Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa | |
---|---|
Michael I | |
Born | 9 June 1595 Łobzów, Poland, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth |
Died | 20 May 1648 Merecz, Lithuania, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth | (aged 52)
Burial | (heart). |
Spouses | |
Roman Catholicism | |
Signature |
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław was elected as the tsar of Russia by the
He supported religious tolerance and carried out military reforms, such as the founding of the Commonwealth Navy. Władysław was also a renowned patron of the arts and music. He gained fame by defeating the Ottoman Empire, strengthening royal power, and reforming the Commonwealth's political system, although he failed at reclaiming the Swedish throne. Despite that failure, his personal charisma and popularity among all segments of society contributed to relative internal calm in the Commonwealth.
He died without a legitimate son and was succeeded to the Polish throne by his half-brother,
Royal title
Latin: Vladislaus Quartus Dei gratia rex Poloniae, magnus dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniaeque, Smolenscie, Severiae, Czernichoviaeque necnon Suecorum, Gothorum Vandalorumque haereditarius rex, electus magnus dux Moscoviae.
Translated: Władysław IV, by God's grace, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, Smolensk, Siewiersk and Chernihiv, hereditary king of Sweden, the Goths and Vandals, elected Grand Duke of Moscow.
Life
Władysław IV's father,
Childhood
The marriage of
Władysław's mother died on 10 February 1598, less than three years after giving birth to him.
Władysław's Hofmeister was Michał Konarski, a Polish-Prussian noble.[4] Around early 17th century Urszula lost much of her influence, as Władysław gained new teachers and mentors, including such priests as Marek Łętkowski, Gabriel Prowancjusz, and Andrzej Szołdrski and in military matters by Zygmunt Kazanowski.[5][6]
Much of his curriculum was likely designed by Father
At the age of 10, he received his own prince court.[4] He formed a friendship with brothers Adam and Stanisław Kazanowski. It was reported that young Władysław was interested in arts; later this led to him becoming an important patron of the arts. He spoke and wrote in German, Italian and Latin.[5]
Władysław was liked by the
Tsar
With the intensification of the
His election was ruined by his father, Sigismund, who aimed to convert Muscovy's population from the Eastern Orthodox religion to Roman Catholicism.[10] Sigismund refused to agree to the boyar's request to send prince Władysław to Moscow and his conversion to Orthodoxy. Instead, Sigismund proposed that he should reign as a regent in Muscovy instead. This unrealistic proposal led to a resumption of hostilities.[10] In 1611-12, silver and gold coins (kopecks) were prematurely stuck in the Russian mints in Moscow and Novgorod with Władysław's titulary Tsar and Grand Prince Vladislav Zigimontovych of all Russia.[11]
Władysław tried to regain the tsar's throne himself, organizing a campaign in 1616. Despite some military victories, he was unable to capture Moscow.
Likely, the failure of this campaign showed Władysław the limits of royal power in Poland, as major factors for the failure included significant autonomy of the military commanders, which did not see Władysław as their superior, and lack of funds for the army, as the Polish parliament (sejm) refused to subsidize the war.[13]
Prince
Before he was elected king of the Commonwealth, Władysław fought in many campaigns, seeking personal glory. After his final campaign against Russians in 1617–18 (the end of
In 1620, he took part in the second phase of the Polish–Ottoman War, a consequence of the long series of struggles between Poland and the Ottomans over Moldavia.[16] In 1621, he was a Polish commander at Chocim. He reportedly he was stricken with illness but despite that proved a voice of reason, convincing other Polish commanders there to stay and fight.[14][16] His advice was correct, and the battle eventually ended with a peace treaty that returned the status quo from before the Ottoman invasion. This peace treaty also gave Władysław an international reputation as a "defender of the Christian faith", and increased his popularity in the Commonwealth itself.[14][16]
In 1623, while near Gdańsk (Danzig), he witnessed Gustavus Adolphus's Swedish Navy use its naval superiority to demand concessions from Gdańsk (the Commonwealth had no navy).[17]
In 1624, King Sigismund decided that the time had come for Władysław to travel, like many of his peers, to Western Europe. For security reasons, Władysław traveled under a fake name, Snopkowski (from Polish Snopek, meaning sheaf, as seen in the Vasa's coat of arms). On the long voyage (1624–25), he was accompanied by Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł and other courtiers.[18]
First, he travelled to
While not a military genius, and surpassed by his contemporary, Commonwealth hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski, Władysław was known as a fairly skillful commander on his own. In Rome he was welcomed by Pope Urban VIII, who congratulated him on his fighting against the Ottomans. During his stay in Florence he was impressed by opera, and decided to bring this form of art to the Commonwealth, where it was previously unknown.[18]
