More that than Christian Socialist like the Justice and Peace Movement or the Guild of St Joseph the Worker. Very specifically for people struggling with the new system of government.
I used to live in a building they owned. Mostly elderly and educated residents. They also had a publishing house which by that time was mostly doing stuff like "Recepies from the Bible" or "Pope John Paul and Animals Picture Book".
Lots of info. Thanks. I'm just starting Jasienica's first volume: THE COMMONWEALTH OF BOTH NATIONS: THE SILVER AGE. I've read his COMMONWEALTH OF BOTH NATION trilogy backwards, The reason for this was how I was able to obtain the books.
The problem is he wasn`t a politician, so you hopelessly wasted that time devoted to that "education" and it is perfectly visible in your comments today. A junior high school student knows the intricacies of politics better than you.
Why are you so stupid? Do you have dementia? You are parroting me. At least I'm not a freak like you who thinks that he owns phrases, words, and language. Once you use something you believe it belongs solely to you. What a freak!
Coz you don`t know Iron. Relax. Nothing intriguing in him. He has a nice habit of splattering guano like a pidgeon onto the window sill with his posts. Is guano on the sill intriguing?????
Said someone who has a smooth brain. Don't be jealous. ----
Could you provide an example
It is nothing major, simple things that everybody knows except Poles. He doesn't write political formulas but his discerning overview of political history is an eye-opening experience.
I finally finished up Pawel Jasienica's THE COMMONWEALTH OF BOTH NATIONS: THE SILVER AGE, 1987. This is the first of his Commonwealth trilogy. Strongly recommended. My opinion is that if anyone wants to start studying Polish history from the beginnings then they should tackle Jasienica's histories first, i.e. his books on the Piasts, on the Jagiellonians, and his trilogy on the Commonwealth.
This volume covers Poland's history from the death of Zygmunt II Augustus to the death of Wladyslaw IV and the start of the Cossack rebellion. This history presents the glory of Poland during this period but Jasienica also points out the beginnings of the rot that would consume the nation after the 1650s. That's one thing about Jasienica. He doesn't cut any slack when it comes to a critical view of Polish history.
A few items or themes are brought up. PACIFICISM. Pacificism was deeply rooted in the gentry and set the tone and exerted a major influence on Poland's course in history. Jasienica (I will refer to him as PJ throughout) says the pacificism was one of the main causes of the downfall. The nation was incapable of mounting the best form of defense which was a strong offense.
"The landed gentry did not like war, for they had more to lose than to gain. For the peasants...every campaign opened the opportunities for advancement...The Commonwealth was vast, the class divisions fluid, and identity documents had not yet been invented." P. 78 For the poor it was opportunity sometimes. For the landed gentry it hurt.
The CATHOLIC CHURCH. Not too good. The church was heavily entwined in Polish history. By 1572 it was already quite hostile to the idea of religious tolerance. Poland had figured out a way for a multi-religions, multi-ethnic, multi-national state to exist.
But "The champions of the counter-reformation (e.g. the Jesuits) were set on destroying an already existing ideological bond overriding differences of faith and disregarding the accumulated wisdom of centuries." P. 115 "The doctrine of Counter-Reformation was a contradiction of the very essence of the Commonwealth's harmony." P. 116 Jesuits became the official CENSORS of thought and expression. Most detrimental to the Commonwealth.
What PJ covers in great detail is the first election in the new Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He goes into the Henrician Covenant and the Pacta Conventa. PJ points out the Henrician document defined the king's OBLIGATIONS but not his RIGHTS. PJ quotes an Italian writer John Botero, 1592, "Finally the king has as much power as his wisdom and skill will provide." P.42. PJ details why Poland went ahead of electing kings after the first election fiasco. This wasn't covered in any other history books I read. During this Silver Age the groundwork for Poland's future was laid out by Zygmunt III. "The multinational and multidenominational Commonwealth needed a leader of another caliber than a man riddled with complexes, moderately gifted, and governed by ideological fanaticism. He placed religious bigoty ahead of national interest." P. 116 And Zygmunt III ruled forty-five years!!!
"The informed public opinion understood and the rest of the people sensed that the Commonwealth was for Zygmunt only an instrument or a stage for the accomplishment of his dynastic or ideological goals inspired by the counter-reformation." P. 184
"There are many valiant men in the Polish army, but God alone knows how they are led. It is no longer the same free and independent nation: because of their king they become the puppets of Austria" This is Gustav Adolphus of Sweden commenting on Zygmunt III. P. 241
Next up was Wladyslaw. In a letter he sent to the emperor in Vienna (May, 1632) he said "...since his early youth he disliked Poland and dreamed about Germany." PJ said that a "...mature politician approaching forty would not have committed such sentiments to paper. Yet six months later (November, 1632) he was the new king." P. 258 PJ provides an excellent prequel to the Deluge period. He brings out some important points that other historians I've read don't. Historians say Poland was wise to stay out of the thirty Years War. Yes that's true BUT Poland was also fighting for thirty years (1600-29) during the Thirty Years War against Swedes, Muscovites, Turks and Tatars. JS says other scholars don't mention that Poland's resources were depleted and the society was exhausted. Even though no harm came to Poland proper during this time, this exhaustion would determine how fit Poland was to tackle the next chapter: the Cossacks and the Deluge.
