The First Partition of Poland took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. Growth in the Russian Empire's power, threatening the Kingdom of Prussia and the Hapsburg Austrian Empire, was the primary motive behind this first partition. King Frederick II of Prussia engineered the partition to prevent Austria, jealous of Russian successes against the Ottoman Empire, from going to war. The weakened Commonwealth's land, including that was already controlled by Russia, was apportioned among its more powerful neighbors—Austria, Russia and Prussia—so as to restore the regional balance of power in Central Europe among those three countries. With Poland unable to effectively defend itself, and with foreign troops already inside the country, the Polish parliament (Sejm) ratified the partition in 1773 during the Partition Sejm convened by the three powers.
First Partition of Poland in "The More it Changes"[]
As a result of the partition of Poland, several towns, including Kolomija, were transferred to the control of Joseph II. However, the threat of the military might Joseph II possessed was not enough to prevent Sabbatean haidamacks from attacking several towns in the partitioned territory, including Kolomija, in 1773.
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