In 1830 - 1831 the west of the Russian Empire was shaken by an uprising in Poland. The national liberation war began against the backdrop of ever-increasing infringement of the rights of its inhabitants, as well as revolutions in other countries of the Old World. The speech was suppressed, but its echo was carried through Europe for many years and had the most far-reaching consequences for Russia's reputation in the international arena.
Backstory
Most of Poland was annexed to Russia in 1815 by decision of the Congress of Vienna after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. For the purity of the legal procedure, a new state was created. The newly founded Kingdom of Poland entered into a personal union with Russia. According to the then ruling Emperor Alexander I, this decision was a reasonable compromise. The country retained its constitution, army and diet, which was not the case in other areas of the empire. Now the Russian monarch also bore the title of the Polish king. In Warsaw, he was represented by a special governor.
The Polish uprising was only a matter of time given the policy that was being pursued in St. Petersburg. Alexander I was known for his liberalism, despite the fact that he could not decide on cardinal reforms in Russia,where the positions of the conservative nobility were strong. Therefore, the monarch implemented his bold projects on the national borders of the empire - in Poland and Finland. However, even with the most benevolent intentions, Alexander I behaved extremely inconsistently. In 1815, he granted a liberal constitution to the Kingdom of Poland, but a few years later he began to oppress the rights of its inhabitants, when they, with the help of their autonomy, began to put spokes into the wheels of the policy of Russian governors. So in 1820, the Sejm did not abolish jury trials, which Alexander wanted.
Shortly before, preliminary censorship was introduced in the kingdom. All this only brought the uprising in Poland closer. The years of the Polish uprising fell on a period of conservatism in the policy of the empire. Reaction reigned throughout the state. When the struggle for independence flared up in Poland, cholera riots caused by the epidemic and quarantine were in full swing in the central provinces of Russia.
A storm is coming
The coming to power of Nicholas I did not promise the Poles any indulgences. The reign of the new emperor began indicatively with the arrest and execution of the Decembrists. In Poland, meanwhile, the patriotic and anti-Russian movement became more active. In 1830, the July Revolution took place in France, overthrowing Charles X, which further agitated the supporters of radical change.
Gradually, the nationalists enlisted the support of many famous tsarist officers (including General Iosif Khlopitsky). Revolutionary sentiment also spread to workers and students. Forfor many dissatisfied, the right-bank Ukraine remained a stumbling block. Some Poles believed that these lands belonged to them by right, since they were part of the Commonwe alth, divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia at the end of the 18th century.
The governor of the kingdom then was Konstantin Pavlovich - the elder brother of Nicholas I, who renounced the throne after the death of Alexander I. The conspirators were going to kill him and thus give a signal to the country about the beginning of a rebellion. However, the uprising in Poland was repeatedly postponed. Konstantin Pavlovich knew about the danger and did not leave his residence in Warsaw.
Meanwhile, another revolution broke out in Europe - this time Belgian. The French-speaking Catholic part of the population of the Netherlands came out for independence. Nicholas I, who was called the "gendarme of Europe", in his manifesto announced his rejection of the Belgian events. Rumors spread throughout Poland that the tsar would send her army to suppress the uprising in Western Europe. For the doubtful organizers of the armed uprising in Warsaw, this news was the last straw. The uprising was scheduled for November 29, 1830.
The beginning of the riot
At 6 pm on the agreed day, an armed detachment attacked the Warsaw barracks, where the guards lancers were quartered. The massacre of officers who remained loyal to the tsarist government began. Among those killed was Minister of War Maurycy Gauke. Konstantin Pavlovich considered this Pole his right hand. The governor himself managed to be saved. Warned by the guards, he escaped from his palace shortly beforea Polish detachment appeared, demanding his head. Leaving Warsaw, Konstantin gathered Russian regiments outside the city. So Warsaw was completely in the hands of the rebels.
The next day, reshuffles began in the Polish government - the Administrative Council. All pro-Russian officials left it. Gradually, a circle of military leaders of the uprising also took shape. One of the main characters was Lieutenant General Iosif Khlopitsky, who was briefly elected dictator. Throughout the confrontation, he tried as best he could to negotiate with Russia by diplomatic methods, since he understood that the Poles could not cope with the entire imperial army if they were sent to suppress the rebellion. Khlopitsky represented the right wing of the rebels. Their demands boiled down to a compromise with Nicholas I, based on the constitution of 1815.
