On July 21, Poland commemorates the 227th anniversary of the creation of ‘Dąbrowski’s Mazurek,’ a patriotic anthem that holds a cherished place in the nation’s heart. This year also marks the 97th anniversary of its adoption as Poland’s official national anthem. The anthem’s journey is closely tied to the life and legacy of its esteemed author, Józef Rufin Wybicki.
Józef Rufin Wybicki: Lawyer, Patriot, National Hero
Józef Rufin Wybicki, born on September 29, 1747, in Będomin near Kościerzyna, was a multifaceted individual whose career spanned law and politics. At just 20 years old, he embarked on his political journey as a Member of Parliament in the First Polish Republic. His path, however, was destined to take him beyond the realm of politics into the heart of Poland’s fight for sovereignty.
Wybicki’s defining moment came during the Kościuszko Uprising, a crucial insurrection against foreign domination. During this period, he met General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, the future founder of the Polish Legions in Italy. This fateful encounter sparked a collaboration that would birth ‘Dąbrowski’s Mazurek.’
After the Kościuszko Uprising’s defeat, Wybicki and Dąbrowski sought refuge abroad, eventually focusing their efforts on forming the Polish Legions in France. Their dedication bore fruit on January 9, 1797, when they signed an agreement with the Lombard Republic’s government, formally establishing the Legions. This milestone paved the way for Wybicki to create his most famous work, which has since inspired countless generations of Poles.
Honoring Józef Rufin Wybicki: The Legacy of ‘Dąbrowski’s Mazurek’
Wybicki’s life came to an untimely end on March 10, 1822. He was interred at the church in Brodnica near Śrem. Recognizing his immense contribution to Polish history, a solemn ceremony on October 11, 1923, saw his remains exhumed and reburied in Poznań’s Crypt of Merit of Greater Poland, in the church of St. Wojciech, also known as the “Skałka Poznańska.”
- 225th anniversary of the creation of ‘Dąbrowski’s Mazurek’ by Józef Wybicki – Celebrations in Reggio Emilia, Italy
- The De Republica Institute has published a unique monograph on the National anthem of Poland
- The story of the Polish National Anthem
- The National Anthem of Poland played on Mount Everest contributed to the Guinness World Record! [VIDEO]