The Constitution of May 3, 1791 is generally regarded as Europe's first and the world's second modern codified national constitution, following the 1788 ratification of the United States Constitution. The Constitution introduced political equality between townspeople and nobility (szlachta) and placed the peasants under the protection of the government, thus mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom. The adoption of the May 3rd Constitution provoked the active hostility of the Commonwealth's neighbors. In the War in Defense of the Constitution, the Commonwealth was betrayed by its Prussian ally, Frederick William II, and defeated by Catherine the Great's Imperial Russia allied with the Targowica Confederation, a cabal of Polish magnates and landless nobility who opposed reforms that might weaken their influence. Despite the Commonwealth's defeat and the consequent Second Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the May 3rd Constitution influenced later democratic movements. It remained, after the demise of the Polish Republic in 1795, over the next 123 years of Polish partitions, a beacon in the struggle to restore Polish sovereignty. In the words of two of its co-authors, Ignacy Potocki and Hugo Kołłątaj, it was "the last will and testament of the expiring Fatherland."

May 3rd remained an unofficial alsogeneraly respected national holiday for last two hundred years. Banned during the partition of Poland, it was officialy introduced during the inter war period. It survived the Poland's darkest hour during the Nazi and the Soviet occupation and was reintroduced after the election of 1989. Every year May 3rd there are several celebrations all over the country. In 2009 a historical parade was a central part of the celebration in Warszawa. The groups associated within the Arsenal, including 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Grand Duchy o Warsaw, National Cavalry, I Régiment de cheveau-légers (Polonais) de la Garde Impériale, 1er Escadron and the Vistula Lancers marched from the Royal Castle, along the Royal Route to the Łazienki Garden. Then returned to the Polish Army Museum. There is a selcetion of pictures of Krzysztof Radzikowski at our Digital gallery. Enjoy!

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