In Genoa and Venice he was impressed by the local shipyards, and in Pisa he witnessed a specially organized mock naval battle, experiences that resulted in his later attempt to create the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy.[18]
After returning to Poland, he fought in 1626 against the Swedes in the last phase of the Polish–Swedish War, where he took part in the battle of Gniew.[20] His involvement in this conflict, which lasted till the Truce of Altmark in 1629, was rather limited, and he spent much time in other parts of the country.[21]
During that period and afterward, he lobbied for support of his candidature for the Polish throne, as his father, Sigismund, was getting more advanced in his age, and the succession to the Polish throne did not occur through inheritance but rather through the process of royal elections. While Władysław, and his father tried to ensure Władysław's election during Sigismund's lifetime, this was not a popular option for the nobility, and it repeatedly failed, up to and including at the sejm of 1631.[22]
Sigismund suffered a sudden stroke[b] in late April 1632 and died in the morning hours of 30 April, forcing the matter to be raised again.[25][23]
King
The
Military campaigns
In an attempt to take advantage of the confusion expected after the death of the Polish king, Tsar
During that campaign Władysław started the modernisation program of the Commonwealth army, emphasising the usage of modern
Following the Smolensk campaign, the Commonwealth was threatened by another attack by the
After the southern campaign, the Commonwealth had to deal with a threat from the north, as the armistice, ending the
Politics
Swedish Royalty |
House of Vasa |
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Gustav I |
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Eric XIV |
|
John III |
Sigismund |
Charles IX |
|
Gustavus Adolphus |
|
Christina |
In the three months between his election and coronation, Władysław sounded the waters regarding the possibility of a peaceful succession to the Swedish throne, following the recent death of Gustavus Adolphus, but this, as well as his proposal to mediate between Sweden and its enemies, was rejected, primarily by the Swedish chancellor and head of the regency council, Axel Oxenstierna.[41]
Władysław IV owed nominal allegiance to the Imperial
In the meantime, Władysław still tried to take a leading role in European politics, and negotiate a peaceful settlement to the Thirty Years' War, a settlement which he hoped would ease his way into regaining the Swedish crown.[44] Following the armistice of Stuhmsdorf, Władysław came to increasingly realize that his prospects for regaining the Swedish throne were dim.[45] In the years 1636–1638 he proposed several reforms to strengthen his and his dynasty's power in the Commonwealth. His first plan was an attempt to secure a hereditary province within the country, which would not be threatened by the possible power shift following a future royal election; this, however, did not gain sufficient support in the Sejm.[46] Next, Władysław attempted to create an order of chivalry, similar to the Order of the Golden Fleece, but this plan was scuttled down as well, with the szlachta and the magnates seeing this as an attempt to create a royal, loyalist elite, and traditionally opposing anything that could lead to the reduction of their extensive power.[47] Popular vote and opposition also resulted in the failure of the plan to raise taxes from trade tariffs; here it was not only the nobility but even the merchants and burghers from towns, like Gdańsk (Danzig) who were able to muster enough support (including from foreign powers) to stop the king's reforms.[48] In fact, the defeat of his plans was so total, that he was forced to make certain conciliatory gestures to the nobility, as the Sejm passed several laws constraining his authority (such as to hire foreign troops), further indicating the limits of royal power in the Commonwealth.[48]
Marriages
Early in his reign, there were plans regarding a marriage of Władysław and Princess
The next few years were similarly unsuccessful with regards to his plans.[54] Eventually, he tried to bypass the opposition in the Sejm with secret alliances, dealings, and intrigues, but did not prove successful.[54] Those plans included schemes such as supporting the Holy Roman Emperor's raid on Inflanty in 1639, which he hoped would lead to a war;[55] an attempted alliance with Spain against France in 1640–1641,[56] and in 1641–1643, with Denmark against Sweden.[57] On the international scene, he attempted to mediate between various religious factions of Christianity, using the tolerant image of the Commonwealth to portray himself as the neutral mediator.[58] He organized a conference in Toruń (Thorn) that begun on 28 January 1645, but it failed to reach any meaningful conclusions.[58]
After Cecilia's death in 1644, the ties between Władysław and the Habsburgs were somewhat loosened.
