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Jozef_Wybicki.jpg
Józef Wybicki (1747–1822) was a Polish general, poet and political figure. In 1797, he wrote Mazurek Dąbrowskiego (Dąbrowski's Mazurka) which was adopted as the Polish national anthem in 1927.
Biography
Józef Wybicki was born on September 29, 1747 in Będominio in the Pomerania region and died on 10 March 1822 in Manieczki.
Wybicki took part in the most important events of the late 18th and the early 19th centuries. He was Deputy to the Sejm in 1767, a member of the Confederation of Bar (1768-1772), a participant in the creation of the legal code, an associate of the National Education Commission, an activist of the Patriotic Party during the Great Sejm (1788-1792), a participant in Kościuszko’s insurrection, a co-organiser of the Polish Legions in Italy, Napoleon’s plenipotentiary on the Polish lands occupied by the French during the campaigns of 1806 and 1809, and after 1815 high-ranking official in the Poland Congress Kingdom.
Wybicki also considered his literary work to be a form of political activity. In his journalistic and literary works he took up issues concerning politics and social life. He did not think highly of his talent as a poet, but it was he who wrote the poem that every Pole knows - Pieśń Legionów Polskich (The Hymn of the Polish Legions).
Pieśń (also known as Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła or Mazurek Dąbrowskiego) was created in Reggio, Italy, in July 1797. It was meant for the farewell ceremony for General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, heading for his meeting with Napoleon. It was sung to the rhythm of "the old mazurka". The lyrics of the poem have been changed many times since then to suit the changing historical environment. Initially it was a military, then a national song, performed during patriotic ceremonies. Since the Battle of Grochów (25 February 1831) during the November Uprising, it has been regarded as the national anthem. When Poland lost its sovereignty, Dąbrowski’s Mazurka, along with Alojzy Feliński’s Boże, coś Polskę, were considered the most popular patriotic songs. The reason for that was its simple, easy to remember melody and the lyrics filled with hope: "Poland is not dead whilst we live". In 1926 Dąbrowski’s Mazurka was officially declared Poland’s National Anthem. Template:Poland-bio-stubbg:Юзеф Вибицки pl:Józef Wybicki ro:Józef Wybicki