The Targowica Confederation ( pl, konfederacja targowicka, , lt, Targovicos konfederacija) was a

confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

established by Polish and Lithuanian

magnate The magnate term, from the late Latin ''magnas'', a great man, itself from Latin ''magnus'', "great", means a man from the higher nobility, a man who belongs to the high office-holders, or a man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or ot ...

s on 27 April 1792, in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

, with the backing of the Russian Empress

Catherine II , en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes , house = , father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp , birth_date = , birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anha ...

. The confederation opposed the

Constitution of 3 May 1791 The Constitution of 3 May 1791,; lt, Gegužės trečiosios konstitucija titled the Governance Act, was a constitution adopted by the Great Sejm ("Four-Year Sejm", meeting in 1788–1792) for the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, a dual mo ...

and fought in the

Polish–Russian War of 1792 The Polish–Russian War of 1792 (also, War of the Second Partition, and in Polish sources, War in Defence of the Constitution ) was fought between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth on one side, and the Targowica Confederation (conservat ...

, which led to the

Second The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds ...

and Third Partitions of Poland.

History

The Targowica confederation opposed the

, which had been adopted by the

Great Sejm The Great Sejm, also known as the Four-Year Sejm ( Polish: ''Sejm Wielki'' or ''Sejm Czteroletni''; Lithuanian: ''Didysis seimas'' or ''Ketverių metų seimas'') was a Sejm (parliament) of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that was held in War ...

, especially the provisions limiting the privileges of the nobility. The text of the founding act of the confederation was drafted by the Russian general

Vasili Stepanovich Popov Vasili Stepanovich Popov - Popowski (russian: Василий Степанович Попов, pl, Bazyli Popowski; 1743–1822) was an Imperial Russian general and statesman who presided over the office of Prince Potemkin. Bazyli Popowski vel Va ...

, Chief of Staff of Prince

Grigori Alexandrovich Potemkin Prince Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin-Tauricheski (, also , ;, rus, Князь Григо́рий Алекса́ндрович Потёмкин-Таври́ческий, Knjaz' Grigórij Aleksándrovich Potjómkin-Tavrícheskij, ɡrʲɪˈɡ ...

. Its purpose was proclaimed in the small town of Targowica and the Potocki's estate (now in Holovanivsk Raion in

Kirovohrad Oblast Kirovohrad Oblast ( uk, Кіровоградська область, translit=Kirovohradska oblast; also referred to as #Nomenclature, Kirovohradschyna — uk, Кіровоградщина) is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast (prov ...

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

) on May 14, 1792. Four days later two Russian armies invaded the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth without a formal

declaration of war A declaration of war is a formal act by which one state (polity), state announces existing or impending war activity against another. The declaration is a performative speech act (or the signing of a document) by an authorized party of a nationa ...

. The forces of the Targowica Confederation defeated the troops loyal to the

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Crown of the Kingdom of ...

, the Sejm and King

Stanisław August Poniatowski Stanisław II August (born Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski; 17 January 1732 – 12 February 1798), known also by his regnal Latin name Stanislaus II Augustus, was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1764 to 1795, and the last monarch ...

in the

. As a result, the King, Poniatowski, formally joined the Confederation. Their victory precipitated the

Second Partition of Poland The 1793 Second Partition of Poland was the second of three partitions (or partial annexations) that ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. The second partition occurred in the aftermath of the Polish–Russian W ...

and set the stage for the Third Partition and the final dissolution of the Commonwealth in 1795. This outcome came as a surprise to most of the Confederates, who had wished only to restore the

status quo ante ''Status quo ante'' may refer to: * ''Status quo ante'' (phrase), Latin for "the way things were before" * Status Quo Ante (Hungary), Jewish communities in Hungary See also * ''Status quo ante bellum The term ''status quo ante bellum'' i ...

and had expected that the overthrow of the May 3rd Constitution would achieve that end.

Legacy

The term ''targowiczanin'', which historically applies to each member and supporter of the Targowica Confederation, became a synonym for a traitor, just as ''targowica'' is synonymous with treason. Those meanings still function in the Polish language up to the present day.

Leading members

Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki Count Stanisław Szczęsny Feliks Potocki (; 1751–1805), of the Piława coat of arms, known as Szczęsny PotockiE. Rostworowski, Potocki Stanisław Szczęsny (Feliks) herbu Pilawa, n:Polski Słownik Biograficzny, t. XXVIII, Wrocław–Warszawa� ...