Władysław's last plan was to orchestrate a major war between the European powers and the Ottoman Empire.[61] The border with the Empire was in a near constant state of low-level warfare; some historians estimate that in the first half of the 17th century, Ottoman raids and wars resulted in the loss (death or enslavement) of about 300,000 Commonwealth citizens in the borderlands.[62] The war, Władysław hoped, would also solve the problem of unrest among the Cossacks, a militant group living in the Ukraine, near the Ottoman border, who could find worth in such a campaign, and turn their attention to fighting for the Commonwealth, instead of against it.[63] As usual, he failed to inspire the nobility, rarely willing to consider sponsoring another war, to agree to this plan.[63] He received more support from foreign powers, from Rome, Venice and Muscovy.[64] With the promise of funds for the war, Władysław started recruiting troops among the Cossacks in 1646.[64] The opposition of the Sejm, demanding that he dismiss the troops, coupled with Władysław's worsening health, crippled that plan as well.[65] Władysław still did not give up, and attempted to resurrect the plan in 1647, and with support of magnate Jeremi Wiśniowiecki (who organized military exercises near Ottoman border), attempted unsuccessfully to provoke the Ottomans to attack.[66]
On 9 August 1647, his young son, Sigismund Casimir, then seven years old, suddenly fell ill and died; the death of his only legitimate heir to the throne was a major blow to the king, whose grief prevented his attendance at the boy's funeral held in Kraków.[67][b]
Death
While hunting near
His heart and
Character
Władysław has been described as outgoing and friendly, with a sense of humor, optimistic, a "people's person", able to charm many of those who interacted with him.[69] On the other hand, he had a short temper and when angered, could act without considering all consequences.[70]
Władysław was criticized for being a spendthrift; he lived lavishly, spending more than his royal court treasury could afford.[18][71] He also dispensed much wealth among his courtiers, who were seen by people farther from the court as taking advantage of the king.[18] He has also been known to maintain several mistresses throughout his life, including during his married period.[72]
Patronage
One of the king's most substantial achievements was in the cultural sphere; he became a notable patron of the arts.
Notable painters and engravers Władysław supported and who attended his royal court included Peter Paul Rubens,
One of the most renowned works he ordered was the raising of the
Assessment
Władysław had many plans (dynastic, about wars, territorial gains: regaining Silesia, Inflanty (Livonia), incorporation of Ducal Prussia, creation of his hereditary dukedom etc.), some of them with real chances of success, but for various reasons, most of them ended in failure during his 16-year reign.[73] Though his grand international political plans failed, he did improve the Commonwealth foreign policy, supporting the establishment of a network of permanent diplomatic agents in important European countries.[73]
Throughout his life, Władysław successfully defended Poland against foreign invasions. He was recognized as a good tactician and strategist, who did much to modernize the Polish Army.[30][31][83] Władysław ensured that the officer corps was significantly large so that the army could be expanded; introduced foreign (Western) infantry to the Polish Army, with its pikes and early firearms, and supported the expansion of the artillery.[84] His attempt to create a Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy resulted in the creation of a new port village, Władysławowo.[85] Despite promising beginnings, Władysław failed to secure enough funds for the fleet creation; the ships were gone – sunk, or stolen – by the 1640s.[86]
The king, while Catholic, was very tolerant and did not support the more aggressive policies of the Counter-Reformation.[87] When he took power, the Senate of Poland had 6 Protestant members; at the time of his death, it had 11.[87] Despite his support for religious tolerance, he did fail, however, to resolve the conflict stemming from the Union of Brest split. Despite his support for the Protestants, he did not stop the growing tide of intolerance, either in Poland or abroad, as shown by the fate of the Racovian Academy, or an international disagreement between the faiths.[88] Neither did he get involved with the disagreement about the Orthodox Cossacks, a group that he respected and counted on in his plans.[73]
In internal politics he attempted to strengthen the power of the monarchy, but this was mostly thwarted by the szlachta, who valued their independence and democratic powers. Władysław suffered continuing difficulties caused by the efforts of the Polish Sejm (parliament) to check the King's power and limit his dynastic ambitions. Władysław was fed up with the weak position of the king in the Commonwealth; his politics included attempting to secure a small, preferably hereditary territory – like a duchy – where his position would be much stronger.[89]
Władysław used the title of the
Some historians see Władysław as a dreamer who could not stick to one policy, and upon running into first difficulties, ditched it and looked for another opportunity.[70] Perhaps it was due to this lukewarmness that Władysław was never able to inspire those he ruled to support, at least in any significant manner, any of his plans.[90] Władysław Czapliński in his biography of the king is more understanding, noting the short period of his reign (16 years) and the weakness of the royal position he was forced to deal with.[73]
