Władysław IV Vasa Władysław IV Vasa ( ; or " Ladislaus IV Vasa " ; ; 9 June 1595 – 20 May 1648 ) was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa . He reigned as King of Poland from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648 . Władysław IV was the son of Sigismund III Vasa ( Polish : " Zygmunt III Waza " ) and his wife , Anna of Austria ( also known as Anna of Habsburg ) . In 1610 the teen - aged Władysław was elected tsar of Russia by the Seven Boyars , but did not assume the Russian throne due to his father ' s opposition and a popular uprising in Russia . Nevertheless , until 1634 he used the title of Grand Duke of Muscovy . Elected king of Poland in 1632 , Władysław was fairly successful in defending the Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth against 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 . He was also a renowned patron of the arts . He failed , however , to realize his dreams of regaining the Swedish crown , gaining fame by conquering the Ottoman Empire , strengthening royal power , and reforming the Commonwealth . He died without a legitimate male heir and was succeeded to the Polish throne by his brother , John II Casimir Vasa ( " Jan Kazimierz Waza " ) . Władysław ' s death marked the end of relative stability in the Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth , as conflicts and tensions that had been growing over several decades came to a head with devastating events , notably the greatest of the Cossack uprisings – the Khmelnytsky Uprising ( 1648 ) — and the Swedish invasion ( " the Deluge " , 1655 – 60 ) . Royal titles . In 1632 Władysław Zygmunt Waza – Jagiellon was elected King of Poland . By paternal inheritance , he legally succeeded as King of Sweden . His titles were the longest of any Polish king ever . Life . Władysław IV ' s father , Sigismund III Vasa , grandson of Sweden ' s King Gustav I , had succeeded his father to the Swedish throne in 1592 , only to be deposed in 1599 by his uncle , subsequently King Charles IX . This resulted in a long - standing feud , with the Polish kings of the House of Vasa claiming the Swedish throne . This led to the Polish – Swedish War of 1600 – 29 and later to the Deluge of 1655 . Childhood . The marriage of Anne of Austria to Sigismund III was a traditional , politically motivated marriage , intended to tie the young House of Vasa to the prestigious Hapsburg s . Władysław was born 9 June 1595 at the King ' s summer residence in Łobzów , near Kraków , a few months after the main Wawel Castle had been consumed by fire . Władysław ' s mother died on 10 February 1598 , less than three years after giving birth to him . He was raised by one of her former ladies of the court , Urszula Meierin . Urszula eventually became a powerful player at the royal court , with much influence . Władysław ' s Hofmeister was Michał Konarski , a Polish - Prussia n noble . Around early 17th century Urszula lost much of her influence , as Władysław gained new teachers and mentors , such as priests Gabriel Prowancjusz , Andrzej Szołdrski and Marek Łętkowski , and in the military matters , Zygmunt Kazanowski . Much of his curriculum was likely designed by priest Piotr Skarga , much respected by Sigmismund III . Władysław studied for several years in the Kraków Academy , and for two years , in Rome . At the age of 10 Władysław received his own prince court . Władysław formed a friendship with Adam Kazanowski and his brother , Stanisław . It is reported that young Władysław was interested in arts ; later this led to him becoming an important patron of arts . He spoke and wrote in German , Italian and Latin . Władysław was liked by szlachta ( Polish nobility ) , however his father ' s plans to secure him the throne of Poland ( " vivente rege " ) were unpopular and eventually crushed in the Zebrzydowski Rebellion ( rokosz ) . Tsar . With the intensification of the Polish intervention in Muscovy , in 1609 , the royal family moved to their residence in Vilnius , capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . There he witnessed the fire of Vilnius , an event which even required the royal family to evacuate their residence in the Vilnius Castle . Shortly afterwords , that year , Władysław , aged 15 , was elected Tsar by Muscovy ' s aristocracy council of " Seven boyars " , who overthrew tsar Vasily Shuysky during the Polish - Muscovite War and Muscovy ' s Time of Troubles . His election was ruined by his father , Sigismund , who aimed to convert Muscovy ' s population from Orthodox religion to Catholicism . Sigismund refused to agree to the boyar ' s request to send prince Władysław to Moscow and his conversion to Orthodoxy . Instead , Sigismund proposed that he should reign as a regent in Muscovy instead . This unrealistic proposal led to a resumption of