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Curious facts about Polish kings and queens


pawian  223 | 27187
30 Jan 2025   #1
King Sigismund III Vasa who ruled in 16/17th century was half Polish half Swedish. Critics blame him for starting throne wars with Sweden which continued for decades and eventually led to the catastrophic "Deluge" of Swedish armies in the second half of 17th century which seriously exhausted Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth .

The king is remembered till today for other interesting things, though.

He moved the capital from Cracow to Warsaw in 1596. The reason - shorter route from Warsaw to the Lithuanian part of the Commonwealth.
No wonder Warsavians erected the Sigismund Column next to their Royal Palace. The highest statue column in Poland.


  • a
Lyzko  44 | 9713
30 Jan 2025   #2
There was a considerable degree of intermarriage amongst all European
royalty, not surprising.
OP pawian  223 | 27187
30 Jan 2025   #3
The king is remembered till today for other interesting things,

Some of his personal characteristics are really amasing. We need more people like him today.

Sigismund III Vasa was well-educated and fluent in five languages, including Polish. The future king was already a very serious man in his youth, full of monarchical dignity who avoided feasts. Sigismund III Vasa was distinguished by his diligence, piety, and inner discipline. He began his day by listening to two Holy Masses . He remembered to recite the breviary and the hours every day until the end of his life . He was a good manager and tripled the income of the royal treasury.

He was artistically gifted, he dabbled in painting and goldsmithing, played the clavichord and was an expert in architecture. He took care of art. He collected paintings by Venetian and Flemish masters, creating the first modern gallery in Poland. He also developed his artistic passions in sculpture, engraving, woodcarving, goldsmithing and amber processing. He made gold chalices, patens, monstrances, candlesticks, lamps, and he loved building clocks. He donated the objects he made to churches and friends. He was interested in alchemy, which was to become an indirect cause of the fire at the Royal Castle in Kraków in 1595.

The king liked hunting, played football , and took care of the orchard and garden


Wow, hats off! A true Reneissance person.

No wonder Warsavians erected the Sigismund Column

Can you imagine that they reerected it after Nazi Germans had completely blown it up during WW2???
Those Warsavians are really stubborn. That`s probably why I like them so much.


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OP pawian  223 | 27187
30 Jan 2025   #4
King Casimir ruling Poland in 14th century became the Great after decades or centuries when Poles/Polesses finally appreciated his amasing contribution to the development of the country.

He established about 200 towns and initiated the construction of 50 castles which protected Poland from its enemies. These castles are still popular attractions, most as well preserved ruins and a few fully restored.


  • Będzin castle

  • Bobolice castle
Alien  25 | 6367
31 Jan 2025   #5
King Casimir

Zastał Polskę drewnianą a zostawił murowaną.
OP pawian  223 | 27187
31 Jan 2025   #6
That is why he was placed on a banknote which is still used.


  • kazimierz_wielki_28..jpg
OP pawian  223 | 27187
31 Jan 2025   #7
Zastał Polskę drewnianą a zostawił murowaną

Speak English aka
He found Poland made of wood and left it made of brick ".

One curious fact - Casimir was an awful womaniser - he had dozens of lovers. One of them was a Jewish beauty called Esterka:

She was supposedly a beautiful Jewess with whom the king had several daughters. It is likely that the Jews in Poland owed their favorable policies to her. It is not entirely certain, however, whether the beautiful Esterka was a historical figure or just a legendary one.

Hey, males, watch and learn how to revere the beloved woman!!


  • Casimir begging Esterka to stay
Alien  25 | 6367
1 Feb 2025   #8
Speak English

Certain phrases sound better in the original. This one too.
Ironside  50 | 12930
1 Feb 2025   #9
Certain phrases sound better in the original

you should have said - a general makeover and upgrade.
OP pawian  223 | 27187
1 Feb 2025   #10
You had many strange people on the Polish throne. Before and after.

Yes, indeed. Half of them were elected by nobility in the process called free election, introduced after the dynasty of Jagiellonian family had come to an end without leaving a male offspring in 16th century.

The new system was discredited in the very first election.

The first elected King, a French prince, was a disaster coz after a year he defected to France after learning the throne in his native country had become vacant. Polish statesmen chased him and begged to return to Warsaw but to no avail.
Alien  25 | 6367
4 Feb 2025   #11
The first elected King, a French prince, was a disaster coz after a year he defected to France

He ran away after a year after they told him to eat with a fork in Poland. 🍽
OP pawian  223 | 27187
4 Feb 2025   #12
eat with a fork in Poland

They taught him how to use a fork, indeed and he swallowed it with certain reluctance. However, he wasn`t able to swallow the education on keeping the fork in his boot. That was too much for him so he defected.


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