King of Poland John III Sobieski

sobieski s coronation (1676), relief, wilanów palace

though poland-lithuania @ time largest , 1 of populous states of europe, sobieski became king of country devastated half century of constant war. treasury empty , court had little offer powerful magnates, allied foreign courts rather state.

sobieski had number of long term plans, including establishing own dynasty in commonwealth, regaining lost territories, , strengthening country through various reforms. 1 of ambitions unify christian europe in crusade drive turks out of europe. @ beginning of reign, however, polish state in dire fiscal straits , faced military threats north. king louis xiv of france promised mediate truce between ottomans , poland sobieski focus attentions on prussia. negotiations ended in failure , sobieski s baltic goals had tempered immediate reality of ottoman threat south.

in autumn of 1674, recommenced war against ottomans , managed recapture number of cities , fortresses including bratslav, mogilev, , bar, re-established fortified line defending poland s southern border in ukraine. in 1675, sobieski defeated turkish , tatar offensive aiming @ lviv. in 1676, tatars began counter-offensive , crossed dneper, not retake strategic town of Żórawno, , peace treaty (the treaty of Żurawno) signed afterwards. although kamieniec podolski , of podolia remained part of ottoman empire, poland gained return of towns of bila tserkva , pavoloch.

the treaty ottomans began period of peace needed repair of country , strengthening of royal authority. sobieski managed reform polish army completely. army reorganised regiments, infantry dropped pikes, replacing them battle-axes, , polish cavalry adopted hussar , dragoon formations. sobieski increased number of cannon , introduced new artillery tactics.

relief of vienna bacciarelli

sobieski wanted conquer prussia swedish troops , french support. regaining control of autonomous province in commonwealth s best interest, , sobieski hoped become part of family domain. end made secret treaty of jaworów (1675), achieved nothing. wars ottoman empire not decisively won commonwealth, ruler of brandenburg-prussia made treaties france, prussia defeated swedish invasion, , sobieski s plans commonwealth s own military campaign against prussia opposed commonwealth magnates, many of them taking prussian side. backed brandenburg , austria, internal enemies of sobieski planned dethrone him , elect charles of lorraine.

the french-prussian treaty of 1678 meant sobieski lost major foreign ally planned campaign against prussia; consequently started distance himself pro-french faction, in turn resulted in cooling down of polish-french relations. during sejm of 1683, french ambassador expelled involvement plan dethrone sobieski, marking end of polish-french alliance. @ same time sobieski made peace pro-habsburg faction , started gravitate towards alliance austria. did not end existence of strong internal opposition sobieski; however, changed number of allegiances, , further opposition temporarily weakened through king s successful political maneuvering, including granting grand hetman office 1 of opposition s chief leaders, stanisław jan jabłonowski.

conscious poland lacked allies , risked war against of neighbours (a situation similar deluge), 1683 sobieski allied himself leopold i, of holy roman empire. both sides promised come 1 s aid if capitals threatened. alliance signed royal representatives on 31 march 1683, , ratified emperor , polish parliament within weeks. although aimed directly against ottomans , indirectly against france, had advantage of gaining internal support defense of poland s southern borders. beginning of become holy league, championed pope innocent xi preserve christendom.

meantime, in spring of 1683, royal spies uncovered turkish preparations military campaign. sobieski feared target might polish cities of lwów , kraków. counteract threat, sobieski began fortification of cities , ordered universal military conscription. in july, austrian envoy asked polish assistance. afterward, polish army started massing expedition against ottomans, , in august joined bavarians , saxon allies under charles of lorraine.