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Stanisław Poniatowski

Stanisław August Poniatowski (born January 17, 1732, Berestey-shchyna) — the last King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1764–1795). Elected under the patronage of Catherine II, with whom he had a romance. He carried out a series of reforms; during his reign the Constitution was adopted and capital punishment was abolished. After the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth he spent his last years in St. Petersburg and died in 1798.

Overview

Stanisław Poniatowski was born on January 17, 1732, in Berestey-shchyna, received a good education, and traveled widely across Western Europe. At the age of twenty he spoke in the Sejm, demonstrating considerable oratorical talent. While serving on a diplomatic mission in St. Petersburg, at the age of 23 he won the favor of the young Grand Duchess Catherine (the future Empress Catherine II) and became her lover.

Key Details / Subtopics

  • Election as king: In 1764 the Sejm elected Stanisław August Poniatowski King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under the patronage of Catherine II.
  • Reforms: he launched reforms in all spheres — from military tactics to religious freedoms and lawmaking; during his reign the Constitution was adopted and capital punishment was abolished.
  • The Bar Confederation and the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: the conservative nobility formed the Bar Confederation (among its participants was Morits Benovsky), which in effect launched a civil war. This provoked the invasion of russian troops and the forced retreat of the rebels southward, giving rise to the Bar Confederation in Crimea; the confederates were defeated, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was partitioned among the victorious powers.
  • Personal life: Catherine II deprived Poniatowski of the right to marry and made efforts to prevent other candidates; he left no legitimate descendants.
  • Later years: Catherine took the kingdom from him; Poniatowski resigned himself, spent his last years in St. Petersburg, died in 1798, and was buried with royal honors.
  • Library: he assembled a huge library; after his death it was transferred to the Kremenets Lyceum; after the 1830 uprising the lyceum was closed, and the Kyiv St. Volodymyr University was founded, to which the library was moved; in the early 20th century the collection became part of the Vernadsky National Library.
  • King and Khan — an article by Valerii Verkhovskyi in the newspaper "Krymska svitlytsia" (2018, No. 49), the primary source.
  • Both Bar and Madagascar — an article by Valerii Verkhovskyi ("Krymska svitlytsia", 2018, No. 40).
  • Shahin Giray — the last Crimean khan, whose parallel fate is described in the source.
  • Morits Benovsky — a nobleman, participant in the Bar Confederation against King Poniatowski.
  • The Bar Confederation in Crimea — the uprising of the nobility against Poniatowski and the alliance with the Crimean Khanate.
  • King and Khan (concept page) — a page dedicated to the parallel fates of the two monarchs.
  • Andriy Shchekun — the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Krymska svitlytsia," in which the source was published.