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88-538: Originally built in 1637–41, it was first remodelled in 1660 for King John II Casimir ( Polish : Jan II Kazimierz Waza , from whom it takes its name) and again in 1765–68, by Domenico Merlini , for the Corps of Cadets established by King Stanisław II Augustus . Since 1816, the Casimir Palace has served intermittently as the seat of Warsaw University . The Casimir Palace was erected in 1637-41 for King Władysław IV in

176-594: A Hercules Fighting the Centaur Nessus and a Horse Bitten by a Snake . Another feature of the gardens was a large arbor where initially the Fleming royal painter Christian Melich had his studio, but which was later selected by Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga as the venue for her literary salon . The palace had rich furnishings, with Venetian -style gilded ceilings (surviving examples of such ceilings in Poland may be seen at

264-547: A rebellion under Hetman Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski . As a result, John Casimir abdicated at the Sejm of Warsaw on 16 September 1668. The following year, he retired to France where he was hospitably treated by Louis XIV . John Casimir's reign was one of the most disastrous in the history of Poland. He was the third and last monarch on the Polish throne from the House of Vasa . John Casimir

352-877: A Man in the Hat Decorated with Pearls (1667), today displayed in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden , Germany. John Casimir was a character in Henryk Sienkiewicz 's novels With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i Mieczem) and The Deluge (Potop). John III Sobieski John III Sobieski ( Polish : Jan III Sobieski ( Polish pronunciation: [ˈjan ˈtʂɛt͡ɕi sɔˈbʲɛskʲi] ); Lithuanian : Jonas III Sobieskis ( Lithuanian pronunciation: ['joːnäs so'bʲɛskis] ); Latin : Ioannes III Sobiscius ( Latin pronunciation: [joˈannɛs soˈbiʃiʊs] ) 17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696)

440-617: A counter-offensive and crossed the Dneper , but could not retake the strategic town of Żórawno , and a peace treaty (the Treaty of Żurawno ) was signed soon afterwards. Although Kamieniec Podolski and much of Podolia remained a part of the Ottoman Empire, Poland gained the return of the towns of Bila Tserkva and Pavoloch . The treaty with the Ottomans began a period of peace that was much needed for

528-464: A design by Aleksander Bojemski. During World War II, the Casimir Palace was destroyed, along with other Warsaw University buildings. It suffered during both the 1939 defense of Warsaw and the 1944 Warsaw Uprising . The destruction of the building was estimated at 50%. After the war, in 1945–54, the palace was rebuilt to a design by Piotr Biegański. The reconstruction of the whole campus was finally completed in 1960. The Casimir Palace currently houses

616-621: A letter to his wife, he wrote, "All the common people kissed my hands, my feet, my clothes; others only touched me, saying: 'Ah, let us kiss so valiant a hand!'" The war against the Ottomans was not yet over, and Sobieski continued the campaign with the Battle of Párkány on 7–9 October. After early victories, the Polish found themselves a junior partner in the Holy League, gaining no lasting territorial or political rewards. The prolonged and indecisive war also weakened Sobieski's position at home. For

704-699: A member of the Sejm in 1664 and 1665. In between he participated in the Russian campaign of 1663. Sobieski remained loyal to the King during the Lubomirski Rebellion of 1665–66, though it was a difficult decision for him. He participated in the Sejm of 1665, and after some delays, accepted the prestigious office of the Marshal of the Crown on 18 May that year. Around late April or early May 1666 he received another high office of

792-583: A patron of Daniel Schultz (who painted a famous portrait of a son of Crimean Aga Dedesh, and was made Royal falconer in reward for his father's contribution during the war with Russia in 1663 ). A major part of the king's painting collection was acquired in 1660s, by way of Hendrick van Uylenburgh , an agent in Amsterdam , and later his son Gerrit van Uylenburgh . These were mainly Dutch paintings and works by Rembrandt . The collection also included works by Rubens , Jordaens , Reni , Guercino , Jan Brueghel

880-540: A proper guard—the sort of thing Richard the Lionhearted might've used to slay camels in the streets of Jerusalem. This man went down on one knee in the dirt, and he did it with verve and enthusiasm. You see your rich man kneeling in church and it takes him two or three minutes, you can hear his knees popping and sinews creaking, he totters this way and that, creating small alarums amongst the servants who are gripping his elbows. But this brute knelt easily, even lustily if such

