War of the Polish Succession (1587-1588)
Encyclopedia
The War of the Polish Succession or the Hapsburg-Polish War took place from 1587 to 1588 over the election of monarch after the death of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Stephen Báthory. The war was fought between factions of Sigismund III Vasa
and Maximilian III, with Sigismund eventually being crowned King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Two major battles of this conflict included the Siege of Kraków
, in which Maximilian III failed to capture the capital of the Commonwealth, and the Battle of Byczyna
, in which Maximilian was forced to surrender. Sigismund's victory was significantly the doing of Chancellor
and Hetman
Jan Zamoyski
, who stood behind both the political intrigue and the military victories of this conflict.
, the Swedish
king Sigismund III Vasa
and Habsburg Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria took part in the election to the joint Polish–Lithuanian throne. Each of the two candidates had supporters in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
with the two opposing sides gathered around pro-Sigismund Chancellor
and Hetman
Jan Zamoyski
and the Primate of Poland, Stanisław Karnkowski on one side and the pro-Maximilain Zborowski family
on the other. Bad blood between Zamoyski and the Zborowski family dated years past; tensions during the elections ran high.
Sigismund, supported by Zamoyski and the former king's wife, Anna Jagiellon
, was elected King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on 19 August 1587 and recognized as such by the interrex
, the Primate Karnkowski. However, the election was disputed by the other candidate, Maximilian III of Austria, and opponents of Sigismund chose not to respect the election outcome, decreeing that Maximilian was the rightful monarch three days later, on 22 August. Zborowscy called for the rokosz
(legitimate right to rebel) and the election ended in chaos, with several killed and many wounded. For both Zamoyski and Zborowski, losing was not an option, as they knew the losing side would likely pay a severe price, from confiscations and prestige loss to a possible death sentence for treason.
Neither Sigismund nor Maximilian were present in the Commonwealth at that time. After receiving news of his election, both Sigismund and Maximilan made haste for Poland. Sigismund arrived at Danzig (Gdańsk) on the 28 September, and after approximately two weeks he had departed to Kraków
, where he arrived in 9 December and was crowned on 27 December.
Maximilian attempted to resolve the dispute by bringing a military force to Poland – thereby starting the War of the Polish Succession
. He took Lubowla
, but after a failed attempt to storm Kraków
(the capital of Poland) in late 1587, successfully defended by Zamoyski, he retreated to gather more reinforcements, but was pursued by the forces loyal to Sigismund. While waiting for reinforcements, he was defeated at the Battle of Byczyna
on January 1588, and forced to surrender. This marked the end of this conflict.
had to pledge not to make any alliances against Poland with Muscovy or Sweden
. The town of Lubowla
, taken early in the conflict by Maximilian, was returned to Poland. Upon his return to Vienna
he failed to honor his pledge and renounce his claim to the Polish crown (he would do so only in 1598). Nonetheless, there would be no serious military tensions between the Commonwealth and the Hapsburgs, as each would quickly became concerned with other issues.
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
and Maximilian III, with Sigismund eventually being crowned King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Two major battles of this conflict included the Siege of Kraków
Siege of Kraków (1587)
The Siege of Kraków in 1587 took place between 14 October and 29 November of that year, after the contested election of 1587. The election resulted in a double selection of candidates - Zygmunt Waza was elected by the nobility on the 19th of August, while another faction of the gentry chose...
, in which Maximilian III failed to capture the capital of the Commonwealth, and the Battle of Byczyna
Battle of Byczyna
The Battle of Byczyna or Battle of Pitschen was the deciding battle of the 1587–1588 War of the Polish Succession, which erupted after two rival candidates were elected to the Polish throne...
, in which Maximilian was forced to surrender. Sigismund's victory was significantly the doing of Chancellor
Kanclerz
Kanclerz was one of the highest officials in the historic Poland. This office functioned from the early Polish kingdom of the 12th century until the end of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. A respective office also existed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 16th...
and Hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
Jan Zamoyski
Jan Zamoyski
Jan Zamoyski , was a Polish-Lithuanian nobleman, magnate, 1st duke/ordynat of Zamość. Royal Secretary since 1566, Lesser Kanclerz ) of the Crown since 1576, Lord Grand-Chancellor of the Crown since 1578, and Grand Hetman of the Crown since 1581...
, who stood behind both the political intrigue and the military victories of this conflict.
Background
In 1576, following the death of previous Polish king, Stefan BatoryStefan Batory
Stephen Báthory was a Hungarian noble Prince of Transylvania , then King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania . He was a member of the Somlyó branch of the noble Hungarian Báthory family...
