Pan Tadeusz (full title: Sir Thaddeus, or the Last Foray in Lithuania: A Nobility's Tale of the Years 1811–1812, in Twelve Books of Verse[a][b]) is an epic poem by the Polish poet, writer, translator and philosopher Adam Mickiewicz.

[3][4] Pan Tadeusz, Poland's national epic, is compulsory reading in Polish schools and has been translated into 33 languages.

[6] The story takes place over the course of five days in 1811 and two days in 1812, at a time in history when Poland had been divided between Russia, Prussia, and Austria (see Partitions of Poland) and erased from the political map of Europe, although in 1807 Napoleon had established a satellite Duchy of Warsaw in the Prussian partition which remained in existence until the Congress of Vienna held after Napoleon's defeat.

[14] In his account of the fictional banquet in Book 12, the poet included the names of several dishes described in Compendium ferculorum, such as royal borscht, as well as two of the master chef's secrets: the broth with pearls and a coin, and the three-way fish.

[15] A young Polish noble, Tadeusz Soplica, comes back from his education in Vilnius to his family estate in Soplicowo.

Later, when Russian troops stormed the Castle during the Kościuszko's uprising, Jacek suddenly arrived on the scene and shot the Pantler.

The story makes the Count excited about the conflict with the Soplicas and he decides he has to take the Castle back from the Judge.

They are saved by Father Robak, a Bernardin monk, who unexpectedly appears, grabs Gerwazy's gun and shoots the bear.

The Count angrily leaves and orders Gerwazy to get the support of lesser nobility of nearby villages to deal with the Soplicas by force.

He reminds the Judge that his brother, Jacek, wanted him to make peace with the Horeszkos to atone for his murder of the Pantler.

For that purpose, Jacek arranged for Zosia to be raised by the Soplicas and intended for her to marry Tadeusz, to bring the two conflicted houses together.

They argue among themselves about organizing an uprising against the Russian forces occupying the land and news about the Napoleonic army, which they heard from Father Robak.

The Judge tries to convince Major Płut that the whole matter is just a quarrel between two neighbours and claims that he doesn't bring any complaints against the Count.

The fight breaks out when Major Płut makes drunken advances on Telimena and Tadeusz punches him in her defense.

Captain Ryków ultimately surrenders the battle after suffering serious losses to the Poles, while Major Płut disappears.

The Russian refuses the money, but promises the whole thing will be blamed on Major Płut drunkenly giving orders to attack.

[21][22] Google's Doodle for Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Iceland, Ireland and UK on 28 June 2019 commemorated the poem.