968-643: A result of anti-French Polish-Spanish negotiations . In 1641 John Casimir decided to become a Jesuit . In 1642 he again left the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, accompanying his sister to Germany. In 1643 he joined the Jesuits, against vocal opposition from King Władysław, causing a diplomatic rift between the Commonwealth and the Pope. John Casimir went to Rome when the Jesuits invited him in order to bolster

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1056-555: A skilled military leader. Later that year, in November, his first child, James Louis Sobieski was born in Paris. On 5 February 1668, he achieved the rank of Grand Hetman of the Crown, the highest military rank in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and thereby the de facto commander-in-chief of the entire Polish Army. Later that year he supported the French candidacy of Louis, Grand Condé for

1144-414: A stove factory and a brewery were established here, and in 1737-39 he rebuilt the palace, probably to a rococo design by Johann Sigmund Deybel and Joachim Daniel von Jauch . The palace was enlarged and covered with mansard roofs . The central portion of the building was adorned with a bulbous top bearing a clock and an eagle. In 1765, ownership was transferred to King Stanisław II August , who located

1232-466: A strong supporter of the French faction in the Polish royal court, represented by Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga . His pro-French allegiance was reinforced in 1665, when he married Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien and was promoted to the rank of the Crown Grand Marshal . In 1662, he was again elected a deputy to the Sejm, and took part in the work on reforming the military. He was also

1320-668: A sudden heart attack. His wife, Marie Casimire Louise , died in 1716 in Blois , France, and her body was returned to Poland. They are interred together in Wawel Cathedral , Kraków , although his heart is interred separately in the Church of the Transfiguration in Warsaw , Poland. He was succeeded by Augustus II . Sobieski is remembered in Poland as a "hero king", victor at Vienna who defeated

1408-450: A thing were possible, and facing toward the city of Vienna, he planted his sword in the ground so that it became a steel cross. The morning light was shining directly into his grizzled face and glinting from the steel of the blade and glowing in some indifferent colored jewels set into the weapon's hilt and crossbar. The man bowed his head and took to mumbling in Latin. The hand that wasn't holding

1496-601: A wonderful view of the Vistula River and its opposite, Praga bank. It had four alcoves and two gardens — a flower garden at the front, and a botanical garden at the rear. Both gardens were adorned with sculptures that had been procured by royal architect Agostino Locci. Some had been purchased in Florence for 7,000 guldens , others had been produced in Prague by Adrien de Vries . According to Adam Jarzębski , they had included

1584-615: The Baltic and the Dnieper on the part of Poland, which also lost its sway over the Cossacks , who placed themselves under the protection of Russian Tsars. During the long battles, John Casimir, though feeble and of a peaceful disposition, frequently proved his patriotism and courage. The intrigues of his wife for the Duke of Enghien as successor to the Polish throne triggered a series of revolts, including

1672-507: The Battle of Zboriv . In 1652, Marek died in Tatar captivity after his capture at the Battle of Batih . John was promoted to the rank of pułkownik and fought with distinction in the Battle of Berestechko . In 1653, he voluntarily spent time as a hostage in the Crimean Tatar capital of Bakhchysarai . A promising commander, John was sent by King John II Casimir as one of the envoys in

1760-665: The Bishop's Palace in Kielce ) and brown Chęciny and black Dębnik marble portals . In the 1650s, sculptor Giovanni Francesco Rossi created profuse Roman-Baroque -style marble decorations, with busts of Roman emperors and of King John II Casimir and Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga (today displayed at Gripsholm Castle in Sweden). These decorations were so precious that during the Swedish Deluge Sweden's King Charles X Gustav ordered

1848-512: The Corps of Cadets here following interior redesigns by Domenico Merlini . From 1769, the famous newspaper sponsored by the King, the Monitor , was printed in an establishment housed in an outbuilding of the palace. On April 5, 1769, the patriotic play Junak was presented on a Cadet Corps stage in the palace. In 1794, after the suppression of the Kościuszko Uprising , the Corps of Cadets

