W walce o hegemonię : rywalizacja polityczna w Wielkim Księstwie Litewskim w latach 1667-1674

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); Radvilos, Pacai; Politinė rivalizacija; Didikų grupuotės; Valdovas Mykolas Koributas Višnioveckis; Seimeliai; The Grand Duchy of Lithuania; The Radziwills; The Pacs; Political rivalry; Magnate factions; King Michal Korybut Wisniowiecki; Dietines.

ENThe scientific purpose of the present book is to make a thorough analysis of the internal situation in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1667-1674. The initial date is set by the death of Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga which triggered a wide range of dynamic changes on the Lithuanian scene of politics. The final year is determined by the election of Jan Sobieski to the throne of the Commonwealth, for it brought about the beginnings of the process of disassembly of a political system that had formed in Lithuania in the previous years. The main subject of the book is a political rivalry for so-called hegemony - a control over various spheres of public life with the use of possibilities offered by holding different central offices. The basic purpose was a presentation of functioning mechanisms of magnate factions and parties, and an analysis of methods and strategies of fighting a political struggle. In chapter one the Lithuanian political scene in the last years of King Jan Kazimierz was characterised, together with the make-ups and leaders of two political camps which dominated in Lithuania: the Pacs party, led by Chancellor Krzysztof Рас, and the opposite camp, headed by Lithuanian Equerry Bogusław Radziwiłł. The analysis included also the changes that occurred in the system of political forces in Lithuania in 1666-1669. An objection to the plans of election of Elector Palatine Philip Wilhelm of Neuburg to the throne of the Commonwealth forced in 1667 the Pacs - who for several years had been building their position in alliance with the royal court - to the opposition. […] The second chapter focuses mainly on the political rivalry in Lithuania under King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, presented in a broad context of internal situation of the whole Commonwealth, witnessing a bitter conflict between the royal party (regalists) and the opposition (malcontents), in which the Lithuanian actively participated. […].Chapter three focuses on the role played in internal tactics by the comput army being under the command of the second leader of the Pacs faction, Hetman Michał Kazimierz. After a reduction of the military forces in 1666-1667 he wielded almost a total control over the army and in a very short time made it an effective weapon against adversaries. It was made possible thanks to a strong human base (military clientele) supporting the commander-in-chief in his actions. […] Chapter four is devoted to the relations between members of the Lithuanian elite and the future king, Jan Sobieski. Their analysis reveals that before 1674 there was little connection between the future monarch and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the king was not familiar with the Lithuanian realities, which he perceived mainly through the prism of his family ties with the Radziwiłłs and their increasing conflict with M.K. Рас. Under King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki the malcontents, due to the weakness of the Lithuanian opposition, could not count on any support from this party in their fight with the king. [...].The acquiring of political hegemony in Lithuania in the second half of the 17th century dependent on several factors. A success of the Pacs was made possible mainly thanks to their charismatic leader, Chancellor Krzysztof Рас. His position at the court gave him almost unlimited possibilities of favouritism (in 1658-1667 and 1669-1673). Opening doors to prestigious senatorial offices helped both attract the leading figures of the opposite camp and fulfil ambitions the members of the own party. It should be remembered that as the head of the faction, Krzysztof Рас - contrary to the Radziwills - was leading very skilfully the members of his camp during the sessions both of the sejmiks and the Sejm. Not less important was the use of other possibilities offered by "ministerial" offices. As chancellor, К. Рас was able to successfully challenge the legality of appointments made by Vice-Chancellor M.K. Radziwiłł. Occasionally he resorted to manipulations when sealing the Tribunal's decrees. Judiciary institutions - such as the marshal court or Lithuanian Tribunal - were commonly employed for the needs of political struggle. But a new and very negative phenomenon in the Lithuanian public life was the common use of the army for the purpose of internal political fight. It should be stressed that often the employment of the troops brought the desired results. But, on the other hand, these methods were not only against the law, but also inevitably caused an intense brutalization of public life and drastic decline of public culture. [From the publication]