Ludwik Zwierzdowski

Ludwik 'Topór' Zwierzdowski (1830-1864) was a Polish captain in the Imperial Russian Army, member of the conspiracy of Zygmunt Sierakowski, military commander of the Mogilev Province, military commander of the Sandomierz Province until February 1864 and a colonel in the January Uprising.

Military Career

Ludwik Zwierzdowski was born on the 11 January 1830 in Vilnius, he came from a noble family bearing the Topór, which resided in the Vilnius Governorate. His father, Michał Zwierzdowski belonged to the nobility without land ownership, but he was the owner of a tenement house located on Mostowa Street. At the age of 16 Ludwik Zwierzdowski joined the Russian Imperial Army and on the 8th August 1850 after four years of studying he got accepted into Higher Engineering School in St. Petersburg with the rank of ensign. After two years of study, Ludwik Zwierzdowski graduated from the St. Petersburg school with the rank of lieutenant. He was then assigned to the Brest Fortress, then during the Crimean War was transferred, first to St. Petersburg and then to Tallinn. After the end of the war Ludwik Zwierzdowski began studying at the Nichloas General Staff Academy in September 1856, There, he was involved in creating military-diplomatic projects, which he sent both to the National Government in Warsaw and to political circles at the French court. However, Zwierzdowski couldn't retreat from the city as he was wounded, he was captured the next day by Cossak forces and at first tortured and when it was found out who he was, a summary court martial took place where he sentenced death by hanging and the next day on 23 January 1864 Colonel Ludwik Zwierzdowski was hanged in the market square of Opatów.

Legacy In Opatów there is a symbolic grave of Ludwik Topór-Zwierzdowski and a monument dedicated to his memory.

Medals