: Marshal (head) of the Confederation. Sentenced to death, but never apprehended. Instead, on September 29, 1794, his portrait was hanged (see illustration). In 1795 he was rewarded by Catherine the Great with the Russian

Order of Alexander Nevsky The Order of Alexander Nevsky ( ''orden Alexandra Nevskogo'') is an order of merit of the Russian Federation named in honour of saint Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263) and bestowed to civil servants for twenty years or more of highly meritorious se ...

and the rank of '' Général en chef''. Other magnate members: *

Józef Ankwicz Józef Ankwicz (; 1750 – 9 May 1794), of Awdaniec coat of arms, also known as ''Józef z Posławic'' and ''Józef Awdaniec'', was a politician and noble ('' szlachcic'') in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He held the office of castellan ...

convicted of treason and sentenced to

hanging Hanging is the suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck.Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. Hanging as method of execution is unknown, as method of suicide from 1325. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' states that hanging i ...

on 9 May 1794.Davies, ibid.
Google Prin, p. 540
/ref> * ambassador

Karol Boscamp-Lasopolski Karol Boscamp-Lasopolski (also Boskamp, de Boscamp, de Boskamp) (died 28 June 1794) was a Dutch diplomat in service of Poland and Russia. He was a Chamberlain in the court of Polish king Stanisław August Poniatowski. He was lynched by a mob durin ...

hanged June 28, 1794. *

Franciszek Ksawery Branicki Franciszek Ksawery Branicki (1730–1819) was a Polish nobleman, magnate, French count, diplomat, politician, military commander, and one of the leaders of the Targowica Confederation. Many consider him to have been a traitor who participated wit ...

: Sentenced to death during the

Kościuszko Uprising The Kościuszko Uprising, also known as the Polish Uprising of 1794 and the Second Polish War, was an uprising against the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia led by Tadeusz Kościuszko in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Pr ...

, but never apprehended. Having emigrated to Russia, he died at

Belaya Tserkov Bila Tserkva ( uk, Бі́ла Це́рква ; ) is a city in the center of Ukraine, the largest city in Kyiv Oblast (after Kyiv, which is the administrative center, but not part of the oblast), and part of the Right Bank. It serves as the admi ...

, 1819. *

Szymon Marcin Kossakowski Szymon Marcin Kossakowski ( lt, Simonas Martynas Kosakovskis; 1741 in Šilai, Jonava – 1794) was a Polish–Lithuanian nobleman ( szlachcic), and one of the leaders of the Targowica Confederation. In 1793, he became the last Grand Hetman of Li ...

: Hanged in

Wilno Vilnius ( , ; see also #Etymology and other names, other names) is the capital and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the munic ...

on April 25, 1794, during the Kościuszko Uprising. *

Józef Kazimierz Kossakowski Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

: Bishop. Hanged May 9, 1794, in Warsaw during the Kościuszko Uprising. *

Ignacy Jakub Massalski Prince Ignacy Massalski ( lt, Ignotas Jokūbas Masalskis) (1726–1794) was a Polish-Lithuanian nobleman. Ignacy became a Catholic priest and was named Bishop of Vilnius by Pope Clement XIII on 29 March 1762.''Hierarchia Catholica medii et recen ...

: Bishop. Hanged June 28, 1794, in Warsaw during the Kościuszko Uprising. *

hetman ( uk, гетьман, translit=het'man) is a political title from Central and Eastern Europe, historically assigned to military commanders. Used by the Czechs in Bohemia since the 15th century. It was the title of the second-highest military co ...

Piotr Ożarowski convicted of treason and sentenced to

on 9 May 1794. *

Seweryn Rzewuski Seweryn Rzewuski (; 13 March 1743 in Podhorce – 11 December 1811 in Vienna) was a Polish nobleman, writer, poet, general of the Royal Army, Field Hetman of the Crown, Voivode of Podolian Voivodeship and one of the leaders of the Targowica ...

Sentenced in absentia by the Supreme Criminal Court to death and the confiscation of his estates. Executed in effigy on 29 September 1794. *

Józef Zabiełło 150px, Topór coat of arms Józef Zabiełło h. Topór (; c. 1750 – 9 May 1794 in Warsaw, Poland) of was a nobleman ('' szlachcic'') in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Great Łowczy of Lithuanian from 1775, konsyliarz of Permanent ...

convicted of treason and sentenced to

on 9 May 1794.

Quotes

* From the Establishing Act of the Targowica Confederation:

"The desires of Her Highness Empress of Russia atherine the Great ally of Rzeczpospolita he Commonwealth are and were no other than by using her armies to return to Rzeczpospolita and Poles the freedoms, and especially security and happiness to all citizens"

* One of the founders of the Targowica Confederation, Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki:

"Each
true Pole In Polish culture, the True Pole ( pl, prawdziwy Polak, plural: pl, prawdziwi Polacy) is a stereotype of an ideal Polish person. This stereotype is closely associated with Polish Catholicism. The "true Pole" expression is often invoked in Poli ...
, not blinded by the Prussian and royalist cabal, is convinced, that our Fatherland can only be saved by Russia, otherwise our nation will be enslaved".

* After Stanisław Poniatowski's abdication and the destruction of the Commonwealth, Szczęsny Potocki said:

"About past Poland and Poles don't want to talk anymore Gone is this country, and this name, as many others have perished in the world's history. I am now a Russian forever."

References

{{Authority control Polish confederations Great Sejm Partitions of Poland 1792 establishments in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Separatism in Poland