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1936-532: The Smolensk War against Muscovy (1633). Between 1632 and 1635, Władysław IV sought to enhance his brother's influence by negotiating a marriage for John Casimir to Christina of Sweden , then to an Italian princess, but to no avail. In 1637 John Casimir undertook a diplomatic mission to Vienna , which he abandoned to join the army of the Holy Roman Empire and fight against the French. After his regiment

2024-544: The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), although in that conflict Poland for the most part avoided joining any major military actions and campaigns, instead supporting the Austrian Habsburg and Catholic fraction. His mother, Queen Constance , was the daughter of Charles II of Austria and Maria Anna of Bavaria and also the younger sister of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor . John Casimir for most of his life remained in

2112-670: The Treaty of Hadiach with the Cossacks. In 1660, he took part in the last offensive against the Swedes in Prussia, and was rewarded with the office of starost of Stryj . Soon afterward he took part in the war against the Russians, participating in the Battle of Slobodyshche and Battle of Lyubar , and later that year he again was one of the negotiators of a new treaty with the Cossacks (the Treaty of Cudnów ). Through personal connections, he became

2200-772: The Wawel Cathedral in Kraków . His heart was interred in the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés . On 1 April 1656, during a Mass in the Latin Cathedral in Lwów, conducted by the papal legate Pietro Vidoni , John II Casimir in a grandiose and elaborate ceremony entrusted the Commonwealth under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he announced as The Queen of the Polish Crown and other of his countries . He also swore to protect

2288-592: The mannerist -early Baroque style as a villa suburbana ( suburban villa ) christened the Villa Regia ( Latin for "Royal Villa"), to the design of Italian architect Giovanni Trevano . It was constructed as a rectangular building with corner towers, a type of residence known as Poggio–Reale - Serlio after the Villa Poggio Reale in Naples. The Villa Regia had a magnificent loggia at its garden facade, with

2376-497: The 1650s, during the Deluge . Most of them were sold off to wealthy nobles, displayed in other parts of Europe, or would eventually belong to private collectors, though some of the famous works survived hidden in Opole like The Rape of Europa by Guido Reni . The most important additions to the royal collection were made by John II Casimir, a passionate collector of Dutch paintings , and

2464-588: The Catholic faction. From this, he was appointed cardinal, but he would soon resign and return to the Commonwealth when the only son of Władysław died. He attempted to gain the support of the Habsburgs and marry an Austrian princess to create an alliance between the nations in case of an unexpected attack, possibly from the east. In 1648 John Casimir was elected by the Polish Parliament to succeed his half-brother on

2552-492: The Commonwealth in 1648. Upon receiving the news of the death of king Władysław IV Vasa and the hostilities of the Khmelnytsky Uprising , they volunteered for the army. They both fought in the siege of Zamość . They founded and commanded their own banners ( chorągiew ) of cavalry (one light, " cossack ", and one heavy, of Polish hussars ). Soon, the fortunes of war separated the brothers. In 1649, Jakub fought in

2640-495: The Commonwealth's own military campaign against Prussia was opposed by Commonwealth magnates, many of them taking the Prussian side. Backed by Brandenburg and Austria , internal enemies of Sobieski even planned to dethrone him and elect Charles of Lorraine . The French-Prussian treaty of 1679 meant that Sobieski lost the major foreign ally for his planned campaign against Prussia; consequently, he started to distance himself from

2728-418: The Commonwealth, as the pro-French faction of Sobieski and pro-court faction of King Michał formed two confederations , which despite major Ottoman incursions in the south seemed more concerned with one another than with uniting to defend the country. The court faction called openly for confiscation of his estates and dismissal from office, and declared him an "enemy of the state". This division culminated in

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2816-676: The Commonwealth, that of the Field Crown Hetman . Soon afterward, he was defeated at the Battle of Mątwy , and signed the Agreement of Łęgonice on 21 July, which ended the Lubomirski Rebellion. In October 1667, he achieved another victory over the Cossacks of Petro Doroshenko and their Crimean Tatar allies in the Battle of Podhajce during the Polish–Cossack–Tatar War (1666–71) . This allowed him to regain his image as

2904-535: The Deluge), Sobieski allied himself by 1683 with Leopold I , of the Holy Roman Empire . Both sides promised to come to one's another aid if their capitals were threatened. The alliance was signed by royal representatives on 31 March 1683 and ratified by the Emperor and Polish parliament within weeks. Although aimed directly against the Ottomans and indirectly against France, it had the advantage of gaining internal support for