The other leader was Mikhail Radziwill. His position remained exactly the opposite. More radical rebels (including him) planned to retake Poland, divided between Austria, Russia and Prussia. In addition, they considered their own revolution as part of a pan-European uprising (their main reference point was the July Revolution). That is why the Poles had many connections with the French.
Negotiations
The first priority for Warsaw was the question of a new executive power. On December 4, the uprising in Poland left behind an important milestone - a Provisional Government consisting of seven people was created. Adam Czartoryski became its head. He was a good friendAlexander I, was a member of his secret committee, and also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia in 1804 - 1806.
Despite this, the very next day Khlopitsky declared himself a dictator. The Sejm opposed him, but the figure of the new leader was extremely popular among the people, so the parliament had to retreat. Khlopitsky did not stand on ceremony with opponents. He concentrated all power in his hands. After the events of November 29, negotiators were sent to St. Petersburg. The Polish side demanded compliance with its constitution, as well as an increase in the form of eight provinces in Belarus and Ukraine. Nicholas did not agree to these conditions, promising only an amnesty. This response caused the conflict to escalate further.
On January 25, 1831, a resolution was adopted to dethrone the Russian monarch. According to this document, the Kingdom of Poland no longer belonged to the titulary of Nicholas. A few days before, Khlopitsky lost power and remained in the army. He understood that Europe would not openly support the Poles, which meant that the defeat of the rebels was inevitable. The Sejm was set up more radically. The Parliament handed over executive power to Prince Mikhail Radziwill. Diplomatic tools were discarded. Now the Polish uprising of 1830-1831. found itself in a situation where the conflict could only be resolved by force of arms.
Power balance
By February 1831, the rebels managed to draft about 50 thousand people into the army. This figure almost corresponded to the number of troops sent to Poland by Russia. However, the qualityvolunteer detachments were noticeably lower. The situation was especially problematic in the artillery and cavalry. Count Ivan Dibich-Zabalkansky was sent to suppress the November uprising in St. Petersburg. The events in Warsaw were unexpected for the empire. In order to concentrate all loyal troops in the western provinces, the count needed 2-3 months.
It was a precious time that the Poles did not have time to use. Khlopitsky, put at the head of the army, did not begin to attack first, but dispersed his forces along the most important roads in the territories under his control. Meanwhile, Ivan Dibich-Zabalkansky recruited more and more troops. By February, he already had about 125,000 men under arms. However, he also made unforgivable mistakes. In a hurry to strike a decisive blow, the count did not waste time organizing the delivery of food and ammunition to the army, which eventually had a negative impact on its fate.
Grochovsky battle
The first Russian regiments crossed the Polish border on February 6, 1831. Parts moved in different directions. The cavalry under the command of Cyprian Kreutz went to the Lublin Voivodeship. The Russian command planned to arrange a diversionary maneuver, which was supposed to finally disperse the enemy forces. The national liberation uprising really began to develop according to a plot convenient for the imperial generals. Several Polish divisions headed for Serock and Pultusk, breaking away from the main forces.
However, the weather suddenly interfered with the campaign. A thaw began, which prevented the main Russian army from going along the planned route. Dibich had to make a sharp turn. On February 14, there was a clash between the detachments of Jozef Dvernitsky and General Fyodor Geismar. The Poles won. And although it was not of particular strategic importance, the first success noticeably encouraged the militias. The Polish uprising assumed an uncertain character.
The main army of the rebels stood near the city of Grochow, protecting the approaches to Warsaw. It was here on February 25 that the first general battle took place. The Poles were commanded by Radzwill and Khlopitsky, the Russians were commanded by Dibich-Zabalkansky, who became a field marshal a year before the start of this campaign. The battle lasted all day and ended only late in the evening. The losses were approximately the same (the Poles had 12 thousand people, the Russians had 9 thousand). The rebels had to retreat to Warsaw. Although the Russian army achieved a tactical victory, its losses exceeded all expectations. In addition, ammunition was wasted, and it was not possible to bring new ones due to bad roads and disruption of communications. In these circumstances, Dibich did not dare to storm Warsaw.
