John III Sobieski ( pl, Jan III Sobieski; lt, Jonas III Sobieskis; la, Ioannes III Sobiscius; 17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696) was
King of Poland
Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electable position in Europe (16t ...
and
Grand Duke of Lithuania
The monarchy of Lithuania concerned the monarchical head of state of Lithuania, which was established as an absolute and hereditary monarchy. Throughout Lithuania's history there were three ducal dynasties that managed to stay in power—House ...
from 1674 until his death in 1696.
Born into Polish nobility, Sobieski was educated at the
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University (Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
and toured Europe in his youth. As a soldier and later commander, he fought in the
Khmelnytsky Uprising
The Khmelnytsky Uprising,; in Ukraine known as Khmelʹnychchyna or uk, повстання Богдана Хмельницького; lt, Chmelnickio sukilimas; Belarusian language, Belarusian: Паўстанне Багдана Хмяльніц ...
, the
Russo-Polish War
Armed conflicts between Poland (including the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth) and Russia (including the Soviet Union) include:
Originally a Polish civil war that Russia, among others, became involved in.
Originally a Hungarian revolution b ...
and during the Swedish invasion known as the
Deluge
A deluge is a large downpour of rain, often a flood.
The Deluge refers to the flood narrative in the Biblical book of Genesis.
Deluge may also refer to:
History
*Deluge (history), the Swedish and Russian invasion of the Polish-Lithuanian Comm ...
. Sobieski demonstrated his military prowess during the war against the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
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 was an able military leader, most famous for his victory over the Turks at the
Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna; pl, odsiecz wiedeńska, lit=Relief of Vienna or ''bitwa pod Wiedniem''; ota, Beç Ḳalʿası Muḥāṣarası, lit=siege of Beç; tr, İkinci Viyana Kuşatması, lit=second siege of Vienna took place at Kahlenberg Mou ...
in 1683. The defeated
Ottomans
The Ottoman Turks ( tr, Osmanlı Türkleri), were the Turkic founding and sociopolitically the most dominant ethnic group of the Ottoman Empire ( 1299/1302–1922).
Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks remains scarce, ...
named Sobieski the "Lion of
Lechistan
The ethnonyms for the Poles (people) and Poland (their country) include endonyms (the way Polish people refer to themselves and their country) and exonyms (the way other peoples refer to the Poles and their country). Endonyms and most exonyms ...
", and the Pope hailed him as the saviour of
Western Christendom
Western Christianity is one of two sub-divisions of Christianity (Eastern Christianity being the other). Western Christianity is composed of the Latin Church and Western Protestantism, together with their offshoots such as the Old Catholic C ...
. Suffering from poor health and obesity in later life, Sobieski died in 1696 and was buried at
Wawel Cathedral
The Wawel Cathedral ( pl, Katedra Wawelska), formally titled the Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus, is a Roman Catholic cathedral situated on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. Nearly 1000 years old, it is part of the ...
in
Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
. He was succeeded by
Augustus II of Poland and Saxony.
Biography
Youth
![Olesko Castle Aerial 2019 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Olesko_Castle_Aerial_2019_01.jpg)
John Sobieski was born on 17 August 1629, in
Olesko
Olesko ( uk, Олесько; ; pl, Olesko; yi, אַלעסק, Alesk; ) is an urban-type settlement in Zolochiv Raion, Lviv Oblast (region) of western Ukraine. It belongs to Busk urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Population: .
It w ...
, now Ukraine, then part of the
Ruthenian Voivodeship
The Ruthenian Voivodeship (Latin: ''Palatinatus russiae'', Polish: ''Województwo ruskie'', Ukrainian: ''Руське воєводство'', romanized: ''Ruske voievodstvo''), also called Rus’ voivodeship, was a voivodeship of the Crown of ...
in the
Crown of the Kingdom of Poland
The Crown of the Kingdom of Poland ( pl, Korona Królestwa Polskiego; Latin: ''Corona Regni Poloniae''), known also as the Polish Crown, is the common name for the historic Late Middle Ages territorial possessions of the King of Poland, includ ...
,
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Crown of the Kingdom of ...
to a renowned
noble
A noble is a member of the nobility.
Noble may also refer to:
Places Antarctica
* Noble Glacier, King George Island
* Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land
* Noble Peak, Wiencke Island
* Noble Rocks, Graham Land
Australia
* Noble Island, Great B ...
family
de Sobieszyn Sobieski of
Janina coat of arms
Janina is a Polish nobility clan coat-of-arms. Borne by several noble families descended in the-male line from the medieval lords of Janina (the eponyms of the clan) or legally adopted into the clan upon ennoblement.
History
Janina is the only ...
.
[Red. (Eds.), ''Jan III Sobieski'', p.413] His father,
Jakub Sobieski
Jakub Sobieski (5 May 1590 – 23 June 1646) was a Polish noble, parliamentarian, diarist, political activist, military leader and father of King John III Sobieski. He was the son of castellan and voivode Marek Sobieski and Jadwiga Snopkowska ...
