Duchy of Warsaw

The Duchy of Warsaw (Polish: Księstwo Warszawskie, French: Duché de Varsovie, German: Herzogtum Warschau) was a Polish state started by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807 during the Napoleonic Wars. Poland had been divided among its neighbors in the Partitions of Poland. The Duchy was made up of the Polish lands given to France by the Kingdom of Prussia under the terms of the Treaties of Tilsit. Prussian and Russian troops occupied it when Napoleon was defeated in Russia. This split was made official in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna.

Duchy of Warsaw Księstwo Warszawskie  (Polish) Duché de Varsovie  (French) Herzogtum Warschau  (German)
1807–1815
Flag Coat of arms
Greater Coat of Arms:
The Duchy of Warsaw in 1812
Status	Client state of the French Empire, Personal union with the Kingdom of Saxony
Capital	Warsaw
Common languages	Polish, French, German
Religion	Roman Catholic
Government	Constitutional monarchy
Duke
• 1807–1815	Frederick Augustus I
Prime Minister
• 1807	Stanisław Małachowski
• 1807–1808	Ludwik S. Gutakowski
• 1808–1809	Józef Poniatowski
• 1809–1815	Stanisław K. Potocki
Legislature	Sejm
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Historical era	Napoleonic Wars
• Treaties of Tilsit	9 June 1807
• Constitution	22 July 1807
• Battle of Raszyn	19 April 1809
• Treaty of Schönbrunn	14 October 1809
• Invasion of Russia	24 June 1812
• Congress of Vienna	9 June 1815
Area
• Total	157,194 km2 (60,693 sq mi)
Currency	Złoty
Preceded by Succeeded by South Prussia West Prussia New East Prussia Netze District West Galicia Congress Poland Grand Duchy of Posen West Prussia Free City of Cracow

History

Polish fighting in the Napoleonic Wars started when the first Polish legions were made with supporters of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Napoleon used them during the campaigns in Italy to great effect.

When he defeated Prussia, Napoleon wanted to make a country for Polish People. He used captured land to create it and made one of his allies the leader, who was also the King of Saxony.

The Duchy participated in many battles and wars with the French, such as when Napoleon attack Russia in 1812, and at the Battle of Leipzig. They also fought their own war with Austria in 1809.

When Napoleon left France in 1814, European leaders removed the Duchy of Warsaw and gave back land to Prussia, Russia and Austria at the Congress of Vienna.