"...the country flourished as a monarchy, though in theory as a 'republic of the gentry' was gradually superseded by the actual hegemony of the magnates." P. 275 But PJ does not place blame for the oncoming dysfunction of the Commonwealth solely on the magnates. "Magnates plotting against their own monarch were very common in Europe at the time." P. 95 The problem is that Zygmunt II, for example, coddled the magnates. PJ states that after the Zebrzydowski Rebellion (1607) something went amiss. The king should have punished the leaders. Usually such a victory would strengthen the royal power. But nothing happened. PJ says this established a precedent for future situations.
The magnates were powerful. PJ says they had estates, castles, armies but seemed unable to protect their own territory. PJ said their conduct revealed a lack of mental discipline. In other words, he's saying they were stupid. One example is the magnates in Ruthenia could never protect their own from Tatars.
PJ mentions that until 1648 no disasters touched the heart of the Commonwealth. Because of the mediocrity of the "Silver Age", which PJ also called the "Indian summer", nothing was reformed therefore when disaster came it came viciously. We have an American saying which could apply to this Silver Age. We'd call it the "Age of everyone being fat, dumb and happy".
Two pillars of a nation are investigated: MONEY and DEFENSE. No nation can conduct its common business, i.e. the treasury and defense, then through the EXECUTIVE POWER. (paraphrasing PJ). PJ says the "nation", represented by the deputies of the "gentry" tried since the beginning of the 16th century to reform the state structure and reduce the excessive holdings of the church. It was not the nation but the rulers who treated their subjects as instruments of their private ambitions. The rulers are responsible for the fall. The rulers coddled the magnates and allowed them to run the show so that the magnates could allow the kings to proceed with their "wacky" ambitions.
How economic reforms failed is unbelievable. "The attempt to control commercial activities, MADE BY A BODY OF NOBLEMEN HOLDING TRADE IN CONTEMPT, was pathetically naïve." P. 286 Here is one example that literally floored me. "In the third decade of the seventeenth century, under Zygmunt III, concerned businessmen purchased and destroyed copies of an economic treatise that knowledgeably described various forms of fraud, offered ways in which the treasury could prevent them, and demanded sensible reforms, notably taxes on the gentry and clergy." P. 287
Next a lot of abuses were carried on against the peoples of Ukraine. Lots of revolts were brutally quelled. "No one was much concerned. The year 1647, the last of the Commonwealth's Indian summer, ended peacefully, though various 'signs in heaven and on earth' as for example an exceptionally mild winter, were said to auger great and dire events." P. 324
"The Commonwealth had a log experience of paying dearly in lives and money for the dynastic ambitions of its rulers." P. 40
The book concludes: "Disaster was brought about by men who were kings of Poland, grand dukes of Lithuania and Ruthenia IN LAW, but not IN THEIR HEARTS." P. 338
@Bobko Thanks. As I mentioned previously, I'm new to studying Polish history. It's so difficult, so convoluted, so these synopses of various histories force me to remember the historical narrative. Also it provides other people a little insight into Polish history that they might not know about. Thirdly it's a list of Polish historians whose works are in English even though the historian could be German, American, British or Polish.
Pawel Jasienica's THE COMMONWEALTH OF BOTH NATIONS, CALAMITY OF THE REALM, 1992. This book starts at 1648 and ends around 1695. For such an intense period of Polish history, the book is quite short. Only 287 pages. I guess it's such a sad chapter of history that even Jasienica doesn't want to investigate it much.
Firstly, Jasienica (I'll refer to him as PJ) points out how the peoples of the Ukrqaine were horribly mistreated. Also, the Ukraine did not want to leave the commonwealth but only to become a partner. "The Ukrainian national consciousness was still in the process of formation, though already strong in numbers, but it could not find room for itself within the structure of the Commonwealth. It was ready to remain loyal to the Crown, but only on the condition of being promoted to the rank of a third equal partner in the federation. Equality would mean the acceptance of the existing social order with all its flaws." P.3
The difference for the Ukrainians (most of whom were serfs) would be that they would labor for Ukrainian lords, not Poles, not Jews, not the clergy.
This time in the Ukraine the Cossack revolt happened TOO QUICKLY. The Commonwealth loses at Zolte Wody and Korsun due to desertion by "Registered Cossacks". Also all the Orthodox clergy wholeheartedly supported the rebels. The clergy preached to the serfs and the serfs willingly agreed. The Cossack revolt of 1648 was set in motion quickly, almost pushed from behind by a united ideological spirit.
"The entire campaign of 1648 was conducted ineptly on the Polish side, the soldiers were led into action in the wrong way and induced to suffer the nervous shock sustained by participants in loosing battles." P. 24
Then there was a fiasco at a place called Pilawce. The Polish forces held their own against the Cossacks. The Tatars did not help. Then the Polish commanders held an impromptu meeting and decided to withdraw with their entourages. The Cossacks at first thought it was a trick. They watched and waited. No one pursued the fleeing polish army, defeated by its own commanders.
