Stanisław Koniecpolski
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2024) |
Krystyna Lubomirska (1619) Zofia Opalińska (1646) | |
---|---|
Issue | Aleksander Koniecpolski |
Father | Aleksander Koniecpolski |
Mother | Anna Sroczycka |
Military career | |
Allegiance | Poland–Lithuania |
Service/ | Military of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth |
Battles/wars |
Stanisław Koniecpolski (1591 – 11 March 1646) was a Polish military commander, regarded as one of the most talented and capable in the
Koniecpolski's life was one of almost constant warfare. Before he had reached the age of 20, he had fought in the
Youth
The details of Stanisław Koniecpolski's birth are unclear. Various dates between 1590 and 1594
Although Koniecpolski had a
Early career: 1610–1626
From a young age Koniecpolski chose to follow a military career. In 1610, together with his brother Przedbór, he took part in the
In 1612 Koniecpolski joined the
Throughout 1615 and 1616 Koniecpolski gained further experience in Ukraine, fighting the Tatar
In 1618, during a session of the
That year Koniecpolski and Żólkiewski led an army to
In the aftermath of the Battle of Khotyn, a
In 1625, during the
In late January 1626 the Tatars invaded again. With an army estimated at between 15,000 and 20,000, they raided and pillaged territories as far north as the
Fighting Gustavus Adolphus: 1626–1629
In 1626 the southern threat to the Commonwealth was overshadowed by a northern one, as an incursion by Swedish forces reignited the
Koniecpolski's force of 4,200 light cavalry, 1,000
On 2 April 1627 Koniecpolski managed to recapture Puck.[52] He took Czarne (Hamersztyn) on 18 April and forced the Swedish forces to retreat into the city. A week later they surrendered, with many mercenaries and some Swedish abandoning their banners and insignia,[4][53] and changing sides.[53] As a result of the series of Swedish defeats in spring 1627, they lost all their strongholds on the west bank of the Vistula, and with those, their hopes for a quick and decisive victory. The situation also convinced the Elector of Brandenburg to declare his support for the Commonwealth, and afterwards the Lithuanian forces resumed their offensive in Livonia.[54]
On 17 May Gustavus landed with 8,000 reinforcements.[55] On the night of 22–23 May, while crossing the Vistula near Kieżmark and Danzig, Gustavus encountered Polish forces. Wounded in the hip, he was forced to retreat.[56] Koniecpolski then decided to take back Gniew and devised a diversionary plan.[56] Polish forces were sent to attempt to take back Braniewo, forcing Gustavus to relieve the siege; then Gustavus followed the retreating Polish army and laid siege to Orneta.[56] Koniecpolski, who had foreseen this, responded with a sudden attack on Gniew, his primary objective, which he captured.[4][56] Gustavus was reported to be impressed with the speed of Koniecpolski's reaction.[57]
Near Tczew, with about 7,800 men—including 2,500 cavalry and
Koniecpolski now recognized the need to reform his army and strengthen the firepower of its infantry and artillery to match the Swedes'.
In 1628 the Polish forces, short of funds, were forced to cease their offensive and go on the defensive.
The final battle took place on 27 June 1629 near
Poland did not follow up this victory politically or militarily. A cease-fire contracted at Stary Targ (the Truce of Altmark) on 26 October 1629 favored the Swedes,[72][73] who received the right to tax Polish trade moving over the Baltic (3.5% of the value of goods), retained control of many cities in Royal Prussia,[72][74] and were recognized as the dominant power on the southern Baltic coast.[72] Koniecpolski exerted little influence on the negotiations, as he had been called back to Ukraine to crush a Tartar incursion.[75]
Grand Crown Hetman: 1630–1637
In 1630, the Cossack leader,
In 1632, a few months before his death, King Sigismund III Vasa awarded Koniecpolski the post of Grand Crown Hetman.
In 1633 Koniecpolski thwarted the Turks' attacks on the Commonwealth, defeating their forces on 4 July at
In 1635, in the short lived
Later that year Koniecpolski returned to Pomerania to prepare for another war against Sweden, but it was rendered unnecessary by the
Koniecpolski grasped the need to modernize the Commonwealth's military and worked with King Władysław IV to that end, including the recruitment of mercenaries experienced in western warfare, and further development of artillery (he supervised the construction of
Last years: 1637–1645
After 1637 Koniecpolski's declining health made him reliant on the younger Hetman Mikołaj Potocki, who successfully crushed Cossack uprisings in 1637 and 1638, and a Tartar uprising in 1639.[98] Koniecpolski's influence also protected the outlaw Samuel Łaszcz, whom he saw as another able commander.[99]
One of Koniecpolski's greatest victories occurred during a winter 1644 campaign against Tatars.
