Vilnian National Guard ( pl, Gwardia Narodowa Wileńska) was a paramilitary unit formed in the city of

Vilna 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 ...

(modern Vilnius, Lithuania) during the French invasion of Russia in 1812. Among the duties of the unit were maintaining law and order in the city, but also guarding state and military buildings. The Vilnian National Guard took part in the Battle of Vilna later that year, during Napoleon's retreat from Russia. Following the Russian take-over of the city the Guard was disbanded. Already before the French invasion started, a large part of the former

Grand Duchy of Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Lit ...

revolted against the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

. Soon after his arrival to Vilna,

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...

formed the Provisional Government of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, promising to restore it to its former wealth. The new government instantly renewed the Polish–Lithuanian Union and agreed to form the forces of the popular uprising into regular army. On July 5, 1812, the irregulars were formed into three regiments of guards cavalry and five regiments of infantry. In addition to the regular units, on July 1 an irregular unit of Vilnian burghers was formed in order to carry out police and safekeeping duties within the confines of the city. The unit, named ''Vilnian National Guard'', or ''Gwardia Narodowa Wileńska'' in Polish, was composed of 2 battalions. In accordance with the rules for similar units formed in

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...

Minsk Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...

, Grodno and other towns, the membership was to be limited to all able-bodied men between 18 and 50 years of age, who possessed financial qualifications for the service (two thirds of all the recruits paid for their own equipment and uniform). Following the renewal of the Polish–Lithuanian Union the command over the unit was passed to experienced Polish officers from the

Duchy of Warsaw The Duchy of Warsaw ( pl, Księstwo Warszawskie, french: Duché de Varsovie, german: Herzogtum Warschau), also known as the Grand Duchy of Warsaw and Napoleonic Poland, was a French client state established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807, during ...

, often veterans of the '' Old Guard''. The first commander of the newly formed unit was

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Kozielski. Among its officers was also Józef Deszczyński, a noted Polish composer and director of the epoch.

References

{{reflist Military units and formations of the Napoleonic Wars History of Vilnius