"The 'Disgrace of Pilawce' set a definite watershed in history. The Commonwealth had lost irretrievably a chance of becoming a decisive power in eastern Europe." P. 26 "Bohdan Chmielnicki (the great Ukrainian leader) made the Commonwealth appear naked before the world and its own children." P. 37
"The average nobleman was taught at school worship of the status quo. The great lords...knew well the world and its workings. They were consequently well aware of the Commonwealth's shortcomings and its chaotic organization. The lords wrote stinging satires, condemned anarchy, egoism, profligacy, governmental laxity and other sins, while at the same time manipulating the rank-and-file gentry in their own interest, handing out and taking bribes whenever the occasion allowed it." P. 44 Talk about a sack of hypocrites. And then you wonder why Poland got eaten up by its neighbors.
"The studies of the historian Wladyslaw Czapinski documented the magnates' pessimistic evaluation of the crisis and their anticipation of a partition of a country. Such views inspired a policy AIMED AT PRESERVING THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE ESTATES AND THE PRIVELEDGES ATTACHED TO THEM, EVEN UNDER ANOTHER SOVEREIGNTY." P. 44 Wow! Doesn't matter who the overlord is, as long as he doesn't bother me and my domain.
So finally, the great battle takes place at BERESTECZKO (1651) and the Commonwealth has the upper hand . But "...the victory at Beresteczko was left unexploited...the country was sick, its internal condition rendered it incapable of rational action." P. 68
Then the very next year - 1652 - a small Polish army was attacked and captured at BATOH by a large Cossack-Tatar army. Cossack spies sewed confusion and set fires in the Polish ranks. The Cossacks paid the Tatars for the entire captured Polish army and proceeded to hack each one to death. Note that many were cavalrymen and could be ransomed for rewards. "Dead dogs don't bite." ---Chemielnicki
So the situation keeps getting worse. First an epidemic. Then PJ describes the first time the "liberum veto" was used and the confusion and mis-steps that followed. PJ covers how the magnates ruled and mentions Zygmunt III and his choice of supporting the magnates as a base for his authority. A big mistake. The magnates just kept taking over and by mid-century PJ quotes a contemporary voivode named Jan Leszczynski:
"We lost so many million, so many men and we still remain in the same turmoil. Despite so many taxers, recruitment and bloodshed, we have won no advantage over the enemy; we can neither win nor buy peace or even only a breathing space, facing ever growing dangers." P.83
1654 brings on the good, old Ruskies and the Ukraine joins the Muscovites as their vassal. Chmielnicki and the Muscovites meet at Perejaslaw to formalize this agreement. PJ says Perejaslaw gave Russia its cue and it took it with gusto. From then on the Ukraine would go slip-sliding away for good.
And finally, the DELUGE starts. Sweden needed money and decided to target the weakest, richest state full of discord --- the Commonwealth. I am puzzled as to why the Radziwill name is so revered today. Janusz R. was the Benedict Arnold of Poland. A traitor of the first magnitude. He just switched allegiance to Sweden and welcomed them.
The bumbling that went on in Poland during the Swedish invasion was devastating. The Commonwealth armies disintegrated. Poland pretty much surrendered to Sweden without a fight. Sweden then proceeded to rape Poland of everything, literally everything from art to gold to spiral staircases. I've heard that Poland was looted WORST during the Deluge than during WW II. This time the devastation hit Poland proper - the heartland.
"Both in Poland and Lithuania the magnates surrendered to the Swedes expecting their assistance against Moscow." P. 116 "The Swedish protectorate assumed immediately the form of a ruthless and rapacious occupation." P. 117
Reading PJ's history, the impression I got was the people, the peasants, fought while the nobles and clergy fled the country. PJ mentions that the peasants, later on in Polish history, often cared little who was fighting whom for what. But during the Deluge... "In the 17th century things were as yet not at that stage, the peasant of western Poland...was ready to fight the Swedish invader even though he also had accounts to settle with the Polish landlord." P. 122
Finally in Dec., 1656, in Hungary an agreement was made to partition the Commonwealth. Sweden, Brandenburg, the Radziwill family and Jerzy Rakoczy of Transylvania (Dracula's homeland) were ready but it fell apart when the Poles soundly defeated Rakoczy. Salvation at last!!!
Then peace came in 1660. On the books Poland won. In reality she was the biggest loser. It took a century for Poland to reach the population it had during the "Silver Age". Over one million people were lost due to famine, starvation and lastly hostilities. Ukraine was slipping into Russia and three hundred sixty-five years later the Ukrainians are still looking for FREEDOM. My personal view is they danced with the devil throughout history and they're still paying for it.
They were so upset with "polonized" overlords so now they're dancing with the Russians. Ukrainian infighting made sure nothing would ever get resolve until Russia was the overlord.
The rest of the history will be tackled at a later time. Roughly 1661 to 1695, the time of Sobieski. And PJ is not too complimentary of the great king by the way,
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