The victory led King Władysław IV to consider an offensive war against the Turks.[102] Koniecpolski supported a limited war against the Crimean Khanate but opposed the King's plan to wage war on the entire Ottoman Empire, believing it to be an unrealistic folly.[44][103] Setting out his strategic views in a plan titled "Dyskurs o zniesieniu Tatarow krymskich i lidze z Moskwą" (Discourse on Destruction of the Crimean Tartars and on coalition with Moscow), Koniecpolski also strongly urged a coalition with Moscow for such a campaign.[103][104][105] King Władysław IV continued to push for a crusade against Turkey, but it had little internal support and failed to achieve anything except to spread false hopes among the Cossacks, to whom he promised privileges and money in exchange for their participation.[96]
On 15 June 1645, Koniecpolski's wife, Krystyna, died.
Wealth and influence
Over the course of his life, Koniecpolski accumulated much wealth. Most of his possessions were in Ukraine, and he became Ukraine's unofficial ruler; some foreigners referred to him as "viceroy of Ukraine", though no such Commonwealth position ever existed.[111] King Władysław IV trusted him with most political decisions concerning this southeastern region of the Commonwealth.[111][112] With the knowledge and support of the King, Koniecpolski sent and received diplomatic missions from Constantinople, carried out negotiations and signed treaties, and as the Grand Crown Hetman he directly controlled a substantial part of the Commonwealth's military.[111][113] He had his own private army and an espionage network that stretched from Moscow to the Ottoman Empire.[112]
Koniecpolski inherited some seven or eight villages from his father.
Regarded as a courteous and educated man, Koniecpolski participated in all the Sejm sessions that he could, though he rarely spoke publicly due to his stutter.[112][124] He was widely respected and highly popular among his szlachta peers.[125]
See also
- History of Poland (1569–1795)
References
Informational notes
- a. Polski Słownik Biograficzny. In discussing this possibility, Podhorodecki recognizes Czapliński as "a great specialist of that era", while noting, though, that his work fails to justify this date.[2]
- b. ^ Podhorodecki gives slightly different estimates—just over 15,000 (including low-quality Gdańsk infantry) against 21,000.[43]
Citations
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 22–25.
- ^ a b c d Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 14–15.
- ^ a b c Podhorodecki (1978), p. 28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Lerski (1996), p. 262.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 22–23.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 33–34.
- ^ a b c Podhorodecki (1978), p. 35.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 36.
- ^ a b c Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 42–43.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 44.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 45.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 46–47.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 48–49.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 40–41.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 51.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 53–56.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 58.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 64–65.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 66–70.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 78.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 78–100.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 101–110.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 113.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 114–115.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 115–120.
- ^ a b c d Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 125–134.
- ^ Jaques (2007), p. 155.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 135.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 136–137.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 137–138.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 139–142.
- ^ a b Davies (2007), p. 100.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 143–144.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1998), p. 29.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 145.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 146–147.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 150–152.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 167.
- ^ Davies (2005), p. 238.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), p. 168.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 173–174.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 175.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 175–176.
- ^ a b c d Bain (2006), p. 207.
- ^ Scott (1992), p. 172.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 177–178.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 179–182.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 183–185.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 185.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 188–190.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 191–192.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 193–194.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 200–204.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 206–207.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 211.
- ^ a b c d Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 212–213.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 214.
- ^ a b c d e Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 215–221.
- ^ Halecki, Reddaway & Penson, p. 473.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 221–225.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 221–222.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 222–223.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 223–227.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), p. 230.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), p. 232.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 234–235.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 235–236.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 237.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 238.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 240–246.
- ^ a b Peterson (2007), p. 157.
- ^ a b c Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 251–252.
- ^ Spilling (1999), p. 23.
- ^ Bonney (1999), p. 471.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 262.
- ^ a b Plokhy (2001), p. 136, also p. 37 and p. 46.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 259.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 263.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 264.
- ^ Subtelny (2000), p. 117.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 265–267.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 383–384.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 267–268.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 387.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), p. 270.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 271.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 272.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 315–323.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 378–380.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 281.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 289–295.
- ^ Fedorowicz, Bogucka & Samsonowicz (1982), p. 186.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 312–314.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 325–326.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 326–335.
- ^ a b c d e Stone (2001), pp. 151–152, p. 158 and p. 195.