2992-502: The Kingdom's folk from any impositions and unjust bondage . This is referred to as the Lwów Oath . As almost the whole country was occupied by Swedish or Russian armies, the vow was intended to incite the whole nation, including the peasantry, to rise up against the invaders. Two main issues raised by the king in the vows were the necessity to protect the Catholic faith, seen as endangered by

3080-481: The Lithuanian Pac family ). In light of the war, requiring Sobieski to be on the front lines, the coronation ceremony was significantly delayed – he was crowned John III almost two years later, on 2 February 1676. Though Poland-Lithuania was at that time the largest and one of the most populous states of Europe, Sobieski became a king of a country devastated by almost half a century of constant war. The treasury

3168-519: The Lutheran (and to some extent Orthodox) aggressors, and to manifest the will to improve the condition of the peasantry. After the King, a similar vow was taken by the Deputy Chancellor of the Crown and the bishop of Kraków , Andrzej Trzebicki , in the name of the szlachta noblemen of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth forces finally drove back the Swedes in 1657 and the Russians in 1661. After

3256-554: The Ottoman threat to the south. In the autumn of 1674, he recommenced the war against the Ottomans and managed to recapture a number of cities and fortresses including Bratslav , Mogilev , and Bar , which re-established a strongly fortified line defending Poland's southern border in Ukraine. In 1675, Sobieski defeated a Turkish and Tatar offensive aiming at Lviv . In 1676, the Tatars began

3344-569: The Ottoman threat, an image that became particularly well recognized after his story was told in many works of 19th-century literature. In the Polish Biographical Dictionary he is described as "an individual above his contemporaries, but still one of them"; an oligarch and a magnate, interested in personal wealth and power. His ambitions for the most part were instilled in him by his beloved wife, whom he undoubtedly loved more than any throne (when being forced to divorce her and marry

3432-509: The Ottomans in the Battle of Khotyn and capturing the fortress located there. The news of the battle coincided with the death of King Michal the day before the battle. This made Sobieski one of the leading figures of the state, so on 19 May the following year, he was elected monarch of the Commonwealth . His candidacy was almost universally supported, with only a dozen or so members of the diet opposing him (mainly centered around magnates of

3520-461: The Polish husaria cavalry along with Austrians and Germans in a massive charge down the hillside. Soon, the Ottoman battle line was broken and the Ottoman forces scattered in disarray. At 5:30 pm, Sobieski entered the deserted tent of Kara Mustafa and the Battle of Vienna ended. The Pope and other foreign dignitaries hailed Sobieski as the "Savior of Vienna and Western European civilization." In

3608-508: The Polish territory, and the Sejm was continuously dissolved because of the abuse of the liberum veto law. Charles X Gustav of Sweden triumphantly marched through the country and occupied Kraków in 1655, which forced John Casimir to flee to Silesia . The Swedes were eventually stopped by Stefan Czarniecki under Częstochowa . The wars against the Swedes and the Russians were terminated by treaties involving considerable cessions of provinces on

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3696-549: The Polish throne, and after this candidacy fell apart, Philip William, Elector Palatine . Following the election of Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki he joined the opposition faction; he and his allies helped veto several sejms (including the coronation ones), and his attitude once again resulted in him losing popularity among the regular szlachta . While his pro-French stance in politics alienated some, his military victories against invading Tatars in 1671 helped him gain other allies. The year 1672 saw internal politics destabilizing

3784-612: The Polish throne. The reign of the last of the Vasas in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth would be dominated by the Russo-Polish War (1654–67) , followed by the war with Sweden (" The Deluge "), the scene for which had been set by the Commonwealth's two previous Vasa kings. Most of Poland was invaded by the Swedish army during The Deluge without much of a fight, due to the conspiratorial complicity of Polish and Lithuanian governors and nobility. In

3872-450: The Turks out of Europe. At the beginning of his reign, however, the Polish state was in dire fiscal straits and faced military threats to the north. King Louis XIV of France promised to mediate a truce between the Ottomans and Poland so that Sobieski could focus his attentions on Prussia. The negotiations ended in failure and Sobieski's Baltic goals had to be tempered by the immediate reality of

