Throughout history, very few individuals are enduringly memorialised internationally at a significant level; those who are have earned this honour through achievements in music, literature or the arts; others have made discoveries in medicine or science and the like. Thaddeus Kosciuszko is one of the few extraordinary individuals who for other reasons, is, and continues to be memorialised worldwide. New film documentaries have been produced such as Kosciuszko: A man ahead of his time in the USA and Kosciuszko: Poland will yet dance in Australia; new monuments have been erected, such as the 2010 Kosciuszko Monument in Warsaw and Tracy H Sugg’s 2006 Kosciuszko memorial in the American township of Kosciusko Mississippi; the two hundredth anniversary of Kosciuszko’s passing will be commemorated around the world in 2017 and the bicentennial celebrations of his life have been sanctioned by UNESCO. The Polish Parliament has proclaimed 2017 to be the year of Kosciuszko.

Why?

The reason derives from the fact that people, wherever they live or whatever their background, yearn to be free; yearn to be treated fairly and respectfully by their fellow human beings; virtues that accord with the motif qualities characterised heroically by Kosciuszko. His memorials are visual symbols of inspiration and hope for liberty, independence and justice for all prevailing, sooner or later, in the never ending universal human struggle against oppression and tyranny.

Memorials honouring Kosciuszko as a symbol liberty and justice are known to exist in Poland, USA, Switzerland, Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, France, Finland, Great Britain and Australia. They are located in big cities visible to millions, however others are focal points for small communities in fields, villages and townships and although not well known nationally or internationally they are dear to the hearts and minds of locals.

Many were built in 1917 to honour Kosciuszko’s life on the centenary of his passing; some mark other anniversaries in the milestones of liberty triumphant. Kosciuszko vestiges and footprints inspired others showing where he spoke, where he was wounded in battle, where he fought, places he fortified, where he stayed, tunnels he engineered and gardens he designed. Kosciuszko memorials range in size, style and type; mounds and mini-mounds, inscribed slabs, plaques, pedestals and plinths; busts, statues – equestrian and other; monuments with allegorical scenes, obelisks some adorned with crosses, eagles or crests.

Over many hours, late into the night, I Googled multiple combinations of search words to find Kosciuszko monuments I hadn’t seen before. Name of town and country was usually all that was given. But what is their address? This information is rarely disclosed. But to see them, I need the address of each; but how can I do this sitting in my room in Sydney Australia?

Virtually!!!!

For example, here is how I discovered the location of the Kosciuszko monument in France.

I already knew about the event it commemorated. President of KHI, Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek, has recently published an article about it in Puls Polonii. Cudny epizod w miasteczku Cugny But where specifically is the monument? I spot a clue. A blogger writes that a monument commemorating Kosciuszko’s courageous actions in Cugny can be seen beside a road between the villages of Fontainebleau and Villemer in France about 20km apart. Looking at Google maps the D58/148 seems to be the road, but where exactly?

I go down to street level and ‘drive’ the road ‘virtually’ from my computer! I scan left and right and after some time, eureka there it is! Finding it (and the others) gives me a buzz that compensates for the awful tediousness of the search.

Next step, open Google Earth, zoom in to the location and record the latitude/longitude coordinates. Back to Google maps and key in the coordinates to check to see if they are correct. Take a screen shot, make a title and spot the monument on the map with a blue star.

You can see for yourself. Key in these coordinates into Google maps on your computer:

48° 20’ 50 N 02° 46’ 09 E

Get down to street level and drive around a little till you spot it. Take a screen shot, or better still click at the bottom of the screen and you will see photographs of the locale that have been uploaded by nice people who have visited the monument. This one was relatively easy to find but others, especially if they are in big towns or cities, driving virtually becomes very tedious. Nevertheless I have the latitudes and longitudes and map locations of nearly all of them!

