When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

WDF XTRA: Jan Sobieski Biography V

Added 2017-11-03 00:01:01 +0000 UTC

[PATRONS] A very involved episode ahead, including marriage, war, war and...more war!

"Jan and Marie, because you come from special families, you must accept special obligations. The Crown needs your services. The Crown needs your help in preserving its freedom. Jealous enemies beset us on every side and we must defend ourselves against them. You must build in your hearts a love for Jesus Christ so that you will be ready to defend his freedom too. The church is the salvation of the Commonwealth. Holy Mother Mary is the protector of our liberties. Be strong in your defence of both."

These were the words of the Papal Nuncio, as he married Jan Sobieski at long last with his recently widowed lover Marie (pictured) in July 1665. Although his personal life blossomed for the 36 year old Sobieski, the Commonwealth in 1665 was less securely wedded within.

Wracked by conflict and in a costly war with Russia, the Commonwealth could ill-afford further sources of conflict, yet these repeatedly seemed to emerge from the most unfortunate of places, as Jerzy Lubomirski, a former Field Hetman of the Polish Crown, rose the standard in revolt against King John Casimir, over the latter's attempts to centralise and reform the Commonwealth under his rule.

Lubomirski's rebellion was a bitter and unfortunate affair, pulling Commonwealth resources away from the places that were badly in need of the funds and manpower. The ultimate cost of it was a bad peace with Russia and the promise of further conflict along the eastern marches, not to mention an inherent weakening of the Polish Crown's ability to command or control anything without the nobility's saying so.