- ^ Polish Museum: William le Vasseur de Beauplan.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 384.
- ^ Subtelny (2000), p. 108.
- ^ a b c d Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 396–405.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 401.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 406.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 414–416.
- ^ Przyłecki & Koniecpolski (1842), p. 2.
- ^ Serczyk, Władysław A. (1998). Na płonącej Ukrainie. Dzieje Kozaczyzny 1648–1651. Warszawa: Książka i Wiedza. p. 20.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 410.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 418.
- ^ a b Bogucka (2004), p. 6.
- ^ a b Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 419–421.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), pp. 421–424.
- ^ a b c Podhorodecki (1978), p. 337.
- ^ a b c Podhorodecki (1978), p. 375.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 374–375.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 339.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 345.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 351.
- ^ Wilson (2002), p. 60.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 353–359.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 361.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 362–364.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 362–367.
- ^ a b c Podhorodecki (1978), p. 371.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 370–371.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 389.
- ^ Podhorodecki (1978), p. 430.
- ^ Britannica: Stanislaw Koniecpolski.
Bibliography
- Bain, R. Nisbet (28 February 2006). Slavonic Europe – A Political History of Poland from 1447 to 1796. Read Books. ISBN 978-1-84664-581-5.
- Bogucka, Maria (August 2004). Women in Early Modern Polish Society, Against the European Background. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7546-3241-2.
- Bonney, Richard (1999). The Rise of the Fiscal State in Europe, c. 1200–1815. New York: Oxford University Press US. ISBN 978-0-19-820402-2.
- Davies, Brian L. (2007). Warfare, State and Society on the Black Sea Steppe, 1500–1700. London ; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-23986-8.
- Davies, Norman (2005). God's Playground: The Origins to 1795. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12817-9. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
- Fedorowicz, J. K; Bogucka, Maria; Samsonowicz, Henryk (1982). A Republic of Nobles: Studies in Polish History to 1864. CUP Archive. ISBN 978-0-521-24093-2.
- Halecki, Oskar; Reddaway, W: F.; Penson, J. H. The Cambridge History of Poland. CUP Archive. ISBN 978-1-00-128802-4.
- Jaques, Tony (2007). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A-E. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-33537-2.
- Lerski, Jerzy Jan (1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-26007-0.
- Peterson, Gary Dean (2007). Warrior Kings of Sweden: The Rise of an Empire in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2873-1.
- Plokhy, Serhii (2001). The Cossacks and Religion in Early Modern Ukraine. New York: Oxford University Press US. ISBN 978-0-19-924739-4.
- Podhorodecki, Leszek (1978). Stanisław Koniecpolski ok. 1592–1646. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej.
- ISBN 978-83-86170-36-4.
- Przyłecki, Stanisław; Koniecpolski, Zygmunt Stefan (1842). Pamiętniki o Koniecpolskich: Przyczynek do dziejów polskich XVII. wieku [Memoirs about the Koniecpolskis: a Contribution to the History of 17th-Century Poland]. Nakł. L. Rzewuskiego.
- Scott, Franklin D. (1992). Sweden: The Nation's History. Carbondale: SIU Press. ISBN 978-0-8093-1489-8.
- Spilling, Michael (April 1999). Estonia. Marshall Cavendish. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7614-0951-9. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- Stone, Daniel (1 September 2001). The Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386–1795. University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-98093-5.
- ISBN 978-0-8020-8390-6. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- Wilson, Andrew (2002). The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation. ISBN 978-0-300-09309-4.
- Online sources
- "Stanislaw Koniecpolski". Britannica Online. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
- "Works by William le Vasseur de Beauplan". Polish Museum in Rapperswil. Archived from the original on 3 October 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
Further reading
- Kądziela, Łukasz (1995). Hetmani Rzeczypospolitej Obojga Narodów. Wydawn. Bellona. ISBN 978-83-11-08275-5.
- Koniecpolski, Stanisław (2005). Korespondencja Stanisława Koniecpolskiego hetmana wielkiego koronnego 1632-1646. Societas Vistulana. ISBN 978-83-88385-38-4.
- Przyłecki, Stanisław (1842). Pamiętniki o Koniecpolskich: przyczynek do dziejów polskich XVII. wieku. Nakł. L. Rzewuskiego.
External links
- Bain, Robert Nisbet (1911). . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 893.
- Ciesielski, Stanley A. "Hetman Stanislaw Koniecpolski". Polish-American Journal. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- "History of a Great Hetman: Hetman Stanislaw Koniecpolski". kresy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005.