alternatehistory.com
Chapter 40: Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold
Part 40: Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold (1680-1689)
Žygimantas II lacked the ambition of his father, lacked it among many, many other things. During his father's reign, the prince was groomed in the royal court, first looked after by nannies, then by "volunteer" courtiers, and he grew to be a decadent, sinful person who would much rather spend his time in lavish feasts and going after the prettiest whores rather than trying to be the best emperor for his country. Naturally, this didn't bode well with any part of the empire. Even his father was growing disappointed in how the heir turned out, and the Lithuanian nobility feared the day when the old emperor would die and the flamboyant weakling will ascend. And that day has arrived.
If Žygimantas II were to rule in, say, the 1630s, perhaps everything could have been fine. After all, Jonas I didn't do too badly in his reign. But this was a different time, and now, enemies from outside and from within were eyeing the weakened empire like a flock of vultures, and thus, there was a lot of reason to fear for the future.
Emperor Žygimantas II of Lithuania
Lithuania's greatest adversary at the time directly ties in to the most troubling province of the Empire - Galicia. Conquered by Emperor Albertas Jogaila half a century ago, Galicia was populated with Poles and Ruthenians, and their people were dying to return back to their homeland, Visegrad. Large military detachments had to constantly be stationed in the region to pacify the populace, which had been on the brink of revolt for the last two decades. The Empire was unwilling to let go of Galicia, however, as it's wealth, high population and strategic position more than paid off for the trouble. Galicia, and especially Lemberg, the biggest city and strongest fortress in the region, was Lithuania's gate to the West. But who was constantly funding the rebellions? Who was using the suppression of Galician Poles for propaganda value? Who was sharpening their sword for an attack to the East as a response?
If your answer to all of those questions is "Visegrad", then you'd be right.
The Union of Visegrad was an oddity in European politics. Between the oligarchic democracy of France and many German countries, and the dark autocracy of Britannia and Lithuania, it looked like a mix of the two. It had a King, but an elected one, and he shared his power with the nobility, the National Assembly. These two institutions cooperated to organize the country's policy both domestically and in foreign affairs. The phrase "noble democracy" can sometimes be thrown at it, but the power of the King was too strong to have Visegrad be simply classified as a weird republic. One issue would always form the heart of Visegradian politics - their relations with the big eastern neighbour. The House of Luxembourg, the reigning dynasty, rode of the waves of revanchism that seeped across the country after the defeats in the Twenty Years War, and the reign of Charles VI saw major reforms in the country's military, adapting the Swedish model of military organization and applying mercantilist policies to increase the country's budget. Visegrad was sharpening his teeth, and even though the Amsterdam System prevented them from attacking Lithuania immediately after Žygimantas II's ascension, a stroke of luck was about to shine for them...
While Visegrad was the biggest outside threat for the Empire, internal problems plagued it as well.
After the Great Russian Revolt, the spirit of the Russian people had been broken for a long time. Many of the most energetic and determined leaders of the nation left for the East, where the country of Volga-Russia was formed. The Lithuanian kings, later emperors, tried to stamp out the primary things that incited the Russians to revolt - Volanism, Russian history and their ties to the West. Orthodox priests would travel through Russia day and night to discourage the populace from their heretical faith, official chronicles would avoid any mention of Russian history before the Lithuanians, and trade routes to the region were closed. But even these conditions did not stop the russkaya dusha from thriving and surviving. Volanite ideals and Russian traditions began to form the basis for a new Russian nation, focused on patriotism, piety and the democratic ideas of the Great Russian Revolt. Within the second half of the 17th century, numerous underground Russian organizations began to form, the new generation, educated in Western universities, was starting to take the torch. The undisputed leader of the brewing new Russian Revolt was Vladislav Semyonov, the son of a minor Russian noble from Tver, famous for his charisma and passion only matched by his peers in the so-called "Group for Russian Liberation".
The Russians were not the only internal problem for Žygimantas II to deal with - his own base of supporters was rapidly shrinking, and to explain that, we need to take a look into the style of rule of the monarchs of Lithuania from the end of the 16th century onward. The rising and powerful nobility was a threat to the ambitions of Queen Sofija and Emperor Albertas Jogaila. Unlike their predecessors, they could no longer rely on the nobles to remain on the throne, especially when they were starting to develop dangerous beliefs on, say, emancipating the serfs or giving the people more power in the government. Instead, they turned towards a fairly recent phenomenon in Lithuania - the military class. Since the establishment of a standing mercenary army, the military was no longer made up of noble volunteers, instead being composed of professional career soldiers from all three estates, and due to the age-old tradition of Lithuanian militarism, they were a force to be reckoned with in political affairs. Because of the expansive nature of the Lithuanian Empire, the monarchy and the military entered a bountiful "marriage of interests", both structures helping one another for their own needs, which led to the position of Grand Hetman (supreme army commander) becoming one of the most influential positions within the country.
