General Antoni Madaliński, a commander of the National Cavalry in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, had participated in the Bar Confederation, was elected deputy in 1786 and soon after deputy in the Great Sejm.

He also participated in Polish–Russian War of 1792.

Disobeying an order from the ruling Russian Empire and Kingdom of Prussia imposing demobilization, Madaliński advances his troops from Ostrołęka to Kraków on March 12, 1794, even attacking Prussian army posts along a Polish border.

This sparks an outbreak of riots against Russian forces throughout the country.

The Russian garrison of Kraków is ordered to leave the city and attack the Polish forces, leaving the city completely undefended.