„Under the flags of Homeland” at Napoleon’s side. Insurrection-al activity in Lelow County in 1806 in the light of report of the Lelow County Commission to the Administrative Chamber of Kalisz Department

Abstract

The Greater Poland Uprising of 1806 is one of the few Polish military insurrections ended in victory. It started in November 1806 during the war between Napoleonic France and the Kingdom of Prussia. The uprising started in Poznań Department with support of the Grande Armée and than it spread over the Kalisz Department. After the brilliant conquest of the fortress of Częstochowa, made by Polish insurgents and French chasseurs, the insurrection reached New Silesia, a small part of the former Kraków Voivodeship. The nobles of Lelów County signed an act of uprising and established Lelów County Provisional Commission to take control over the region. They removed old Prussian authorities, symbols and, what is the most important, they started to organise Polish troops. Eventually, their efforts helped to bring into existence the Duchy of Warsaw.