Editing History of Poland (section)

====Czartoryski reforms and Stanisław August Poniatowski====

[[File:Stanisław August Poniatowski by Johann Baptist Lampi.PNG|thumb|right|upright|[[Stanisław August Poniatowski]], the "enlightened" monarch]]

During the later part of the 18th century, fundamental internal reforms were attempted in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as it slid into extinction. The reform activity, initially promoted by the magnate [[Czartoryski]] family faction known as the [[Familia (political party)|''Familia'']], provoked a hostile reaction and military response from neighboring powers, but it did create conditions that fostered economic improvement. The most populous urban center, the capital city of [[Warsaw]], replaced [[Gdańsk|Danzig]] (Gdańsk) as the leading trade center, and the importance of the more prosperous urban [[social class]]es increased. The last decades of the independent Commonwealth's existence were characterized by aggressive reform movements and far-reaching progress in the areas of education, intellectual life, art and the evolution of the social and political system.<ref name="Gierowski 1764–1864, pp. 1–60">{{Harvnb|Gierowski|1986b|pp=1–60}}.</ref>

The [[Royal elections in Poland|royal election]] of 1764 resulted in the elevation of [[Stanisław August Poniatowski]],<ref name="playground I xxix–xxx">{{Harvnb|Davies|2005a|pp=xxix–xxx}}</ref> a refined and worldly aristocrat connected to the Czartoryski family, but hand-picked and imposed by Empress [[Catherine the Great]] of Russia, who expected him to be her obedient follower. Stanisław August ruled the Polish–Lithuanian state until its dissolution in 1795. The king spent his reign torn between his desire to implement reforms necessary to save the failing state and the perceived necessity of remaining in a subordinate relationship to his Russian sponsors.<ref name="Gierowski 1764–1864, pp. 60–66">{{Harvnb|Gierowski|1986b|pp=60–66}}.</ref>

The [[Bar Confederation]] (1768–1772)<ref name="playground I xxix–xxx"/> was a rebellion of nobles directed against Russia's influence in general and Stanisław August, who was seen as its representative, in particular. It was fought to preserve Poland's independence and the nobility's traditional interests. After several years, it was brought under control by forces loyal to the king and those of the [[Russian Empire]].<ref name="Gierowski 1764–1864, pp. 66–74"/>

Following the suppression of the Bar Confederation, parts of the Commonwealth were divided up among Prussia, Austria and Russia in 1772 at the instigation of [[Frederick the Great]] of Prussia, an action that became known as the [[First Partition of Poland]]:<ref name="playground I xxix–xxx"/> the outer provinces of the Commonwealth were seized by agreement among the country's three powerful neighbors and only a rump state remained. In 1773, the "[[Partition Sejm]]" ratified the partition under duress as a ''[[fait accompli]]''. However, it also established the [[Commission of National Education]], a pioneering in Europe education authority often called the world's first ministry of education.<ref name="playground I xxix–xxx"/><ref name="Gierowski 1764–1864, pp. 66–74">{{Harvnb|Gierowski|1986b|pp=66–74}}.</ref>