, was the Voivode of
Ruthenia
Ruthenia or , uk, Рутенія, translit=Rutenia or uk, Русь, translit=Rus, label=none, pl, Ruś, be, Рутэнія, Русь, russian: Рутения, Русь is an exonym, originally used in Medieval Latin as one of several terms ...
and
Castellan
A castellan is the title used in Medieval Europe for an appointed official, a governor of a castle and its surrounding territory referred to as the castellany. The title of ''governor'' is retained in the English prison system, as a remnant o ...
of
Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
; his mother,
Zofia Teofillia Daniłowicz
Teofila Zofia Sobieska, née Daniłowicz (Polish: ''Daniłowiczówna'') (1607 – 27 November 1661) was a Polish noblewoman (''szlachcianka''), mother of Jan III Sobieski, King of Poland.
Zofia Teofila was the daughter of Voivode of Ruthenia Ja ...
was a granddaughter of
Hetman
( uk, гетьман, translit=het'man) is a political title from Central and Eastern Europe, historically assigned to military commanders.
Used by the Czechs in Bohemia since the 15th century. It was the title of the second-highest military co ...
Stanisław Żółkiewski
Stanisław Żółkiewski (; 1547 – 7 October 1620) was a Polish nobleman of the Lubicz coat of arms, magnate, military commander and a chancellor of the Polish crown of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, who took part in many campaigns of ...
.
John Sobieski spent his childhood in
Żółkiew
Zhovkva ( uk, Жовква ; pl, Żółkiew; yi, זאָלקוואַ, translit=Zolkva; russian: Жо́лква, 1951–1992: ''Nesterov'') is a city in Lviv Raion, Lviv Oblast (region) of western Ukraine. Zhovkva hosts the administration of Zho ...
.
After graduating from
Bartłomiej Nowodworski College in Kraków in 1643, young John Sobieski then graduated from the philosophical faculty of the
University of Kraków
The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
in 1646.
After finishing his studies, John and his brother
Marek Sobieski
Marek Sobieski (1549/1550 – 1605) was a Polish–Lithuanian noble ( szlachcic).
He was a courtier from 1577, a Royal Court Chorąży (chorąży nadworny królewski) from 1581, a castellan of Lublin from 1597, and a voivode of Lublin Voiv ...
left for western Europe, where he spent more than two years travelling.
They visited
Leipzig
Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as wel ...
,
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, ,
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
,
Leiden
Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration wit ...
, and
The Hague
The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
.
During that time, he met influential contemporary figures such as
Louis II de Bourbon Louis may refer to:
* Louis (coin)
* Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name
* Louis (surname)
* Louis (singer), Serbian singer
* HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy
See also
Derived or associated terms
* Lewis (d ...
,
Charles II of England
Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685.
Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
and
William II, Prince of Orange
William II (27 May 1626 – 6 November 1650) was sovereign Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of County of Holland, Holland, County of Zeeland, Zeeland, Lordship of Utrecht, Utrecht, Guelders, Lordship of Overijssel, Overijssel and Groningen (prov ...
, and learned French,
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
, and Italian, in addition to
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
.
Both brothers returned to the Commonwealth in 1648. Upon receiving the news of the death of king
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa; lt, Vladislovas Vaza; sv, Vladislav IV av Polen; rus, Владислав IV Ваза, r=Vladislav IV Vaza; la, Ladislaus IV Vasa or Ladislaus IV of Poland (9 June 1595 – 20 May 1648) was King of Poland, Grand Duke of ...
and the hostilities of the
Khmelnytsky Uprising
The Khmelnytsky Uprising,; in Ukraine known as Khmelʹnychchyna or uk, повстання Богдана Хмельницького; lt, Chmelnickio sukilimas; Belarusian language, Belarusian: Паўстанне Багдана Хмяльніц ...
, they volunteered for the army.
They both fought in the
siege of Zamość.
They founded and commanded their own
banners (''chorągiew'') of
cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
(one light, "
cossack
The Cossacks , es, cosaco , et, Kasakad, cazacii , fi, Kasakat, cazacii , french: cosaques , hu, kozákok, cazacii , it, cosacchi , orv, коза́ки, pl, Kozacy , pt, cossacos , ro, cazaci , russian: казаки́ or ...
", and one heavy, of
Polish hussars
The Polish hussars (; pl, husaria ), alternatively known as the winged hussars, were a heavy cavalry formation active in Poland and in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1503 to 1702. Their epithet is derived from large rear wings, which ...
).
Soon, the fortunes of war separated the brothers. In 1649, Jakub fought in the
Battle of Zboriv.
In 1652,
Marek died in Tatar captivity after his capture at the
Battle of Batih
The Battle of Batoh, also Battle of Batih, was a battle in 1652 in which Polish-Lithuanian forces under hetman Marcin Kalinowski were defeated by a united army of Crimean Tatars and Zaporozhian Cossacks in what is now Ukraine. A day after the ...
.
John was promoted to the rank of ''
pułkownik
''Polkovnik'' (russian: полковник, lit=regimentary; pl, pułkownik) is a military rank used mostly in Slavic-speaking countries which corresponds to a colonel in English-speaking states and oberst in several German-speaking and Scandin ...
'' and fought with distinction in the
Battle of Berestechko
The Battle of Berestechko ( pl, Bitwa pod Beresteczkiem; uk, Берестецька битва, Битва під Берестечком) was fought between the Ukrainian Cossacks, led by Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky, aided by their Crimean Ta ...
