Kraków Uprising

Kraków uprising
Edward Dembowski leading a rebel attack and brandishing a crucifix, moments before his death. Anonymous artist.
Date February 1846 Location Free City of Kraków (modern Poland) Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Polish independence movement Polish militia and peasant guerrillas	Austrian Empire Imperial Austrian Army, Russian and peasant allies
Commanders and leaders
Jan Tyssowski  (POW) Edward Dembowski  †	Ludwig Collin Ludwig von Benedek
Strength
Unknown, estimated at few thousands	Unknown, estimated at few thousands
Casualties and losses
1,000–2,000	Unknown

Polish independence movement

 Austrian Empire

The Kraków uprising of February 1846 was an attempt, led by Polish insurgents such as Jan Tyssowski and Edward Dembowski, to incite a fight for national independence. The uprising was centered on the city of Kraków, the capital of a small state of Free City of Kraków. It was directed at the powers that partitioned Poland, in particular, the nearby Austrian Empire. The uprising lasted about nine days, and ended with Austrian victory.

The uprising was primarily organized and supported by members of the Polish nobility and middle class, who desired the restoration of Polish independence after the 1795 partitions of Poland ended its existence as a sovereign state; there was also support for the political and social reforms (such as the demands for the emancipation of peasants and an end to serfdom). Many of the insurgents' ideas were developed in exile (see Great Emigration) by activists from organizations such as the Polish Democratic Society. The uprising was supposed to take place in other locations, but poor coordination and arrests by authorities broke many other cells, most notably in Greater Poland. The uprising was also supported by some local peasants from the Free City and the miners of the Wieliczka salt mine. The Free City of Kraków, nominally independent, was a central place for pro-Polish independence activists to discuss their plans.

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