Joanna Żubr (1772 or 1782 – 9 July 1852) was a Polish soldier of the Napoleonic Wars, a veteran of the Polish–Austrian War, and the first woman to receive the Virtuti Militari, the highest Polish military decoration.
After the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars and creation of the Duchy of Warsaw in 1808, Joanna Żubr with her husband, Michał, left Austrian-ruled Volhynia. Both joined the army of the new Duchy, with Joanna initially a camp-follower. Soon she enlisted in the 2nd Infantry Regiment (4th company, 2nd battalion) as a private, hiding that she was a woman from both her superiors and fellow soldiers.
In 1809, Joanna took part in the Galician Campaign, distinguishing herself in the Battle of Zamość on 19 May that year. For her bravery, Prince Józef Poniatowski awarded her the medal of Virtuti Militari; Joanna was the first female soldier to be awarded the decoration and one of the first women in the world to receive a military award for bravery in battle.
After the campaign, she joined the 17th Infantry Regiment in Dąbrowski's Division, under Jan Henryk Dąbrowski. Her husband was an ensign in the same regiment and Joanna Żubr was promoted to sergeant, as the first woman in the Polish Army. Their division, renamed the Greater Polish Division, took part in Napoleon's invasion of Russia and his campaign in present-day Belarus.
During the battles and Napoleon's retreat, she was separated from her division, but she managed to escape from Russia on her own. In the summer of 1813, weeks after Prince Józef Poniatowski's forces had abandoned Kraków, she reached Polish units in Saxony and served with distinction until the signing of the Treaty of Fontainebleau and the end of the war.
Joanna and her husband returned to Poland. Because she could return to neither Austrian-occupied nor Russian-held parts of Poland, they settled at Wieluń. She died there during a cholera epidemic in 1852, at the age of about eighty.
Referencesedit
^"Joanna Żubr: pierwsza dama Orderu Virtuti Militari" [Joanna Żubr: first woman awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari]. Polska Zbrojna (in Polish). 9 July 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
^ [Joanna Żubr, death certificate (1852-07-09)]. Państwo Żubrowie (in Polish). Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
Sourcesedit
Encyklopedia Wojen Napoleońskich – R. Bielecki ("Encyclopedia of the Napoleonic Wars" in Polish)
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joanna, Żubr, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, november, 2019, learn, when, remove, this, message, 1772, 1782, . This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message Joanna Zubr 1772 or 1782 9 July 1852 was a Polish soldier of the Napoleonic Wars a veteran of the Polish Austrian War and the first woman to receive the Virtuti Militari the highest Polish military decoration Joanna ZubrBorn1772 or 1782Berdyczow Crown of the Kingdom of Poland Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth now Berdychiv Ukraine 1 Died 1852 07 09 9 July 1852 aged 79 80 or 69 70 Wielun Congress Poland Russian Empire now Poland 2 AllegianceDuchy of WarsawService wbr branchArmy of the Duchy of WarsawYears of service1808 1814Battles warsNapoleonic Wars French invasion of RussiaAwardsVirtuti Militari After the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars and creation of the Duchy of Warsaw in 1808 Joanna Zubr with her husband Michal left Austrian ruled Volhynia Both joined the army of the new Duchy with Joanna initially a camp follower Soon she enlisted in the 2nd Infantry Regiment 4th company 2nd battalion as a private hiding that she was a woman from both her superiors and fellow soldiers In 1809 Joanna took part in the Galician Campaign distinguishing herself in the Battle of Zamosc on 19 May that year For her bravery Prince Jozef Poniatowski awarded her the medal of Virtuti Militari Joanna was the first female soldier to be awarded the decoration and one of the first women in the world to receive a military award for bravery in battle After the campaign she joined the 17th Infantry Regiment in Dabrowski s Division under Jan Henryk Dabrowski Her husband was an ensign in the same regiment and Joanna Zubr was promoted to sergeant as the first woman in the Polish Army Their division renamed the Greater Polish Division took part in Napoleon s invasion of Russia and his campaign in present day Belarus During the battles and Napoleon s retreat she was separated from her division but she managed to escape from Russia on her own In the summer of 1813 weeks after Prince Jozef Poniatowski s forces had abandoned Krakow she reached Polish units in Saxony and served with distinction until the signing of the Treaty of Fontainebleau and the end of the war Joanna and her husband returned to Poland Because she could return to neither Austrian occupied nor Russian held parts of Poland they settled at Wielun She died there during a cholera epidemic in 1852 at the age of about eighty References edit Joanna Zubr pierwsza dama Orderu Virtuti Militari Joanna Zubr first woman awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari Polska Zbrojna in Polish 9 July 2017 Retrieved 24 May 2023 Joanna Zubr akt zgonu 1852 07 09 Joanna Zubr death certificate 1852 07 09 Panstwo Zubrowie in Polish Archived from the original on 28 June 2017 Retrieved 24 May 2023 Sources editEncyklopedia Wojen Napoleonskich R Bielecki Encyclopedia of the Napoleonic Wars in Polish List of recipients of the Order Virtuti Militari nbsp This biographical article related to the military of Poland is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joanna Zubr amp oldid 1209048156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
