Józef Poniatowski

Prince Józef Antoni Poniatowski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈjuzɛf anˈtɔɲi pɔɲaˈtɔfskʲi]; 7 May 1763 – 19 October 1813) was a Polish general, minister of war and army chief, who became a Marshal of the French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars and A nephew of king Stanislaus Augustus of Poland (r. 1764–1795),

Marshal of the Empire Prince Józef Antoni Poniatowski
Portrait ca. 1792
Nickname	The Polish Bayard
Born	7 May 1763 (1763-05-07) Palais Kinsky, Vienna, Habsburg Monarchy
Died	19 October 1813 (1813-10-20) (aged 50) White Elster River, Kingdom of Saxony
Allegiance	Habsburg Monarchy  Poland–Lithuania  France Duchy of Warsaw
Years of service	1780–1813
Rank	Marshal of the Empire
Awards
Signature

Poniatowski began his military career in 1780 in the Austrian army, where he attained the rank of colonel. In 1789, after leaving Austrian service, he joined the Polish army at the request of his uncle. Poniatowski, now in the rank of major general and commander of the Royal Guards, took part in the Polish–Russian War of 1792, leading the crown forces at the victorious Battle of Zieleńce. After the king's support for the Targowica Confederation of 1792, Poniatowski felt compelled to resign. In 1794 he participated in the Kościuszko Uprising and took charge of defending Warsaw - for which the Russian authorities subsequently exiled him until 1798.