However, the ascension of Žygimantas II changed that. Žygimantas II was either not aware of these ties between him and the military, or resented them, as he ignored the army matters and instead shifted his focus on reconciling with the nobility, if not just feasting all the way through. Obviously, angering your family's biggest political ally without a big reason was not a good thing, and this situation was even worsened in 1685, when the old Grand Hetman, Jaunutis Songaila, who was willing to put up with the flamboyant king, died, replaced by Aleksandras Chodkevičius, a general from Black Rus', who was far less tolerant of this betrayal. But one couldn't just remove the Emperor, right? Žygimantas II had no brothers, only sisters, and his closest male relatives were generations apart - plus, removing a 400 year old monarchy and the head of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church wouldn't give great PR with the people, so what could be done?..
Nevertheless, it was a not good time for Lithuania to have infighting.
In 1686, many diplomats and rulers across Europe gasped as France and Spain suddenly went to war. Although, in hindsight, this wasn't as surprising as one might think. It was, in fact, a colonial conflict - while the Spaniards historically were a domineering force in the Caribbean, the rising French nation challenged them, establishing a set of colonies along the northern coast of South Vespucia, the so-called colony of Nouveau-France[1], eventually coming into conflict with the Spanish settlements in the region, who were also colonizing it under the name of Nuevo Galicia. War broke out when a French fleet, sent to reinforce the French settlers, was accidentally shelled by the Spanish ships in the sea, who mistook it for pirates. The war quickly spread to the Old World, skirmishes began in the Pyrenees, and neither country could no longer help enforce the Amsterdam System anymore - a stroke of luck for Visegrad on a scale of the Battle of Buda.
In the first months of 1687, after a portion of the Lithuanian garrisons were pulled out to reinforce troubling Russian regions, Galicia suddenly erupted in a major revolt. The rebels seized numerous towns, villages and fortresses along the Lithuanian-Visegradian border, and even won a number of clashes with Lithuanian troops in the first month. Something was off about this event, though. These didn't feel like simple rebels - they seemed too well financed, coordinated and attached to the neighbour in the West. Many of them were as well armed, if not even better armed, than their opponents. It was quite clear who was pulling the strings behind this revolt, who incited it and who helped make it happen.
However, Žygimantas II's reaction to the news was far from what the court and the military expected. When he was informed of the Galician Revolt and their possible ties to Visegrad, the emperor instantly went for the worst option possible, and ordered his army to mobilize and his diplomatic corps to declare war on Visegrad. It had to be done, in his eyes. And thus, war began. Charles VI, who was having the time of his life with all of the successes falling in his hands, immediately played the victim card. Lithuania broke the Treaty of Amsterdam! They want to annex all of Poland, or even beyond! They will break the balance of power in Europe!
Lithuania, with it's disloyal army and a brewing second Great Russian Revolt, now found itself fighting a war against an adversary who's more than meets the eye.
Apsaugok, Viešpatie.
---
1. OTL Venezuela and the Guyanas
Part 40: Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold (1680-1689)
If Žygimantas II were to rule in, say, the 1630s, perhaps everything could have been fine. After all, Jonas I didn't do too badly in his reign. But this was a different time, and now, enemies from outside and from within were eyeing the weakened empire like a flock of vultures, and thus, there was a lot of reason to fear for the future.
Emperor Žygimantas II of Lithuania
If your answer to all of those questions is "Visegrad", then you'd be right.
The Union of Visegrad was an oddity in European politics. Between the oligarchic democracy of France and many German countries, and the dark autocracy of Britannia and Lithuania, it looked like a mix of the two. It had a King, but an elected one, and he shared his power with the nobility, the National Assembly. These two institutions cooperated to organize the country's policy both domestically and in foreign affairs. The phrase "noble democracy" can sometimes be thrown at it, but the power of the King was too strong to have Visegrad be simply classified as a weird republic. One issue would always form the heart of Visegradian politics - their relations with the big eastern neighbour. The House of Luxembourg, the reigning dynasty, rode of the waves of revanchism that seeped across the country after the defeats in the Twenty Years War, and the reign of Charles VI saw major reforms in the country's military, adapting the Swedish model of military organization and applying mercantilist policies to increase the country's budget. Visegrad was sharpening his teeth, and even though the Amsterdam System prevented them from attacking Lithuania immediately after Žygimantas II's ascension, a stroke of luck was about to shine for them...
While Visegrad was the biggest outside threat for the Empire, internal problems plagued it as well.