Several years after his death, a diplomatic mission from Muscovy demanded that publications about Władysław's victories in the Smolensk War of 1633–1634 be collected and burned. Eventually, to much controversy, their demand was met. Polish historian Maciej Rosalak noted: "under the reign of Władysław IV, such a shameful event would have never been allowed."[91]
Royal titles
- In Latin: "Vladislaus Quartus Dei gratia rex Poloniae, magnus dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniaeque, Smolenscie, Severiae, Czernichoviaeque necnon Suecorum, Gothorum Vandalorumque haereditarius rex, electus magnus dux Moschoviae."
- In English: "Władysław IV, by grace of God the King of Muscovy."
In 1632 Władysław was elected King of Poland. He claimed to be
Ancestry
Ancestors of Władysław IV Vasa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See also
- History of Poland (1569–1795)
- Golden Liberty
Notes
a ^ After some discussions early on, he chose the title of elected Grand Duke of Moscow (electus Magnus Dux Moscoviae) rather than that of a tsar.[102]
b ^ Władysław had no children with his second wife, and his first wife bore him only two children (Maria Anna Izabela and Zygmunt Kazimierz), both of them died in their youth. He had at least one known illegitimate son, Władysław Konstanty Vasa, but he played no significant role in Polish politics.[103]
c ^ The confusion stems from an undisambiguated use of the Polish medical term kamica in the cited reference work (Czapliński 1976).[67] Czapliński also mentions that Władysław suffered from ill health throughout his life, related to obesity, rheumatism and kidney issues.[104] There were months-long periods, particularly in 1635 and 1639, when he could not walk.[104]
Footnotes
Notes
References
- ISBN 9789004231214.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, p. 11.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 11, 18.
- ^ a b c Czapliński 1976, p. 18.
- ^ a b c d Bohun & Rosalak 2007, p. 4.
- ^ a b c Czapliński 1976, p. 22.
- ^ Bohun & Rosalak 2007, p. 5.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 19–21.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 23.
- ^ a b c Bohun & Rosalak 2007, p. 8.
- ^ Kamiński & Kurpiewski 1984, p. 11.
- ^ a b Bohun & Rosalak 2007, p. 9.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 52.
- ^ a b c Bohun & Rosalak 2007, p. 11.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 56–59.
- ^ a b c Czapliński 1976, pp. 63–66.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 70.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bohun & Rosalak 2007, p. 12.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 74.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 80–81.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 84.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 88–90.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, p. 95.
- ^ Wdowiszewski 2017, p. 224.
- ^ Besala 2009, p. 206.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 102–118.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1959, pp. 64–71.
- ^ a b Albertrandy 1846, pp. 164–166.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 125, 138.
- ^ a b c d e f Gierowski 1979, pp. 235–236.
- ^ a b c d Władysław IV Waza 1595–1658. Władcy Polski Nr 23. Rzeczpospolita and Mówią Wieki. Various authors and editors. 24 July 2007.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 170.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 169.
- ^ a b Jasienica 1982, pp. 370–372.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 171–176.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 185–186, 196–197.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 186–187, 200–201.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 190–191, 196–197.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 200–201.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 202.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 128–133.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 208–211.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, p. 213.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 205, 211–212.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 224.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 225–228.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 229–233.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 240–258.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 179–180, 183, 205–208.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 183–184, 205–208.
- ^ a b c Czapliński 1976, p. 214.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 214–215.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 218.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, p. 336.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 272–274.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 336–337.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 337–342.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 348–352.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 347.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 353–356.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 357.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 359.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 360–361.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 366–368.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 374–378.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 379.
