Lucjan Żeligowski

Lucjan Żeligowski (; ; ; 17 October 1865 – 9 July 1947) was a Polish general, politician, military commander and veteran of World War I, the Polish-Soviet War and World War II. He is mostly remembered for his role in Żeligowski's Mutiny and as head of a short-lived Republic of Central Lithuania.

Biography Lucjan Żeligowski was born on October 17, 1865 in the Przechody folwark by the village of Sikunie in Oshmyansky Uyezd, in the Russian Empire to Gustaw Żeligowski and Władysława née Tarczewska. His parents were exiled deep into Russia for their participation in the uprising, so he was raised by distant relatives on his mother’s side, Walerian Mikosz and Erna née Tornau.

He received his early education at a school in Żuprany, and later attended a gymnasium in Vilnius, where he obtained his matura. He then joined the Russian army as a volunteer and was assigned to the . From there he was sent to the Military School first in Riga (1885), later in Vilnius. After graduating in 1888, he served in the in Novocherkassk, and later in Yelizavetgrad (14 July 1903) and Rostov-on-Don (13 February 1913).

Żeligowski fought in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. During the revolution, he openly supported democratic reforms, for which he was brought before a military court on charges of conduct unbecoming an officer. He avoided conviction thanks to the support of senior officers and the Polish Circle in the State Duma. He learned about the decisive support provided by Polish deputies only 20 years later.

In 1912, he joined the clandestine Union of Active Struggle (Związek Walki Czynnej), which was affiliated with the Polish Socialist Party (PPS). During the First World War he served as a lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of an Imperial Russian rifle regiment.

Republic of Central Lithuania

In October 1920, Żeligowski, a native of historical lands of Lithuania, was chosen to command the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division, composed mainly of PMO members, volunteers and partisans from the territory of modern Belarus and Lithuania. On October 8, 1920, after a staged mutiny, he "defected" with his unit and took control over the city of Vilnius and its area. The mutiny, named after him, would be remembered as the defining moment of his life. On October 12, he proclaimed independence of the said area as Republic of Central Lithuania, with Wilno as its capital. Initially a de facto military dictator, after the parliamentary elections he passed his powers to the newly elected parliament, which in turn decided to submit the area to Poland.

According to Lucjan Żeligowski's point of view:"But not only geographically, Lithuania was the heart of the Slavs. It was morally. She, one of all the Slavic peoples, could easily talk with everyone. As with Poland, so with Russia, so with Ukraine. The mentality of the Lithuanian peoples was, as it were, created to reconcile everyone. He never had hostility, neither national, nor religious, nor cultural."

In the 14th-century Lithuanian Chronicles, there was written about mobilization in Ašmena, where it was mentioned that Jokūbas Želigovskis had a horse, weapon, axe, etc. In the history of a Russian uhlan regiment from 1863, it was mentioned that in the surroundings of Rūdninkai after a fierce fight, the fifteen-year-old Juozas Želigovskis was taken prisoner and letters were found by his side, where his mother encouraged him to fight.

Later life After the annexation of Central Lithuania to Poland, Żeligowski continued his service in the Polish Army. Promoted to three-star general in 1923, he served as an army inspector, or a commander of a military district of the capital city of Warsaw. In 1925 he also became the Polish Minister of Military Affairs. Ousted by Piłsudski's coup d'état (the May Coup), he was soon returned to the post. He retired the following year and settled in his family manor in Andrzejewo near Vilnius.

In 1930 he published a book containing his memoirs of the Polish-Bolshevik War named War of 1920: Memories and thoughts (Wojna w roku 1920. Wspomnienia i rozważania). He also wrote numerous articles on the conflicts of early 20th century for a variety of Polish newspapers. In 1935 he was elected a member of parliament and remained in the Sejm until the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

World War II and death During the Invasion of Poland, Żeligowski volunteered for the Polish Armed Forces, but was not accepted due to his old age (he was 74 at that time) and poor health. Nevertheless, he served as an advisor to the command of the Polish southern front. After the Polish defeat, he evaded being captured by the Germans and the Soviets and managed to reach France, where he joined the Polish Government in Exile headed by General Władysław Sikorski. An active member of the Polish National Council, an advisory body, he escaped to London after the French defeat in 1940.

After the end of Second World War Żeligowski declared he would return to Poland, but he suddenly died on 9 July 1947 in London. His body was brought back to Poland, and Żeligowski was buried in the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw.

Honours and awards

Commander's Cross of the Virtuti Militari, also awarded the Silver Cross Grand Cross of the Polonia Restituta Cross of Independence with Swords (25 February 1932) Cross of Valour - four times Cross of Merit of the Army of Central Lithuania Commemorative Medal of the War of 1918-1921 Medal "Decade of the Restoration of Independence" (Poland) Order of St. George IV class (Russian Empire) Order of St. Vladimir with Swords class IV (Russian Empire) Order of St. Anna, class II and III (Russian Empire) Order of St. Stanislaus, II class (Russian Empire) Commander's Cross of the Legion of Honour (France) Croix de Guerre (France) Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature Honorary citizen of Warsaw

Published works Lucjan Żeligowski, Wojna w roku 1920: Wspomnienia I Rozwazania, Warszawa: Wydawn. Ministerstwa * Obrony Narodowej, 1990. Lucjan Żeligowski, O ideę słowiańską. London: F. Mildner & Sons, 1941. Lucjan Żeligowski, Zapomniane prawdy. London: F. Mildner & Sons, 1941.