How did Józef Poniatowski die?

Prince Józef Poniatowski was killed at the end of the Battle of Leipzig, when he drowned trying to cross the Elster River.

Why is Józef Poniatowski significant?

Józef Poniatowski has long been regarded as a Polish national hero. Aside from that, he played an important role in the Napoleonic Wars and served as one of Napoleon's marshals.

Józef Poniatowski

Q: Who was Józef Poniatowski?

Prince Józef Poniatowski (1763-1813) was a Polish nobleman and patriot. The nephew of the last king of Poland, he served as commander-in-chief of the Polish army during the Napoleonic Wars and was made marshal of the French Empire by Napoleon. He was killed at the Battle of Leipzig.

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Definition

Prince Józef Poniatowski (1763-1813) was a Polish soldier and patriot, who served as commander-in-chief of the Polish army during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). A steadfast ally of French Emperor Napoleon I (r. 1804-1814; 1815), Poniatowski was named a marshal of the French Empire only days before he was killed at the Battle of Leipzig.

More about: Józef Poniatowski

Timeline

7 May 1763 - 19 Oct 1813
Life of Prince Józef Poniatowski, Polish soldier, minister of war of the Duchy of Warsaw, and marshal of the French Empire.
16 Aug 1812 - 18 Aug 1812
Napoleon fights Barclay de Tolly at the Battle of Smolensk; the French capture the city, but the Russians retreat, continuing their war of attrition.
7 Sep 1812
Napoleon's Grande Armée clashes with the Kutuzov's Russian army at the Battle of Borodino.
16 Oct 1813 - 19 Oct 1813
Napoleon suffers a decisive defeat at the Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of the Nations.