Editing History of Poland (section)

====The Kościuszko Uprising of 1794 and the end of Polish–Lithuanian state====

[[File:Smuglewicz Kosciuszko 2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tadeusz Kościuszko]]'s call for a [[Kościuszko Uprising|national uprising]], [[Kraków]] 1794]]

Radicalized by recent events, Polish reformers (whether in exile or still resident in the reduced area remaining to the Commonwealth) were soon working on preparations for a national insurrection. [[Tadeusz Kościuszko]], a popular general and a veteran of the [[American Revolution]], was chosen as its leader. He returned from abroad and issued [[Kościuszko's proclamation]] in [[Kraków]] on March 24, 1794. It called for a [[Kościuszko Uprising|national uprising]] under his supreme command.<ref name="playground I xxix–xxx"/> Kościuszko emancipated many peasants in order to enroll them as ''[[kosynierzy]]'' in his army, but the hard-fought insurrection, despite widespread national support, proved incapable of generating the foreign assistance necessary for its success. In the end, it was suppressed by the combined forces of Russia and Prussia, with Warsaw captured in November 1794 in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Praga]].

[[File:Partitions of Poland.png|thumb|right|upright=1.35|The three [[Partitions of Poland|Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] (1772, 1793, and 1795)]]

In 1795, a [[Third Partition of Poland]] was undertaken by Russia, Prussia and Austria as a final division of territory that resulted in the effective dissolution of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.<ref name="playground I xxix–xxx"/> King Stanisław August Poniatowski was escorted to [[Grodno]], forced to abdicate, and retired to [[Saint Petersburg]].<ref name="playground I xxix–xxx"/><ref name="Gierowski 1764–1864, pp. 90–101">{{Harvnb|Gierowski|1986b|pp=90–101}}.</ref> Tadeusz Kościuszko, initially imprisoned, was allowed to emigrate to the [[United States]] in 1796.<ref name="Herbst 437">{{Harvnb|Herbst|1969|p=437}}.</ref>

The response of the Polish leadership to the last partition is a matter of historical debate. Literary scholars found that the dominant emotion of the first decade was despair that produced a moral desert ruled by violence and treason. On the other hand, historians have looked for signs of resistance to foreign rule. Apart from those who went into exile, the nobility took oaths of loyalty to their new rulers and served as officers in their armies.<ref>{{Harnvb|Czubaty|2009|pp=95–109}}.</ref>