3960-530: The Warsaw University rectorate , as well as the Museum of the History of Warsaw University. Since the building's revitalization in 2006 (partly with European Union funds), the building is one of the most attractive on Warsaw's Royal Route . 52°14′26″N 21°01′13″E  /  52.24056°N 21.02028°E  / 52.24056; 21.02028 John II Casimir John II Casimir Vasa ( Polish : Jan II Kazimierz Waza ; Lithuanian : Jonas Kazimieras Vaza ; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672)

4048-429: The Younger , and Bassano , among others. When John Casimir abdicated the Polish–Lithuanian throne, he brought many of his paintings and portraits with him to France. The collection remaining at Royal Castle in Warsaw was looted during the Great Northern War or appropriated in 1720 by Augustus II the Strong , Elector of Saxony , like two paintings by Rembrandt  – Portrait of a Rabbi (1657) and Portrait of

4136-430: The cities and ordered universal military conscription. In July, the Austrian envoy asked for Polish assistance. Soon afterward, the Polish army started massing for an expedition against the Ottomans, and in August was joined by Bavarians and Saxon allies under Charles of Lorraine . Sobieski's greatest success came in 1683, with his victory at the Battle of Vienna , in joint command of Polish and German troops, against

4224-432: The confusion and disasters caused by the great revolt of the Cossacks under Bohdan Khmelnytsky in Ukraine, who had advanced into the very heart of Poland. The power of the king had been stripped of almost all its prerogatives by the growing influence of the nobles . The Tsardom of Russia and Sweden , which had long been active enemies of Poland, renewed their attacks. George II Rakoczy of Transylvania also invaded

4312-417: The course of a few years, the Commonwealth rose to force the Swedes out of Poland, ending the short-lived intrusions and campaigns, however, at a high cost. Most of the cities and towns in the Commonwealth were sacked, plundered and some were burnt to the ground, mostly by the retreating enemy units. Although the reign of John Casimir is remembered to be one of the most disastrous and perhaps most unsuccessful in

4400-413: The defense of Poland's southern borders. This was a beginning of what would become the Holy League , championed by Pope Innocent XI to preserve Christendom . Meantime, in the spring of 1683, royal spies uncovered Ottoman preparations for a military campaign. Sobieski feared that the target might be the Polish cities of Lwów and Kraków . To counteract the threat, Sobieski began the fortification of

4488-406: The diplomatic mission of Mikołaj Bieganowski to the Ottoman Empire . There, Sobieski learned the Tatar language and the Turkish language and studied Ottoman military traditions and tactics. It is likely he participated as part of the briefly allied Polish-Tatar forces in the 1655 Battle of Okhmativ . After the start of the Swedish invasion of Poland known as " The Deluge ", John Sobieski

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4576-426: The existence of strong internal opposition to Sobieski; however, it changed a number of allegiances, and further opposition was temporarily weakened through the king's successful political maneuvering, including granting the Grand Hetman office to one of the opposition's chief leaders, Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski . Conscious that Poland lacked allies and risked war against most of its neighbours (a situation similar to

4664-429: The former Queen as a condition to gain the throne, he immediately refused the throne) and tended to obey, at times blindly. He failed to reform the ailing Commonwealth, and to secure the throne for his heir. At the same time, he displayed high military prowess, he was well educated and literate, and a patron of science and arts. He supported the astronomer Johannes Hevelius , mathematician Adam Adamandy Kochański and

4752-406: The garden sculptures were taken to Sweden. Then, having been plundered, the palace was burned. Following the devastations wrought by the Deluge , the Villa Regia was rebuilt twice, in 1652 and 1660, to designs by Izydor Affait or Titus Livius Burattini, and came to be called the "Casimir Palace" for King John II Casimir , who favored it as a residence. Abandoned in 1667, the palace later became

4840-425: The head of the genealogical line of St. Bridget of Sweden , descending in primogeniture from Bridget's sister. After his death, the headship was offered to his second cousin, the already-abdicated Christina I of Sweden . The vast collection of paintings, portraits, porcelain and other valuables belonging to the Polish Vasas was mostly looted by the Swedes and Germans of Brandenburg who brutally sacked Warsaw in

