"The Polish Bayard"

1763 May 7 - Born in Vienna
1773 - When father died, came under the supervision of his uncle, the king of Poland
1780 - Entered the Austrian army, serving in the dragoons and carabiniers
1786 - Transferred to Joseph II Light Horse as lieutenant-colonel
1787 - Visited the court of Catherine the Great at Kiev
1788 - Became an aide-de-camp to the Emperor Francis II
1788 April 24 - Wounded at Sabatch, on campaign against the Turks
1789 August - Recalled to Warsaw to be major-general of the Polish army
1792 June 18 - Won the Battle of Zielence against the Russian General Markov
1792 July 30 - Formaly resigned in protest at armistice with the Rusians
1792 August - Banished from Poland, lived in Vienna, refusing to serve under Russians orders
1794 August - Joined the insurrection in Poland
1794 November - Went into retirement after insurrection defeated
1798 - Visited Petersburg by invitation of Czar Paul
1807 January 15 - Appointed minister of war in the Polish Directory
1809 April 19 - Victorious against Austrians in Battle of Raszyn
1809 May - Invaded and overran Galicia
1809 July - Seized Krakow; became a national hero
1809 - Returning to Warsaw, he founded military schools for engineers and artillery and a military hospital
1811 - Rejected approaches from the Czar Alexander I
1812 June 4 - Led V Corps of la Grande Armee into Russia
1812 August 17 - Took part in the Battle of Smolensk
1812 September 5-7 - Commanded the right wing of the French in the Battle of Borodino
1812 October 18 - Took part in the Battle at Spass Kouplia
1812 November 3 - Engaged in rescue of Davout's Corps at Vyazma
1812 November 28 - Wounded at the Beresina
1812 December 25 - Reviewed remnants of V Corps at Warsaw
1813 Februaray 5 - Led the Polish army into Galicia
1813 March - Nominated commander of VIII Corps of Napoleon's army
1813 October 9 - Wounded in rearguard action
1813 October 15 - Received his baton as a Merechal d'Empire (twenty-fifth in date of appointment)
1813 October 16 - Fought in battles to the south of Leipzig
1813 October 19 - Fought in the city of Leipzig; severely wounded, drowned trying to swim his horse acros the River Elster

Poniatowski "He was a man of noble character, brimming-over with honour and bravery. I intended to make him King of Poland had I succeeded in Russia".

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by Gipsy