As you can see, the Kosciuszko Monument at Fontainebleau, even though it sits in the middle of nowhere, has been well looked after. At street level you can see the flowers and candles left behind by people who have recently paid homage. Since 1834, when it was unveiled, through to this day, local villagers honour Kosciuszko’s courageous actions there in 1814. The monument was the initiative of Francis Zeltner, son of Kosciuszko’s close friend, Peter; Count Zamoyski provided much of the funding.

As Ernestyna’s article shows, Kosciuszko’s actions inspired Michal Stachowicz to paint the scene for Kosciuszko’s catafalque; many articles were written in newspapers and journals; authors devoted chapters about the event; German playwright Karl von Holtei penned “The Old General” a drama that was widely popular across Germany.

It should also be noted that Kosciuszko’s first biographer, Marc Antoine Jullien describes what transpired in “Notice Biographique Le Général Polonais Thaddée Kosciuszko" (1818) Pp 27-30.

Jullien - Notice biographique sur le général polonais, Thaddée Kosciuszko

I have translated a fragment as best I could with the assistance of Google translate:

A Polish corps, which formed part of the [Tsarist] troops . . . . . . . came to occupy the hamlet of Cugny, in the neighborhood of Berville, and were involved in the most deplorable excesses. A respectable old man appears before them, under a rustic coat of which the simplicity disguises him even more than the years. "He said to them in their Polish language, "is it I who gave you this example? Did you learn under my command to devastate the countryside, to mistreat peaceful citizens, to slaughter the women and children? Such conduct is vile for soldiers who compensate themselves, at war. During peace: is it worthy of men who are free ...? "

These words, pronounced with a mixture of iron and steel, and of tenderness too, struck the hearts of the astonished soldiers. The contrast of the clothes and speech of this old man, the nobility of his accent, the serenity of his visage rendered them speechless for a time. Finally, they exclaimed, “You are not what you seem to be; you speak our language; who are you? What is your name?" The old man didn’t answer straight away but eventually, unable to remain silent, with tears in his eyes, he lets out these words: "I'm Kosciuszko”. Immediately the Poles fall to their feet, kiss his knees, ask him a thousand times sorry, shed tears, cannot stop apologising . . .

Jullien, much younger than Kosciuszko, (born: 10 March 1775, died in Paris: 4 April 1848), met Thaddeus in Switzerland, as Storozynski notes: ‘One of those who joined Kosciuszko was Marc Antoine Jullien, a French soldier and writer who opposed Jacobin terror, and Napoleon. They had much in common with Pestalozzi, who was also a firm believer in natural law and ending feudalism.’ (Peasant Prince P276).

It can be seen from this recently auctioned Kosciuszko letter that the two corresponded.

Kosciuszko autograph letter signed

Jullien believed that knowledge about Kosciuszko’s noble life should not be lost to posterity so as soon as he learned that Kosciuszko had passed away, he assiduously began to do the research for a biography. He wrote to Kosciuszko’s close associates to tap their memories and thoughts. For example in this letter, Jullien wrote to Kosciuszko’s close American friend, Thomas Jefferson:

founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/98-01-02-0136

Jullien stated that Mister Gallatin and Mr Lafayette will help me to review and refine the biography I wish to raise to the memory of a man of good will.

Another of Kosciuszko’s French contemporaries, Comte Delagarde Messence in 1819 penned: Les Obsèques De Kosciuszko Aux Tombeaux Des Rois De Pologne A Cracovie Poeme. It also refers to Kosciuszko’s actions at Cugny. Here is the link:

Les Obseques de Kosciuszko

Two hundred Kosciuszko Memorials worldwide. Each monument tells a story. Before I leave for overseas in April, I hope to write about four or five of them; stories that may be useful to anyone intending to take part in the Kosciuszko Bicentennial Contest organised by Kosciuszko Heritage Inc. (KHI) that will be announced on 4th February, 2017.

Episode 2: Lodz 1903 coming soon.

Felix Molski