Emilia Plater

Emilia Plater (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emilia_Pla (http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/images.php?IId=851))

Emilia Plater was born on November 13, 1806 in Vilnya (Vilnius). Her father Count Franz Plater belonged to ancient German family and her mother was from Belarusian nobility (shlyahta).

When Emilia was 9, her parents divorced and her mother and she moved to far relatives of Plater, whose estate was in the region of Vitebsk. There she got interested in Belarusian culture and people. She collected and processed Belarusian folk songs, learnt Belarusian folk dances.

Emily was involved in reading historic books about famous people. Her favorite book was a book about Joan of Arc. Emilia learned from childhood to fence, shoot, ride a horse. She seemed to feel that these skills would be useful in the future.

In November 1831 the national and liberation uprising against the Russian tsar to restore the independence of the Rech Pospolitaya began. Emilia could not stay away.

Emilia Plater in a Skirmish at Szawlami. 1904 (http://shkolazhizni.ru/archive/0/n-19525/ (Wojciech Kossak))

She left her wealth and went to Vilnya. She cut her wonderful hair, dressed in a man's suit and called people to support the uprising. Initially she was not taken seriously by the leaders of the uprising. But Emilie managed to organize a detachment of 280 shooters and 60 horsemen. She fought bravely and decisively and won victory in several battles. Soon Emilia became one of the most recognizable figures of the uprising whose example inspired many people to fight.

Hard marches and fights broke down the health of the fragile girl. The final blow to her health was the message about the defeat of the uprising. Emilia died at the age of 26.

I think that Emilia Plater was a very brave girl. She said that she would fight for their country until she died. She did a lot of good things for Belarus.