hostilities . Briefly , since 1610 , Władysław struck Muscovite silver and gold coins ( Kopek ) in the Russian mints in Moscow and Novgorod with his titulary " Tsar and Grand Prince Vladislav Zigimontovych of all Russia " . Władysław tried to regain the tsar ' s throne himself , organizing a campaign in 1616 . Despite some military victories , he was unable to capture Moscow . The Commonwealth gained some disputed territories in the Truce of Deulino , but Władysław was never able to reign in Russia ; the throne during this time was instead held by tsar Michael Romanov . He held on to the title , without any real power , until 1634 . Likely , the failure of this campaign showed Władysław the limits of royal power in Poland , as major factors for the failure included significant autonomy of the military commanders , which did not see Władysław as their superior , and lack of funds for the army , as the Polish parliament ( sejm ) refused to subsidize the war . Prince . Before he was elected king of the Commonwealth , Władysław fought in many campaigns , seeking personal glory . After his final campaign against Russians in 1617 – 1618 ( the end of Dymitriads ) , in 1619 he went to Silesia , looking for an opportunity to aid the Habsburgs in their struggle against the Czech Hussites in the Thirty Years ' War . That opportunity never came , but from that point onward , Władysław had a good relationship with George William , Elector of Brandenburg . The following year Władysław took part in the second phase of the Polish – Ottoman War , a consequence of the long series of struggles between Poland and the Ottomans over Moldavia . In 1621 Władysław was one of the Polish commanders at the Battle of Chocim ; reportedly he was struck ill , but despite that , he proved a voice of reason , convincing other Polish commanders there to stay and fight . His advice was correct , and the battle eventually ended with a peace treaty that returned the status quo from before the Ottoman invasion . This peace treaty also gave Władysław an international reputation as a " defender of Christian faith " , and increased his popularity in the Commonwealth itself . In 1623 , while near Gdańsk ( Danzig ) , he witnessed the arrogant attitude of Gustavus Adolphus , whose navy took opportunity of its sea superiority to demand concessions from Gdańsk ( Commonwealth had no navy ) . In 1624 king Sigismund decided that time has come for Władysław to travel , like many of his peers , to Western Europe . For security reasons , Władysław traveled under a fake name , Snopkowski ( from Polish Snopek , meaning sheaf , as seen in the Vasa ' s coat of arms ) . In his voyage ( 1624 – 1625 ) he was accompanied by Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł and other , less notable courtiers . First , he travelled to Wrocław ( Breslau ) , then Munich , where he met Maximilian I , Elector of Bavaria . In Brussels he met Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain ; in Antwerp , Rubens . Near Breda he met Ambrosio Spinola . It was during his stay with Spinola that he was impressed by the Western military techniques ; this was later to be reflected when he became king : military matters were always important to him . While not a military genius , and surpassed by his contemporary , Commonwealth hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski , Władysław was known as a fairly skillful commander on his own . In Rome , he was welcomed by Pope Urban VIII , who congratulated him on his fighting against the Ottomans . During his stay in Florence he was impressed by opera , and decided to bring this form of art to the Commonwealth , where it was previously unknown . In Genua and Venice he was impressed by the local shipyards , and in Pisa he witnessed a specially organized mock naval battle , experiences which resulted in his later attempt to create the Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy . After returning to Poland , in 1626 he fought against the Swedes in last phase of the Polish – Swedish War , where in 1626 he took part in the battle of Gniew . His involvement in this conflict , which lasted till the Truce of Altmark in 1629 , was rather limited , and he spent much time in other parts of the country . During that period and afterward , he lobbied for support of his candidature for the Polish throne , as his father , Sigismund , was getting more advanced in his age , and the succession to the Polish throne occurred not through inheritance but rather , through the process of royal elections . While Władysław , and his father Sigismund , tried to ensure Władysław ' s election during Sigismund ' s life , this was not a popular option for the nobility , and it repeatedly failed , up to and including at the sejm of 1631 . Sudden heart attack that Sigismund