polish russian war polish russian war war second partition polish sources war defence constitution polish fought polish lithuanian commonwealth conservative nobility commonwealth opposed new constitution russian_empire war took place theaters northern lithuania southern ukraine polish forces retreated numerically superior russian forces offered significantly resistance south thanks effective leadership polish commanders month long struggle battles fought scored decisive victory largest success polish forces defeat russian formations battle june aftermath battle polish highest military award established war ended polish king august decided seek diplomatic solution asked russians joined demanded russian_empire background decline commonwealth early 18th century poland lithuania controlled state managed ensure reforms carried weaken privileged status golden freedoms abuse veto rule enabled deputy parliament proceedings deputies foreign powers simply content believe living unprecedented golden age commonwealth government century idea reforming commonwealth gained traction century viewed suspicion neighboring countries content deterioration commonwealth thought democratic power borders reduced easy neighbors intervene directly numbered troops overall attempts reform major opportunity reform presented great poland neighbors preoccupied wars unable intervene forcibly polish affairs russian_empire austria engaged hostilities ottoman_empire russo turkish war austro turkish war russians found simultaneously fighting russo swedish war new alliance polish lithuanian commonwealth prussia provide security russian intervention new constitution read adopted overwhelming popular support wars turkey russia sweden russia having ended furious adoption document believed threatened russian influence poland russia viewed poland facto worst possible news arrived warsaw polish king sovereign reaction russia chief foreign policy authors learned new constitution strongly opposed new polish constitution polish diplomats received note new constitution changed polish state prussia consider obligations binding like russia prussia concerned newly strengthened polish state threat prussian foreign minister von clearly rare told poles prussia support constitution refused help commonwealth form prussia interest commonwealth strengthened threaten prussia future prussian statesman expressed fears european conservatives poles given coup prussian monarchy voting constitution strong commonwealth likely demand return lands prussia acquired partition constitution adopted dissent commonwealth opposed constitution draft start asked intervene restore privileges russian guaranteed cardinal laws abolished new statute end formed confederation proclamation prepared january criticized constitution contributing words democratic ideas following fatal examples set paris asserted parliament broken fundamental laws swept away liberties gentry turned revolution conspiracy declared intention overcome revolution turn distinguished fair empress neighboring friend ally respects nation need offers helping hand wrote aligned asked military intervention russian ambassador poland delivered declaration war polish foreign minister russian armies entered poland lithuania day starting war opposing forces russian army numbered nearly commanded generals russians advantage combat experience russian plan called advance ukraine taking approach polish capital warsaw south advance approach warsaw north link russians good intelligence network poland aware polish army distribution strength poles intelligence receiving contradictory erroneous reports unsure war start point russian troops crossed border august king polish lithuanian commonwealth commander chief polish forces practice delegated position nephew theory disposal strong crown army lithuanian army half size confront practice polish forces forming following reforms constitution specified army size numbered army midst key documents unit numbers composition passed recently april short equipment experienced personnel southeast corner country ukrainian lands polish forces initially concentrated separately regions expected polish crown army ukraine led supported strong distinguishes primary force reserve division faced southeastern war theater nearly times larger enemy army general men command forces divided corps 1st strong command general 2nd general 3rd general 4th general represent real strength attempts gather popular support poland crossing borders failed dozens joining later number grow significantly russians saw having military value keeping lithuania numbered additional crown detachment commanded plans war troops action time war started russian army theatre general strong strong russian army divided corps 1st leaders strong 2nd general strong 3rd general strong 4th general strong additional polish forces strong concentrate warsaw command reserve proposed plan entire polish army concentrated engage russian armies order assure numerical boost morale inexperienced polish forces quick victory plan rejected months ago commanders opposite idea wanted troops concentrated dispersed planned avoid engagements phase war hoping receive expected prussian reinforcements bring sides war southern theater russian forces crossed border ukraine night russians theater encounter significantly resistance expected commonwealth commanders stationed joined near judged weak oppose columns enemy armies advancing began fighting withdrawal western commanding rear guard face significant numerical forces promised reinforcements decided abandon ukraine fortified major defensive point tasked gathering supplies june unit defeated battle june finally received awaited reinforcements troops led day poles led defeated russian formations general battle june victory celebrated sent new medals campaign leaders soldiers russian forces kept advancing polish army command retreating order yielding powerful enemy necessary avoid according prince judgement early july near betrayed tasked troops instead joined russian hid supplies polish army outright passed russians powerful magnate took late king officially relieve command month russian invasion poles retreated ukraine july forces fought delaying battle russians battle army retreated units fought july draw troops defeated attack russians general retreat russians begun flanking positions crossing nearby austrian border poles retreat line defeated far decisive battle battles favorable locations closer warsaw expected northern theater grand lithuania russians crossed commonwealth border days later south poland ally broke alliance poland prussian commander lithuanian army betrayed polish lithuanian cause refusing fight russians reached illness issued contradictory orders troops little oppose advancing russians kept withdrawing advance abandoned skirmishes change commander june army general try stand fight russians russians defeated battle june kept advancing grand commonwealth army retreated june russians took small skirmish local garrison june defended june time opposition replaced june nonetheless decisive engagements occurred northern theater polish army withdrew relative order warsaw minor defeat eventually taking defensive positions bug river near brest russians took july july july russians took brest defeating local garrison defeated near battle significant commonwealth victory northern war ends considered outcome war open planning use combined polish lithuanian forces defeat separate russian forces consent guardians laws cabinet ministers decided ask demanded joins pro russian aristocratic faction cabinet split gave demand july effectively forced terminate military resistance military confrontation war fought july enemy attack repelled polish cavalry led time king decided sue peace polish army good fighting condition suffering major defeat lack supplies king thought russian numerical superiority defeat nonetheless imminent gained negotiations russians hoped new alliance formed subsequent events prove wrong question prevented continued military resistance subject debate historians polish military widely dissatisfied criticize king decision including resign commission coming weeks considered uncle orders issued orders bring king army camp force necessary radical faction ultimately decided continue fighting uncle order rescinded moment departure group charged capturing king aftermath polish historians agree polish capitulation mistake military perspective political realm military poles reasonable chances defend river line exhaust russian invading forces political showing willingness fight persuaded powers plan costly king hopes capitulation allow acceptable diplomatic solution worked soon new deputies intimidated russian troops new session parliament known took place fall november concluded constitution second partition russia took square kilometres prussia took square kilometres commonwealth territory event reduced poland population partition state garrisoned russian troops independence strongly curtailed outcome came surprise wished restore status quo commonwealth magnate favoring golden freedoms expected overthrow constitution achieve end bid restore reformed commonwealth came uprising failed resulted partition country lost remaining territories polish lithuanian commonwealth ceased exist
Polish–Russian War of 1792