Poniatowski, Józef Anton, Prince

Poniatowski, Józef Anton, Prince (yOO'zef än'tôn pônyätôf'skē) [key], 1763–1813, Polish general and marshal of France; nephew of Stanislaus II. He fought (1792) the Russians in the campaign preceding the second Polish partition and in the insurrection led (1794) by Thaddeus Kosciusko. He became minister of war of the grand duchy of Warsaw set up by Napoleon I and in 1809 led the Polish troops in Napoleon's campaign against Austria. He again commanded under Napoleon in the Russian campaign of 1812. In the battle of Leipzig he covered the withdrawal of the French troops; then, cut off from aid, he plunged his mount into a river and was drowned.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

• • Cite
  • Print
  • Email
  • Bookmark
    • Add bookmark
    • Add to del.icio.us
    • Digg It!
    • Add to Reddit