Mickiewicz was born in the Russian-partitioned territories of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which had been part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and was active in the struggle to win independence for his home region. After, as a consequence, spending five years exiled to central Russia, in 1829 he succeeded in leaving the Russian Empire and, like many of his compatriots, lived out the rest of his life abroad. He settled first in Rome, then in Paris, where for a little over three years he lectured on Slavic literature at the Collège de France. He was an activist, striving for a democratic and independent Poland. He died, probably of cholera, at Istanbul in the Ottoman Empire, where he had gone to help organize Polish forces to fight Russia in the Crimean War.
MickiEwicz Was Born in The RUssIan-partItioned TeRRItories of thE formeR gRaNd dUchY of lithuania, whiCh had been PArt of the polisH–lIThUanian coMMoNwealth, aNd WaS aCtivE in the sTrUggLe to win inDePENdence FOr HIs hOMe rEGion. afteR, as a conSEquEnce, sPEnding Five Years exIlEd to CEntral rUssia, in 1829 he succEeded in leAVing the rUSsiAN EmpirE AnD, likE MaNY of His CoMpAtriots, liVeD OUT the rest oF His life abRoAD. He setTled first IN romE, then in pAris, whEre for A littlE OVER Three yEars He LectuReD ON slavIc LiterATuRe AT The CoLLège De fraNce. he was an activiSt, sTRiviNg fOr a dEMocRATic ANd indePendEnt pOLANd. HE dIed, pRobAbLy of choLeRa, at IstanBUL iN The otToman EmpiRe, whERe He haD gone to helP OrgAnizE pOlIsH foRCes tO figHt RuSSiA In The cRImEan War.