The First Partition of Poland occurred in 1772 and was the first of three partitions that divided the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth among the neighboring powers of Russia, Prussia, and Austria. This event was driven by the weakening of Poland's political structure and military, making it vulnerable to external pressures and territorial ambitions. The partition resulted in the loss of about one-third of Poland's territory, significantly reducing its size and influence in Europe. The three powers aimed to prevent Poland from regaining strength, leading to further partitions in 1793 and 1795, which ultimately erased Poland from the map until 1918.