The second of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. The second partition occurred in the aftermath of the War in Defense of the Constitution and the Targowica Confederation of 1792. The latter had called upon Catherine the Great of Russia to intervene and restore “golden liberties”. As a result, Russian regiments invaded the Commonwealth and a war ensued in 1792. Though the Polish side won victories at Zielence and Zelwa and the Battle of Dubienka was a draw, the Russian armies reached the Bug River. King Stanislaw August Poniatowski eventually succumbed, joined the Confederation of Targowica, and capitulated.
Poland’s short-time ally, Prussia, not only did not help the Poles but demanded territory as the price of continuing the war
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Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Second partition of Poland by Prussia and Russia". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 June 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=7116, accessed 22 November 2024.]