- ^ a b c d e f Czapliński 1976, pp. 379–380.
- ^ Rożek 1995, p. 23.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 121–122.
- ^ a b c d Czapliński 1976, p. 122.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 69–70.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 291–292.
- ^ a b c d e Czapliński 1976, pp. 384–385.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, p. 323.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 123.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 330–333.
- ^ Bohun & Rosalak 2007, pp. 3–4.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 333–335.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 324–326.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 329.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, p. 327.
- ^ The Rape of Europa. The National Gallery London
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 170, 217–218.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 217–218.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 219–220.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 193–194, 222–223.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, p. 124.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 348–349, 384–385.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, pp. 122–123, 187.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 125.
- ^ a b Bohun & Rosalak 2007, p. 3.
- ^ a b Lager-Kromnow, Birgitta (1973). "Katarina Jagellonica". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 20. Stockholm: National Archives of Sweden. p. 779. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ von Wurzbach, Constantin (ed.). Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 20 – via Wikisource.
- ISBN 9789151839042.
- ^ Dahlbäck, Göran (1985). "Margareta". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 25. Stockholm: National Archives of Sweden. p. 139. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ Sigismund I at the Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Ward, Adolphus William; Prothero, George Walter; Leathes, Stanley Mordaunt, eds. (1911). The Cambridge Modern History. Vol. XIII. Macmillan. p. 67. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 261–262.
- ^ Marczali, Henrik (1877). "Candalei Anna II. Ulászló neje, magyarországi útjának és a menyegzői ünnepélyek leírása (Közlemények a párisi Nemzeti könyvtárból 1448–1596, 83–122)" [The Description of the Route to Hungary and the Wedding of Anne of Foix, the Wife of Ladislas II. Announcements from the National Library of Paris in French 1448–1596]. Hungarian Historical Journal. 23: 97–113.
- ^ Walter Goetz (1953), "Albrecht V.", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 1, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 158–160; (full text online)
- von Wurzbach, Constantin (ed.). Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 6. p. 151 – via Wikisource.
- ^ Czapliński 1976, p. 55.
- ^ Kwiatkowski 1823, p. 359.
- ^ a b Czapliński 1976, pp. 120–121.
Bibliography
- Albertrandy, Jan (1846). Dzieje krolewstwa polskiego krotko lat porzadkiem opisane przez Jana Albertrandego (in Polish). K. Jabloński. p. 164.
- Besala, Jerzy (2009). Najsłynniejsze miłości królów polskich (in Polish). Bellona. ISBN 9788311115996. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- Bohun, Tomasz; Rosalak, Maciej (24 July 2007). "Władysław IV Waza 1595–1658". Rzeczpospolita and Mówią Wieki. Władcy Polski (in Polish). 23.
- OCLC 577964149.
- Czapliński, Władysław (1976). Władysław IV i jego czasy [Władysław IV and His Times] (in Polish). Warsaw: PW "Wiedza Poweszechna".
- ISBN 83-01-00172-0.
- Kamiński, Czesław; Kurpiewski, Janusz (1984). Katalog monet polskich 1632–1648 (Władysław IV) (in Polish). Warsaw: Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza. OCLC 12805200.
- Kwiatkowski, Kajetan (1823). Dzieje narodu polskiego za panowania Władysława IV. krola polskiego i szweckiego (in Polish). N. Glücksberg.
- ISBN 83-06-00788-3.
- Rożek, Michał (1995). Wawel i Skałka: panteony polskie (in Polish). Ossolineum. ISBN 978-83-04-04058-8.
- Wdowiszewski, Zygmunt (2017) [2005]. Genealogia Jagiellonów i Domu Wazów w Polsce. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Avalon. ISBN 9788377302262.
External links
- Media related to Wladislaus IV of Poland at Wikimedia Commons
- Bain, Robert Nisbet (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). pp. 765–767, see page 767.
Wladislaus IV. (1595–1648), king of Poland.....
- Iter per Europam Bibliotheca Augustana
- Marek, Miroslav. "Vasa's genealogy". Genealogy.EU.
- Testimony Archived 30 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Kunstkammer and opera of Władysław Vasa
- (in Polish) Timeline of Władysław's life
- (in Polish) Quotes about Władysław