page_title: France–Poland relations
section_title: Before the 18th century
hierarchical_section_title: France–Poland relations / History / Before the 18th century
caption_attribution_description: English: Tomb effigy of heart of King John II Casimir Vasa at Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris
context_page_description: Polish–French relations date back several centuries, although they really only became relevant in the times of the French Revolution and the reign of Napoleon I. Poles were allies of Napoleon; a large Polish community settled in France in the 19th century. The French government sympathized with Polish rebels in 1830 and 1863 but did not intervene. Poland and France were allies during the interwar period, 1919-1939. France and Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany when it invaded Poland in 1939, but were unable to stop the quick conquest. Never in history has a Polish army fought against its French counterpart. Nevertheless the two countries were on opposite sides during the Cold War 1947-1989. Official relations have been warm since the fall of communism in Poland in 1989. Currently both countries are part of the European Union, NATO and OECD. Poland is also an observer in the Organisation internationale de la francophonie.
context_section_description: Polish–French relations were nascent until the 18th century, due to geographical distance and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's lack of involvement in the wars of Western Europe. A notable exception occurred in 1573, when Henry III of France was elected king of Poland, but he retired from that position the next year. The French Order of the Holy Spirit was dedicated to the Holy Spirit for commemorating Henry III's succession as king of Poland (1573) and France (1574) on two Pentecosts.
  Two Polish kings, Władysław IV Vasa and John II Casimir, were married to French princess Ludwika Maria Gonzaga. After his abdication in 1668, John II Casimir returned to France, where he joined the Jesuits and became abbot of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. His heart was buried there.
  In the late 17th century, King John III Sobieski married French princess Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien and tried to forge a Polish–French alliance.
  Charles-Paris d'Orléans; François Louis, prince of Conti; Henri Jules, prince of Condé; and Louis, prince of Condé were candidates for the Polish throne.
caption: Tomb effigy of heart of King John II Casimir at Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
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