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{{Short description|Battle of the Kościuszko Uprising}}
{{Battlebox|
{{Infobox military conflict
battle_name=Battle of Racławice | conflict = Battle of Racławice
|campaign=Kosciuszko Uprising
| image = ]
|colour_scheme=background:#cccccc
⚫ | caption = "Battle of Racławice", ] 465 × 897 cm. ]'s ].
|image=]
| partof = the ]
⚫ |caption="Battle of Racławice", ] 465 x 897 cm. ]'s National Museum.
| date = 4 April 1794
|conflict=]
|date=], ] | place = ], ]
⚫ | result = Polish victory
|place=Racławice, ]
| combatant1 = ] ]<br>(Kościuszko's rebels)
⚫ |result=Polish victory
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Russia}} ]
|combatant1=]
| commander1 = ] ]<br>] ]<br>] ]
|combatant2=]
| commander2 = {{flagicon|Russia}} {{ill|Fyodor Denisov|ru|Денисов, Фёдор Петрович}}<br>{{flagicon|Russia}} ]
|commander1=]
| strength1 = 5,000<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|185}}<br>11 guns
|commander2=]
| strength2 = 3,000<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|185}}<br>12 guns
|strength1=4 440 and 11 cannons
| casualties1 = 200–250<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|186}}
|strength2=unknown
| casualties2 = 800<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|186}}<br>12 guns captured
|casualties1=500
⚫ }}
|casualties2=unknown
{{Campaignbox Kościuszko Uprising}}
⚫ |}}
⚫ ]
⚫ The '''Battle of Racławice''' was one of the first battles of the ] ] against ]. It was fought on ], ] near the village of Racławice in ].


⚫ The '''Battle of Racławice''' was one of the first battles of the ] ] against ]. It was fought on 4 April 1794 near the village of ] in ].<ref name=Storozynski>Storozynski, A., 2009, The Peasant Prince, New York: St. Martin's Press, {{ISBN|9780312388027}}</ref>{{rp|185}}
The Polish forces prepared for the battle were relatively small. The Polish Order of Battle was as follows:


The battle site is one of Poland's official national ] ('']''), as designated on 1 May 2004. Its listing is maintained by the ].


==Battle==
General Denisov, with 2,500 troops, had planned to attack the Poles from the south, while Tormasov's force of 3,000 troops blocked Kościuszko.<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|185}} Encountering Tormasov's force first, Kościuszko occupied a nearby hill, General ] on his right and General ] on his left.<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|185}} Not waiting any longer, Tormasov attacked the hill by 15:00, setting up their cannon.<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|185}} Kosciuszko inspired his peasant brigade with shouts of "My boys, take that artillery! For God, and the Fatherland! Go forward with faith!"<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|185}}


The first group of serfs captured three twelve-pound cannons and the second wave captured eight more cannons.<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|186}} Moving to his left flank, Kosciuszko led a bayonet charge when the Russians fled, followed closely by the scythemen.<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|186}}

The Polish Order of Battle was as follows:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 85%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center;" {| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 85%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center;"
|- style="background: #ececec;" |- style="background: #ececec;"
! unit ! unit
! superior
! supperior
! soldiers ! soldiers
|- |-
| 2 battalions | 2 battalions
| Infantry Regiment of Czapski | Infantry Regiment of Czapski
| 400 bayonettes | 400 bayonets
|- |-
| 2 battalions | 2 battalions
| Infantry Regiment of Wodzicki | Infantry Regiment of Wodzicki
| 400 bayonettes | 400 bayonets
|- |-
| 2 battalions | 2 battalions
| Infantry Regiment of O&#380;arowski | Infantry Regiment of Ożarowski
| 400 bayonettes | 400 bayonets
|- |-
| 1 battalion | 1 battalion
| Infantry Regiment of Raczy&#324;ski | Infantry Regiment of Raczyński
| 200 bayonettes | 200 bayonets
|- |-
| 10 squadrons of cavalry | 10 squadrons of cavalry
| under ] | under ]
| 400 sabres | 400 sabres
|- |-
Line 59: Line 65:
|- |-
| 2 auxiliary cavalry squadrons | 2 auxiliary cavalry squadrons
| ] | ]
| 80 sabres | 80 sabres
|- |-
Line 66: Line 72:
|} |}


