Wars In The North

Following the events of the great Deluge, Russia finds itself in a time a great change and reform amidst its wars with turks. Today well be discussing the events and reforms under Tsar's Alexis I, Feodor III, and Peter the Great, which would completely change Russia from the ground up and lay the foundations for its ascension to become a great power on the world stage.

In this episode well discuss the event in the Commonwealth after the deluge. We will briefly discuss John Casimir's abdication, the reigns of Michael the first, the "Hero King" John Sobieski and the close election of Augustus the Strong. Meanwhile, the Zaporizhian Cossacks seek Turkish protection which will spark nearly another 30 years of Polish-Ottoman wars and internal divisions between both the king and the magnates as well as between the magnates themselves is at an all-time high. The people of the Commonwealth would have to wait a little longer for the peace they so desperatly want.

With the coalition beating back Sweden, The Commonwealth is now finally able to fully concentrate on the Russian threat to the East. Khmelnytsky, who started the Cossack rebellion 9 years ago, has died, throwing the Cossack hosts into disarray as they descend into civil war. Meanwhile John Casimir tries to reform the nation internally in hopes of tackling the causes of the Deluge crisis, while Grand Marshall Lubomirski tries to defend the constitution that binds The Commonwealth together.

In this episode the Polish Commonwealth finds itself in a state of utter devastation and collapse however despite Charles X winning all of the battles he will soon find that it doesn't necessarily mean he wins the war. John Casimir would return from his exile and rally polish freedom fighters from all across the Commonwealth to his banner and make a series of diplomatic maneuvers to reverse the Commonwealth's fortunes during the Deluge, building a coalition a to fight the Swedish forces.

In today's episode I discuss the ascension of John Casimir to the throne of the Polish Commonwealth (1648) amidst financial crisis, political divisions, the Cossack rebellion in the south, a Russian invasion to the east, and a Swedish invasion to the north. It will take everything he has to lead the Polish people out of the unprecedented devastation that is to come.

In this episode we discuss Poland's failing fiscal policy, internal corruption, the death of Wladyslaw IV, and the start of the great Cossack uprising of 1648. These events will start a period known as "The Deluge" in polish history. These events as well as ones that will soon occur would bring devastation so unimaginable that it would take centuries for the Polish people to recover. It is the beginning of the end for the Commonwealth.

In this episode we look at Poland after Gutavus leaves Prussia and joins the 30 years war. Sigismund III would die(1632), Russia would break its truce and invade during the interregnum as well as an ambitious Turkish governor. Polish arms would prove wildly successful in both conflicts but it would prove to be the last great hurrah for the Commonwealth.

In this episode we talk about northern involvement in the 30 years war, the death of Gustavus Adolphus, The Torstenson war as well as the geopolitical changes that occur because of these events.

In this episode we discuss the events of the 3rd and 4th Polish-Swedish wars (or phases) , the change in warfare, and the implications of the conflict resulting in the treaty of altmark in 1629.

This episode we talk about The Kalmar War (1611-1613) would see the last time Denmark-Norway is able to defend its sound tolls and effectively fight against Sweden, the ascension of Gustavus Adolphus, and the militaristic societal changes going on in Sweden which would bring about its age of greatness for the next hundred years.

I would also highly recommend "The Northern Wars" by Robert Frost as he compiles information many of the primary and secondary sources which for the most part are exclusively in Polish, Swedish, and Russian and thus has been a very great resource for the material talked about in this episode and will be in future ones.