. A promising commander, John was sent by King
John II Casimir
John II Casimir ( pl, Jan II Kazimierz Waza; lt, Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 until his abdication in 1668 as well as titular King of Sweden from 1648 ...
as one of the envoys in the diplomatic mission of Mikołaj Bieganowski to the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
.
There, Sobieski learned the
Tatar language
Tatar ( or ) is a Turkic languages, Turkic language spoken by Volga Tatars, Tatars mainly located in modern Tatarstan (European Russia), as well as Siberia. It should not be confused with Crimean Tatar language, Crimean Tatar or Siberian Tat ...
and the
Turkish language
Turkish ( , ), also referred to as Turkish of Turkey (''Türkiye Türkçesi''), is the most widely spoken of the Turkic languages, with around 80 to 90 million speakers. It is the national language of Turkey and Northern Cyprus. Significant sma ...
and studied Turkish 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
The Deluge ( pl, potop szwedzki, lt, švedų tvanas) was a series of mid-17th-century military campaigns in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In a wider sense it applies to the period between the Khmelnytsky Uprising of 1648 and the Truce ...
known as "
The Deluge
The Genesis flood narrative (chapters 6–9 of the Book of Genesis) is the Hebrew version of the universal flood myth. It tells of God's decision to return the universe to its pre- creation state of watery chaos and remake it through the microc ...
", John Sobieski was among the
Greater Polish regiments led by
Krzysztof Opaliński
Krzysztof Opaliński (21 January 1611 – 6 December 1655) was a Polish szlachta (nobleman), politician, writer, satirist, and Voivode (Governor) of Poznań. A notable figure during the Swedish Deluge, Opaliński was a skilled diplomat who oppo ...
,
Palatine of Poznań which capitulated at
Ujście
Ujście (german: Usch) is a town in Piła County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, northwestern Poland, with 8,134 inhabitants (2011).
Although there was already a stronghold here in the 7th century, Ujście was founded in the 12th century. From t ...
, and swore allegiance to King
Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav, also Carl Gustav ( sv, Karl X Gustav; 8 November 1622 – 13 February 1660), was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. Afte ...
.
However, around late March 1656, he abandoned their side, returning to the side of Polish king
John II Casimir Vasa
John II Casimir ( pl, Jan II Kazimierz Waza; lt, Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 until his abdication in 1668 as well as titular King of Sweden from 1648 ...
, enlisting under the command of hetmans
Stefan Czarniecki
Stefan Czarniecki (Polish: of the Łodzia coat of arms, 1599 – 16 February 1665) was a Polish nobleman, general and military commander. In his career, he rose from a petty nobleman to a magnate holding one of the highest offices in the Commo ...
and
Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski
Prince Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski (20 January 1616 – 31 December 1667) was a Polish noble ( szlachcic), magnate, politician and military commander, and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. He was the initiator of the Lubomirski Rebellion of 1 ...
.
Commander
By 26 May 1656 he received the position of the ''
chorąży koronny'' (Standard-bearer of the Crown).
[Red. (Eds.), ''Jan III Sobieski'', p.414] During the
three-day-long battle of Warsaw of 1656, Sobieski commanded a 2,000-man strong regiment of
Tatar
The Tatars ()[Tatar]
in the Collins English Dictionary is an umbrella term for different 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
The Sejm (English: , Polish: ), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (Polish: ''Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''), is the lower house of the bicameral parliament of Poland.
The Sejm has been the highest governing body of t ...
(Polish parliament), and was one of the Polish negotiators of the
Treaty of Hadiach
The Treaty of Hadiach ( pl, ugoda hadziacka; uk, гадяцький договір) was a treaty signed on 16 September 1658 in Hadiach (Hadziacz, Hadiacz, Гадяч) between representatives of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth ( representing ...
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
The starosta or starost (Cyrillic: ''старост/а'', Latin: ''capitaneus'', german: link=no, Starost, Hauptmann) is a term of Slavic origin denoting a community elder whose role was to administer the assets of a clan or family estates. Th ...
'' of
Stryj.
Soon afterward he took part in the war against the Russians, participating in the
Battle of Slobodyshche
Battle of Słobodyszcze or Battle of Slobodyshche took place around 7 and 8 October 1660 during the Russo-Polish War (1654–67) between Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (and their Tatar allies) and the Tsardom of Russia allied Cossacks near Slob ...
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 a strong supporter of the French faction in the Polish royal court, represented by Queen
Marie Louise Gonzaga
Marie Louise Gonzaga ( pl, Ludwika Maria; 18 August 1611 – 10 May 1667) was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania by marriage to two kings of Poland and grand dukes of Lithuania, brothers Władysław IV and John II Casimir. Together wi ...
. His pro-French allegiance was reinforced in 1665, when he married
Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien
Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien (Polish: Maria Kazimiera Ludwika d’Arquien), known also by the diminutive form "Marysieńka" (28 June 1641 – 30 January 1716) was a French noblewoman who became the queen consort of Poland and gran ...
and was promoted to the rank of Grand
Marshal
Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...
of the Crown.
In 1662 he was again elected a deputy to the Sejm, and took part in the work on reforming the military. He was also 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 Lubomirski's rebellion or Lubomirski's rokosz ( pl, rokosz Lubomirskiego), was a rebellion against Polish King John II Casimir, initiated by the Polish nobleman Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski.