Polish maneuvers
For the next two months, the armies barely moved. On the outskirts of Warsaw, daily skirmishes broke out. In the Russian army, due to poor hygienic conditions, a cholera epidemic broke out. At the same time, guerrilla warfare was going on throughout the country. In the main Polish army, command from Mikhail Radzwill passed to General Jan Skrzynetsky. He decided to attack the detachment undercommand of the Emperor's brother Mikhail Pavlovich and General Karl Bistrom, who was in the vicinity of Ostrolenka.
At the same time, the 8,000th regiment was sent towards Dibich. He was supposed to divert the main forces of the Russians. The bold maneuver of the Poles came as a surprise to the enemy. Mikhail Pavlovich and Bistrom retreated with their guards. Dibich did not believe for a long time that the Poles decided to attack, until he finally learned that they had captured Nur.
Fight at Ostrolenka
On May 12, the main Russian army left their apartments to overtake the Poles who had left Warsaw. The pursuit went on for two weeks. Finally, the vanguard overtook the Polish rear. So on the 26th the battle of Ostroleka began, which became the most important episode of the campaign. The Poles were separated by the Narew River. The first detachment on the left bank was attacked by superior Russian forces. The rebels began to hastily retreat. Dibich's forces crossed the Narew in Ostrołęka itself, after finally clearing the city of the rebels. They made several attempts to attack the attackers, but their efforts ended in nothing. The Poles marching forward were beaten off over and over again by a detachment under the command of General Karl Manderstern.
With the onset of the afternoon, reinforcements joined the Russians, who finally decided the outcome of the battle. Of the 30,000 Poles, about 9,000 died. Among those killed were Generals Heinrich Kamensky and Ludwik Katsky. The ensuing darkness helped the remnants of the defeated rebels to flee back to the capital.
Fall of Warsaw
On June 25, Count Ivan Paskevich became the new commander-in-chief of the Russian army in Poland. At his disposal were 50 thousand people. In Petersburg, the count was required to complete the defeat of the Poles and recapture Warsaw from them. The rebels had about 40 thousand people left in the capital. The first serious test for Paskevich was the crossing of the Vistula River. It was decided to overcome the water line near the border with Prussia. By July 8, the crossing was completed. At the same time, the rebels did not create any obstacles for the advancing Russians, relying on the concentration of their own forces in Warsaw.
In early August, another castling took place in the Polish capital. This time, instead of Skrzynceky, who suffered a defeat near Osterlenka, Henry Dembinsky became the commander-in-chief. However, he also resigned after the news came that the Russian army had already crossed the Vistula. Anarchy and anarchy reigned in Warsaw. Pogroms began, perpetrated by an angry mob demanding the extradition of the military responsible for the fatal defeats.
August 19, Paskevich approached the city. The next two weeks were spent in preparation for the assault. Separate detachments captured nearby cities in order to finally surround the capital. The assault on Warsaw began on September 6, when Russian infantry attacked a line of fortifications erected to delay the attackers. In the ensuing battle, Commander-in-Chief Paskevich was wounded. However, the Russian victory was clear. On the 7th, General Krukovetsky withdrew a 32,000-strong army from the city, with which he fled to the west. 8 SeptemberPaskevich entered Warsaw. The capital was captured. The defeat of the remaining scattered groups of rebels became a matter of time.
Results
The last Polish armed formations fled to Prussia. On October 21, Zamosc surrendered, and the rebels lost their last stronghold. Even before that, a massive and hasty emigration of rebellious officers, soldiers and their families began. Thousands of families settled in France and England. Many, like Jan Skrzyniecki, fled to Austria. In Europe, the national liberation movement in Poland was met with sympathy and sympathy by society.
Polish Uprising 1830 – 1831 led to the fact that the Polish army was abolished. The authorities carried out an administrative reform in the Kingdom. Voivodships were replaced by regions. Also in Poland, a system of measures and weights common with the rest of Russia, as well as the same money, appeared. Prior to this, right-bank Ukraine was under the strong cultural and religious influence of its western neighbour. Now in St. Petersburg it has been decided to dissolve the Greek Catholic Church. The “wrong” Ukrainian parishes were either closed or became Orthodox.
For the inhabitants of Western states, Nicholas I became even more consistent with the image of a dictator and despot. And although not a single state officially stood up for the rebels, the echoes of the Polish events were heard throughout the Old World for many years. The fugitive emigrants did a lot to ensure that public opinion about Russia allowed European countries to freely start the Crimean War against Nicholas.
