# Commission of National Education (1773)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1773-commission-of-national-education
Location: Warsaw
Categories: main-event

The Sejm created Europe's first state ministry of education, funded by former Jesuit property. Within the broader Reform & Partitions period: Under Stanisław August the Commonwealth attempted sweeping Enlightenment reforms, culminating in the Constitution of 3 May 1791, while Russia, Prussia and Austria carved up its territory in three partitions. At this point in the timeline (14 October 1773), the governing authority was Stanisław August Poniatowski (King of Poland). Last King of Poland; patron of the Enlightenment and the Constitution of 3 May 1791, he abdicated after the Third Partition. Commission of National Education mattered because education and learning sustained Polish culture and trained future generations of leaders. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Commission of National Education mattered because education and learning sustained Polish culture and trained future generations of leaders.

Ruler at the time: [Stanisław August Poniatowski](https://poland-history.com/rulers/stanislaw-august-poniatowski)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Commission of National Education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_of_National_Education)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Commission of National Education](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Commission+of+National+Education)
- [Wikipedia — Partitions of Poland (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitions_of_Poland)