TheTargowica Confederation (Polish:konfederacja targowicka,IPA:[kɔnfɛdɛˈrat͡sjatarɡɔˈvit͡ska],Lithuanian:Targovicos konfederacija) was aconfederation established byPolish and Lithuanianmagnates on 27 April 1792, inSaint Petersburg, with the backing of the Russian EmpressCatherine II.[1] The confederation opposed theConstitution of 3 May 1791 and fought in thePolish–Russian War of 1792, which led to theSecond andThird Partitions of Poland.
The Targowica confederation opposed theConstitution of 3 May 1791, which had been adopted by theGreat Sejm, especially the provisions limiting the privileges of the nobility. The text of the founding act of the confederation was drafted by the Russian generalVasili Stepanovich Popov, Chief of Staff of PrinceGrigori Alexandrovich Potemkin. Its purpose was proclaimed in the small town of Targowica and the Potocki's estate (now inHolovanivsk Raion inKirovohrad Oblast,Ukraine) on May 14, 1792.[1] Four days later two Russian armies invaded the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth without a formaldeclaration of war.[1]
The forces of the Targowica Confederation defeated the troops loyal to thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Sejm and KingStanisław August Poniatowski in thePolish–Russian War of 1792. As a result, the King, Poniatowski, formally joined the Confederation. Their victory precipitated theSecond Partition of Poland and set the stage for the Third Partition and the final dissolution of the Commonwealth in 1795.[2] This outcome came as a surprise to most of the Confederates, who had wished only to restore thestatus quo ante and had expected that the overthrow of the May 3rd Constitution would achieve that end.[1]
The termtargowiczanin, which historically applies to each member and supporter of the Targowica Confederation, became a synonym for a traitor, just asTargowica is synonymous with treason. These meanings still function in the Polish language up to the present day.[3]
Other magnate members:
"The desires of Her Highness Empress of Russia [Catherine the Great], ally of Rzeczpospolita [the Commonwealth], are and were no other than by using her armies to return to Rzeczpospolita and Poles the freedoms, and especially security and happiness to all citizens"
"Eachtrue Pole, not blinded by the Prussian and royalist cabal, is convinced, that our Fatherland can only be saved by Russia, otherwise our nation will be enslaved".
"About past Poland and Poles [I don't want to talk anymore]. Gone is this country, and this name, as many others have perished in the world's history. I am now a Russian forever."
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