Third Partition of Poland
The Third Partition of Poland, finalized on October 24, 1795, marked the complete dissolution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which had once been a significant power in Europe. This partition involved the division of the last independent Polish territories among the three neighboring powers: Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The roots of Poland's decline can be traced back to a weak central authority, largely due to the fragmented interests of the Polish nobility, who prioritized their local power over national unity. Despite efforts by some Poles to resist foreign domination, many nobles chose to align with external forces, leading to earlier partitions in 1772 and 1793. The cumulative actions of these neighboring states, including bribing influential nobles, contributed to Poland's eventual loss of sovereignty. The final partition resulted in Russia absorbing about half of the remaining Polish lands, while Austria and Prussia each acquired approximately a quarter. Following this division, Poland would remain partitioned and under foreign control until it regained independence in the 20th century.
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Third Partition of Poland
Third Partition of Poland
On October 24, 1795, the European powers of Austria, Prussia, and Russia agreed upon their third and final partition of the once mighty nation of Poland. The last independent Polish territories were split between them, and Poland would not reappear as an independent nation until the 20th century.
Poland had once been one of Europe's great powers. Polish kings had controlled much of western Russia and had been instrumental in defending Western Christendom by defeating the Ottoman Turks when their invading armies nearly reached the gates of Vienna in the late 17th century. However, central authority was weak, due to the self-serving actions of the Polish nobility, who jealously guarded their privileges, interests, and local power regardless of the welfare of the nation. Since kings had to be elected by the nobles, it was difficult to build any lasting national government able to resist the centrifugal forces at work. Poland's neighbors Austria, Prussia, and Russia furthered the process of disintegration by bribing or otherwise influencing important nobles to support their various interests or causes. By 1772 Poland was so weak that these neighboring powers simply decided to take various portions of the country for themselves, an agreement known as the First Partition of Poland which led to the distribution of roughly one-fourth of the land to the Austrians, Prussians, and Russians.
Although many Poles put their nation first and fought bravely to preserve its freedom, too many of the nobles were willing to ally themselves with foreign interests. This happened in 1792 when nobles who opposed a new constitution designed to strengthen Poland's central government asked Empress Catherine the Great of Russia for assistance. The result was a Russian invasion of Poland, in which Russia crushed its opponents. The conflict ended in 1793 with the Second Partition of Poland, which awarded even more of the country to its neighbors. In 1795, thanks in large part to continuing resistance from Polish loyalists, the Austrians, Prussians, and Russians decided to take all that remained of the nation in a third and final partition. This was largely completed by 1797. Russia received approximately half of the remaining lands, while Austria and Prussia each got roughly one-quarter of them.