suffered on 23 April 1632 , and his death in the morning hours of 30 April , forced the issue to be taken up again . King . The election sejm of 1632 eventually concluded in the election of Władysław ; he had no serious other contenders . The decision on who would be the Commonwealth ' s next king was reached on 8 November , but as the " pacta conventa " were not yet ready , the official announcement was delayed until 13 November . In the " pacta conventa " , Władysław pledged himself to fund a military school and equipment ; to find a way to fund a naval fleet ; to maintain current alliances ; not to raise armies , give offices or military ranks to foreigners , negotiate peace treaties or declare war without the Sejm ' s approval ; not to take a wife without the Senate ' s approval ; to convince his brothers to take an oath to the Commonwealth ; and to transfer the profits from the Royal Mint to the Royal Treasury rather than to a private treasury . When the election result had been announced by the Crown Grand Marshal , Łukasz Opaliński , the nobility ( " szlachta " ) who had taken part in the election began festivities in honor of the new king , which lasted three hours . Władysław was elected was crowned on 6 February on the following year . Military campaigns . In an attempt to take advantage of confusion expected after the death of the Polish king , Tsar Michael of Russia ordered an attack on the Commonwealth . A Muscovite army crossed the Commonwealth eastern frontier in October 1632 and laid siege to Smolensk ( which was ceded to Poland by Russia in 1618 , at the end of the Dymitriad wars ) . In the war against Russia in 1632 – 1634 ( the Smolensk War ) , Władysław succeeded in breaking the siege in September 1633 and then in turn surrounded the Russian army under Mikhail Shein , which was then forced to surrender on 1 March 1634 . It was during that campaign that Władysław started the modernisation program of the Commonwealth army , emphasising the usage of modern infantry and artillery . Władysław proved to be a good tactician , and his innovations in the use of artillery and fortifications based on Western ideas greatly contributed to the eventual Polish – Lithuanian success . King Władysław wanted to continue the war or , because the Polish – Swedish Treaty of Altmark would soon be expiring , ally with the Russians to strike against Sweden . However , the Sejm wanted no more conflict . As Stanisław Łubieński , the Bishop of Płock , wrote two weeks after Shein ' s surrender : " Our happiness is in remaining within our borders , guaranteeing health and well - being . " The resulting Peace of Polyanov ( Treaty of Polanów ) , favourable to Poland , confirmed the pre - war territorial " status quo " . Muscovy also agreed to pay 20 , 000 rubles in exchange for Wladyslaw ' s renunciation of all claims to the tsardom and return of the royal insignia , which were in the Commonwealth possession since the Dymitriads . Following the Smolensk campaign , the Commonwealth was threatened by another attack by the Ottoman Empire . During the wars against Ottomans in 1633 – 1634 Władysław moved the Commonwealth army south of the Muscovy border , where under command of hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski it forced the Turks to renew a peace treaty . In the resulting treaty , both countries agreed again to curb the border raids by Cossacks and the Tatars , and the Ottomans confirmed that the Commonwealth is an independent power , and does not need to pay tribute to the Empire . After the southern campaign , Commonwealth had to deal with a treat from the north , as the armistice , ending the Polish – Swedish War ( 1600 – 1629 ) was expiring . Majority of Polish nobles preferred to solve the problem through negotiations , unwilling to pay taxes for a new war , provided that Swede was open to negotiations and concessions ( in particular , retreat from the occupied Polish coastal territories ) . Władysław himself was hoping for a war , which could yield some more significant territorial gains , and even managed to gather a sizeable army , with navy elements , near the disputed territories . Sweden , weakened by involvement in the Thirty Years ' War , was however open to a peaceful solution . Władysław could not go against the decision of the Sejm and Senate , and agreed to support the treaty . Thus both sides agreed to sign the Armistice of Stuhmsdorf ( Sztumska Wieś ) on 12 September 1635 , favourable to the Commonwealth , which regained the Prussian territories , and the Swedish tolls on the maritime trade were to be reduced . Politics . In the three months between his election and coronation , Władysław sounded the waters regarding the possibility of peaceful succession to the Swedish throne , following the recent death of Gustavus Augustus , but this , as well as his proposal to mediate between Sweden and its enemies , was rejected , primarily by the Swedish chancellor and head of the regency council , Axel Oxenstierna . Władysław IV owed nominal allegiance to the Imperial Habsburgs as a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece . His relation with the Habsburgs was relatively strong ; although he was not above carrying some negotiations with their enemies , like France , he refused Cardinal Richelieu ' s 1635 proposal of an alliance and a full - out war against them , despite potential lure of territorial gains in Silesia . He realized that such a move would cause much unrest in a heavily Catholic Commonwealth , that he likely lacked the authority and power to push such a change of policy through the Sejm , and that the resulting conflict would be very difficult . From 1636 onward , for the next few years , Władysław strengthened his ties with the Habsburgs . In the meantime , Władysław still tried to take a leading role in European politics , and negotiate a peaceful settlement to the Thirty Years ' War , a settlement which he hoped would ease his way into regaining the Swedish crown . Following the armistice of Stuhmsdorf , Władysław came to increasingly realize that his prospects for regaining the Swedish throne were dim . In the years 1636 – 1638 he proposed several reforms to strengthen his and his dynasty ' s power in the Commonwealth . His first plan was an attempt to secure a hereditary province within the country , which would not be threatened by the possible power shift following a future royal election ; this however did not gain sufficient support in the Sejm . Next , Władysław attempted to create an order of chivalry , similar to the Order of the Golden Fleece , but this plan was scuttled down as well , with the szlachta and the magnetes seeing this as an attempt to create a royal , loyalist elite , and traditionally opposing anything that could lead to the reduction of their extensive power . Popular vote and opposition also resulted in the failure of the plan to raise taxes from trade tariffs ; here it was not only the nobility but even the merchants and burghers from towns , like Gdańsk ( Danzig ) who were able to muster enough support ( including from foreign powers ) to stop the king ' s reforms . In fact , the defeat of his plans was so total , that he was forced to make certain conciliatory gestures to the nobility , as the Sejm passed several laws constraining his ability ( such as to hire foreign troops ) , further indicating the limits of royal power in the Commonwealth . Marriages . Early in his reign , there were plans regarding marriage of Władysław and Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia , Princess Palatine ( daughter of Frederick V , Elector Palatine ) . This was however unpopular , both with Catholic nobles and the Catholic Church , and when it became clear to Władysław that this would not convince the Swedes to elect him to their throne , this plan , with quiet support from Władysław himself , was dropped . Ferdinand II , Holy Roman Emperor ' s proposal of marriage between Władysław and Archduchess Cecilia Renata of Austria ( sister of future Ferdinand III , Holy Roman Emperor ) arrived in Warsaw somewhere during spring 1636 . In June that year , Władysław sent Jerzy Ossoliński to the Imperial Court , to work on improving the Imperial - Commonwealth relations . King ' s trusted , father Walerian Magni ( of Franciscan religious order ) and voivode Kasper Doenhoff arrived in Regensburg ( ) on 26 October 1636 with consent and performed negotiations . Archduchess dowry was agreed for 100 , 000 złoty ' s , the Emperor also promised to pay the dowries of both of Siegmund III ' s wives : Anna and Konstance . Additionally the son of Władysław and Cecilia Renata was to obtain duchy of Opole and Racibórz in Silesia ( Duchy of Opole and Racibórz ) . However before everything was confirmed and signed Ferdinand II died and Ferdinand III backed from giving the Silesian duchy to the son of Władysław . Instead a dowry was written / protected by Bohemian estates of Třeboň ( Trebon ) . On 16 March 1637 a " family alliance " was signed between the Hapsburg ' s and the Polish branch of the House of Vasa . Władysław promised not to sign any pacts against the Hapsburgs , and to transfer his rights to Swedish throne in case of his line extinction ; in return , Hapsburgs promised to support his efforts to regain the Swedish crown , and to transfer to him some territory in case of gains in a war against the Ottomans . The marriage took place in 1637 , on 12 September . The next few years were similarly unsuccessful with regards to his plans . Eventually , he tried to bypass the opposition in Sejm with secret alliances , dealings , and intrigues , but did not not prove successful . Those plans included schemes such as supporting the Holy Roman Emperor raid on Inflanty in 1639 , which he hoped would lead to a war ; an attempted alliance with Spain against France in 1640 – 1641 , and in 1641 – 1643 , with Denmark against Sweden . On international scene , he attempted to mediate between various religious factions of Christianity , using the tolerant image of the Commonwealth to portray himself as the neutral mediator . He organized a conference in Toruń ( Thorn ) that begun on 28 January 1645 , but it failed to reach any meaningful conclusions . After Cecilia ' s death in 1644 , the ties between Władysław and the Hapsburgs were somewhat loosened . In turn , the relations with France improved , and eventually Władysław married the French princess Ludwika Maria Gonzaga de Nevers , daughter of Karol I Gonzaga , prince de Nevers in 1646 . Władysław ' s last plan was to orchestrate a major war between European powers and the Ottoman Empire . The border with the Empire was in a near constant state of low - level warfare ; some historians estimate that in the first half of the 17th century , Ottoman raids and wars resulted on the loss ( death or enslavement ) of about 300 , 000 Commonwealth citizens in the borderlands . The war , Władysław hoped , would also solve the problem of unrest among Cossacks , a militant group living in Ukraine , near the Ottoman border , who could find worth in such a campaign , and turn their attention to fighting for the Commonwealth , instead of against it . As usual , he failed to inspire the nobility , rarely willing to consider sponsoring another war , to agree to this plan . He received more support from foreign powers , from Rome , Venice and Muscovy . With promise of funds for the war , Władysław started recruiting troops among Cossacks in 1646 . The opposition of the Sejm , demanding that he dismisses the troops , coupled with the Władysław worsening health , crippled that plan as well . Władysław still have not given up , and attempted to resurrect the plan in 1647 , and with support of magnate Jeremi Wiśniowiecki ( who organized military exercises near Ottoman border ) , attempted unsuccessfully to provoke the Ottomans to attack . On 9 August 1647 , his young son , then seven years old , fell ill and died ; the death of his only legitimate heir was a major blow to the king . Death . 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 dying contentiously , 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 . Character . Władysław has also been described as outgoing and friendly , with a sense of humor , optimistic , a " people ' s person " , able to charm many of those who interacted with him . On the other hand , he had short temper and when angered , could act without considering all consequences . Władysław was criticized for being a spendthrift ; he lived lavishly , spending more than his royal court treasury could afford . He also dispensed much wealth among his courtier s , who were seen by people further from the court as taking advantage of the king . He has also been known to maintain several mistresses throughout his life , including during his married period . Assessment . Władysław had many plans ( dynastic , about wars , territorial gains : regaining Silesia , Inflanty ( Livonia ) , incorporation of Ducal Prussia , creation of his hereditary dukedom etc . ) , some of them with real chances of success , but for various reasons , most of them ended in failure during his 16 - year reign . Through his grand international political plans failed , he did improve the Commonwealth foreign policy , supporting the establishment of a network of permanent diplomatic agents in important European countries . During his life , Władysław successfully defended Poland against foreign invasions . He was recognized as a good tactician and strategist , who did much to modernize the Polish Army . Władysław ensured that the officer corps was significantly large so that the army could be expanded ; introduced foreign ( Western ) infantry to the Polish Army , with its pike s and early firearms , and supported the expansion of the artillery . His attempt to create a Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy resulted in the creation of a new port village , Władysławowo . Despite promising beginning , Władysław failed to secure enough funds for the fleet creation ; the ships were gone – sunk , or stolen – by the 1640s . The king , while Catholic , was very tolerant and did not support more aggressive policies of the Counter - Reformation . When he took power , the Senate of Poland had 6 Protestant figures ; when he died , it had 11 . Despite his support for religious tolerance , he did fail , however , to resolve the conflict stemming from the Union of