What Suvorov received for the capture of Warsaw from Catherine II, and for what the defeated Poles gave him a diamond snuffbox

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In 1794, an uprising began in Poland, the prerequisites for which were the French Revolution and the second partition of Poland. The complex knot of diplomatic intrigues, multidirectional geopolitical interests and old grievances had to be cut by the Russian commander Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. He not only pacified the rebels, but was also able to restore the country, becoming the governor-general of Poland. But Suvorov's actions in Poland turned out to be a “bargaining chip” for politicians for a long time.

Preconditions for the Polish uprising and the liquidation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

In foreign policy, in order to increase her popularity in wide popular circles, Catherine II had to solve two pressing issues - eastern and western. The first was territorial - to expand the borders of the state "to its natural limits" (the coastline of the Black Sea, Crimea, the Sea of Azov - up to the Caucasian ridge), the second was national - the reunification of the Russian Empire and the western part cut off from it. And Catherine II zealously got down to business, but made two key mistakes - in no case could these issues be resolved at the same time and third countries were allowed to the process. In Poland, in connection with the death of August III, and then of his son, Elector Friedrich Christian (a supporter of reforms in Saxony and Poland), a political crisis began.

In order to influence the struggle of the noble parties in Poland, the Empress used the usual methods - military force and political pressure. In order to avoid obstacles from the Franco-Austrian alliance, on March 31, 1764, she concluded an agreement with Prussia on guarantees of the inviolability of the territories of the two countries and military assistance. Catherine II agreed with Frederick II on two important goals of their influence on the internal politics of Poland - the enthronement of a convenient candidate (the favorite of the Empress Stanislav Poniatowski) and the restoration of dissidents (primarily Orthodox nobles) in their rights.

Russian diplomacy relied on the party of the Czartoryski princes, who, like the new king, Stanislav August II, sought to reform their state, which had fallen into anarchy (clan feuds between the magnates and the impoverished gentry). But Frederick II took a position of categorical opposition to political and state reforms in Poland, which would lead to the strengthening of King Stanislav. Russia and Prussia achieved a dissident equalization of rights, but it ignited the whole of Poland - anti-dissident confederations began to form throughout the country. A riot began, similar in scope to Pugachev's, which the Polish king asked Russia to suppress.

The French Revolution had a great influence on the development of events in Poland. Polish tycoons wanted to introduce a new constitution and created their own confederations, in response to this, the king's supporters created their own. A war broke out between them. At the request of the Polish king, Russian troops intervened. The Polish army, led by Tadeusz Kosciuszka, Zayonchenk and Joseph Poniatowski, retreated to the Bug. Russia and Prussia signed a convention on the new partition of Poland.

The Kosciuszko riot and "Holy Week's Bloody Massacre"

Poland was decided to be divided among themselves by Russia, Prussia and Austria. So it turned out to appease Austria, not very friendly to Prussia and Russia. But Prussia won the most - it turned into a powerful state.

This event was the impetus for a popular uprising, led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko. In the struggle for the country's independence, he managed to rally various strata of Polish society. The uprising began in Krakow and continued in Warsaw. Russian troops were not ready for this. Killed two thousand soldiers of the Russian garrison, about five hundred of them - unarmed, were killed in churches during the service. Passion week was going on, very significant for the Orthodox, the churches were filled with people. The insurgent Poles did not spare anyone. The streets of the city were covered with blood and littered with corpses.

Scattered Russian troops led by the indecisive Repnin could not stop the rebels. To suppress the uprising, Catherine II sends an army under the leadership of Suvorov. The motivation of his soldiers was the strongest.

Suvorov's campaign to Poland. The capture of Prague

Before the campaign, Suvorov ordered to distribute the following instructions among the soldiers: to take the enemy with an onslaught, to help a comrade, not to kill unarmed women, children. Kosciuszko was defeated at Matsejovice. The wounded leader of the rebellion was captured by Russian General Ivan Ferzen. The rest of the Polish army (about 30,000 people) was entrenched in Warsaw and its suburb - Prague. These two cities were connected by a bridge over the Vistula. The siege of Prague was difficult for the Russian army, since it did not have a sufficient number of siege weapons, and the number of the Russian army was 25,000. But Suvorov decides to storm.

An earthen rampart was made around Prague - this was the inner line of the city's defense. But the Poles also built an external defense line during the summer, which stretched for 6, 5 km: a rampart fenced with a triple palisade, a moat and plus to this - reinforcement with artificial barriers, including "wolf pits" were the stakes pointed up). This line was covered by forward bastions. On the fortifications, the Poles installed about 100 guns, among which there were quite large-caliber ones. The only drawback of the defensive line was its length - there was not enough manpower for full protection along its entire length. Some of Suvorov's contemporaries compared the battle for Prague with the capture of Ishmael, the rebels stubbornly resisted. But Kosciuszko's defeat became a demoralizing factor for the Polish rebels. Prague fell under the powerful onslaught of the Russian troops.

How Warsaw surrendered and what Suvorov received from the Empress for this

Warsaw surrendered without a fight - on October 25, parliamentarians with a white flag arrived from the Warsaw coast. Suvorov delivered an ultimatum - all the rebels must gather in the city and lay down their arms. At the end of the ultimatum, the Russian army entered Warsaw and was greeted with bread and salt. The insurgent army laid down its arms and was disbanded to their homes - Suvorov was a supporter of a good attitude towards the defeated enemy. For the victory over Prague, the Russian empress awarded Suvorov the rank of field marshal and appointed him governor-general of pacified Poland.

Holding this position for two years, Suvorov managed to restore the country without bloodshed. He managed to preserve the system of self-government - local assemblies and gentry magistrates continued their work.

How the Russian army behaved in the Polish capital and how local residents expressed their gratitude to the Russian commander

The Russian troops entering Warsaw were ordered to behave with restraint and peace.

For the fact that Suvorov saved the lives of the rebels and the civilian population, the Warsaw people, pouring out of their homes, thanked the Russian commander. They presented him with a diamond-encrusted snuffbox with the inscription “Warsaw to its deliverer”. In honor of Empress Catherine II and Field Marshal Suvorov, health resorts were sung. The commander himself thanked God for the fact that Warsaw "was not bought at the same price as Prague."

Many will be surprised why the Poles fought the Swedes for three hundred years and what has Westeros got to do with it.