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Ladislaus IV of Poland

Vladislaus IV Vasa of Poland

Reign	From November 8, 1632 until May 20, 1648 in Poland
Coronation	On November 8, 1632 in Cracow.
Consorts	Cecylia Renata Ludwika Maria
Royal House	Vasa
Date of Birth	June 9 1595
Place of Birth	Łobzów near Cracow, Poland
Date of Death	May 20, 1648
Place of Death	Merecz near Wilno, Lithuania
Place of Burial	Cathedral of Krakow

Vladislaus IV Vasa of Poland or (Polish: Władysław IV Waza) (June 9 1595 - May 20 1648), was the son of Sigismund III of Poland (1566-1632), of the House of Vasa, and his wife Anna Habsburgzanka (1573 - 1598). He reigned as King of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from November 8 1632 to his death in 1648.

Royal titles

Royal titles in Latin: Vladislaus Quartus Dei gratia rex Poloniae, magnus dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniaeque, necnon Suecorum, Gothorum Vandalorumque haereditarius rex, electus magnus dux Moschoviae

English translation: Vladislaus IV by God's grace king of Poland, grand duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, and also hereditary king of the Swedes, Goths and Vandals, elected tsar of Russia briefly.

Biography

His father Sigismund, grandson of Gustav I of Sweden, had succeded his father to the Swedish throne in 1592 only to be deposed from the by his uncle Charles IX of Sweden in 1599. This lead to a long standing feud where the Polish kings of the house of Vasa claimed the Swedish throne. The effects of this were the Swedish War (1600-1629) and later, the The Deluge of 1650.

Vladislaus was briefly elected Russian Tsar by Russian boyars in 1610. However he was never able to reign in Russia, as his support there was very temporary and dependend on shifting internal politics among boyars. He held on the title without any real power until 1635.

Before he was elected king of the Commonwealth, he fought in many campaigns, including ones against Russians in 1617-1618, Ottomans in 1621 and Swedes in 1626-1629. During that time, as well as during his voyage in Europe (1624-1525) he learned arts of war, and this was later to be reflected when he became king: military matters were always important to him.

This was visible during the war against Russia in 1632-1634 (the Smolensk Campaign), where he started modernising the Commonwealth army, emphasising the usage of modern infantry and artillery. He also attempted to creat a Commonwealth fleet to secure part of the Baltic, although this plan never suceeded in the long term.

Vladislaus was also a conneseur of arts and music. He sponsored many musicians and created the first amphitheater in the Warsaw catle, where during his reign dozens of operas and ballets where performed. He also collected paintings and invested in decorative architecture; among his most famous sponsored projects is the column of Sigmund that became one of the symbols of Warsaw.

The king, while Catholic, was very tolerant and didn't support more agressive policies of the Counter-Reformation. While it can be argued he often played one religious movement against other as a means of conserving his own powers, it is a fact he was in effect one of the most tolerant monarchs of his time.

In interal politics he attempted to strenghten the power of the monarch, but this was mostly thwarted by szlachta, which viewed his military dreams as an attempt to strenghten his position during war and strongly opposed his plans to war with Sweden in 1635 or Turks in 1646.

Many historians argue that he dreamed of achieving great fame from conquests. On various times set his sights on regaining the Swedish crown, Russian throne and even conquering the Ottoman Empire. He was often able to convince the Cossacks to his side, but with little support from szlachta and foreign allies (like the Habsburgs), he constantly failed in those attempts, often diluting the strenght of the Commonwealth, which later proved fatal.

Wladislaw was married twice. In 1637 to Cecylia Renata of Habsburgs, and after her death in 1643. to French princess Ludwika Maria in 1646. He had no heirs.

Wladislaw died in 1648. He failed to realize his conquest dreams and he didn't reform the Commonwealth.

He succeeded by his half brother and cousin Jan II Kazimierz.

See also

• Nobles' Democracy
• Treaty of Polanów
• Treaty of Szturmska Wieś
• List of szlachta
• Magnate

Sources

• Vasili IV

| width="40%" align="center" | Tsar (nominal) | width="30%" align="center" | Succeeded by:
Michael I |- | width="30%" align="center" | Preceded by:
Sigismund III | width="40%" align="center" | King of Poland | width="30%" align="center" | Succeeded by:
John II |}