Polish Legions (Napoleonic era)

900: 71: 720: 52: 63: 44: 653: 33: 943:(who personally saved Napoleon's life), were one of the units that served as the rear guard during Napoleon's retreat. This later led to the claim that just as they had been the first to enter it, they were the last to leave Russia. They sustained heavy losses during the campaign: only 26,000 of the original 98,000-strong contingent returned. The elite Vistula Legion entering Russia was about 7,000 strong; its strength at the end of the campaign was just 1,500. 707:, reduced the 5,280-strong Polish contingent to a few hundred survivors in the space of less than two years. By the time the French forces retreated from the island in 1803, about 4,000 Poles had died (either from disease or combat). Of the survivors, about 400 remained on the island, a few dozen were dispersed to the nearby islands or to the United States, and about 700 returned to France (Urbankowski claims 6,000 sent and 330 returned). 326:, who saw the Poles as a promising source of new recruits, and who superficially appeared receptive to the idea of liberating Poland. Dąbrowski was soon authorized by the French-allied Cisalpine Republic to create the Polish Legions, which would be part of the army of the newly created republic. This agreement, drafted by Napoleon, was signed on 9 January 1797, and marked the formal creation of the Legions. 1008:, who refused to join the Legions, arguing that Napoleon would not restore Poland in any durable form. In this regard, Kościuszko also stated that the Duchy of Warsaw was created in 1807 only because it was expedient, rather than because Napoleon supported Polish sovereignty. Nevertheless, the memory of Napoleon's Polish Legions is strong in modern 758:, and on 20 September 1806 decreed the creation of a "Northern Legion" under General Zajączek. As the Napoleon did not want to commit himself to the Polish cause, the Legion was however not explicitly Polish, and was, in Napoleon's words, a gathering of "children of the North". French armies, including the Legion units, defeated the Prussians in 2467:, Londyn, 1982. (Under the Standards of Napoleon has lists of officers of the 4th, 7th and 9th Regiments of infantry of the Duchy of Warsaw which was the Polish Division in the service of France and Napoleon in Spain. It also lists the officers and enlisted men of the Elba Squadron and contains other articles about Napoleonic Polish officers.) 833:), with two new infantry regiments added from the newly liberated Polish lands. On 21 February 1808, the Legion was relocated to France, reinforced with Poles from other French formations, and incorporated into the French army. On 31 March of that year the legion was officially named the Vistula Legion ( 243:

Estimates of the strength of the Polish Legions also vary and it is believed that between 20,000 and 30,000 men served in the Legions' ranks at any one time over the course of their existence. The WIEM Encyklopedia estimate is 21,000 for the period up to 1803. Davies suggests 25,000 for the period of

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Among historians there is a degree of uncertainty about the period in which the Legions existed. Magocsi et al. notes that "the heyday of their activity" falls in the years 1797–1801, while Lerski defines the Legions as units that operated between 1797 and 1803. Similarly, Davies defines the time of

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The Polish soldiers serving in the Dąbrowski Legion were granted Cisalpine citizenship and were paid the same wage as other troops. They were allowed to use their own unique Polish-style uniforms, with some French and Cisalpine symbols, and were commanded by other Polish speakers. By early February

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The definitive end of the Polish Legions came with the conclusion of Napoleon's career and the abolition of the Duchy of Warsaw. The Duchy was occupied by Prussian and Russian troops following Napoleon's retreat from Russia. The Polish troops remained loyal to him until the bitter end, with Polish

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of Saint-Domingue, but preferred to save his main French army for more important matters, closer to home. The now inconvenient Polish units were accompanied by contingents of Germans and Swiss French allies, as well as by French units that had fallen out of favour with Napoleon and the French high

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decided to release Polish soldiers – then under Wielhorski – into Austrian custody as the Austrians claimed them to be deserters. This marked the end of the Second Legion, as only a small number of Poles were able to evade capture (the French were allowed to withdraw most of their forces

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in the hope of resurrecting the Commonwealth. The Vistula Legion, withdrawn from Spain in early 1812 and reorganized into a division (with a planned strength of 10,500 that was never fully attained) was part of Napoleon's invasion forces. Poles formed the largest foreign contingent, 98,000-strong

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The Poles had minimal interest or desire to support the French cause in the distant colonies, once again fighting against people who only desired their own independence. The loss of that many patriotic military personnel in the Caribbean was a serious blow to the Polish aspirations for regaining

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weakened as Poles were not used in any fights that seemed to directly affect the chance of Poland regaining independence. Many legionnaires, including General Kniaziewicz, felt that they had been used by the French and resigned. Dąbrowski remained in command, and reorganized both Legions at

