1807–1814 · Duchy of Warsaw
The Duchy of Warsaw
Napoleon carves a satellite state out of the Prussian partition, with a constitution, a civil code and an army of its own. In 1809 it gains Kraków and Lublin. It falls with Napoleon — but for eight years Poland is back on the map.
Population
- about 2,600,000 (estimate, ±200,000) — The Duchy within its borders of 1807.
- From 1809: 4,300,000 (census data) — The 1810 census, after the Duchy was enlarged with the gains of the war with Austria.
Rulers and leaders
- 1792–1835 Francis II — Holy Roman Emperor, from 1804 Emperor of Austria — partitioning power occupying power
- 1797–1840 Frederick William III — King of Prussia — partitioning power occupying power
- 1801–1814 Alexander I — Emperor of Russia — partitioning power occupying power
- 1807–1813 Napoleon — Emperor of the French, creator and protector of the Duchy of Warsaw de facto leader
He gave the Duchy its constitution and enlarged it in 1809 with land taken from Austria; its army marched with him on Moscow in 1812.
- 1807–1815 Frederick Augustus I — Duke of Warsaw, King of Saxony monarch
Events
- 1807The Duchy of Warsaw 7 July turning point
At the Peace of Tilsit Napoleon carves a state out of the Prussian partition, with a constitution, a civil code and an army of its own. It lasted eight years, but it proved a Polish state could be rebuilt.
- 1809The Treaty of Schönbrunn 14 October treaty
After a war with Austria in which the Duchy’s army under Poniatowski marched into Galicia, Napoleon adds Kraków, Lublin and Zamość to the Duchy of Warsaw. Its territory grows by half and its population to 4.3 million.
Wars, uprisings and longer processes
- 1797–1807The Polish Legions in Italy war
Jan Henryk Dąbrowski raises Polish legions in Lombardy at France’s side, and in their camp Dąbrowski’s Mazurka is written. They fight in Italy and on the Rhine, some die on Saint-Domingue, and their soldiers become the cadre of the Duchy of Warsaw’s army.
- 1806–1813The Duchy of Warsaw’s wars war
From the Greater Poland rising of 1806 Poles fight at Napoleon’s side. In 1809 the Duchy’s army holds at Raszyn and takes Galicia, and in 1812 close to a hundred thousand Poles march on Moscow. Defeat in Russia ends the Duchy; Poniatowski dies at Leipzig.