History /
History of Poland in a pill - illustrated [41]
The country was gradually going to the dogs, and its elites didn`t notice the rise of new powers.
Let me finish the Decline section.
Poland was first partitioned by 3 neighbouring countries in 1772 because it was to weak to prevent it. It gave some food to patriotic Poles/Polesses who tried to introduce necessary reforms and cure the patient aka the state balancing on the verge of complete demise. They were successful to certain extent and they even declared the 3rd May Constitution, the second in the world. However, when Russians invaded to suppress the reformatic movement, the last King of Poland, let his name be cursed and forgotten, surrendered Polish troops led by patriotic general Kosciuszko and the state fell prey to the last , 3rd partition, between Russia, Prussia and Austria, in 1995.
PS. BTW, my parents always repeated to me - every patriotic Pole/Poless should remember those dates!!!! I believed in everything as a child and the history of Poland became my eternal hobby.
The famous painting (slightly remastered for children`s book) showing enthusiastic crowds applauding the declaration of May Constitution (which formally was a coup de tat) in 1992

Konstytucja3maja7.jpg