Historical calendar: anniversary of approval by the Parliament of the Republic of Poland alliance with the Kingdom of Prussia. This alliance was to be aimed at Russia.
Today in our calendar we will look in item at the geopolitical situation of Poland in the late 1980s and 1990s.
In 1787, the war between Russia and Turkey broke out. Our national politicians have decided to usage this. King Stanislaus August met with Tsaric Catherine in Kaniów, where the terms of the alliance and joint military actions were initially discussed. According to the findings, the formation of a twelve thousandth Polish corps was started to support Russians against Turkey. In return, Catherine II agreed to average systemic reforms of the Republic.
Stanislaw August, striving to bring public opinion to his side, supported anti-Turkish sentiments through propaganda initiatives, specified as the large commemoration of the triumph at Vienna or the construction of the monument of Jan III Sobieski. At the same time, at the command of Russian Ambassador Stackelberg, he developed a task of the Polish-Russian alliance. However, the first successes of the Tsarist troops caused Petersburg to retreat from earlier plans for military cooperation and the reactivation of the sovereign Republic on the European arena.
On 28 September 1788, a clear signal was given to Warsaw that the alliance was unrealistic and would not scope it. The hopes of liberation and reformist sentiments were besides strong in the country to strangle them with a simple declaration. It was decided to go after the blow and the fact-finding method, to carry out at least part of the essential interior reforms.
Based on the prior agreement of the Tsaric, a Sejm was convened on 6 October, later called the large Seym. Reformists greatly dared the declaration of the Prussian diplomat Ludwig Heinrich Buchholtz, who proposed the Polish-Prussian alliance against Russia and Austria on 13 October. The Prussians guaranteed independency and assistance against Russia and agreed to all the country's systemic reforms. The Warsaw elite, thus planted, no longer had a shadow of uncertainty to go into reforming the country.
Interestingly, the early days were supported by the global situation. In 1788 Russia was attacked by the British diplomatic support Sweden. The Swedes understood well that Russia's fight against Turkey opened a window of chance for them and that there was much to be played on. It is worth mentioning at this point that at that time Sweden was vacated by Russia to a lesser degree than the Republic of Poland. So it was her fight for independence.
However, in our country fewer Poles supported royal visions. Russia was widely regarded as the main possessor, and further cooperation with it as a national betrayal. In addition, the military alliance and the common war with Turkey meant further strengthening Russia.
What the worldly participants of political life considered to be the right thing completely opposite, or the creation of a large anti-Russian coalition, composed of Sweden, Poland and Turkey. specified a military block could effectively endanger Russian dominance in Central Europe, or at least contribute to Warsaw's regaining full sovereignty.
This was an thought as real as possible, as Sweden and Turkey were already at war with Russia. It was adequate to join them, for example, with those forces which Poland had to, and to send delegations to Stockholm and Istanbul to negociate a joint war and later peace talks. That's it. That's it. Of course, we do not know if specified talks would have a affirmative outcome, but authoritative factors have not even made specified an attempt, although they had 2 years since the beginning of the Swedish-Russian war.
A convenient minute was waited out, and Turkey and Sweden waged wars with the Carat separately. Sweden won its independence, while Turkey alone after 1790 had to surrender Russia to Jedysan. Her defeat was all the more apparent as Russia supported Austria, and the signed alliance with Prussia did not give Istanbul any military benefits. Unfortunately, mainly by the attitude of Poland.
It must be said that the full plan for the war between Turkey and Sweden and Russia was primarily an English concept. London's business was to keep a balance of power in Europe, which is why they were afraid about Russia's emergence in power. It was decided to remedy this. For this intent Turkey and then Sweden were allowed to attack Russia. In fact, the English did not gotta insist on this, since both countries had their own interests in specified a clash. London operated primarily through its continental ally of Prussia, which, however, did not always stay faithful to him.
In January 1790, Prussia made an alliance with Turkey. They besides sought an alliance with Poland. On March 27, 1790, this alliance was ratified by the Sejm. An alliance documentary was signed 2 days later, which was just a formality.
The alliance with Prussia confirmed our politicians in the thought of carrying out reforms. The Warsaw elite felt strong support of the ally. They did not realize that this was about Prussian and English interests in the context of Russia and Austria, not strengthening Poland. The continued adherence to Russia was evidently wrong, but at least it guaranteed the preservation of the full territory.
Fascinated by Russia, King Stanislaus sabotaged the alliance with the Prussians, but that was not the most important. This is due to the fact that alternatively of focusing on external threats, the king and his surroundings have torn distant from reality and began to work on improvement of the Sejm, parliament, constitution, etc.
Warsaw decision-makers have de facto missed the chance to win independence. Russia should have been attacked immediately while it was in conflict with Sweden and Turkey. Instead, they began to demonstrably liquidate the institutions of Russian control of the Republic, specified as the Continuing Council and its delegations. This was, of course, essential but was simply propaganda gestures directed inside the country, in order to legitimize the regulation of King Stasia, pseudo-patriots like the Mason Ignacy Potocki, Hugo Kolłataj and the remainder of their camp.
Meanwhile King of Prussia Frederick Wilhelm II He did not for a minute forget the anticipation of betraying the Republic for Russia and reaping the benefits of a fresh partition. Unlike Warsaw, the Prussians conducted a realistic policy. They were not curious in empty gestures and, above all, did not enter into non-alternative scenarios. In addition, they drew crucial ad hoc benefits from the alliance with Poland, e.g. Poles bought respective tens of thousands of stone muskets from them, which turned out to be not the best quality.
Caryca besides pursued realistic policies, felt danger, and decided to reduce the number of fronts she fought on. She put the Polish authorities to sleep, waiting for the release of forces that could decision to Warsaw.
After it all ended, we all know perfectly well...
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here..
