Food / What is your favorite Polish Vodka? [653]

I prefer wine but once or twice a year I fancy vodka.

Having a sweet tooth, I have always liked Stomach Bitter



which, paradoxically, isn`t bitter at all, but my recent discovery was simple traditional Wyborowa, which, frozen, also tastes a little sweet. Amazing!

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

No, monarchs were only an element of the whole system in which they were virtually powerless puppets, due to a series of legal acts bestowing most power to the nobility eg

The Privilege of Koszyce was a set of concessions made by Louis I of Hungary to the Polish szlachta in 1374. The privileges were granted in Kassa, Kingdom of Hungary (Polish: Koszyce; today: Košice, Slovakia). In exchange, one of Louis' daughters (Catherine, Mary or Jadwiga) was to ascend the throne of Poland after his death.

The szlachta obtained following privileges:
tribute release, with the exception of 2 groschen from one field and 4 groschen from monastic properties,
release of duty of building and repair castles, with the exception war,
offices only for Poles,
Szlachta for fight on the war got soldier's pay,
release of building towns and bridges,
release of support king's court when he was voyaging in the kingdom.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szlachta%27s_privileges


Many sites in Poland bear the information: destroyed during Great Northern War.

E.g.,: The castle in Ogrodzieniec, burnt by Swedish troops in 1702, was never rebuilt.



We finished our historical musings on destruction in early 18 century. What`s next?

There was some destruction after partitions of Poland, especially during several Polish Risings when enemy soldiers plundered houses and properties.
But nothing as serious as almost total destruction which happened in 20 century.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

That would be a too big provocation at the time. Remember, when the English beheaded their king in 1649, Cromwell and parliament took over for a few years but soon after he died they brought back monarchy. Old habits die hard! :):):):)

Americans gave an example much, much later.

1700 The Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth was still a huge country



But neighbours were too powerful and they did what they wanted.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

It seems the discussion on the first destruction is over so.....


Yes! It happened half a century later, in 1700. Foreign armies fought their war on the Polish territory for 20 years. Poland was ruined again and indeed, in 1717, it became formally vassalised by Russia (yet, not partitioned yet).

remus.shidler.hawaii.edu/genes/wprussia/Great%20Northern%20War/home.htm

Long years of war, with the constant billetings and tramping of troops across the country, had brought widespread ruin. In Poland, the Russian, Swedish and Saxon armies alike lived off the land over which they maneuvered, falling mercilessly on village and town for contributions of money and supplies. It is estimated that 60 million thalers were extorted in this way more than triple the total revenue of the Polish government budget throughout the Great Northern War.

1717 - Poland becomes Russia`s most important sphere of influence.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Sejm

Silent Sejm (also Dumb Sejm and literally Mute Sejm, Belarusian: Нямы сойм; Polish: Sejm Niemy; Lithuanian: Nebylusis seimas) is the name given to the session of the Sejm (parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of 1 February 1717. A civil war in the Commonwealth was used by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great as an opportunity to intervene as a mediator. It marked the end of Augustus II of Poland's attempts to create an absolute monarchy in Poland, and the beginning of the Russian Empire's increasing influence and control over the Commonwealth.

News / The quality of Polish media coverage [50]


Why did you mention only two titles?

Life / Video games centers and culture in Poland [22]


Can you tell us the names of foreign games which promote other cultures? We need an example to know what to look for......

Life / Video games centers and culture in Poland [22]

You mean computer games, too?

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

Hey! It wasn`t me who invented this saying. To the best of my knowledge, a French philosopher at the time of First Partition of Poland.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


But only Poles treated faith seriously and truly believed in God, 10 commandments etc !! Germans believed in technological progress (one day in Fuhrer too), while Russians blindly believed in their tsars.


Yes, they swallowed us but couldn`t digest. :):):):)

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


OK, you convinced me. :):):)

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Pure defence against aggressive politics of Muscovites who, for over a century then, had been trying to expand their territory at the cost of Lithuania who was allied with Poland. Poles defended Lithuanians` asses and their own in the longer run, too. The same in Moldova - Poles tried to pacify local Turks who endangered Polish southern borders.

I sometimes wish Poles had been as aggressive and expansionistic as Germans or Russians. We wouldn`t have many of today`s problems. But we were always too delicate, forgiving and tolerant. Catholic upbringing!! Hence such frequent devastations of Poland by our neighbours.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Of course not. Poles only defended their own territory. Yes, sometimes they crossed the borders, but it was in pure defence of Poles who lived out of Poland.

Travel / Monuments, statues, memorials of Poland [25]

It isn`t a monument but a traditional Armenian cross:

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Sorry, quite the opposite. Ask your Polish granny! Go out and ask your next door Poles.


You cherish illusions. :):):):)

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


No, it is completely unknown. Swedish diplomats and regular Swedes who come to Poland learn about it for the first time. Come on, how many Poles know that once Polish troops invaded Moldova or fought in San Domingo? :):):):)

Love / What are the best love poems in Polish to receive? [77]


Your own....

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Yes! Stinkers! :):):) Remind me of Scottish nobles who traded their country`s independence for titles and lands from British kings! Polish gentry in 1655 were also promised rewards for changing sides and dropping the Polish king.


Polish nobility was the pure representation of the Polish society. They were Poles and as such bring the blame on all Poles. You can`t excuse historical facts pointing at leaders. As if a Nazi German tried to excuse himself that he only carried out orders and that his Fuhrers are to blame. Come on.


