War I.
Despite the difficulties, the family refused to give up their homeland, surviving with reduced luxury and the help of neighboring estates. The story of Lentvaris Manor serves as a cautionary tale about the responsibilities and consequences of owning and managing a grand estate.