In addition, Lesser Poland fielded also approximately 2 000 peasants armed with war ]s and pikes, as well as 11 cannons. The outcome of the battle was a tactical Polish victory, with Kościuszko defeating the numerically supperior enemy. However, his forces were too small to start a successful pursuit and the Corps of Gen. Denisov evaded destruction and continued to operate in Lesser Poland. In addition, Lesser Poland fielded approximately 2,000 peasants armed with ]s and pikes, known as ], as well as 11 cannon. The outcome of the battle was a tactical Polish victory, with Kościuszko defeating the numerically inferior enemy. However, his forces were too small to undertake a successful pursuit, and the Corps of General Denisov evaded destruction and continued to operate in Lesser Poland.


==Aftermath==
⚫ The victory was subsequently promoted in Poland as a major success and helped in starting the ] in other areas of ] and the ]. Also, the participation of peasant volunteers was seen by many as the starting point of the political evolution of Polish peasantry from serfs to members of the ].
Kościuszko marched back to Kraków and made camp in the fields of Bosutow.<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|185}}
After the battle, Kościuszko paraded before his troops in a '']'', a traditional attire worn in Lesser Poland, in honour of the bravery of the peasants, whose charge ensured the quick capture of the Russian ].<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|186}} He also praised ], a peasant who was the first to capture the cannon (he is visible in Matejko's painting, above).<ref name="Smaczniak">{{cite web| last1 = Smaczniak| first1 = Anthony| last2 = Piotrowski| first2 = Wallace| title = The Military Genius of Tadeusz Kosciuszko| work = Info Poland| publisher = Polish Academic Information Center, University at Buffalo| year = 2000| url = http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/kosciuszko/military.html| accessdate = 2 August 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120713075207/http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/kosciuszko/military.html| archive-date = 13 July 2012| url-status = dead}}</ref> He smothered its fuse with his hat before it fired.<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|185}} In return he received an award of nobility, his freedom, a tract of land and made standard-bearer.<ref name=Storozynski/>{{rp|186}}


⚫ The victory was subsequently promoted in Poland as a major success and helped in spreading the Kościuszko Uprising to other areas of Poland and instigating the ]. Also, the participation of peasant volunteers was seen by many as the starting point of the Polish peasantry's political evolution from serfs to equally entitled citizens of the nation.
⚫ In honour of the bravery of the peasants, after the battle Kościuszko paraded in front of his troops in ], a traditional attire worn in Lesser Poland. Both the red cap worn by his soldiers and the home-made war scythes were later featured on the emblem of the ] fighting in the ].

⚫ ]
==Legacy==
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
] in Wrocław]]

=== Military ===
⚫ The red cap worn by Kościuszko's soldiers and the homemade war scythes were later featured on the emblem of the RAF's ], which took part in the ].

The Battle of Racławice is commemorated on the ], with the inscription "RACŁAWICE 4 IV 1794".

=== Art ===
Jan Matejko's painting, '']'', depicts the battle and is on display at the ], a branch of the ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art in the Sukiennice - National Museum in Krakow|url=http://mnk.pl/exhibitions/the-gallery-of-19th-century-polish-art-in-the-sukiennice|access-date=2022-02-14|website=mnk.pl}}</ref> A monumental ] (measuring 15 x 114 meters) known as the ] was completed a century after the battle in 1894, and is currently on display in ] as a branch of the ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://mnwr.pl/en/branches/panorama-of-the-battle-of-raclawice/history/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=Muzeum Narodowe we Wrocławiu|language=en-GB}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{coord|50|18|38|N|20|13|44|E|source:plwiki_region:PL|display=title}}
{{Poland-stub}}


{{Authority control}}
]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Raclawice}}
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 21:10, 8 September 2024

Battle of the Kościuszko Uprising
Battle of Racławice
Part of the Kościuszko Uprising
Battle of Racławice
"Battle of Racławice", Jan Matejko 465 × 897 cm. Kraków's National Museum.
Date4 April 1794
LocationRacławice, Lesser Poland
Result Polish victory
Belligerents
Poland-Lithuania
(Kościuszko's rebels)		 Russia Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Tadeusz Kościuszko
Józef Zajączek
Antoni Madaliński		 Russia Fyodor Denisov [ru]
Russia Alexander Tormasov
Strength
5,000
11 guns		 3,000
12 guns
Casualties and losses
200–250 800
12 guns captured
Kościuszko Uprising
Battle of Racławice on a 19th-century sketch by Michał Stachowicz

The Battle of Racławice was one of the first battles of the Polish-Lithuanian Kościuszko Uprising against Russia. It was fought on 4 April 1794 near the village of Racławice in Lesser Poland.

