The Partition of Poland

Polish independence ended in a series of partitions (1772, 1793 and 1795) undertaken by Russia, Prussia and Austria, with Russia gaining most of the Commonwealth's territory including nearly all of the former Lithuania. Stung by this, the Poles embarked on a radical programme of reforms, including the partial emancipation of serfs and the encouragement of immigration from the three empires which had undertaken the Partition of Poland. In 1791, Poland was given the first codified constitution in Europe since classical antiquity and the second in the modern world, after the United States. Russians didn't approve it at all and invaded Poland. There were some heroic attempts to save Poland's independence, however the Poles were defeated what was equivalent to the Second Partition of Poland (1793). The constitution was annulled. In 1794, Kosciuszko launched a national insurrection, achieving a stunning victory over the Russians at the Battle of Raclawice with a militia largely composed of peasants armed with scythes. However, the rebellion was put down, Poniatowski forced to abdicate, and Poland wiped of the map by the Third Partition (1795).