Naczelnik
Encyclopedia
Naczelnik is the Polish
word for Leader. It was first used as an official title by Tadeusz Kościuszko
during the Polish revolutions of the 18th Century. In its Kościuszko form the title was used to signify commander of the uprising, or the modern day equivalent of head of state
.
The term later came into use by commanders of the Polish Army in Galicia, as part of the Army of Austria-Hungary
, during the First World War
. Most notably it was used by Field Marshal Józef Piłsudski, known as Naczelnik Pilsudski, as a title that helped identify him as the leader to his conscript troops. The title of Naczelnik in this form had the meaning of the modern day equivalent rank of Field Marshal (or the American equivalent of General of the Army), however it was not an official title recognized by the General Staff in Vienna.
Following World War I, changes in the Polish Military force structure eliminated the rank of Naczelnik and replaced it with the more modern and Western sounding rank of Field Marshal (Marszałek).
The title become a part of the Polish Chief of state position, held from 1918-1922 by Piłsudski, as Naczelnik państwa
. In 1922 it was replaced by the office of president of Poland. The term was again picked up in 1925 by Sanacja
, Piłsudski's political party in Poland, and was used by leader Józef Piłsudski as the official title for the leader of the party.
In modern day Poland, the term Naczelnik is commonly used in various forms of Polish life, and has nothing to do with politics or military. It is for example used as the official title for mail chiefs (Naczelnik Poczty) at local post offices. It has also been used by some rural police stations to replace the communist sounding title of police commandant (Komendant Policji) with Police Leader (Naczelnik Policji). Likewise, some fire stations and emergency personnel use the term to identify the leader of a particular accident scene, or the leader of a hospital ward.
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
word for Leader. It was first used as an official title by Tadeusz Kościuszko
Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko was a Polish–Lithuanian and American general and military leader during the Kościuszko Uprising. He is a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, the United States and Belarus...
during the Polish revolutions of the 18th Century. In its Kościuszko form the title was used to signify commander of the uprising, or the modern day equivalent of head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
.
The term later came into use by commanders of the Polish Army in Galicia, as part of the Army of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Most notably it was used by Field Marshal Józef Piłsudski, known as Naczelnik Pilsudski, as a title that helped identify him as the leader to his conscript troops. The title of Naczelnik in this form had the meaning of the modern day equivalent rank of Field Marshal (or the American equivalent of General of the Army), however it was not an official title recognized by the General Staff in Vienna.
Following World War I, changes in the Polish Military force structure eliminated the rank of Naczelnik and replaced it with the more modern and Western sounding rank of Field Marshal (Marszałek).
The title become a part of the Polish Chief of state position, held from 1918-1922 by Piłsudski, as Naczelnik państwa
Naczelnik panstwa
Naczelnik Państwa was the title of Poland's head of state in the early years of the Second Polish Republic. This office was held only by Józef Piłsudski, from 1918 to 1922. Until 1919 it was called tymczasowy naczelnik państwa...
. In 1922 it was replaced by the office of president of Poland. The term was again picked up in 1925 by Sanacja
Sanacja
Sanation was a Polish political movement that came to power after Józef Piłsudski's May 1926 Coup d'État. Sanation took its name from his watchword—the moral "sanation" of the Polish body politic...
, Piłsudski's political party in Poland, and was used by leader Józef Piłsudski as the official title for the leader of the party.
In modern day Poland, the term Naczelnik is commonly used in various forms of Polish life, and has nothing to do with politics or military. It is for example used as the official title for mail chiefs (Naczelnik Poczty) at local post offices. It has also been used by some rural police stations to replace the communist sounding title of police commandant (Komendant Policji) with Police Leader (Naczelnik Policji). Likewise, some fire stations and emergency personnel use the term to identify the leader of a particular accident scene, or the leader of a hospital ward.