Treaty of Podolsk

**Treaty of Podolsk** - a treaty signed during the Polish-Muscovite war in September 1611 between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Seven Boyars, the influential noble faction of Russia, previously affiliated to Tsar Vasily Shuisky. The agreement resulted in recognition of Władysław Waza, the son of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's king Zygmunt III Waza, as the legitimate ruler of Russia by this faction. The document also included the territorial changes between Commonwealth and Russia (like Polish acquisition of Smolensk) and decentralization of power in the realm. After Władysław (or Tsar Vladislav I of Russia) consolided power in the Russian state, this treaty became an official peace treaty between the Russian and Polish-Lithuanian realms.

The treaty is told to pose as the beginning of the end of Russian Time of Troubles. It has also made Russia a Commonwealth ally against the Swedish in the Polish-Swedish war in Livonia and future wars.

## Historical Background

*Main Article:* Polish-Muscovite War

Polish-Lithuanian magnates have been involved in the Time of Troubles - Russian period of succession and economic crises - since the beginning of 17th century, supporting false Dimitry I and false Dimitry II. The king of the Commonwealth had unofficially supported nobility's private endeavours, but did not drag the state into direct involvement in Muscovy, as the country has been involved in a war with Sweden and a period of political instability in early 1609. It was only after the current Russian Tsar, Vasily Shuisky, signed an alliance with Sweden in 1609, when Zygmunt III formally declared war.

The Swedish, despite pledging to support the troubled Tsar, opted for concentrating all of their forces in Livonia in hope of quick conquest and threatening the Lithuanian core territories. This proved to cause great problems for Vasily, who was forced to face the vast majority of Polish forces. The Commonwealth began its campaign in Russia with the siege of Smolensk in August 1609. The relocation of Russian forces under prince Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky West to prevent Polish infiltration proved to be catastrophic for the Tsar, as it gave an opportunity for pretender Dimitry II, previously ravaging in the countryside, to start a siege of Moscow.

After the Shuisky aligned forces were decisively defeated by Stanisław Żółkiewski on the Protva River, the Shuisky faction found itself without an army and threatened inside their capital by an usurper, which has gained most of his support by Polish magnates and anti-boyar sentiment. That is when the Seven Boyars, organization which held power inside the faction, have decided to change sides and settle for the Polish support. Stanisław Żółkiewski has met with Patriarch Filaret Romanov and other boyar representatives to discuss the details of this cooperation in September 1611, resulting in the following treaty.

## Terms of the Treaty of Podolsk

As the treaty has been heavily influenced by the Polish-Lithuanian nobility, who has not recognized a Tsardom title, the Russian state is reffered to as the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and Tsar was sometimes referred to as a Grand Duke.

* Prince Władysław Waza became a Grand Duke of Muscovy and a sole ruler of the country. He retained his right of choice of faith he would follow: Orthodox or Roman-Catholic branch of Christianity. However, he pledged that no repressions will be made towards the other and Orthodox Christianity would remain respected within Muscovite higher ranks. He was also to marry an Orhodox boyar of an important Muscovite noble branch in order to strengthen the ties with the people of Muscovy. The spouse later turned out to be Anastasiya Romanovna.
* A decentralization of power was to be issued. The Russian Parliament, Duma, would be reestablished and strengthened. The Grand Duke was obliged to call the Duma for sessions every two years. Boyars would receive a privilege of deciding what kind of wars they are called for are the righteous wars they should dedicate themselves to. Władysław would not be able to call levee en masse for war without the consent of the nobility. A reform of judiciary was also proclaimed to be executed when the situation in Muscovy settled down. Within the new system, every boyar would be guaranteed personal liberty and rule of law, disallowing the Tsar to arrest or punish people without court's verdics.
* Philaret of Romanovs will be proclaimed a patriarch of Moscow.
* The most important boyars that would help in cementing the political reforms and legitimacy of Vladislav in Muscovy were gifted titles of some minor duchies in rich in resources, undeveloped parts of the realm.
* The Grand Duchy of Muscovy was obliged to cede lands surrounding Smolensk and Chernigov to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, effectively leaving no Commonwealth claims within the borders of Russia, which were contested since 16th century.
* The Grand Duchy of Muscovy was obliged to join Poland-Lithuania in their war against Sweden and promised support in reconquest of Ingria, seized by Sweden in the previous decade.
* Poland-Lithuania promised to organize a force of Zaporozhian Cossacks to support Muscovy against the Crimean raids in Southern Russia.

## Consequences

   The Treaty of Podolsk served as means of legitimization of Vladislav's claim to the Russian Throne. Due to having no means of support against the Polish-Lithuanian invaders, the Russian boyars settled for the Commonwealth candidate decisively. This has led to the lost of Polish support for the cause of Dimitry II, which, after successfully capturing Moscow in Autumn 1611, consecutively lost most of his influence. This has let to turmoil in the city and bloodless entry of Vladislav I by the end of the year.

The Polish-Lithuanian forces greatly benefitted from this treaty, as they could dedicate their uncontested attention to the Swedish aggression. Commonwealth forces under the Lithuanian hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz managed to defeat the Swedish forces led by De la Gardie at the Ilmen Lake, detering the final attempt to support the remains of the Shuisky faction in Novgorod. After that Vladislav's claim on Russia has been cemented, and Polish could focus on their reconquest of Livonia, which they did, resulting in the Treaty of Reval in 1614.
The Treaty has thus opened a new period of hegemony of the Polish Vasa line in Eastern Europe, which had allowed Russia to rebuild from the period of turmoil and gave Commonwealth security from its Eastern border, allowing them to involve more of their resources in the upcoming wars in Moldavia.