Branecki, Or Branicki, Franciszek Xawery, a Polish statesman, died in 1819. He was born of an obscure family, most probably of Tartar origin, and served in the military household of Jan Klemens Branicki. In 1762 he was an attendant of Poniatowski at his visit to St. Petersburg, and the abettor of his amours with Catharine II. When his master became king, Branecki was rapidly advanced through the influence of Catharine, and in 1771 became grand constable. In 1773 he was foremost in facilitating and sanctioning the first dismemberment of Poland. Afterward he was active in forming the confederacy of Targovitza in 1792, which resulted in the second dismemberment. In 1794 he was proclaimed a traitor to his country. After the third and final division of Poland in 1795, he retired with his wife, a niece of the celebrated Potemkin, to the immense estates given him by Catharine in the Ukraine, where he died. His descendants are among the richest proprietors in Russia. They received the title of counts in 1841.