Duchy of Warsaw
The Duchy of Warsaw (Polish: [Księstwo Warszawskie] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), French: [Duché de Varsovie] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), German: [Herzogtum Warschau] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) was a Polish state started by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807 during the Napoleonic Wars. Poland had been divided among its neighbors in the Partitions of Poland. The Duchy was made up of the Polish lands given to France by the Kingdom of Prussia under the terms of the Treaties of Tilsit. Prussian and Russian troops occupied it when Napoleon was defeated in Russia. This split was made official in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna.
Duchy of Warsaw | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1807–1815 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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.svg) The Duchy of Warsaw in 1812 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Client state of the French Empire, Personal union with the Kingdom of Saxony | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital | Warsaw | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common languages | Polish, French, German | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government | Constitutional monarchy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duke | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1807–1815 | Frederick Augustus I | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1807 | Stanisław Małachowski | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1807–1808 | Ludwik S. Gutakowski | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1808–1809 | Józef Poniatowski | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1809–1815 | Stanisław K. Potocki | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legislature | Sejm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chamber of Deputies | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Historical era | Napoleonic Wars | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• | 9 June 1807 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 July 1807 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 April 1809 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 October 1809 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 June 1812 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• | 9 June 1815 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• Total | 157,194 km2 (60,693 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency | Złoty | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
Polish fighting in the Napoleonic Wars started when the first Polish legions were made with supporters of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Napoleon used them during the campaigns in Italy to great effect.
When he defeated Prussia, Napoleon wanted to make a country for Polish People. He used captured land to create it and made one of his allies the leader, who was also the King of Saxony.
The Duchy participated in many battles and wars with the French, such as when Napoleon attack Russia in 1812, and at the Battle of Leipzig. They also fought their own war with Austria in 1809.
When Napoleon left France in 1814, European leaders removed the Duchy of Warsaw and gave back land to Prussia, Russia and Austria at the Congress of Vienna.
Duchy Of Warsaw Media
Prince Józef Poniatowski, Commander in Chief of the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw, by Josef Grassi
Polish uhlans from the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw, 1807–1815. Painting by January Suchodolski
The Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw cover and seals, 1807
Map of the Duchy of Warsaw, 1807–1809
Map of the Duchy of Warsaw, 1809–1815
Granting of the Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw by Napoleon, 22 VII 1807, by Marcello Bacciarelli