In 1665–66, Lubomirski's supporters paralyzed the proceed ...
of 1665–66, though it was a difficult decision for him.
[Red. (Eds.), ''Jan III Sobieski'', p.415] He participated in the Sejm of 1665, and after some delays, accepted the prestigious office of the
Marshal of the Crown
Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used f ...
on 18 May that year.
Around late April or early May 1666 he received another high office of the Commonwealth, that of the
Field Crown Hetman
Field may refer to:
Expanses of open ground
* Field (agriculture), an area of land used for agricultural purposes
* Airfield, an aerodrome that lacks the infrastructure of an airport
* Battlefield
* Lawn, an area of mowed grass
* Meadow, a grass ...
.
Soon afterward, he was defeated at the
Battle of Mątwy
The Battle of Mątwy ( pl, Bitwa pod Mątwami) was the biggest and bloodiest battle of the so-called Lubomirski Rokosz, a rebellion against Polish King John II Casimir, initiated by a magnate and hetman, Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski. It took place ...
, and signed the
Agreement of Łęgonice The Agreement of Łęgonice, which was signed on 31 July 1666 in the village of Łęgonice, ended the so-called Lubomirski Rokosz, a rebellion against Polish King Jan II Kazimierz Vasa, initiated by a magnate and hetman, Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirs ...
on 21 July, which ended the Lubomirski Rebellion.
![Stech Kessel Bitwa pod Chocimiem](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Stech_Kessel_Bitwa_pod_Chocimiem.jpg)
In October 1667 he achieved another victory over the Cossacks of
Petro Doroshenko
Petro Doroshenko ( uk, Петро Дорофійович Дорошенко, russian: Пётр Дорофе́евич Дороше́нко, pl, Piotr Doroszenko; 1627–1698) was a Cossack political and military leader, Hetman of Right-bank Ukr ...
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 a skilled military leader.
Later that year, in November, his first child,
James Louis Sobieski
James Louis Henry Sobieski ( Polish: ''Jakub Ludwik Henryk Sobieski''; French: ''Jacques Louis Henri de Sobieski'') 2 November 1667 – 19 December 1737) was a Polish-French nobleman, politician, diplomat, scholar, traveller and the son of John II ...
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
Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Condé (8 September 1621 – 11 December 1686), known as the Great Condé (French: ''Le Grand Condé'') for his military exploits, was a French general and the most illustrious representative of the Condé branc ...
for the Polish throne, and after this candidacy fell apart,
Philip William, Elector Palatine
Philip William of Neuburg, Elector Palatine (german: Philipp Wilhelm) (24 November 1615 – 2 September 1690) was Count Palatine of Neuburg from 1653 to 1690, Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1653 to 1679 and Elector of the Palatinate from 1685 to 1 ...
.
Following the election of
Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki
Michael I ( pl, Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, lt, Mykolas I Kaributas Višnioveckis; 31 May 1640 – 10 November 1673) was the ruler of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 29 September 1669 un ...
he joined the opposition faction; he and his allies helped
veto
A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president or monarch vetoes a bill to stop it from becoming law. In many countries, veto powers are established in the country's constitution. 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 the Commonwealth, as the pro-French faction of Sobieski and pro-court faction of King Michał formed two
confederations
A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
, which despite
major Ottoman incursions in the south seemed more concerned with one another than with uniting to defend the country.
[Red. (Eds.), ''Jan III Sobieski'', p.416] 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 the humiliating
Treaty of Buchach
The Treaty of Buchach was signed on 18 October 1672 in Buczacz (now '' Buchach, Ukraine'') between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth under King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, who had been unable to raise a suitable army, on the one side and t ...
, 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.
On 11 November 1673 Sobieski added a major victory to his list, this time defeating the Ottomans in the
Battle of Khotyn and capturing the
fortress
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
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
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
.
His candidacy was almost universally supported, with only a dozen or so members of the diet opposing him (mainly centered around magnates of the Lithuanian
Pac family
The House of Pac or Pacowie ( pl, Pacowie, lt, Pacai, be, Па́цы) was one of the most influential noble families in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the era of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Numerous high-ranking officials of ...
).
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.
King of Poland
![PL Koronacja Jana Sobieskiego](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/PL_Koronacja_Jana_Sobieskiego.JPG)
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 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 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
, house = Bourbon
, father = Louis XIII
, mother = Anne of Austria
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
, death_date =
, death_place = Palace of Versa ...
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 the Ottoman threat to the south.
![Royal Banner of Jan III Sobieski](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Royal_Banner_of_Jan_III_Sobieski.svg)
In the autumn of 1674, he recommenced the war against the Ottomans and managed to recapture a number of cities and fortresses including
Bratslav
Bratslav ( uk, Брацлав; pl, Bracław; yi, בראָצלעוו, ''Brotslev'', today also pronounced Breslev or '' Breslov'' as the name of a Hasidic group, which originated from this town) is an urban-type settlement in Ukraine, located i ...
,
Mogilev
Mogilev (russian: Могилёв, Mogilyov, ; yi, מאָלעוו, Molev, ) or Mahilyow ( be, Магілёў, Mahilioŭ, ) is a city in eastern Belarus, on the Dnieper River, about from the border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and from the bor ...
