The third partition of Poland culminated in October 1795 when the major powers of Russia, Prussia, and Austria divided the remaining territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This momentous and dark event followed two earlier partitions, held in 1772 and 1793, that had already diminished Polish sovereignty significantly. The political landscape of Europe at the time was shifting rapidly, with the wars of the French Revolution altering the balance of power and emboldening neighboring nations to stake claims over Polish territories. Each of the partitioning powers aimed to solidify their influence and extend their borders at Poland's expense.

In the arrangement, Russia annexed the largest shares, integrating much of Eastern Poland into its expanding empire. Prussia acquired the northern and western areas, notably including parts of Greater Poland and Silesia, while Austria secured southern territories, including parts of Galicia. The last partition effectively dismantled Poland, leading to its complete absence from European maps for over a century until the aftermath of World War I, which saw a resurgence of Polish nationalism, ultimately resulting in the country's re-establishment as a sovereign state in 1918.

This partition was not limited to territorial adjustments; it also sowed seeds of resentment among the Polish population, leading to uprisings and the growth of independence movements throughout the 19th century. Secret organizations were formed to foster Polish identity and resistance against foreign rule, revealing the enduring spirit of a nation that the partitioning powers had sought to erase. The harsh realities of foreign domination and the absence of an independent Polish state shaped the country’s national identity and aspirations in the centuries that followed.