Editing Poland Is Not Yet Lost (section)

=== Origin ===
[[File:Jan Henryk Dabrowski 2.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Jan Henryk Dąbrowski]] (1755–1818)]]

{{see also|Polish Legions (Napoleonic era)}}

In 1795, after a prolonged decline and despite last-minute attempts at constitutional reforms and armed resistance, the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] was ultimately [[Partitions of Poland|partitioned]] by its three neighbors: [[Russian Empire|Russia]], [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] and [[Habsburg monarchy|Austria]]. A once vast and powerful empire was effectively erased from the map while monarchs of the partitioning powers pledged never to use the name "Poland" in their official titles. For many, including even leading representatives of the [[Polish Enlightenment]], this new political situation meant an end of the Polish nation.<ref name=czaplin>{{cite book|location=Kraków|publisher=[[Znak (publisher)|Znak]]|last=Czapliński|first=Władysław|author-link=Władysław Czapliński|title=Zarys dziejów Polski do roku 1864|language=pl|trans-title=Outline of Polish history to the year 1864|year=1985|isbn=8370060579|lccn=86100095|oclc=16228048}}</ref> In the words of [[Hugo Kołłątaj]], a notable Polish political thinker of the time, "Poland no longer belonged to currently extant nations,"{{efn|Polish: {{lang|pl|(Polska) przestała należeć do narodów aktualnie będących}}.<ref name=czaplin />}} while historian [[Tadeusz Czacki]] declared that Poland "was now effaced from the number of nations."{{efn|Polish: {{lang|pl|Polska wymazana jest z liczby narodów}}.<ref name=czaplin />}}

[[File:Jozef Wybicki 1805 (14441287) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Józef Wybicki]] (1747–1822)]]

Meanwhile, Polish patriots and revolutionaries turned for help to [[French First Republic|France]], Poland's traditional ally, which was at war with Austria (member of the [[First Coalition]]) at the time. [[Józef Wybicki]] was among the leading moderate émigré politicians seeking French aid in re-establishing Polish independence. In 1796, he came up with the idea of creating Polish Legions within the [[French Revolutionary Army]]. To this end, he convinced General [[Jan Henryk Dąbrowski]], a hero of the [[Greater Poland Uprising (1794)|Greater Poland campaign]] of the 1794 [[Kościuszko Uprising]], to come to Paris and present the plan to the [[French Directory]]. Dąbrowski was sent by the Directory to Napoleon who was then spreading the [[French Revolution]] in northern Italy. In January 1797, the newly created French-controlled [[Cisalpine Republic]] accepted Dąbrowski's offer and a Polish legion was formed. Dąbrowski and his soldiers hoped to fight against Austria under Napoleon and, subsequently, march across the Austrian territory, "from Italy to Poland", where they would ignite a national uprising.<ref name=czaplin/>

[[File:Lapide Wybicki.jpg|thumb|right|A commemorative plaque in [[Reggio Emilia]], Italy]]

In early July 1797, Wybicki arrived in Reggio Emilia where the Polish Legions were then quartered and where he wrote the ''Song of the Polish Legions'' soon afterwards. He first sung it at a private meeting of Polish officers in the Legions' headquarters at the episcopal palace in Reggio. The first public performance most probably took place on 16 July 1797 during a military parade in Reggio's Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square). On 20 July, it was played again as the Legions were marching off from Reggio to [[Milan]], the Cisalpine capital.<ref name=kuczyn/>

With its heart-lifting lyrics and folk melody, the song soon became a popular tune among Polish legionaries. On 29 August 1797, Dąbrowski already wrote to Wybicki from [[Bologna]]: "soldiers gain more and more taste for your song."{{efn|Polish: {{lang|pl|Żołnierze do Twojej pieśni coraz więcej gustu nabierają}}.<ref name=kuczyn />}} It appealed to both officers, usually émigré noblemen, and simple soldiers, most of whom were [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galician]] peasants who had been drafted into the Austrian army and captured as [[Prisoner of war|POWs]] by the French. The last stanza, referring to Kościuszko, who famously fought for freedom of the entire nation rather than the nobility alone, and the "scythes of Racławice", seems to be directed particularly at the latter. Wybicki may have even hoped for Kościuszko to arrive in Italy and personally lead the Legions which might explain why the chorus "March, march, Dąbrowski" is not repeated after the last stanza. At that time Wybicki was not yet aware that Kościuszko had already returned to [[Philadelphia]].<ref name=kuczyn/>