, and
Bar
Bar or BAR may refer to:
Food and drink
* Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages
* Candy bar
* Chocolate bar
Science and technology
* Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment
* Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud
* Bar (u ...
, 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
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...
. In 1676, the Tatars began a counter-offensive and crossed the Dneper
}
The Dnieper () or Dnipro (); , ; . is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine ...
, but could not retake the strategic town of Żórawno, and a peace treaty (the Treaty of Żurawno
The Treaty of Żurawno ( tr, İzvança Antlaşması; pl, rozejm w Żurawnie) was signed on 17 October 1676 in the town of Żurawno (or ''İzvança'', as it was called during the Ottoman occupation of Podolia), in the aftermath of the Battle of Żu ...
) 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
Bila Tserkva ( uk, Бі́ла Це́рква ; ) is a city in the center of Ukraine, the largest city in Kyiv Oblast (after Kyiv, which is the administrative center, but not part of the oblast), and part of the Right Bank. It serves as the admi ...
and Pavoloch
Pavoloch, also known as ''Pavolitsh'' in Yiddish, ''Pawolotsch'' in German, Па́волочь in Russian and ''Pawołocz'' in Polish, is a selo in Zhytomyr Raion, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. It was a town of the Cossack Hetmanate and an administr ...
.[
The treaty with the Ottomans began a period of peace that was much needed for 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 pike
Pike, Pikes or The Pike may refer to:
Fish
* Blue pike or blue walleye, an extinct color morph of the yellow walleye ''Sander vitreus''
* Ctenoluciidae, the "pike characins", some species of which are commonly known as pikes
* ''Esox'', genus of ...
s, replacing them with battle-axe
A battle axe (also battle-axe, battle ax, or battle-ax) is an axe specifically designed for combat. Battle axes were specialized versions of utility axes. Many were suitable for use in one hand, while others were larger and were deployed two-h ...
s, and the Polish cavalry
The Polish cavalry ( pl, jazda, kawaleria, konnica) can trace its origins back to the days of medieval cavalry knights. Poland is mostly a country of flatlands and fields and mounted forces operate well in this environment. The knights and heav ...
adopted hussar
A hussar ( , ; hu, huszár, pl, husarz, sh, husar / ) was a member of a class of light cavalry, originating in Central Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely ...
and dragoon
Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat w ...
formations. Sobieski also greatly increased the number of cannon and introduced new artillery tactics.
Sobieski wanted to conquer Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...
with Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
troops and French support. Regaining control of this autonomous province 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
The Treaty of Jaworów was a secret treaty signed on 11 June 1675 between the Polish king John III Sobieski and France in Jaworów, Poland (today Yavoriv). In the treaty, Poland promised to aid France against Brandenburg-Prussia, in exchange fo ...
(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 the Commonwealth's own military campaign against Prussia was opposed by Commonwealth magnates, many of them taking the Prussian side.[Red. (Eds.), ''Jan III Sobieski'', p.417] Backed by Brandenburg and Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
, 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 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, definitely marking 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 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
Prince Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski (1634–1702) was a Polish nobleman, magnate, Grand Guardian of the Crown since 1660, the Grand Camp Leader of the Crown since 1661, voivode of the Ruthenian Voivodship since 1664, Field Crown Hetman sinc ...
.
Conscious that Poland lacked allies and risked war against most of its neighbours (a situation similar to the Deluge), by 1683 Sobieski allied himself with Leopold I, of the Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
.[ 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 the defense of Poland's southern borders.[ This was a beginning of what would become the Holy League, championed by ]Pope Innocent XI
Pope Innocent XI ( la, Innocentius XI; it, Innocenzo XI; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 to his death on August 12, 1689.
Poli ...
to preserve Christendom
Christendom historically refers to the Christian states, Christian-majority countries and the countries in which Christianity dominates, prevails,SeMerriam-Webster.com : dictionary, "Christendom"/ref> or is culturally or historically intertwine ...
.
Meantime, in the spring of 1683, royal spies uncovered Turkish preparations for a military campaign. Sobieski feared that the target might be the Polish cities of Lwów
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...
and Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
. To counteract the threat, Sobieski began the fortification of 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.
Battle of Vienna
Sobieski's greatest success came in 1683, with his victory at the Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna; pl, odsiecz wiedeńska, lit=Relief of Vienna or ''bitwa pod Wiedniem''; ota, Beç Ḳalʿası Muḥāṣarası, lit=siege of Beç; tr, İkinci Viyana Kuşatması, lit=second siege of Vienna took place at Kahlenberg Mou ...
, in joint command of Polish and German troops, against the invading Ottoman Turks under Kara Mustafa
Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha ( ota, مرزيفونلى قره مصطفى پاشا, tr, Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Paşa; "Mustafa Pasha the Courageous of Merzifon"; 1634/1635 – 25 December 1683) was an Ottoman nobleman, military figure and G ...
. 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 pm, after observing the infantry battle from the Kahlenberg
The Kahlenberg () is a mountain () located in the 19th District of Vienna, Austria (Döbling).
General
The Kahlenberg lies in the Vienna Woods and is one of the most popular destinations for day-trips from Vienna, offering a view over the entire ...
hilltop, Sobieski led the Polish husaria
The Polish hussars (; pl, husaria ), alternatively known as the winged hussars, were a heavy cavalry formation active in Poland and in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1503 to 1702. Their epithet is derived from large rear wings, which ...