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In analyzing the creation of the Polish Legions, many historians have argued that Napoleon used the Poles as a source of recruits and had little desire to invest in the re-creation of the Polish state. Among the most notable of Napoleon's contemporary Polish detractors was

2460:, 1808–1814. Londyn, 1981. (The best history of the Vistula Legion contains biographical sketches of all officers and sometimes includes not only the father's name but the mothers maiden name also. It also lists the recipients of Virtuti Militari and the Legion of Honour.) 236:, which concluded in 1803. When recounting the history of the Polish Legions, some works also describe the operations of Polish units under the French in the period after 1803; several smaller formations existed in that time, the most notable of which was the 479:. Within about a year of its formation, the Legion had become about 10,000. However, the new series of struggles proved to be much more difficult, as the anti-French coalition advanced upon Italy, now bereft of elite French units which were with Napoleon in 408:, signed on 18 October 1797, resulted in another short period of relative peace. The Legions, hopeful for a renewal of the war, were seen as the most pro-French foreign forces in the Cisalpine Republic. In May 1798 the Poles helped the French to secure the 2485:. Warszawa, I-1969, II-1976, III-1971, IV-1979. (The most scholarly comprehensive work ever done on the Polish Legions which includes biographical sketches of practically all officers including birthplaces, parents' names as well as service records.) 244:

up to 1802–1803, as does Magosci et al. Bideleux and Jeffries offer an estimate of up to 30,000 for the period up to 1801. Most of the soldiers came from the ranks of the peasantry, with only about 10 percent being drawn from the nobility.

2453:. Warszawa, 1905 (lst), 1912, (2nd) edition. (The best reference on the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw contains a list of officers of the Duchy of Warsaw from 1809 to 1814 as well as a list of officers of the Lithuanian Regiments in 1812.) 841:(5–6 July 1809) Napoleon attempted to form a second Polish Vistula Legion from Polish prisoners of war, but the new formation could not attract sufficient recruits, and in 1810 it was merged into the original Vistula Legion. 983:, the only unit he was allowed to keep as guards were the Polish Lancers. While many Poles returned to the Polish territories, a unit of about 325 men under Colonel Golaszewski fought in Napoleon's final 1815 campaign, the " 2470:

Kozlowski, Historya lgo Potem 9go Pulku Wielkiego Ksiestwa Warszawskiego, Napisana Prez Kpt. Kozlowskiego, Poznań – Kraków, 1887. (Captain Kozlowski presents a history of the 1st and later 9th regiment of the Duchy of

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Sources vary with regards to when the singular Dąbrowski Legion was expanded into multiple Legions. Pivka and Roffe note that in May 1797 the Legion was reorganized into two formations, the first being commanded by

519: 2499:, Wyd. A. Rembowski, Warszawa, 1899. (The best book on the Polish Light Horse of the Guard contains a complete list of all officers and enlisted men with reference to their service records.) 256:, would come to Poland's aid. France's enemies included Poland's partitioners, Prussia, Austria and Russia. Paris was the seat of two Polish organizations laying the claim to be the Polish 1012:, and Napoleon himself is often regarded as a hero and liberator there. About the Polish Legion, Napoleon himself is reputed to have said that 800 Poles would equal 8,000 enemy soldiers. 735:. In 1806, all that was left of the old Dąbrowski and Kniaziewicz's Legions was one demi-brigade, consisting of one infantry regiment and one cavalry regiment, now in the service of the 598:

on 3 December 1800. According to Davies, the Danube Legion would suffer significant casualties in the short period after the battle and the end of the campaign on 25 December that year.

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The main period that the Legions were active was between 1797 and 1803, although some chose to continue serving the French in Italy. In 1806, two Polish battalions fought at the

412:, putting down some peasant revolts, and garrisoned Rome, which they entered on 3 May. Dąbrowski obtained a number of trophies from a Roman representative, that the Polish king, 1038:, it includes words promising "the return of the Polish army from Italy to Poland" and states that "Poland is not lost as long as we live" in reference to the Polish Legions. 2313:"Napoleon became the de facto liberator and restorer of Poland and, in the eyes of the Poles, their hero", Marian Kukiel, "Czartoryski and European Unity 1770–1861", page 78. 487:(17–19 June 1799), where it suffered heavy casualties (only two of the five battalions survived the battle, and Dąbrowski was wounded). Polish legionaries also fought at the 2602: 436: 2516:. Cracow, 1904. (Limited edition regimental history of the 17th Lancers contains a complete listing of all officers and enlisted men of this so-called Lithuanian regiment.) 960: 365:, but that was eventually rejected by Napoleon who instead decided to use those troops on the Italian front. In April, the Legion took part in quelling the uprising in 2597: 156:

and commanded by Polish officers. They became known as the "Polish Legions", a Polish army in exile, under French command. Their best known Polish commanders included

2437:, 1929. (Important first comprehensive study of the Polish Legions in Italy during the Napoleonic wars which contains many references to officers and enlisted men.) 2562: 591: 503: 252:

After the Third Partition of Poland (1795), many Poles believed that revolutionary France, whose public opinion was very sympathetic to the ideals of the Polish

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signed that month, which promised peace between Austrians and French, was a blow to Polish morale, but Dąbrowski correctly assumed that it would not last.

