Józef Antoni Poniatowski (born in Vienna in 1763, died in Leipzig in 1813). Prince of Poland and of the Holy Roman Empire by birth, Marshal of the Empire (1813), Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor
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- Poniatowski, Joseph-Antoine, prince
Nephew of the last elected king of Poland (Stanisłas Auguste Poniatowski) and son of an Austrian field marshal, he began his career in the Austrian army where he became colonel and aide-de-camp to the emperor.
In 1789, he left the Austrian army to join his uncle and the Polish army as Major-General, Prince Andrew. Stanislas Auguste entrusted him with the command of the Polish army in the Ukraine with which he fought the Russians in 1792, and, after the Confederation of Targowitz, he left the army followed by the best officers.
In 1794, he enlisted as a simple soldier in the Kosciusko liberation army for the independence of Poland before the final partition of 1795, but the latter entrusted him with the command of a division. After this last failure, he retired to his lands, until 1806 when he was appointed governor of Warsaw by Frederick William II of Prussia.
Upon the arrival of Napoleon, and with the formation of the provisional government of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, Józef rallied to the Empire, believing that this was the only chance for Poland to regain its independence and its territory. He was made War Minister of the Grand Duchy and Generalissimo. He defended the borders against the Austrians and pushed them back in 1809.
At the head of this ministry, he reorganized a new Polish army which subsequently distinguished itself in all future Napoleonic battles. He was wounded during the Russian campaign at the head of the V Army Corps. He shows the extent of his talent during the Battle of the Moskva. During the retreat, he was wounded crossing the Bérézina.
He reformed the Polish army, joined Napoleon in Saxony in July 1813. He won the meetings of Löbau, Altenburg and Pening. His heroism at the battle of Wachau earned him the baton of marshal on October 16, 1813. He died three days later during the retreat following the battle of Leipzig[1], trying to cross the Esther[2] on horseback so as not to be taken by the allies[3].
The body of Poniatowski, found only on the 24th, was embalmed and carried by his comrades in arms to Warsaw, then from there to Krakow in the tomb of the kings of Poland, where he rested next to Sobieski and Kosciusko. At the funeral of this hero, in Leipzig, the victors and the vanquished together represented the whole of Europe.
Views of contemporaries
* Savary said of him:“We were not braver than this prince; impetuous, magnanimous, full of amenity, he was more regretted by the party he served than esteemed by that which he had fought. "
* In the memorial of Saint Helena, Las Cases reports these words of Napoleon:"The true king of Poland, said Napoleon, hearing the review of the kings in whom he had been believed destiny, the real King of Poland was Poniatowski; he united all the titles and had all the talents. After having pronounced these words, Napoleon was silent. »