Brest split . Despite his support for the Protestants , he did not stop the growing tide of intolerance , either in Poland or abroad , as shown by the fate of Racovian Academy , or an international disagreement between the faiths . Neither did he get involved with the disagreement about the Orthodox Cossacks , a group that he respected and counted on in his plans . In internal politics he attempted to strengthen the power of the monarchy , but this was mostly thwarted by the szlachta , who valued their independence and democratic powers . Władysław suffered continuing difficulties caused by the efforts of the Polish Sejm ( parliament ) to check the King ' s power and limit his dynastic ambitions . Władysław was fed up with the weak position of the king in the Commonwealth ; his politics included attempting to secure a small , preferably hereditary territory – like a duchy – in which his position would be much stronger . Władysław used the title of the King of Sweden , although he had no control over Sweden whatsoever and never set foot in that country . He continued his attempts to regain the Swedish throne , with similar lack of results as his father . He might have been willing to trade his claim away , but the offer was never put down in the negotiations . Some historians see Władysław as a dreamer who could not stick to one policy , and upon running into first difficulties , ditched it and looked for another opportunity . Perhaps it was due to this lukewarm ability that Władysław was never able to inspire those he ruled to support , at least in any significant manner , any of his plans . Władysław Czapliński in his biography of the king is more understanding , noting the short period of his reign ( 16 years ) and the weakness of the royal position he was forced to deal with . Several years after his death , a diplomatic mission from Muscovy demanded that publications about Władysław ' s victories in the Smolensk War of 1633 – 1634 be collected and burned . Eventually , to much controversy , their demand was met . Polish historian Maciej Rosalak noted : " under the reign of Władysław IV , such a shameful event would have never been allowed . " Patronage . One of the king ' s most substantial achievements was in the cultural sphere ; he became a notable patron of the arts . Władysław was a connoisseur of the arts , in particular , theater and music . He spoke several languages , enjoyed reading historical literature and poetry . He collected paintings and created a notable gallery of paintings in the Warsaw castle . Władysław assembled an important collection of Italian and Flemish Baroque paintings , much of which were lost in the wars after his death . He sponsored many musicians and in 1637 created the first amphitheater in the palace , the first theater in Poland , where during his reign dozens of operas and ballets were performed . He is credited with bringing the very genre of opera to Poland . Władysław ' s attention to theater contributed to the spread of this art form in Poland . He was also interested in poetry , as well as in cartography and historical and scientific works ; he has corresponded with Gallileo . Notable painters and engravers Władysław supported and who attended his royal court included Peter Paul Rubens , Tommaso Dolabella Peter Danckerts de Rij , Wilhelm Hondius , Bartłomiej Strobel , and Christian Melich . His royal orchestra was headed by kapellmeister Marco Scacchi , seconded by Bartłomiej Pękiel . One of the most renowned works he ordered was the raising of the Sigismund ' s Column in Warsaw . The column , dedicated to his father , was designed by the Italian - born architect Constantino Tencalla and the sculptor Clemente Molli , and cast by Daniel Tym . He was less interested in decorative architecture ; he supported the construction of two palaces in Warsaw – Kazanowski Palace and " Villa Regia " . Among other works sponsored by or dedidcated to him is Guido Reni ' s " The Rape of Europa " . Notes . a After some discussions early on , he chose the title of " elected Grand Duke of Moscow " ( " electus Magnus Dux Moscoviae " ) rather than that of a tsar . b Władysław had no children with his second wife , and his first wife bore him only two children ( Maria Anna Izabela and Zygmunt Kazimierz ) , both of them died in their youth . He had at least one known illegitimate son , Władysław Konstanty Vasa , but he played no significant role in the Polish politics . c The confusion stems from an undisambiguated use of the Polish medical term " kamica " in the cited reference work ( Czapliński 1976 ) . Czapliński also mentions that Władysław suffered from ill health throughout his life , related to obesity , rheumatism and kidney issues . There were months - long periods , particularly in 1635 and 1639 , he could not walk .