Antoni Chlewiński

Antoni Chlewiński (1750-1800) was a prominent member of the Polish-Lithuanian landed gentry of the Radwan coat of arms. A lieutenant general of the Army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, he took part in both the War in the Defence of the Constitution and Kościuszko's Uprising of 1794.

He was from Mazovia. He was for some time an officer of the Prussian army.

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

War in Defence of the Constitution

From 1791 onwards, he was in the Army of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, becoming the Colonel and commander of the 3rd Lithuanian Advance Guard Regiment. During the Polish-Russian War of 1792, he commanded the 3rd Lithuanian Advance Guard Regiment, whose nominal chief was Michał Zabiełło. Chlewiński stood out as a good tactician and was hence decorated with the Order of Virtuti Militari.

After the war, he remained in service of the Targowica Confederation. In 1793, he was appointed major-general and commander of the 3rd National Cavalry Brigade and was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus. He was opposed to the Kościuszko Uprising.

Kościuszko Uprising

On 16 April 1794, in Šiauliai, he swore the Act of Uprising (together with Franciszek Ksawery Niesiołowski, Romualdas Giedraitis, Alojzy Sulistrowski, Antoni Prozor, and Piotr Zawisza) and was proclaimed head of the Armed Forces of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Kościuszko Uprising. He approached Vilnius with his troops, which led to the Vilnius Uprising breaking out earlier. Not accepted by the Supreme National Council, Chlewiński was apppointed by Tadeusz Kościuszko as commandant of Vilnius and promoted to lieutenant general. He was an opponent of Gen. Jakub Jasinski.

He failed or did not want to defend Vilnius on August 11-12, 1794 against the advancing Russian troops. After the fall of the city, he was accused of treason. Later, he handed over his leadership to the Lithuanian Supreme Government Council established on April 24 and was arrested. In view of the imminent collapse of the uprising, the investigation did not reveal anything.

His fate after the uprising is unknown.

Bibliography
  • H. P. Kosk, Generalicja polska t. 1, wyd. Oficyna wydawnicza "Ajaks" Pruszków 1998.
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