Dom Sapieżyński 1666-1685: droga do hegemonii w Wielkim Księstwie Litewskim

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštija, XVII a.; Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; Mykolas Kaributas Višniaveckis; Jonas III Sobieskis; Pacai; Radvilos; Sapiegos; Benediktas Povilas Sapiega; Kazimieras Povilas Jonas Sapiega; Pranciškus Steponas Sapiega; Mykolas Kazimieras Pacas; Kristupas Zigmantas Pacas; Boguslavas Radvila; Mykolas Kazimieras Radvila. Keywords: Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 17th century; John Casimir Vasa; Michael Korybut Wisniowiecki; John III Sobieski; Pac; Radziwill; Sapieha; Benedykt Pawel Sapieha; Kazimierz Pawel Jan Sapieha; Franciszek Stefan Sapieha; Michal Kazimierz Pac; Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac; Boguslaw Radziwill; Michal Kazimierz Radziwill.Reikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); Lenkija (Lenkijos karalystė. Kingdom of Poland. Poland); 17 amžius; Kazimieras Sapiega, 1637-1720 (Kazimierz Sapieha); Benediktas Povilas Sapiega, 1643-1707 (Benedykt Paweł Sapieha); Sapiegos (Sapiega family); Jonas III Sobieskis, 1674-1696 (John III Sobieski); Didikai; Kunigaikščiai; Politikai; Politika; Valdžia; 17th century; Magnates; Dukes; Politicians; Politics; Government.

ENKazimierz Jan and Benedykt Paweł Sapieha, following the death of their father – Paweł Jan – took over the leadership of the family faction. However, they were too young to play a significant political role in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, although from the very beginning they had substantial financial possibilities and estates at their disposal, which – in turn – made the basis of developing their own cliental potential. The alliance with the Radziwiłł Family turned out a natural solution for them. In the final period of John Casimir Vasa’s reign, they became members of the court faction formed by the King, which by assumption was meant to oppose the Pac Family. During the interregnum period, following the abdication of John Casimir Vasa, and the time of the very election itself the Sapiehas cooperated with the Radziwiłłs, although – on the other hand – they endeavored to play an independent role on the Lithuanian political stage. During the reign of Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki (Michael I), the Sapieha Family continued to cooperate with Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł, regarding political matters, and strove to counterbalance the political influences of the Pac Family. In the period under analysis, the Sapiehas participated in almost all of the Sejms (sessions of Polish Parliament), in the majority of which, unfortunately, they remained passive, though. The exception was the Coronation Sejm of 1669, extraordinary and ordinary ones in 1670, where there took place attempts to violate their state of possession or that of their family, or still those of their political friends. The situation changed radically after the death of Michel I. In the period of interregnum and the election, the Sapieha Family supported John Sobieski, having a considerable influence on the electing of the latter the King of Poland.Consequently, they found themselves in the winner’s camp, which opened to them completely new possibilities and meant a significant move towards extending their hegemony in Lithuania. The faction which was headed by them became a political power equal to that of the Radziwiłł Family on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The choice of the new King opened to the Sapiehas also great possibilities of realizing their own political conception which consisted in strengthening their position in Lithuania and at the monarch’s side, that is the key decision-making and political center in the state. Until 1685 they carried out well-thought-out political actions and ones related to estates, and were able to perfectly take advantage of occasions which came up – in particular the deaths of their competitors – to strengthen their position on the territory of Lithuania. That finally led to their hegemony which lasted incessantly until the death of John III Sobieski. Their dominance was influenced by a variety of factors and political events of the years 1676–1685, which the Sapiehas were able to mak e use of in their endeavors to gain advantage over other factions. That guaranteed them absolute power on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in further perspective. [Publisher database]