4928-421: The historian and poet Wespazjan Kochowski . His Wilanów Palace became the first of many palaces that would dot the lands of the Commonwealth over the next two centuries. On 5 July 1665, he married the widow of Jan "Sobiepan" Zamoyski , Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien (1641–1716), of Nevers , Burgundy, France. Their children were: When he turned to go back to the camp, he discovered that there

5016-447: The history of Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, he is often referred to as the "warrior king" that fought bravely to save his nation and his people. In 1660 John II Casimir was forced to renounce his claim to the Swedish throne and acknowledge Swedish sovereignty over Livonia and the city of Riga in modern-day Latvia . John Casimir had married his brother's widow, Marie Louise Gonzaga ( Polish : Maria Ludwika ), who

5104-432: The humiliating Treaty of Buchach , where the Commonwealth was forced to cede territories to the Ottomans, but promise an annual tribute. Sobieski eventually succeeded in balancing politics and national defense, and a combination of his military victories over the invaders, and successful negotiations at the Sejm in April 1673, led to a compromise in which the court faction dropped its demands and challenges against him. In

5192-416: The invading Ottomans under Kara Mustafa . Upon reaching Vienna on 12 September, with the Ottoman Army close to breaching the walls, Sobieski ordered a full attack. In the early morning, the united army of about 65,000 –76,000 men (including 22,000, –27,000 Poles ) attacked a Turkish force of about 143,000 men. At about 5:00 pm, after observing the infantry battle from the Kahlenberg hilltop, Sobieski led

5280-499: The next four years Poland would blockade the key fortress at Kamenets , and Ottoman Tatars would raid the borderlands . In 1691, Sobieski undertook another expedition to Moldavia , with slightly better results, but still with no decisive victories. Although the King spent much time on the battlefields, which could suggest a good state of health, towards the end of his life he became seriously and increasingly ill. King John III Sobieski died in Wilanów , Poland on 17 June 1696 from

5368-435: The palace was thoroughly rebuilt in the classicist style to the design probably of Hilary Szpilowski and Wacław Ritschel. In about 1820, two further pavilions, a northern and a southern one, arose at the palace building itself. In 1840–41, the next pavilion was built, designed by Antonio Corazzi , originally to be a secondary school and later serving as the seat of the "Main School" (i.e., Warsaw University ). In about 1863,

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5456-412: The pavilions were rebuilt to designs by Antoni Sulimowski. In 1891–94, in the yard between the palace and the Krakowskie Przedmieście gate, a library building was erected to a design by Antoni Jabłoński-Jasieńczyk and Stefan Szyller, and in 1910 a new Krakowskie Przedmieście gate was built. In 1929–31, the library building was rebuilt, and in 1930, the Auditorium Maximum building was erected to

5544-534: The philosophical faculty of the University of Kraków in 1646. After finishing his studies, John and his brother Marek Sobieski left for western Europe, where he spent more than two years travelling. They visited Leipzig , Antwerp , Paris , London , Leiden , and The Hague . During that time, he met influential contemporary figures such as Louis II de Bourbon , Charles II of England and William II, Prince of Orange , and learned French, German , and Italian, in addition to Latin . Both brothers returned to

5632-410: The position of the chorąży koronny (Standard-bearer of the Crown). During the three-day-long battle of Warsaw of 1656, Sobieski commanded a 2,000-man strong regiment of Tatar cavalry. He took part in a number of engagements over the next two years, including the Siege of Toruń in 1658. In 1659, he was elected a deputy to the Sejm (Polish parliament), and was one of the Polish negotiators of

5720-419: The pro-French faction, which, in turn, resulted in the cooling down of the Polish-French relations. During the Sejm of 1683, the French ambassador was expelled for involvement with a plan to dethrone Sobieski, which definitely marked the end of the Polish-French alliance. At the same time Sobieski made peace with the pro-Habsburg faction and started to gravitate towards an alliance with Austria. This did not end

5808-415: The property of King John III Sobieski . In 1695, the building was totally destroyed by fire. In about 1724, the property's ownership was transferred to King Augustus II . In this period were constructed an entrance gate at Krakowskie Przedmieście and eight barracks set perpendicularly to the palace façade. In 1735, the palace became the property of Count Aleksander Józef Sułkowski . A brickworks ,

