ED. White Raven “Market Confederation”: a betrayal that lost the Republic of Poland
date:May 02, 2024 Editor: Anna
The most fresh book published by the White Kruk publishing home entitled “Confederation of the Fair” by Prof. Władysław Smolenski is another, highly crucial reading from the series “Polish Historical Works”, whose task is to defend from forgetting the achievements of our past and to make it widely public. This reading is simply a compendium of cognition for all Pole afraid about the destiny of our Homeland. To this day, there was no better, richer work on the trade union and the war with Russia in 1792, a war connected with the defence of both the Constitution on 3 May and independence. Did this war should be lost? Why did the Second Partition of the Republic fail? What was the share of the Targovian and what was the king of Stanislaw August Poniatowski, who besides became a Targovian? 1 of the most prominent historians in our history, Prof. Władysław Smoleński, analyses these issues in depth.
In the course of reading the historical work of Władysław Smoleński, the “Trade Confederation” is hard to defy comparisons between the past and the present, as many of the phenomena described seem highly recent. erstwhile analysing the methodology of action of the marketers, the question is: does past sometimes repeat itself?
It's not just about the phenomenon of national treason itself, it's about the methods of dealing with marketers. reflection comes all moment: then it was like this?! Yes, for example, panic against the free citizens of the Republic was used, property was requisitioned, positions were stripped. Since the first days Targowice introduced the harshest censorship, immediately the patriotic press was liquidated, not only the offices but besides the courts were filled with their people. Robbery and rape were committed. It was adequate for individual to be a supporter of the Constitution on May 3 and to be persecuted.
Corruption was rampant, mainly Russian; bribery included persons having an impact on the course of affairs in the Republic. Dissatisfaction was utilized by various dignitaries from the regulation of power. The king himself, a weak and cowardly man, yet joined Targowice, which determined the defeat of the patriotic camp. Stanislaw August Poniatowski was of the will of the Sejm commander-in-chief of the Polish army and as specified gave orders to the full army to surrender to the Russian general. The morale of the Polish army, headed by Prince Joseph Poniatowski and General Tadeusz Kościuszko, was broken not by the enemy, but by the king. After all, the army was initially bravely facing the imperial troops of Catherine II and did not intend to give up.
The Targovians and the Russians pretended that there was no war, although the Tsarist divisions crossed the borders of the Republic in respective places and marched into the country, fighting all resistance, fighting battles and looting property. Without this military support, Targowice would not have existed. Without various support from abroad, Confederates had no chance of success. They asked for abroad aid, with all their awareness they gave up independency of the country. They made their homeland happy with the bloodshed of a brother, the brutality of abroad troops, which they made to consider friendly," writes the Author. The Targarians slylyly portrayed themselves as the most sincere patriots! They abolished freedom – in the name of freedom. How well we know it today.
Knowledge of the past which Władysław Smolenski offers us is not only a origin of information about the past, but besides a mirror reflection of our times, which is worth watching and knowing carefully, in order to avoid falling again into the trap of Targovia's betrayal and national disintegration. The author, a prominent historian and writer, frequently gives voice in this work to the heroes of dramatic events, making his communicative colorful and authentic. We know the causes of our national disasters not only then, but besides in a period closer to us, until 2024. Prof. Smoleński's work reads well, sometimes with baking on his face due to the emotions he evokes. 136 illustrations perfectly complement the image of the era.
Władysław Smolenski: "The Fair Confederation", Wyd. Biały Kruk, 440 str., format 16.5 x 23.5 cm, hardcover. More at https://bialykruk.pl/bookshop/bookshop/Confederation-barter
Beata Marshal/ Wydawnictwo Biały Kruk
