98 Stupidity

At the beginning of 1632, I sent Saddat to the Crimean Khan with the message to prepare the army before September, I also sent Ivan to Sich to pass the same message to Ataman Koszowy ... with the arrival of spring and better weather, I also intended to transport cannons, weapons, food and other supplies to Zaporizhia... It was from there that I planned my march to Moscow, covering 1000 kilometers in autumn and winter will not be easy, but also no one will expect an attack from the south.

Now there was nothing left for me to do but wait ... every few weeks I exchanged correspondence with other Hetmans and Aleksander Gosiewski, the latter I advised on additional strengthening of Smolensk, although it was not particularly necessary. Historically, Gosiewski, having 2,200 men, repelled the siege of 30,000-40,000 Moscow army for two years ... However, additional defense or fortifications do not cost much, and can be helpful.

In mid-April I went to Warsaw, there were three reasons for that ... I haven't seen Sveta for a long time, although she was well replaced by other women, I had a weakness for her. I also had to recruit additional soldiers ... but the most important reason was the death of the King, if nothing changes, the king should die on April 30, which unfortunately will lead to the election of his son Władysław to the throne... I could not prevent it, he enjoyed a great support of the nobility ... but knowing the future, I was aware that he was unfit for a king, just like any Vasa.

All I could do was get him to sign the revised Pacta conventa ... Though, as they say, "Paper is patient and will accept everything."

"... And when you are asked this question next, say "A grave-maker." The houses that he makes last till doomsday..." (Sveta)

I stroked her head, I was surprised myself how well it turned out.

"You've made a lot of progress these few months, Hamlet is not easy reading, especially for someone who has just learned to read." (MC)

Sveta's cheeks turned red, this compliment made a better impression on her than if I said that she is beautiful ... but it was true, she read slowly but without mistakes, for someone who learns to read less than a year it is an incredible achievement.

"How long will we stay in Warsaw?" (Sveta)

"You don't like it here? I thought it would be a nice change for you, you will see something more, you will get to know new places." (MC)

"The city is too big, I don't know anyone here ..." (Sveta)

I understood her, I wasn't a fan of Warsaw myself, Jazłowiec was small and intimate. Most people knew each other personally or by sight. It was also safer in Jazłowiec, there were not many thieves, and there weren't many beggars, but in Warsaw, every Sunday groups of beggars crowded in front of church entrances... If you were lucky you just avoided them, if you were unlucky you would lose your purse.

"I understand, but you will stay here until the war is over. I don't think you will be in danger in Jazłowiec, but you will stay here... and how long? Not more than two and a half years, but probably less." (MC)

The next days I spent mostly in the company of Sveta and the children ... I had clearly defined plans for Piotr, he was already at this age that I should hire a fencing instructor for him, but as he was to be a priest, he did not need any fighting skills. I planned to marry Katarzyna for someone significant, although I was thinking of a Moldavian hospod, it was not written in stone and maybe there will be someone better for her... So for now I have hired additional music, painting and dance teachers... broader education will certainly help in this.

In the morning there was a pounding on my bedroom door, I got up, covered Svete with the bedspread and in not the best mood I went to check who it was... A servant waited outside the door, his eyes were watering and he was shaken ... he handed me the letter with a trembling hand.

I read it immediately, it was a summons to the Royal Castle and information that King Sigismund III Vasa had died... I read the letter again, looked at the date ... May 1 ... he lived a day longer, crushed the letter in my hand, threw it on the floor and went back to bed.

"What happened?" (Sveta)

"Nothing important, one idiot died, another idiot will come in his place ... go on sleeping." (MC)

Two hours later, I ate breakfast, and after breakfast I went to the Royal Castle ... I had no reason to rush, I will not resurrect him ... Now this whole bureaucratic machine will be set in motion ... it will take several months for a new king to be chosen... First must take place Convocation sejm, where candidates for the throne are determined and pacta conventa are established. Then the date of the Election Seym was set, and after the approval of the new King by the nobility, two weeks later in Krakow, a coronation took place in the Wawel Cathedral, at which the new King signed the Pacta Conventa and Henrician Articles guaranteeing the rights of the nobility.

The signing of these documents meant that the King had no real power, and if he had any, it was minimal. There was even a saying, "The freest person in the world is a Polish nobleman on horseback." The king literally signed the right of the nobility to raise revolts against the king if they felt that he was breaking the nobility's rights ...

I walked the streets of Warsaw and laughed at myself and at my stupidity ... to think that I wanted this country to survive. On the one hand I had a king who was an idiot, on the other hand, I had stupid nobles.

Even if I change history and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth survives this 17th century without weakening ... after my death, no stone will be left from this country.