The battle site is one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii), as designated on 1 May 2004. Its listing is maintained by the National Heritage Board of Poland.

Battle

General Denisov, with 2,500 troops, had planned to attack the Poles from the south, while Tormasov's force of 3,000 troops blocked Kościuszko. Encountering Tormasov's force first, Kościuszko occupied a nearby hill, General Antoni Madalinski on his right and General Józef Zajączek on his left. Not waiting any longer, Tormasov attacked the hill by 15:00, setting up their cannon. Kosciuszko inspired his peasant brigade with shouts of "My boys, take that artillery! For God, and the Fatherland! Go forward with faith!"

The first group of serfs captured three twelve-pound cannons and the second wave captured eight more cannons. Moving to his left flank, Kosciuszko led a bayonet charge when the Russians fled, followed closely by the scythemen.

The Polish Order of Battle was as follows:

unit superior soldiers
2 battalions Infantry Regiment of Czapski 400 bayonets
2 battalions Infantry Regiment of Wodzicki 400 bayonets
2 battalions Infantry Regiment of Ożarowski 400 bayonets
1 battalion Infantry Regiment of Raczyński 200 bayonets
10 squadrons of cavalry under Antoni Madaliński 400 sabres
10 squadrons of cavalry under Magnet 400 sabres
4 cavalry squadrons under Biernacki 160 sabres
2 auxiliary cavalry squadrons Duchy of Württemberg 80 sabres
  2440 men altogether

In addition, Lesser Poland fielded approximately 2,000 peasants armed with war scythes and pikes, known as kosynierzy, as well as 11 cannon. The outcome of the battle was a tactical Polish victory, with Kościuszko defeating the numerically inferior enemy. However, his forces were too small to undertake a successful pursuit, and the Corps of General Denisov evaded destruction and continued to operate in Lesser Poland.

Aftermath

Kościuszko marched back to Kraków and made camp in the fields of Bosutow. After the battle, Kościuszko paraded before his troops in a sukmana, a traditional attire worn in Lesser Poland, in honour of the bravery of the peasants, whose charge ensured the quick capture of the Russian artillery. He also praised Wojciech Bartosz Głowacki, a peasant who was the first to capture the cannon (he is visible in Matejko's painting, above). He smothered its fuse with his hat before it fired. In return he received an award of nobility, his freedom, a tract of land and made standard-bearer.

The victory was subsequently promoted in Poland as a major success and helped in spreading the Kościuszko Uprising to other areas of Poland and instigating the Warsaw Uprising of 1794. Also, the participation of peasant volunteers was seen by many as the starting point of the Polish peasantry's political evolution from serfs to equally entitled citizens of the nation.

Legacy

Emblem of the 303rd Squadron
Racławice Panorama in Wrocław

Military

The red cap worn by Kościuszko's soldiers and the homemade war scythes were later featured on the emblem of the RAF's 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron, which took part in the Battle of Britain.

The Battle of Racławice is commemorated on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw, with the inscription "RACŁAWICE 4 IV 1794".

Art

Jan Matejko's painting, Kościuszko at Racławice, depicts the battle and is on display at the Sukiennice Museum, a branch of the National Museum in Kraków. A monumental panorama (measuring 15 x 114 meters) known as the Racławice Panorama was completed a century after the battle in 1894, and is currently on display in Wrocław as a branch of the National Museum in Wrocław.

See also

References

  1. ^ Storozynski, A., 2009, The Peasant Prince, New York: St. Martin's Press, ISBN 9780312388027
  2. Smaczniak, Anthony; Piotrowski, Wallace (2000). "The Military Genius of Tadeusz Kosciuszko". Info Poland. Polish Academic Information Center, University at Buffalo. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. "The Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art in the Sukiennice - National Museum in Krakow". mnk.pl. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  4. "History". Muzeum Narodowe we Wrocławiu. Retrieved 2022-02-14.

50°18′38″N 20°13′44″E / 50.31056°N 20.22889°E / 50.31056; 20.22889

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