The Samogitian Division (Lithuanian: Žemaičių divizija) was a division-size unit of rebels of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the Kościuszko Uprising in 1794.[1]
| Samogitian Division | |
|---|---|
| Žemaičių divizija | |
| Active | 1794 |
| Allegiance | Grand Duchy of Lithuania |
| Size | 10,000 (July 1794) |
Composition edit
The Samogitian Division consisted of rebels from the Duchy of Samogitia and the counties of Upytė, Kaunas and Ukmergė.[1] At the beginning of July, the division had 15 regiments, totalling about 10,000 people.[1] However, only three of those were from the regular Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army, with the majority being county militias and groups of pospolite ruszenie, both noble and peasant.[1]
Commander edit
The division's overall commander was Tomasz Wawrzecki.[1]
History edit
The Samogitian division defended northern Lithuania from the Imperial Russian army stationed in Courland, fighting it between Akmenė and Biržai.[1] The division's left wing took over Liepoja and part of Courland west of Venta river from June 25 to July 12, and then again from 8 August to the end of that same month.[1] The division's right wing, led by Romuald Giedroyć, defeated the Russian army in the Battle of Saločiai on July 29.[1][2] In late July–September 1794, the Samogitian division withdrew from Courland and Samogitia to Užnemunė and the Kingdom of Poland.[1]
Finally, on 18 November 1794, the division capitulated in Radoszyce.[1]
References edit
Sources edit
- Jasas, Rimantas (2021). "Žemaičių divizija". Vle.lt (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 9 October 2021.