Sigismund III Vase: photo, biography

Sigismund III (Vaza), whose photo is presented in the article, was on the throne of Rzeczpospolita and Sweden. During his reign, he tried to unite the two powers. It was possible for him for a short time in 1592-m. However, three years later, the Swedish parliament elected a regent instead of an absent autocrat. Most of the remaining life Sigismund III (Vaza) spent on the return of the lost throne. Let's consider further, than this figure has become known.

Sigismund III (Vaza): Biography

The monarch was born on June 20, 1566, at Gripsholm Castle. There, Katerina Younglingka (his mother) accompanied Juhan (father), imprisoned by brother Eric 4. Sigismund III was brought up by the Jesuits, who preached the ideas of militant Catholicism. At the age of 21, he ascended the throne. A great role was played in this by his aunt Anna Yangellonka and hetman Jan Zamoysky. Inviting the prince, heir to the throne of the Swedish throne, Rzeczpospolita hoped to liquidate territorial problems with Sweden and get disputed areas in the north of the state.

The beginning of government

Some time after the coronation, the monarch spoke against Maximilian (Archduke of Austria). The latter was defeated near Bichina, where he was taken prisoner. However, under the treaty of 1589, Maximilian was released on condition that he refuses any claims to the throne. Sigismund III neither character nor appearance aroused sympathy among the population of the Commonwealth. The attitude towards him became even worse when he entered into secret negotiations with the duke of Austria's Ernest. This happened in the same 1589, during his trip to his father in Revel. Young King Sigismund III was unable to place himself at the then influential Jan Zamoysky. The reason for the conflict between them was the monarch's unfulfilled promise of Estonia joining the state. As a result, the Inquisitional Diet took place, after which the monarch's power substantially weakened. Instead of Zamoysky, who hoped to control the will of the autocrat, the Jesuits took over.

Goals of government

Polish King Sigismund III the main task was to strengthen Catholicism in the state. Together with this he strove to destroy Orthodoxy and Protestantism. In the years 1591-93-ies. He suppressed Kosinsky's insurrection, and in 1594-96-the resistance of Nalivaiko in the south-west of Russia. Sigismund III actively participated in the conclusion of the Brest Union. The monarch regarded the main foreign policy tasks as boron with Protestant Sweden and Orthodox Russia. At the same time, the autocrat did not forget about dynastic interests.

Weakening power

The internal political activity of the king contributed to the rapid disintegration of statehood in Poland. The most significant events during his reign were Rokosh Zebrzydowski and the proclamation of unanimity at the Seims. Sigismund III systematically tried to establish absolutism in the country. However, they were rejected by the Seimas. The king sought to limit the power of assembly, to transform existing posts into subordinate only to him ranks. He also tried to form moznovladstvo with the help of the major. Possession of them would give the right to vote in the Senate. However, despite his commitment to absolutism, Sigismund III promoted the proclamation of the principle of unanimity, which radically undermined the possibility of carrying out the planned reforms. In 1589, Zamoysky proposed to approve the decisions of the Seimas on a majority of votes. The king opposed, having set against the hetman opposition Opalinsky.

The struggle for Sweden

In 1592 Sigismund married the daughter of the Austrian Duke Charles, the granddaughter of Ferdinand 1 - Anna. In 1955, they had a son, Vladislav. After the death of Juhan (his father) Sigismund went to Sweden, where he was crowned in 1594. However, he was forced to appoint his uncle as regent. Karl supported Protestantism and quickly gained popularity among the Swedish people, clearly aspiring to the throne. In 1596 Sigismund made the capital Warsaw, having transferred it from Krakow. Arriving in Sweden in 1598 again, the monarch pushed many of his followers away, and in the following year, 1599, was removed from the throne. The new king of Sweden was declared his uncle under the name of Charles IX. However, the detached monarch did not want to lose power. As a result, he involved Poland in a 60-year confrontation with Sweden, which was extremely unsuccessful for the country.

Transnistria

By the end of the 17th century, under the banner of the adventurer from Serbia, Mikhail, who had been captured by Moldavia, Cossacks began to gather. It should be said that Ukrainian Udaltsi had a sort of custom to give shelter to various daredevils and impostors. To curb such arbitrariness Sigismund imputed to the Cossacks the obligation not to accept such people. At this time in Russia there was a rumor that Tsarevich Dmitry was alive. Accordingly, the news reached Ukraine. The Cossacks had the opportunity to transfer their will to Moscow. At the same time, the struggle for the formation of the Cossack state under the leadership of Gregory Loboda and Severin Nalivaiko was underway in the Dniester region. The latter wrote to Sigismund in 1595. In it, he outlined his plans, which implied the creation of a Cossack state under the aegis of the monarch. Nalivaiko carried out many aggressive campaigns. He died in the struggle at Lubny. After his death, the idea of creating a Transnistrian Cossack state was no longer revived.

Wars with Russia

During his reign Sigismund hatched plans for eastern expansion. When the False Dmitry the First appeared in Russia, the monarch supported him and concluded a secret agreement with him. After accession on the Moscow land, the pretender promised that Chernigov-Seversky territories would withdraw to Poland. In 1609, after the death of the first False Dmitry, the monarch led the siege of Smolensk. In 1610, the Polish army, commanded by Zolkiewski, captured Moscow. According to the decision of the Russian boyars, Vladislav, the son of an autocrat, was to occupy the throne in the capital of Russia. In 1611, October 29, Vasily Shuisky (former Russian Tsar), along with his brothers Ivan and Dmitry, swore allegiance to the prince in Warsaw. In 1612 the Zemstvo militia liberated Moscow. However, the war continued until 1618. As a result, a truce was signed in Deulina. Under this agreement, the Seversk, Chernigov and Smolensk lands retreated to Poland.

Conclusion

In 1598, Sigismund's first wife died. In 1605 he married for the second time on Constance - her sister. In 1609, he had a second son, who was named Jan Kazimir. Sigismund suffered very badly the death of Constance, which happened in 1631. At the end of April 1632, he himself died from a stroke. Sigismund remained in history as a very controversial figure. His reign, on the one hand, was at the peak of the power of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. At the same time, during the years of his rule, the first signs of decline began to appear. Subsequently, they led to the complete destruction of the Polish-Lithuanian statehood.