Stanisław Mokronowski

Who was Stanisław Mokronowski?

Stanisław Mokronowski was a prominent member of the Polish landed gentry of Bogoria Coat of Arms. A general of the Polish Army and a royal Chamberlain, Mokronowski took part in both the Polish-Russian War of 1792 and Kościuszko's Uprising of 1794.

Stanisław Mokronowski was born in 1761 to Ludwik Mokronowski and Józefa née Czosnowska. Educated by Jesuits, he later studied at the Szkoła Rycerska in Warsaw, and later in Paris. He entered the military service in Poland, but for a few years he served in the French military. He returned to Poland in 1788, and on the sejmik at Wyszogród land he was elected the deputy to the national Sejm, thus becoming a member of the famous Great Sejm. He became allied to the Poniatowski family.

In 1792, during the War in the Defence of the Constitution he held the rank of vicebrigadier, and after distinguishing himself at the battle of Zieleńce was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. In 1793, he married Maria Marianna Sanguszko-Kowelska.

In 1794, he was the commander of Polish troops in Warsaw, and took part in the Warsaw Uprising against the Russian garrison occupying the city. The Russians were defeated in two days, and retreated from the city with very heavy losses. During the insurrection he held the position of commander of the city of Warsaw and the National Forces of the Masovian Duchy. He was elected to the Provisional Temporary Council, but due to his criticism of Tadeusz Kościuszko he was removed from the political body. As a military commander, he was important in the defense of Warsaw, and in Lithuania, where he led the retreating Polish forces towards Warsaw. Together with prince Józef Poniatowski, Michał Wielhorski and Eustachy Sanguszko, he formed the core of the 'court' faction among the insurrectionists.