Józef Bielak ( – 11 June 1794) was a Lithuanian Tatar

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

, who fought in the

Bar Confederation The Bar Confederation ( pl, Konfederacja barska; 1768–1772) was an association of Polish nobles (szlachta) formed at the fortress of Bar in Podolia (now part of Ukraine) in 1768 to defend the internal and external independence of the Polish� ...

, the War of 1792 and

Uprising of 1794 Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...

. He commanded the 4th Lithuanian Advance Guard Regiment from 1763 to his death in 1794.

Early life

He was the son of Osman and Regina née Rudnicka.

Military career

Seven Years' War (1761–1763)

In 1761 he became a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in general Czymbaj Murza Rudnicki's regiment, which was assigned to the

Royal Saxon army The Royal Saxon Army (german: Königlich Sächsische Armee) was the military force of the Electorate (1682–1807) and later the Kingdom of Saxony (1807–1918). A regular Saxon army was first established in 1682 and it continued to exist until the ...

until 1764. With it, he fought in

Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...

Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...

and

Czechia The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The Cz ...

during the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

. In 1763 he was promoted to

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 of ...

and a year later he became the commander of the

4th Lithuanian Vanguard Regiment The 4th Lithuanian Vanguard Regiment () was a military unit of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The full name was ''4th Lithuanian Advance Guard Regiment of Josef Bielak''. History Origins Formed in 1733 by gathering all cavalry banners of t ...

Bar Confederation (1768–1772)

During the

he fought on the side of the Confederates, under the command of

Casimir Pulaski Kazimierz Michał Władysław Wiktor Pułaski of the Ślepowron coat of arms (; ''Casimir Pulaski'' ; March 4 or March 6, 1745 Makarewicz, 1998 October 11, 1779) was a Polish nobleman, soldier, and military commander who has been called, tog ...

against the Russians. In 1771, however, he passed over to the king's side. However, he soon returned to the Confederates and fought in the Battle of Stołowicze. In 1772 he became a

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

of the Lithuanian army. After the fall of the confederation, he returned to Koszoły, which was granted to him by King

Augustus III Augustus III ( pl, August III Sas, lt, Augustas III; 17 October 1696 5 October 1763) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1733 until 1763, as well as Elector of Saxony in the Holy Roman Empire where he was known as Frederick Augu ...

for his war merits in 1763.

Four Years' Sejm (1788–1792)

In the years 1788-1789, he suppressed Ukrainian peasant revolts. He distinguished himself in the War in Defence of the Constitution, commanding the Lithuanian Vanguard corps. He participated, among others in the battles of

Mir ''Mir'' (russian: Мир, ; ) was a space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, operated by the Soviet Union and later by Russia. ''Mir'' was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to&n ...

, Zelwa and Lietuvos Brasta. He was one of the most talented commanders of this campaign, for which he was decorated with the

Knight's Cross Knight's Cross (German language ''Ritterkreuz'') refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that often denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield. Most frequently the term Knight's Cross is used to refer to the Knight's Cr ...

Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', pl, Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was created in 1792 by Polish King Stan ...

Kościuszko Uprising (1794)

During the Kościuszko Uprising, he led the Lithuanian corps formed in

Gardinas Grodno (russian: Гродно, pl, Grodno; lt, Gardinas) or Hrodna ( be, Гродна ), is a city in western Belarus. The city is located on the Neman River, 300 km (186 mi) from Minsk, about 15 km (9 mi) from the Polish bo ...

. He died of natural causes during the uprising. He was buried in Studzianka.

Family

He had thirteen children from two

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

s. With Urszula née Łosiów he had a son Abraham, and with Kunegunda née Tuhan-Baranowska: Samuel -

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

, Mustafa -

, Machmet - lieutenant, Albrycht -

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

, Osman -

ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

, Soliman - lieutenant, Bohdan (killed in the

November Uprising The November Uprising (1830–31), also known as the Polish–Russian War 1830–31 or the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in W ...

), Bekier, Elijah, Elizabeth, Eve and Felician. After Józef's death in 1794, his wife Kunegunda married his adjutant, also Tatar, Tupalski.

Citations

Cited sources

* * * * 1741 births 1794 deaths People from Navahrudak People from Nowogródek Voivodeship (1507–1795) Recipients of the Virtuti Militari Generals of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Polish generals {{Poland-mil-bio-stub