Józef Antoni Poniatowski

Józef Antoni Poniatowski , born with Vienna in 1763, died with Leipzig in 1813, is a Prince of Poland and Saint Germanic Roman Empire by its birth, Maréchal of Empire (1813), and Grand Eagle of the Légion of honor

Biography

Nephew of the last elected king of Poland (Stanisłas Auguste Poniatowski) and wire of an Austrian field-marshal, it begins his career in the Austrian army where it becomes Colonel and aide-de-camp of the emperor.

In 1789, it leaves the Austrian army to join his/her uncle and the Polish army as a major-general, the Prince André. Stanislas Auguste entrusts to him the command of the Polish army of Ukraine with which it fights the Russians in 1792, and, after the Confédération of Targowitz, it leaves the army followed by the best officers.

In 1794, it engages as a private in the army of release of Kosciusko for independence of Poland before the ultimate division of 1795, but this last entrusts the command of a division to him. After this last failure, it is withdrawn in its grounds, until in 1806 where it is named governor of Warsaw by Frederic-Guillaume II of Prussia.

On arrival of Napoleon, and with the formation of the provisional government of the Grand-Duchy of Warsaw, Józef adopts the Empire, thinking that is the only chance for Poland to find its independence and its territory. It is made Minister for the War of the Grand Duchy and généralissime. It defends the borders against the Austrians and in 1809 pushed back them.

With the head of this ministry, it reorganizes a new Polish army which is distinguished thereafter in all the future Napoleonean battles. It is wounded during the countryside of Russia to the head of Ve army corps. It shows the width of its talent at the time of the Bataille of Moskova. At the time of the retirement, it is wounded in the passing of the Bérézina.

It reforms the Polish army, joined Napoleon in Saxony in July 1813. It gains the meetings of Löbau, Altenburg and Pening. Its heroism with the Bataille of Wachau is worth to him the stick of marshal, the October 16th 1813. He dies three days later at the time of the retirement according to the Bataille of Leipzig, while trying to pass the Elster Blanche to horse not to be taken by the allies.

The body of Poniatowski, only found the 24, is embaumé and carried by his/her comrades in arms to Warsaw, then from there with Cracow in the tomb of kings de Pologne, where it rests beside Sobieski and of Kosciusko. There with the funeral of this hero, with Leipzig, the winners and overcome brought together represent whole Europe.

Glances of the contemporaries

  • Savary known as of him: “ One was not braver than this prince; impetuous, magnanime, full with amenity, it was more regretted party than it was useful, than estimated that which it had fought. ”

  • In the Memorial of Grey waxbill, Las Boxes brings back these words of Napoleon: “ true king de Pologne, said Napoleon, while intending to review the kings in which one had believed it intended, true king de Pologne, it was Poniatowski; he joined together all the titles of them and had all the talents of them, After having pronounced these words, Napoleon keep silent itself. ”

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