PINYL: #7 - "Hubris"
Added 2020-04-06 05:01:00 +0000 UTC[PATRONS]
In the latest episode of Poland Is Not Yet Lost, we examine the immediate aftermath of Charles XII's triumphant occupation of Saxony throughout much of 1706 and 1707. While secured in Saxony, Charles had god reason to be confident. He had utterly trounced his enemies, forcing one foe to abdicate from the Polish throne, while his newly appointed Polish King, Stanislaus Lechinski, was in his pocket. With the Commonwealth now taking orders from Sweden for the first time ever, Charles wished to harness this situation, and redirect all resources to the next great mission - an invasion of Russia. The task seemed alluring, and definitely possible - after all, had the Poles not conquered their way to Moscow a century before? But this was not the Russia of the early 1600s, nor was it the Russia even of a few years before. Tsar Peter was determined to improve upon Russia's poor showing in the beginning of the war, but only if he absolutely had to.
The question of what might have been swirled around Europe at this time. While Charles considered Peter's offer of peace, he also entertained foreign guests in his Saxon castle. Charles was splendid, a glittering conqueror, destined to lead Sweden into its next age of glory. This was the impression of those that saw him, and they imagined that the war of the Spanish succession would be his to own if he only wished. A nervous Duke of Marlborough even visited, and would leave Charles' presence convinced of the 25 year old King's mission. If anyone could invade Russia, it was Charles, and so he prepared his resources, recruited with a vengeance, and felt himself just a little bit invincible. But this period of Charles' life, which seemed so glorious, was to represent the peak of Sweden's power and prestige. The King, though he didn't realise it, was marching to his doom; his hubris was about to reckon with its nemesis...