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 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 with the Ottomans was not yet over, and Sobieski continued the campaign with the Battle of Párkány
The Battle of Párkány ( tr, Ciğerdelen Savaşı) was a battle fought between October 7–9, 1683 in the town of Párkány (today: Štúrovo), in the Ottoman Empire, and the area surrounding it as part of the Polish-Ottoman War and the Great ...
on 7–9 October.[Red. (Eds.), ''Jan III Sobieski'', p.418] 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 the next four years Poland would blockade the key fortress at Kamenets, and Ottoman ]Tatars
The Tatars ()[Tatar]
in the Collins English Dictionary is an umbrella term for different would raid the borderlands. In 1691, Sobieski undertook another expedition to Moldavia
Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and former principality in Centr ...
, with slightly better results, but still with no decisive victories.[
]
Later years and death
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.[Red. (Eds.), ''Jan III Sobieski'', p.419]
King John III Sobieski died in Wilanów
Wilanów () is a district of the city of Warsaw, Poland. It is home to historic Wilanów Palace, the "Polish Versailles," and second home to various Polish kings.
History
The first mentions of a settlement in the area can be traced to the 13th ...
, Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
on 17 June 1696 from a sudden heart attack.[ His wife, ]Marie Casimire Louise
Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien ( Polish: Maria Kazimiera Ludwika d’Arquien), known also by the diminutive form "Marysieńka" (28 June 1641 – 30 January 1716) was a French noblewoman who became the queen consort of Poland and gra ...
, died in 1716 in Blois
Blois ( ; ) is a commune and the capital city of Loir-et-Cher department, in Centre-Val de Loire, France, on the banks of the lower Loire river between Orléans and Tours.
With 45,898 inhabitants by 2019, Blois is the most populated city of the ...
, France, and her body was returned to Poland. They are interred together in Wawel Cathedral
The Wawel Cathedral ( pl, Katedra Wawelska), formally titled the Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus, is a Roman Catholic cathedral situated on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. Nearly 1000 years old, it is part of the ...
, Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
, although his heart is interned separately in the Church of the Transfiguration in Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
, Poland. He was succeeded by Augustus II
Augustus II; german: August der Starke; lt, Augustas II; in Saxony also known as Frederick Augustus I – Friedrich August I (12 May 16701 February 1733), most commonly known as Augustus the Strong, was Elector of Saxony from 1694 as well as Ki ...
.
Legacy and significance
Sobieski is remembered in Poland as a "hero king", victor at Vienna who defeated the Ottoman threat, an image that became particularly well recognized after his story was told in many works of 19th-century literature.[Red. (Eds.), ''Jan III Sobieski'', p.420] In the ''Polish Biographical Dictionary
''Polski Słownik Biograficzny'' (''PSB''; Polish Biographical Dictionary) is a Polish-language biographical dictionary, comprising an alphabetically arranged compilation of authoritative biographies of some 25,000 notable Poles and of foreigners ...
'' 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 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
Johannes Hevelius
Some sources refer to Hevelius as Polish:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Some sources refer to Hevelius as German:
*
*
*
*
*of the Royal Society
* (in German also known as ''Hevel''; pl, Jan Heweliusz; – 28 January 1687) was a councillor ...
, mathematician Adam Adamandy Kochański and the historian and poet Wespazjan Kochowski. His Wilanów Palace
Wilanów Palace ( pl, Pałac w Wilanowie, ) is a former royal palace located in the Wilanów district of Warsaw, Poland. Wilanów Palace survived Poland's partitions and both World Wars, and so serves as a reminder of the culture of the Polish ...
became the first of many palaces that would dot the lands of the Commonwealth over the next two centuries.[
]
Gallery
File:Sobieski Vienna.jpg, Commemorative plaque featuring Sobieski, Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
Image:Scutum Sobiescianum.PNG, '' Scutum Sobiescianum'' – ''Shield of Sobieski'' on the sky, by Johannes Hevelius
Johannes Hevelius
Some sources refer to Hevelius as Polish:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Some sources refer to Hevelius as German:
*
*
*
*
*of the Royal Society
* (in German also known as ''Hevel''; pl, Jan Heweliusz; – 28 January 1687) was a councillor ...
, 1690
File:Agrykola - pomnik Jana III Sobieskiego (2).JPG, Monument of Sobieski in Łazienki Park
Łazienki Park or Royal Baths Park ( pl, Park Łazienkowski, Łazienki Królewskie) is the largest park in Warsaw, Poland, occupying 76 hectares of the city center.
The park-and-palace complex lies in Warsaw's central district ('' Śródmieście ...
, Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
File:Gdańsk Targ Drzewny - Pomnik Jana III Sobieskiego.JPG, John III Sobieski Monument in Gdańsk, moved from Lwów
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...
after World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
File:King John III Sobieski Wilanów.jpg, Equestrian monument of King John III inside Wilanów Palace
Wilanów Palace ( pl, Pałac w Wilanowie, ) is a former royal palace located in the Wilanów district of Warsaw, Poland. Wilanów Palace survived Poland's partitions and both World Wars, and so serves as a reminder of the culture of the Polish ...
Family
On 5 July 1665, he married the widow of Jan "Sobiepan" Zamoyski
Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to:
Acronyms
* Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN
* Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code
* Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group
* Japanese Article Numb ...
, Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien
Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien (Polish: Maria Kazimiera Ludwika d’Arquien), known also by the diminutive form "Marysieńka" (28 June 1641 – 30 January 1716) was a French noblewoman who became the queen consort of Poland and gran ...
(1641–1716), of Nevers
Nevers ( , ; la, Noviodunum, later ''Nevirnum'' and ''Nebirnum'') is the prefecture of the Nièvre Departments of France, department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region in central France. It was the principal city of the ...
, Burgundy, France. Their children were:
* James Louis Sobieski
James Louis Henry Sobieski ( Polish: ''Jakub Ludwik Henryk Sobieski''; French: ''Jacques Louis Henri de Sobieski'') 2 November 1667 – 19 December 1737) was a Polish-French nobleman, politician, diplomat, scholar, traveller and the son of John II ...
(2 November 1667 – 19 December 1737), Crown Prince of Poland, married Countess Palatine Hedwig Elisabeth of Neuburg
Hedwig Elisabeth of Neuburg (Polish: ''Jadwiga Elżbieta Amalia Sobieska''; 18 July 1673 – 10 August 1722) was a Polish princess by marriage to James Louis Sobieski. She was the daughter of Philip William, Duke of Neuburg and Landgravine El ...
and had issue.
* Twin Daughters (9 May 1669), stillborn or died shortly after birth.
* Teresa Teofila (October 1670), was a frail child and failed to survive for more than a month.
* Adelajda Ludwika (15 October 1672 – 10 February 1677), called "Barbelune", died at the age of four.
* Maria Teresa (18 October 1673 – 7 December 1675), called "La Mannone", died at the age of two.
* Daughter (October 1674), stillborn or died shortly after birth.
* Teresa Kunegunda (4 March 1676 – 10 March 1730), married Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria
Maximilian, Maximillian or Maximiliaan (Maximilien in French) is a male given name.
The name " Max" is considered a shortening of "Maximilian" as well as of several other names.
List of people
Monarchs
*Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1459 ...
and had issue.
* Aleksander Benedykt (6 September 1677 – 19 November 1714), died unmarried.
* Daughter (13 November 1678), stillborn or died shortly after birth.
* Konstanty Władysław (1 May 1680 – 28 February 1726), married Maria Józefa Wessel but had no issue.
* Jan (4 June 1682 – 1 January/12 April 1685), died at the age of two.
* Daughter (20 December 1684), stillborn or died shortly after birth.
Sobieski family
Image:Sobieski jakub4.jpeg, Anonymous portrait of James Louis, painted about 1685.
Image:Unknown (maybe French) artist - Portrait of Teresa Kunegunda Sobieska - Google Art Project.jpg, Anonymous portrait of Teresa Kunegunda, painted at the end of the 17th century.
Image:Hyacinthe Rigaud (circle of) - Portrait of Aleksander Benedykt Sobieski - Google Art Project.jpg, Portrait of Aleksander Benedykt by the circle of Hyacinthe Rigaud
Jacint Rigau-Ros i Serra (; 18 July 1659 – 29 December 1743), known in French as Hyacinthe Rigaud (), was a Catalan-French baroque painter most famous for his portraits of Louis XIV and other members of the French nobility.
Biography
Rigaud ...
, about 1696.
Image:Hyacinthe Rigaud (circle of) - Portrait of Konstanty Władysław Sobieski - Google Art Project.jpg, Portrait of Konstanty Władysław by the circle of Hyacinthe Rigaud
Jacint Rigau-Ros i Serra (; 18 July 1659 – 29 December 1743), known in French as Hyacinthe Rigaud (), was a Catalan-French baroque painter most famous for his portraits of Louis XIV and other members of the French nobility.
Biography
Rigaud ...
, about 1696.
Image:Portrait of Prince Jan Sobieski - Google Art Project.jpg, Anonymous portrait of Prince Jan (1682–1685), painted about 1683.
Image:Pier Leone Ghezzi - Portrait of Maria Clementina Sobieska (?) - Google Art Project.jpg, Portrait of Maria Clementina Sobieska, Maria Klementyna, John III's granddaughter, painted by Pier Leone Ghezzi around 1735.
Image:Portrait of Maria Carolina de Bouillon - Google Art Project.jpg, Anonymous portrait of Maria Karolina Sobieska, Maria Karolina, John III's granddaughter, painted around 1730.
Image:Jerzy Eleuter Szymonowicz Siemiginowski - Portrait of Queen Maria Casimire with children - Google Art Project.jpg, Portrait of the Sobieski family by Jerzy Siemiginowski-Eleuter, Siemiginowski-Eleuter. Left side: Jakub, Konstanty, Aleksander, Teresa. Right side: Marie Casimire holding Jan (1682–1685).
Image:Gascar Apotheosis of John III Sobieski.jpg, Portrait of the Sobieski family by Henri Gascar. Left side: Konstanty and Jakub (grasping a portrait of John III). Right side: Aleksander, Teresa and Marie Casimire.
Image:Jan III Sobieski z rodziną.jpg, Portrait of the Sobieski family by Henri Gascar. John III and Marie Casimire are in the middle; Konstanty, Aleksander and Jakub are on the left; Teresa Kunegunda and Hedwig of Neuburg holding her daughter Maria Leopoldyna (1693–1695) are on the right.