After the Great Russian Revolt, the spirit of the Russian people had been broken for a long time. Many of the most energetic and determined leaders of the nation left for the East, where the country of Volga-Russia was formed. The Lithuanian kings, later emperors, tried to stamp out the primary things that incited the Russians to revolt - Volanism, Russian history and their ties to the West. Orthodox priests would travel through Russia day and night to discourage the populace from their heretical faith, official chronicles would avoid any mention of Russian history before the Lithuanians, and trade routes to the region were closed. But even these conditions did not stop the russkaya dusha from thriving and surviving. Volanite ideals and Russian traditions began to form the basis for a new Russian nation, focused on patriotism, piety and the democratic ideas of the Great Russian Revolt. Within the second half of the 17th century, numerous underground Russian organizations began to form, the new generation, educated in Western universities, was starting to take the torch. The undisputed leader of the brewing new Russian Revolt was Vladislav Semyonov, the son of a minor Russian noble from Tver, famous for his charisma and passion only matched by his peers in the so-called "Group for Russian Liberation".
The Russians were not the only internal problem for Žygimantas II to deal with - his own base of supporters was rapidly shrinking, and to explain that, we need to take a look into the style of rule of the monarchs of Lithuania from the end of the 16th century onward. The rising and powerful nobility was a threat to the ambitions of Queen Sofija and Emperor Albertas Jogaila. Unlike their predecessors, they could no longer rely on the nobles to remain on the throne, especially when they were starting to develop dangerous beliefs on, say, emancipating the serfs or giving the people more power in the government. Instead, they turned towards a fairly recent phenomenon in Lithuania - the military class. Since the establishment of a standing mercenary army, the military was no longer made up of noble volunteers, instead being composed of professional career soldiers from all three estates, and due to the age-old tradition of Lithuanian militarism, they were a force to be reckoned with in political affairs. Because of the expansive nature of the Lithuanian Empire, the monarchy and the military entered a bountiful "marriage of interests", both structures helping one another for their own needs, which led to the position of Grand Hetman (supreme army commander) becoming one of the most influential positions within the country.
However, the ascension of Žygimantas II changed that. Žygimantas II was either not aware of these ties between him and the military, or resented them, as he ignored the army matters and instead shifted his focus on reconciling with the nobility, if not just feasting all the way through. Obviously, angering your family's biggest political ally without a big reason was not a good thing, and this situation was even worsened in 1685, when the old Grand Hetman, Jaunutis Songaila, who was willing to put up with the flamboyant king, died, replaced by Aleksandras Chodkevičius, a general from Black Rus', who was far less tolerant of this betrayal. But one couldn't just remove the Emperor, right? Žygimantas II had no brothers, only sisters, and his closest male relatives were generations apart - plus, removing a 400 year old monarchy and the head of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church wouldn't give great PR with the people, so what could be done?..
Nevertheless, it was a not good time for Lithuania to have infighting.
In 1686, many diplomats and rulers across Europe gasped as France and Spain suddenly went to war. Although, in hindsight, this wasn't as surprising as one might think. It was, in fact, a colonial conflict - while the Spaniards historically were a domineering force in the Caribbean, the rising French nation challenged them, establishing a set of colonies along the northern coast of South Vespucia, the so-called colony of Nouveau-France[1], eventually coming into conflict with the Spanish settlements in the region, who were also colonizing it under the name of Nuevo Galicia. War broke out when a French fleet, sent to reinforce the French settlers, was accidentally shelled by the Spanish ships in the sea, who mistook it for pirates. The war quickly spread to the Old World, skirmishes began in the Pyrenees, and neither country could no longer help enforce the Amsterdam System anymore - a stroke of luck for Visegrad on a scale of the Battle of Buda.
In the first months of 1687, after a portion of the Lithuanian garrisons were pulled out to reinforce troubling Russian regions, Galicia suddenly erupted in a major revolt. The rebels seized numerous towns, villages and fortresses along the Lithuanian-Visegradian border, and even won a number of clashes with Lithuanian troops in the first month. Something was off about this event, though. These didn't feel like simple rebels - they seemed too well financed, coordinated and attached to the neighbour in the West. Many of them were as well armed, if not even better armed, than their opponents. It was quite clear who was pulling the strings behind this revolt, who incited it and who helped make it happen.
However, Žygimantas II's reaction to the news was far from what the court and the military expected. When he was informed of the Galician Revolt and their possible ties to Visegrad, the emperor instantly went for the worst option possible, and ordered his army to mobilize and his diplomatic corps to declare war on Visegrad. It had to be done, in his eyes. And thus, war began. Charles VI, who was having the time of his life with all of the successes falling in his hands, immediately played the victim card. Lithuania broke the Treaty of Amsterdam! They want to annex all of Poland, or even beyond! They will break the balance of power in Europe!
Lithuania, with it's disloyal army and a brewing second Great Russian Revolt, now found itself fighting a war against an adversary who's more than meets the eye.
Apsaugok, Viešpatie.
---
1. OTL Venezuela and the Guyanas
- Augenis
- Word Count: 1.6k