, the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
king Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
and Habsburg Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria took part in the election to the joint Polish–Lithuanian throne. Each of the two candidates had supporters in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
with the two opposing sides gathered around pro-Sigismund Chancellor
Kanclerz
Kanclerz was one of the highest officials in the historic Poland. This office functioned from the early Polish kingdom of the 12th century until the end of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. A respective office also existed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 16th...
and Hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
Jan Zamoyski
Jan Zamoyski
Jan Zamoyski , was a Polish-Lithuanian nobleman, magnate, 1st duke/ordynat of Zamość. Royal Secretary since 1566, Lesser Kanclerz ) of the Crown since 1576, Lord Grand-Chancellor of the Crown since 1578, and Grand Hetman of the Crown since 1581...
and the Primate of Poland, Stanisław Karnkowski on one side and the pro-Maximilain Zborowski family
Zborowski family
Zborowski family of the Jastrzębiec coat of arms was a Polish noble family most powerful in the 16th century. First known member of the family was Marcin Zborowski , castellan and voivode. The main line died out with his grandson, Aleksander Zborowski, in 1621.In family's history, the most notable...
on the other. Bad blood between Zamoyski and the Zborowski family dated years past; tensions during the elections ran high.
Sigismund, supported by Zamoyski and the former king's wife, Anna Jagiellon
Anna Jagiellon
Anna Jagiellon was queen of Poland from 1575 to 1586. She was the daughter of Poland's King Sigismund I the Old, and the wife of Stephen Báthory. She was elected, along with her then fiance, Báthory, as co-ruler in the second election of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
, was elected King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on 19 August 1587 and recognized as such by the interrex
Interrex (Poland)
The institution of interrex existed in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, whose ruling classes liked to view their Republic or Commonwealth as an heir to Roman republican traditions...
, the Primate Karnkowski. However, the election was disputed by the other candidate, Maximilian III of Austria, and opponents of Sigismund chose not to respect the election outcome, decreeing that Maximilian was the rightful monarch three days later, on 22 August. Zborowscy called for the rokosz
Rokosz
A rokosz originally was a gathering of all the Polish szlachta , not merely of deputies, for a sejm. The term was introduced to the Polish language from Hungary, where analogous gatherings took place at a field called Rákos....
(legitimate right to rebel) and the election ended in chaos, with several killed and many wounded. For both Zamoyski and Zborowski, losing was not an option, as they knew the losing side would likely pay a severe price, from confiscations and prestige loss to a possible death sentence for treason.
Neither Sigismund nor Maximilian were present in the Commonwealth at that time. After receiving news of his election, both Sigismund and Maximilan made haste for Poland. Sigismund arrived at Danzig (Gdańsk) on the 28 September, and after approximately two weeks he had departed to Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, where he arrived in 9 December and was crowned on 27 December.
Maximilian attempted to resolve the dispute by bringing a military force to Poland – thereby starting the War of the Polish Succession
War of the Polish Succession (1587-1588)
The War of the Polish Succession or the Hapsburg-Polish War took place from 1587 to 1588 over the election of monarch after the death of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Stephen Báthory. The war was fought between factions of Sigismund III Vasa and Maximilian III, with Sigismund...
. He took Lubowla
Stará Lubovna
Stará Ľubovňa is a town with approximately 16,000 inhabitants in northeastern Slovakia. The town consists of the districts Podsadek and Stará Ľubovňa.-Geography:...
, but after a failed attempt to storm Kraków
Siege of Kraków (1587)
The Siege of Kraków in 1587 took place between 14 October and 29 November of that year, after the contested election of 1587. The election resulted in a double selection of candidates - Zygmunt Waza was elected by the nobility on the 19th of August, while another faction of the gentry chose...
(the capital of Poland) in late 1587, successfully defended by Zamoyski, he retreated to gather more reinforcements, but was pursued by the forces loyal to Sigismund. While waiting for reinforcements, he was defeated at the Battle of Byczyna
Battle of Byczyna
The Battle of Byczyna or Battle of Pitschen was the deciding battle of the 1587–1588 War of the Polish Succession, which erupted after two rival candidates were elected to the Polish throne...
on January 1588, and forced to surrender. This marked the end of this conflict.
Aftermath
After the intervention of a papal envoy, Maximilian was released, but only after spending thirteen months as a "guest" of Zamoyski. In the Treaty of Bytom and Będzin (signed on 9 March 1589) Maximilian had to renounce the Polish crown and Rudolf II, Holy Roman EmperorRudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
had to pledge not to make any alliances against Poland with Muscovy or Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The town of Lubowla
Stará Lubovna
Stará Ľubovňa is a town with approximately 16,000 inhabitants in northeastern Slovakia. The town consists of the districts Podsadek and Stará Ľubovňa.-Geography:...
, taken early in the conflict by Maximilian, was returned to Poland. Upon his return to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
he failed to honor his pledge and renounce his claim to the Polish crown (he would do so only in 1598). Nonetheless, there would be no serious military tensions between the Commonwealth and the Hapsburgs, as each would quickly became concerned with other issues.
See also
- History of Poland (1569–1795)#Founding of the elective monarchy
- History of Poland (1569–1795)#War of the Polish Succession (1587-1588)