Radziwiłł, although highly disliked by the Polish royal court and the general public in support of the king, was one of the most influential Polish personalities of his era and perhaps the best representative of Sarmatism.
Even during his lifetime Radziwiłł became almost a legendary figure, devoted to the country and the nation.
Despite his fame, Radziwiłł was often portrayed as a drunkard, whose low intellectual level and severe mental illness caused many misfortunes.
Furthermore, the European press have reported and often exaggerated his political "wilderness" and accused Karol of bragging about his wealth and power.
Most of the attacks were from publishers, who were either in support of the Czartoryskis or King Stanisław II Augustus.
Radziwiłł's participation in the Confederation of Bar made the public aware of his services to the country and following his sudden death, Prince Karol was hailed the defender of "faith and freedom".
Such opinions were shared by the iconic personalities of the Enlightenment period.
Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz stated that Radziwiłł was a "citizen with a heart of stone whose sacrifices for the Polish nation were remarkable and unforgettable".
He also recalled with delight his impressive silhouette of an old Polish senator of the Sigismundian era, the times of King Sigismund III Vasa.
Stanisław Augustus, in his private diaries and notes, described Karol as "cruel and stupid drunkard who was a victim of improper education and the vile society by which he was surrounded in his youth".

Radziwiłł was immortalized in Rejtan, the Fall of Poland, an oil painting by the Polish artist Jan Matejko, finished in 1866, depicting the protest of Tadeusz Rejtan against the First Partition of Poland during the Partition Sejm of 1773.
Both a depiction of a historical moment, and an allegory for the surrounding period of Polish history, the painting is one of Matejko's most famous works, and an iconic picture of an emotional protest.

Pantler Horeszko, from the epic poem Pan Tadeusz by Adam Mickiewicz, was loosely based on Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł.
Radziwiłł, although highly disliked by the Polish royal court and the general public in support of the king, was one of the most influential Polish personalities of his era and perhaps the best representative of Sarmatism. Even during his lifetime Radziwiłł became almost a legendary figure, devoted to the country and the nation. Despite his fame, Radziwiłł was often portrayed as a drunkard, whose low intellectual level and severe mental illness caused many misfortunes. Furthermore, the European press have reported and often exaggerated his political "wilderness" and accused Karol of bragging about his wealth and power. Most of the attacks were from publishers, who were either in support of the Czartoryskis or King Stanisław II Augustus. Radziwiłł's participation in the Confederation of Bar made the public aware of his services to the country and following his sudden death, Prince Karol was hailed the defender of "faith and freedom". Such opinions were shared by the iconic personalities of the Enlightenment period. Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz stated that Radziwiłł was a "citizen with a heart of stone whose sacrifices for the Polish nation were remarkable and unforgettable". He also recalled with delight his impressive silhouette of an old Polish senator of the Sigismundian era, the times of King Sigismund III Vasa. Stanisław Augustus, in his private diaries and notes, described Karol as "cruel and stupid drunkard who was a victim of improper education and the vile society by which he was surrounded in his youth".
Radziwiłł was immortalized in Rejtan, the Fall of Poland, an oil painting by the Polish artist Jan Matejko, finished in 1866, depicting the protest of Tadeusz Rejtan against the First Partition of Poland during the Partition Sejm of 1773. Both a depiction of a historical moment, and an allegory for the surrounding period of Polish history, the painting is one of Matejko's most famous works, and an iconic picture of an emotional protest.
Pantler Horeszko, from the epic poem Pan Tadeusz by Adam Mickiewicz, was loosely based on Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł.
Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł (1734–1790)