361:. By the end of April the ranks of the Legion had swelled to 5,000. At that time Dąbrowski lobbied for a plan to push through to the Polish territories in 444: 347: 1283: 2519: 273: 1057: 605:(9 February 1801), which to the disappointment of the legionnaires made no mention of Poland. The Legions was transferred to police duties in the 502:(26 March – 5 April 1799) where it is estimated that it lost about half to two thirds of its complement of 4,000 men. Its commander, General 483:. Overall, 1799 saw the Legions take significant casualties. In mid-1799, the First Legion under General Dąbrowski fought against the Russians at 1995:

A Review of Jan Pachonski and Reuel K. Wilson, Poland's Caribbean Tragedy: A Study of Polish Legions in the Haitian War of Independence 1802–1803

740: 899: 770:), which resulted in the influx of recruits for the legion. A year later, Napoleon, having defeated the Russian armies, met with the Russian 535:

and decreed that foreign troops could now serve in the French Army. On 10 February the remnants of the Italian Legions were reorganized near

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did not allow for the employment of foreign troops on French soil, the French decided to use the Poles to bolster their client in Italy, the

2492:, Kraków, 1979. (Sketches of officers and some enlisted men who served in the various islands of the Caribbean during the Napoleonic wars.) 2607: 2117: 857: 148:

itself, where they joined forces with the local military. The number of Polish recruits soon reached many thousands. With support from

2592: 70: 2409: 452: 805:. In February 1807, the remaining infantry and cavalry regiments who had continued in French service in Italy were reorganized in 711:

independence. The Haitian experience cast further doubts among Poles about France's and Napoleon's good intentions toward Poland.

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into two 6,000-strong units in March 1801. On 21 December 1801 the Legions were reorganized by the French government into three

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Despite their destruction, the Legions became legendary in Poland, helping to spread the civic and democratic ideals of the

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1797 the Legion was 1,200 strong, having been bolstered by the arrival of many new recruits who had deserted from the

2506:. Poznań, 1921. (One of the best early works on the San Domingo war which lists most officers and some enlisted men.) 531:

With the end of the Cisalpine Republic, the Legions were reorganized in France, as Napoleon ascended to power as the

801:, where they were defeated by British troops. In 1807, veterans of the Polish Legion formed the backbone of the new 288:, especially to Italy and to France. Eventually, the Agency was successful in convincing the French government (the 1019:

throughout the country. The legionnaires formed a cadre for the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw and also later for the

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The Dąbrowski Legion was first used against the Austrians and their allies in Italy. In March 1797 it garrisoned

1062: 731:, the Polish troops in Italy had been renamed the 1st Polish Legion (1e Legion Polonaise) and attached to the 1052: 732: 269: 1291: 1256: 595: 293: 221: 1432:

Francja wobec Sejmu Wielkiego: zarys stosunków dyplomatycznych między Francją a Polską w latach 1788–1792

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and would go on to fight alongside the French army in numerous campaigns, culminating in the disastrous

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river when the Grande Armée entered Russia and, as part of the Imperial Guard, the first unit to enter

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By the end of 1798 the Legions under Kniaziewicz were fighting against the anti-French forces from the

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defines them as units operating in the period of 1797–1801 (in 1801 the Legions were reorganized into

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Histoire Du 17ième Régiment De Cavalerie Polonaise Ðe Lanciers Du Comte Michel Tyszkiewlcz, 1812–1815

744: 743:, turning the Austrian attack on 24 November 1805, but on 3 July 1806 it suffered a severe defeat at 647: 233: 204: 109: 1252: 968: 849: 484: 362: 2417:

Poland's Caribbean Tragedy: A Study of Polish Legions in the Haitian War of Independence 1802–1803

1729: 991:. After Napoleon's second and final defeat, some are said to have accompanied him to his exile on 2612: 2442: 1020: 492: 200: 2240:

Spanish Carlism and Polish Nationalism: The Borderlands of Europe in the 19th and 20th Centuries

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standard which subsequently became part of the Legions' colors, accompanying them from then on.

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