5896-526: The repair of the country and strengthening of the royal authority. Sobieski managed to reform the Polish army completely. The army was reorganised into regiments, the infantry finally dropped pikes , replacing them with battle-axes , and the Polish cavalry adopted hussar and dragoon formations. Sobieski also greatly increased the number of cannon and introduced new artillery tactics. Sobieski wanted to conquer Prussia with Swedish troops and French support. Regaining control of this autonomous province

5984-425: The shadow of his older half-brother, Władysław IV Vasa . He had few friends among the Polish nobility. Unfriendly, secretive, dividing his time between lavish partying and religious contemplation, and disliking politics, he did not have a strong power base nor influence at the Polish court, instead supporting unfavorable Habsburg policies. He did, however, display talent as a military commander, showing his abilities in

6072-420: The sovereign of the Duchy of Courland , but this was vetoed by the Commonwealth parliament ( Sejm ). Taking offence at this, John Casimir in 1638 left for the Kingdom of Spain to become Viceroy of Portugal, but was captured by French agents and imprisoned by the order of Cardinal Richelieu until 1640. He was then freed by a diplomatic mission of the appointed Voivode of Smolensk Krzysztof Gosiewski and as

6160-444: The very window frames pulled out and transported to Sweden. The Villa Regia had a large concert hall, decorated with an oil-painted plafond depicting St. Cecilia , patron saint of music and of Queen Cecila Renata , where the Royal Cappella Vasa gave frequent concerts, and a large collection of ancient sculptures which would be plundered during the Deluge by Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg , and taken to Berlin; while

6248-403: The war against the Ottoman Empire and established himself as a leading figure in Poland and Lithuania . In 1674, he was elected monarch of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth following the sudden and unexpected death of King Michael . Sobieski's 22-year reign marked a period of the Commonwealth's stabilization, much needed after the turmoil of previous conflicts. Popular among his subjects, he

6336-435: The war, promises made by John Casimir in Lwów, especially those considering the peasants' lot, were not fulfilled, mostly because of objections by the Sejm , which represented the szlachta nobility and was not attracted to the idea of reducing serfdom, which would negatively affect their economic interests. John Casimir left no surviving children. All his brothers and sisters having predeceased him without surviving issue, he

6424-582: The year 1672, the Polish-Lithuanian Tatars rose up in open rebellion against the Commonwealth. This was the widely remembered Lipka rebellion . Thanks to the efforts of Sobieski, who was held in great esteem by the Tatar soldiers, many of the Lipkas seeking asylum and service in the Ottoman Army returned to his command. On 11 November 1673, Sobieski added a major victory to his list, this time defeating

6512-440: Was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 to his abdication in 1668 as well as a claimant to the throne of Sweden from 1648 to 1660. He was the first son of Sigismund III Vasa with his second wife Constance of Austria . John Casimir succeeded his older half-brother, Władysław IV Vasa . As a prince, John Casimir embarked at Genoa for Spain in 1638 to negotiate a league with Philip IV against France, but

6600-471: Was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1674 until his death in 1696. Born into Polish nobility , Sobieski was educated at the Jagiellonian University and toured Europe in his youth. As a soldier and later commander, he fought in the Khmelnytsky Uprising , the Russo-Polish War and during the Swedish invasion known as the Deluge . Sobieski demonstrated his military prowess during

6688-553: Was a major support to the King. Marie Louise suddenly died in 1667 and this may have caused the monarch's early political decline. On 16 September 1668, grief-stricken after the death of his wife in the previous year, John II Casimir abdicated the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and returned to France, where he rejoined the Jesuits and became abbot of Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. Following his abdication Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki (Michael I)

6776-408: Was almost empty and the court had little to offer the powerful magnates, who often allied themselves with foreign courts rather than the state. Sobieski had a number of long-term plans, including establishing his own dynasty in the Commonwealth, regaining lost territories, and strengthening the country through various reforms. One of his ambitions was to unify Christian Europe in a crusade to drive

6864-482: Was among the Greater Polish regiments led by Krzysztof Opaliński , Palatine of Poznań which capitulated at Ujście , and swore allegiance to King Charles X Gustav of Sweden . However, around late March 1656, he abandoned their side, returning to the side of Polish king John II Casimir Vasa , enlisting under the command of hetmans Stefan Czarniecki and Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski . By 26 May 1656, he received