Royal titles
* Official title : ''Ioannes III, Dei Gratia rex Poloniae, magnus dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniae, Smolensciae, Kijoviae, Volhyniae, Podlachiae, Severiae, Czernichoviaeque, etc.''
* Official title : ''Jan III, z łaski Bożej, król Polski, wielki książę litewski, ruski, pruski, mazowiecki, żmudzki, kijowski, wołyński, podlaski i czernichowski, etc. ''
* English translation: ''John III, by the grace of God King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Royal Prussia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, Smolensk, Kyiv, Volhynia, Podlasie, Severia, and Chernihiv, etc.''
Popular culture
* John III Sobieski's character is played by Jerzy Skolimowski in the 2012 English-language Polish and Italian historical drama film The Day of the Siege: September Eleven 1683
* John III Sobieski sometimes appears in the loading screen in the computer strategy game, Europa Universalis IV.
* His involvement in the Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna; pl, odsiecz wiedeńska, lit=Relief of Vienna or ''bitwa pod Wiedniem''; ota, Beç Ḳalʿası Muḥāṣarası, lit=siege of Beç; tr, İkinci Viyana Kuşatması, lit=second siege of Vienna took place at Kahlenberg Mou ...
is also referenced in the ''Baroque Cycle'' novels:
* He appears in his pre-royalty status as a character in Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword.
* Sobieski appears as a character in the historical novel ''Poland (novel), Poland'' by James A. Michener in a chapter recounting the Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna; pl, odsiecz wiedeńska, lit=Relief of Vienna or ''bitwa pod Wiedniem''; ota, Beç Ḳalʿası Muḥāṣarası, lit=siege of Beç; tr, İkinci Viyana Kuşatması, lit=second siege of Vienna took place at Kahlenberg Mou ...
.
See also
* History of Poland (1569–1795)
* Wilanów Palace
Wilanów Palace ( pl, Pałac w Wilanowie, ) is a former royal palace located in the Wilanów district of Warsaw, Poland. Wilanów Palace survived Poland's partitions and both World Wars, and so serves as a reminder of the culture of the Polish ...
* List of Poles#Royalty, List of Poles
* List of Polish monarchs#Kings of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, List of Polish monarchs
* Scutum Sobieski
References
Bibliography
*
*
Further reading
* Chełmecki, ''König J. Sobieski und die Befreiung Wiens'' (Vienna, 1883)
* Coyer, ''Histoire de Jean Sobieski'' (Amsterdam, 1761 and 1783)
* Du Hamel de Breuil, ''Sobieski et sa politique de 1674 à 1683'' (Paris, 1894)
* Dupont, ''Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de Sobieski'' (Warsaw, 1885)
* Rieder, ''Johann III., König von Polen'' (Vienna, 1883)
* Salvandy, ''Histoire de Pologne avant et sous le roi Jean Sobieski'' (two volumes, new edition, Paris, 1855)
* AA.VV., L'Europa di Giovanni Sobieski. Cultura, politica, mercatura e società, a cura di Gaetano Platania, Viterbo, Sette Città editore, 2005 (CESPoM n. 10, Centro Studi sull'Età dei Sobieski e della Polonia Moderna)
* G. Platania, Polonia e Curia romana. Corrispondenza del lucchese Tommaso Talenti segretario intimo del Re di Polonia con Carlo Barberini protettore del regno (1681-1693). vol. 1, pp. 7–613, Viterbo, Sette Città Editore, 2004,
* Radoslaw Sikora, Bartosz Musialowicz
''Winged Hussars''
''BUM Magazine'', 2016.
* Tatham, ''John Sobieski'' (Oxford, 1881)
* Miltiades Varvounis, ''Jan Sobieski: The King Who Saved Europe'' (2012)
* G. Platania, L’inedita corrispondenza di Jan III Sobieski e Carlo Barberini, cardinale Protettore del Regno, in Studia Wilanowskie, vol. XXII, pp. 99–119, Wilanów-Muzeum Palacu Króla Jana III w Wilanowie. .
* G. Platania, Polonia e Curia romana. Corrispondenza di Giovanni III Sobieski, re di Polonia, con Carlo Barberini, protettore del regno (1681-1696). Collana Barberiniana vol. 2, pp. 11–385, Viterbo, Sette Città editore,
* Waliszewski, ''Acta'' (three volumes, Cracow, 1684)
* Prochazka Jiří: "1683. Vienna obsessa. Via Silesiaca". (Brno, Wien 2012),
External links
Polish website about John III Sobieski
* [http://wilanow-palac.pl/jan_iii_sobieski_a_book_lover.html Jan III Sobieski – a book lover at the Wilanow Palace Museum]
Jan III Sobieski's entry into Krakow for coronation at the Wilanow Palace Museum
*
*
, -
, -
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:John Iii Sobieski
1629 births
1696 deaths
17th-century Polish monarchs
Field Crown Hetmans
Great Crown Hetmans
Burials at Wawel Cathedral
Grand Dukes of Lithuania
Jagiellonian University alumni
Members of the Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
People from Lviv Oblast
People of the Great Turkish War
Polish people of the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
Polish Roman Catholics
Secular senators of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Sobieski family