Targowica confederation was a military organisation (confederatio) of some Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth szlachta, supported by the Russian Empire and Catherine II, opposed to the May Constitution of Poland passed by Sejm Wielki in 1792, and especially to the reforms limiting the powers of the nobility.

Forces of Targowica confederation succeeded in defeating forces loyal to the Commonwealth, Sejm and king Stanislaw Poniatowski during the War in Defense of the Constitution. Their victory marked the 2nd partition of Poland and soon, the third partition and the end of the Commonwealth. This came as a suprise to most of the confederates, who wished only for the preservation of the status quo and expected the the defeat of the reformist May Constitution will be sufficient to let all continue as it had for the past century.

Members

Marshal of the confederation:

• Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki. Sentenced to death, never cought. On 29 Septembrer 1794 his portrait was hanged instead (see picture). In 1795 he was rewarded by Catherine the Great with the Russian Order of Aleksander Newski and rank of general en cheff

Other magnates:

• Franciszek Ksawery Branicki, sentenced to death during the Kosciuszko Insurrection, never cought. Emmigrated to Russia, died in Biała Cerkiew in 1819.
• Szymon Maria Kossakowski hanged on 25 April 1794 in Wilno during the Kosciuszko Insurrection
• Józef Kazimierz Kossakowski , bishop. Hanged on 9 May 1794 in Cracow during the Kosciuszko Insurrection
• Ignacy Jakub Massalski , bishop. Hanged on 28 June 1794 in Warsaw during the Kosciuszko Insurrection
• Seweryn Rzewuski

Quotes

• From the Estabilising Act of the Targowica Condeferation: "The desires of Her Highness Empress of Russia [Catherine the Great], ally of Rzeczpospolita [the Commonwealth], are and were no others then by using her armies to return to Rzeczpospolita and Poles the freedoms, and especially security and happiness to all citizens"
• One of the founders of the Targowica Confederation, Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki: "Each true Pole, not blinded by the Prussian and royalist cabal, is convinced, that our Fatherland can only be saved by Russia, otherwise our nation will be enslaved". After Stanislaw Poniatowski abdication and the destruction of the Commonwealth, he said: "About past Poland and Poles [I don't want to talk anymore]. Gone is this country, and this name, as many others have perished in the world's history. I am now a Russian forever."