6952-447: Was an able military leader, most famously for his victory over the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. The defeated Ottomans named Sobieski the "Lion of Lechistan ", and the Pope hailed him as the saviour of Western Christendom . Suffering from poor health and obesity in later life, Sobieski died in 1696 and was buried at Wawel Cathedral in Kraków . He was succeeded by Augustus II of Poland and Saxony . John Sobieski

7040-458: Was another man up on this hill, a stone's throw away: some kind of monk or holy man, perhaps, as he was dressed in a rough sackcloth robe, with no finery. But then the bloke whipped out a sword. It was not one of your needle-thin rapiers, such as fops pushed at each other in the streets of London and Paris, but some kind of relic of the Crusades, a two-handed production with a single crossbar instead of

7128-499: Was born in Kraków on 22 March 1609. His father, Sigismund III, the grandson of Gustav I of Sweden , had in 1592 succeeded his own father to the Swedish throne, only to be deposed in 1599 by his uncle, Charles IX of Sweden . This led to a long-standing feud wherein the Polish kings of the House of Vasa claimed the Swedish throne, resulting in the Polish–Swedish War of 1600–1629 . Poland and Sweden were also on opposite sides in

7216-859: Was born on 17 August 1629, in Olesko , now in Ukraine, then part of the Ruthenian Voivodeship in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland , Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth to a renowned noble family de Sobieszyn Sobieski of Janina coat of arms . His father, Jakub Sobieski , was the Voivode of Ruthenia and Castellan of Kraków ; his mother, Zofia Teofillia Daniłowicz was a granddaughter of Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski . John Sobieski spent his childhood in Żółkiew . After graduating from Bartłomiej Nowodworski College in Kraków in 1643, young John Sobieski then graduated from

7304-510: Was captured by Cardinal Richelieu and imprisoned at Vincennes where he remained for two years. He was released when his brother, Władysław IV, promised never to wage war against France . John Casimir then travelled extensively throughout western Europe and entered the order of Jesuits in Rome in 1643. He was made cardinal by Innocent X , but after returning to Poland , he became a layman and succeeded his brother in 1648. His reign commenced amid

7392-601: Was closed down. In 1814, a fire destroyed the barracks before the palace, and in 1816 their place was taken initially by two side pavilions designed by Jakub Kubicki . That same year, the palace became the seat of Warsaw University . Concurrently, in 1817–1831, it also housed the Warsaw Lyceum , a secondary school where Frédéric Chopin 's father taught French and whose alumni included young Chopin himself. The years 1818-22 saw expansion by two pavilions parallel to Krakowskie Przedmieście , designed by Michał Kado. In 1824,

7480-599: Was defeated in battle, he spent a year living lavishly at the Viennese court where his strong anti-Cossack interests and political views were greatly shaped under the direct influence of the Austrian Emperor. In 1636 he returned to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and fell in love with Baroness Guldentern, but his desire to marry her was thwarted by King Władysław. In return, Władysław attempted to make him

7568-522: Was elected the new king and was crowned on 29 September 1669. In the autumn of 1672, John Casimir had intended to return to Poland, but fell ill before departing and was prevented from doing so. The seizure of Kamieniec Podolski by the Ottoman Empire distressed him, exacerbating his condition. He requested the assistance of Pope Clement X to defend Poland against the Ottomans. He died on 16 December 1672 from apoplexy , and his burial took place inside

7656-401: Was in the Commonwealth's best interest, and Sobieski also hoped for it to become part of his family domain. To this end he made the secret Treaty of Jaworów (1675), but he achieved nothing. The wars with the Ottoman Empire were not decisively won by the Commonwealth, the ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia made treaties with France , Prussia defeated the Swedish invasion , and Sobieski's plans for

7744-588: Was the last of the line of Bona Sforza . With him, all the legitimate issue of Alfonso II of Naples died out. His heir in Ferdinand I of Naples and in the Brienne succession was his distant cousin, Henry de La Tremoille , Prince of Talmond and Taranto , the heir-general of Frederick IV of Naples (second son of Ferdinand I of Naples and Isabella of Clermont ), who also was the heir-general of Federigo's first wife, Anne of Savoy . John Casimir was, after his brother,

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