Anniversary of the triumph for the Polish conflict of Prostami, in which the forces of Brandenburg-Swedish were defeated. Bogusław Radziwił led the enemy army.
Today in our calendar we will look at the résumé of 1 of the known traitors of the days of the Flood – Bogusław Radziwiłła.
Bogusław was the boy of the castel of Vilnius Janusz and Elżbieta Hohenzollern, daughter of the Brandenburg elector Jan Jerzy. He was raised in the Calvinist religion and a strong anti-Catholic tradition. His individual teachers were almost exclusively Evangelical pastors. In his youth, he frequently traveled across Western Europe. He learned the method of war there and enrolled in respective universities, no of which he had completed.
He was characterized by his fervor, but besides by his incredible ambition and pride. He periodically participated in the 30 Years' War, of course on the side of the Protestant camp. He had crucial land goods in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He appeared as a supporter of Vilnius's far-reaching autonomy towards Warsaw, as only in specified conditions could he strengthen his position as an oligarch. He fought another Lithuanian magnates, especially the Sapiehs, at the Seyms and Seymites.
Because of his mother's household connections, he remained in close relations with the Berlin Manor throughout his life. On the another hand, he willingly collaborated with his relatives Janusz Radziwiłł and his father Krzysztof, with whom he had spiritual and political views. Thanks to their help, he obtained the post of Lithuanian Ensign in 1638. Like them, he was a protector of Lithuanian Protestants and a typical of the organization seeking to be placed on the Polish throne of the Innover.
In August 1644 he organized the Polish – Lithuanian dissident leaders convention. He besides arrived there Jan Amos KomenskyWith whom Bogusław collaborated. He even offered to settle in Lithuania and aid him financially – materially in the improvement of pansophie, which seemingly was very dear to him. In 1648, together with Janusz Radziwiłł, he supported the candidacy of Jerzy I Rakocz and then Jan Kazimierz. He fought against the Cossacks at the conflict of Beestek.
In March 1652 a client of Radziwiłłów Władysław Siciński reported a veto liberalum against a request to extend the session. This resulted in indiscretion of taxes and failure to pay wages for Polish soldiers. As a result, a revolt broke out in the military, 1 of the causes of the Batoh defeat. After the Swedish invasion, he took a waiting attitude. On the 1 hand, he inactive claimed to be a faithful subject of John Casimir. On the another hand, he supported Janusz Radziwiłł's plans and entered secret conchachts with the invader.
In addition, he vigorously corresponded with the Brandenburg elector. The King of Poland learned about his duality, so he dropped his mask and officially switched to the Swedish side. He did not rush to aid the besieged Janusz in Tykocin, as he tried to control Podlasie and the Earth of Novgorod with his private army. He hoped to make his own principality there allied with the Swedes. His efforts failed for nothing due to the opposition of the same Confederates who abolished the armies of the old Hetman.
In December 1655 he went to the camp of Charles Gustav and passed under his command. Reinforced by Swedish reinforcements, he crashed respective Confederate troops. He then fought in Mazowsze and Podlasie to ravage the villages and noble manors who advocated for the rightful monarch. As a Swedish field marshal, he took part in the conflict of Warsaw. After the defeat of Poles, he became MP Karol Gustav, for whom he demanded territorial concessions from Jan Kazimierz.
In the fall, he fought again on Podlasie and then joined forces with the Brandenburgers. He commanded the Swedish wing during the conflict of Prostami on 8 October 1656. In view of the emergence from the west of the prevailing Lithuanian forces, commanding the Brandenburgers Georg Friedrich von Waldeck, decided to abandon his positions and retreat to the another side of the river Elk to join the marchers from the north. That's what he told Radziwił.
Polish commander – Polish captain Wincenty Gosiewski noticed this maneuver. He decided not to let his opponent withdraw. He attacked him while leaving his erstwhile positions. A panic broke out among the march column of the Brandenburgers. Poles and Lithuanians seized the abandoned Brandenburg camp. They besides captured 1 of the bridges and crossed the river, threatening Radziwill. At the same time, at the bottom of Elku Tatars forced their beards and hit the Swedes. These shortly were partially surrounded and forced to surrender.
Bogusław Radziwiłł was taken prisoner, but he was reflected by the electorate forces in the conflict of Philippe 2 weeks later. He shortly became 1 of the signatories to the partition treaty of Radnot of 6 December 1656. By his power, he was to gain ownership of Nowogródskie Voivodeship. Nothing came out of these ambitious plans.
Seeing the upcoming Swedish defeat, Radziwill abandoned them and declared his willingness to support Jan Kazimierz, but in Poland he was inactive a traitor with a final conviction of exile. As a result, he joined the service of the Brandenburg electroresist Frederick Wilhelm, becoming his general and politician of Prince Prussia. In the second position, he fought the opposition demanding the return of Prussia to the flax dependence on Poland. He was 1 of the initiators of the disastrous treaties of the Welawsko-Bydgo region for Poland.
With the support of the elector, he received forgiveness from the Polish Parliament. He besides recovered the Lithuanian assets that had previously been confiscated. He bought votes and fought for the rights of the innoisseurs during the session. He organized inns on the ground of his political opponents and tried with Sapieh and Pacami. After the execution of Vincent Gosiewski, he was tempted to stand as a captain of the field, but that was besides much. He failed.
In the mid-1960s, he supported the efforts of Queen Louisa Maria Gonzaga to elect vivente rege French candidate. In 1665, he married the daughter of Janusz Radziwił, Maria. The wedding was intended to safe the household property, but the fruit was only 1 daughter of Louis. After John Casimir's abdication, he was briefly exhibited as a candidate for... King of the Republic of Poland.
The motives of the action of Bogusław Radziwił were akin to another traitors of the Flood period. It was directed by individual gain and by seeking to rise the Protestant issue to a higher level. The origin of his infidelity can besides be sought in the strategy of the Republic, which in rule had small work for the words and deeds of the rich and influential. As part of the noble democracy, Radziwiłł could betray, go to the service of the enemy, burn and cut out Poles after which he obtained grace and the ability to proceed to carry out the molest work in the Sejm.
Only the systemically amoral democratic strategy allowed a smooth transition from outlaw to a candidate for a hetmanian office, or even a royal office.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
