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First Partition of Poland

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after the First Partition
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after the First Partition

The First Partition of Poland took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. Growth in Russia's power, threatening Prussia and Habsburg Austria, was the primary motive behind this first partition. Frederick the Great engineered it to prevent Austria, jealous of Russian successes against the Ottoman Empire, from going to war. The weakened Commonwealth's land, including that already controlled by Russia, was apportioned among its more powerful neighbours — Austria, Russia and Prussia — to restore the regional balance of power in Central Europe. With Poland unable to effectively defend itself, and with foreign troops already inside the country, the Polish parliament (Sejm) ratified the partition in 1773 during the Partition Sejm convened by the three powers.
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