# Kościuszko Uprising (1794)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1794-kosciuszko-uprising
Location: Kraków
Categories: main-event

On 24 March 1794 Tadeusz Kościuszko swore an oath in Kraków's Market Square and took command of a national uprising against Russia and Prussia. He called on nobles, townspeople and peasants to fight together. 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 (24 March 1794), 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. Kościuszko Uprising mattered because a revolt against the existing order tested the strength of rulers and the aspirations of the nation. 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
Kościuszko Uprising mattered because a revolt against the existing order tested the strength of rulers and the aspirations of the nation.

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

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Kościuszko Uprising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko%C5%9Bciuszko_Uprising)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Kościuszko Uprising](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Ko%C5%9Bciuszko+Uprising)
- [Wikipedia — Partitions of Poland (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitions_of_Poland)