Hey, I could also easily start with German invasions in 11 century.

Come on, there must be some limit to this madness!!! :):):):)


Yes! It is going to be my next historical contribution here. Be patient! We still haven`t finished with the first invasion!! :):):):)

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


I am afraid we don`t understand each other now. Read carefully a few of my posts above.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

But they could at least try at Uscie!!! Fekking cowards! Today I dislike all those nobility/gentry idiots for a good reason. They greatly contributed to Poland`s fall.

OK, you convinced me.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

You know fine well that it is URL + 100 words.

Yes, I know. Sorry for that.

But I also know that people tend to be lazy and they don`t click on links to search for more info.

And I know you also know it. :):):)

I promise I will try to improve.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

Both gentry soldiers and their leaders were Polish. And they surrendered. Shame!

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Yes, that is true, that is why I wrote:

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Aristocracy and gentry in the Polish part of the Commonwealth were all Polish. Not Jewish, not Russian, not German, not fekking Martian. They were Polish.


Wrong! Poland had an army which could put up initial resistance and save time to build up better defences.

Read about the Battle of Uscie where 14500 Polish troops surrendered to 17000 Swedes almost without fight.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Uj%C5%9Bcie

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]



Read another short article about it, with maps, by American historian: conflicts.rem33.com/images/Poland/Deluge.htm

Its introduction:

Despite the improbable survival of the commonwealth in the face of the potop, one of the most dramatic instances of the Poles' knack for prevailing in adversity, the episode inflicted irremediable damage and contributed heavily to the ultimate demise of the state. When Jan II Kaziemierz abdicated in 1668, the population of the commonwealth had been nearly halved by war and disease. War had destroyed the economic base of the cities and raised a religious fervor that ended Poland's policy of religious tolerance. Henceforth, the commonwealth would be on the strategic defensive facing hostile neighbors. Never again would Poland compete with Russia as a military equal.


Yes, royals on both sides had a bone to pick but it was mainly Polish and Lithuanian gentry who detrayed Poland and surrendered to Swedes in the initial phase of the conflict.

Two columns of Swedish troops made their way across Poland. The first one, under the command of Marshal Wittenberg, marched in the direction of Greater Poland, where on the 25th of July, 1655, the Polish nobles and magnates placed themselves under Swedish protection without a fight. The second column under the command of Pontus de la Gardie, occupied Lithuania, where also without a fight, on the 8th of September, the Lithuanian Prince, Janusz Radziwiłł, Grand Hetman of Lithuania, i.e. the Commander in Chief of the Polish forces in Lithuania, broke the Union with Poland and surrenderead the suzerainty of Lithuania to Carl Gustav, the Swedish King. The nobility of sequentially occupied lands also recognized the suzerainty of Carl Gustav, and even the Royal Polish troops of Hetman Koniecpolski followed suit. In September, again without a fight, Warsaw found itself in Swedish hands, and in October Krakow, defended by Czarniecki fell. The will to fight was absent among the nobility and this in great part decided the initial success of Carl Gustav's strategy.

It is honest to say that Poles can blame themselves.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Yes, because that was the typical result of contemporary wars. Check out 30 Years` War which caused even greater destruction:

So great was the devastation brought about by the war that estimates put the reduction of population in the German states at about 25% to 40%.[53] Some regions were affected much more than others.[54] For example, Württemberg lost three-quarters of its population during the war.[55] In the territory of Brandenburg, the losses had amounted to half, while in some areas an estimated two-thirds of the population died.[56] The male population of the German states was reduced by almost half.[57] The population of the Czech lands declined by a third due to war, disease, famine and the expulsion of Protestant Czechs.[58][59] Much of the destruction of civilian lives and property was caused by the cruelty and greed of mercenary soldiers.[60] Villages were especially easy prey to the marauding armies. Those that survived, like the small village of Drais near Mainz, would take almost a hundred years to recover. The Swedish armies alone may have destroyed up to 2,000 castles, 18,000 villages and 1,500 towns in Germany, one-third of all German towns.[61]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War#Casualties_and_disease

Travel / Castles and Palaces in Poland (with pictures) [155]


Not so fast! You should give Norman invaders more time to become fully English! :):):):)


I had a look at some of Welsh castles.
castlewales.com/caerphil.html
Nice fortresses, indeed. They reminded me of one Polish castle built in that style:

Będzin Castle



Locals think it is too small so they are going to reconstruct the outer walls and towers:

Travel / Castles and Palaces in Poland (with pictures) [155]

Castle in Nowy Wiśnicz, visited last year: polishforums.com/travel-5/traveling-around-poland-photo-stories-personal-52658/5

Travel / Castles and Palaces in Poland (with pictures) [155]

So, you are still lying and distorting the truth.

Lie No 1:


1. Nazis confiscated the owner`s property and looted the castle of its valuable possession: tapestries, paintings, books and other artistic items.
2. They devastated most rooms, including the most valuable ones e.g., Maximilian`s Chamber



It is estimated that 90% damage to the castle interiors happened during Nazi times.

Compare:

Konrad`s Chamber before Nazi devastation



During





Today:



Check more photos:

Distortion No 1:


Yoiu easily omitted the fact that the Red Army was stationed in the castle for nearly a year. Do you include it in the times of Polish rule too?