page_title: Władysław IV Vasa
section_title: Death
hierarchical_section_title: Władysław IV Vasa / Life / King / Death
context_page_description: Władysław IV Vasa or Ladislaus IV of Poland was King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania and titular King of Sweden, who ruled from 1632 until his death in 1648. Władysław IV was the eldest son of Sigismund III Vasa and his wife, Anna Habsburg of Austria.
  Born into the House of Vasa, Władysław was elected Tsar of Russia by the Seven Boyars in 1610 when the Polish army captured Moscow, but did not assume the throne due to his father's position and a popular uprising. Nevertheless, until 1634 he used the titular title of Grand Duke of Muscovy. Elected king of Poland in 1632, he was largely successful in defending the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth against foreign invasion, most notably in the Smolensk War of 1632–34, in which he participated personally. He supported religious tolerance and carried out military reforms, such as the founding of the Commonwealth Navy. Władysław was also a renowned patron of the arts and music. He failed, however, at reclaiming the Swedish throne, gaining fame by defeating the Ottoman Empire, strengthening royal power, and reforming the Commonwealth's political system.
context_section_description: While hunting near Merkinė (Merecz) in early 1648, Władysław suffered from a case of gallstone or kidney stone. His condition worsened due to an incorrect medication. He was conscious that those were his final days, and had time to dictate his last will and receive last rites. Władysław died around 2 am on the night from 19 to 20 May 1648.
  His heart and viscera were interred in the Chapel of St. Casimir of Vilnius Cathedral. He had no legitimate male heirs. He was succeeded by his half brother John II Casimir Vasa.
caption: Władysław IV on Horseback, Rubens' studio
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