History of Poland

Preface

In submitting the following compendium to his readers, the author hopes, in justice both to them and himself, that he may not be charged with presumption for saying that it is no compilation. Its parts have been carefully derived from about sixty original sources — Polish, Bohemian, Hungarian, German, French, &c, of which some are very scarce in this country. His honesty in this respect must be apparent to any one who will be at the trouble of verifying his references.

A consideration no less important is, whether he has shown the same honesty in relating facts as in ascending to their sources : in other words, is he impartial ?

To that numerous, to that all indeed but universal, class of politicians, who at present praise every thing that is Polish, and decry every thing that is Muscovite, — who with one voice predict the inevitable if not speedy triumph of the Poles, — his wish to do justice to the Russians may be construed into approbation of their cause. He protests against such an interpretation of his feelings. If he has a prejudice for either a 3

VI PREFACE.

party it is for the weaker. While he expresses his impression that, unless some extraordinary circumstance intervene, the Poles, almost super-human as is their valour, must eventually fall, he deeply and sincerely laments the probability of that catastrophe. He cannot, however, shut his eyes to the force of facts : he cannot be made to believe that the contest is to be conducted on equal terms: he cannot but see that great physical superiority and immense resources are on the side of Russia : he cannot therefore join in the general anticipation as to the result. Popular opinion is as contagious as it is veering : though inconstant as the wind, its empire is not the less secure. Whoever recollects how its current ran during the late war between Russia and Turkey, — now in favour of the former, now as strongly directed towards the latter, and how it reverted to its original channel, will pardon those who hesitate to sail with it.

But, whether victors or vanquished, the Poles must have the respect of humanity. During the present struggle they have exhibited, not only a heroism far surpassing any thing to be found in modern history, but a forbearance and a liberality even, towards their prisoners, which covers them with a glory immeasurably above it. Though their cause has been sullied by some excesses, they have, at length, abandoned their ferocious

PREFACE. Vll

habit of refusing quarter ; and towards " disarmed guests," now so numerous, in Warsaw especially, they use, not only all the courtesy of the most polished, but all the generosity of the most warm-hearted nation. Not less to be admired is their unbending constancy in resisting their giant antagonist, — a constancy worthy the best age of Rome. In this there is something infinitely more valuable than the brute courage which defies, or the mechanical discipline which coolly faces, danger : there is all the moral elevation of a great and holy purpose, acting alike on the understandings and hearts of the most high-minded people in Europe. The present struggle, indeed, exhibits throughout a moral picture of greatness and interest, perhaps unparalleled in the historical annals of Europe.

Nor, while advocating the Polish cause — the cause of justice, of humanity, and of policy — must the author withhold the meed of praise to some acts of the Russian emperor, who in the strictest manner enjoined his troops, " not merely to refrain from the slightest wanton ravage, but to show themselves the protectors, the friends, of the peasantry."

There is no evidence to prove that these orders have been in the main disobeyed, whatever isolated instances of their infraction — possibly a 4

Vlll PREFACE.

exaggerated by a partial press — have been adduced. However strange the assertion may sound in most English ears, nothing is more certain than that Europe does not contain a sovereign more averse to oppression or cruelty than the tsar Nicholas, — not one more disposed to better the condition of all his people. Throughout his connection with Poland (and the case is equally true of his predecessor) he has omitted no opportunity of confirming the prosperity of the country, — often by considerable grants from his treasury both to national and individual objects, — nor can he be reproached with having exhibited more favour to his hereditary than to his newly-acquired subjects. Of the just complaints brought against his government by the Poles, he has since said, — and there is no reason to doubt his sincerity — that he was ignorant. Nor will this circumstance surprise any one acquainted with the extreme difficulty of complaints ever meeting the imperial notice. They have to pass through such an army of underlings scattered over so immense a line of communication, — all suspicious of their misdeeds being exposed, and consequently vigilant to prevent the exposure — that their arrival at their destination is little less than miraculous. The Poles, however, had channels enough for bringing their grievances before the tsar. Though

PREFACE. IX

memorials or petitions would probably have failed, any Polish noble might have proceeded to St. Petersburgh, and might have obtained an audience of his sovereign. That Nicholas would have redressed the wrongs of his people, and that the necessity of appealing to arms would have been* averted, is firmly believed by those best acquainted with his sentiments and character. Among those who think they have grounds for this opinion, is the writer of the present volume. Conjecture, however, as to what might have been is now vain : the two parties hold each other in the deadly grasp, and neither can draw back with policy. If the emperor were now to recognise the independence of his revolted subjects, the step would be attributed, not to magnanimity, but to weakness : if the Poles submitted without further struggle, that submission might only invite to renewed oppression. They are fighting for a mighty stake — for independence, or for utter, if not helpless, degradation : the alternative is fearful. But alas ! could even the acquisition of independence atone for the horrors sustained by the Poles during the present contest — for the total exhaustion which those horrors must leave behind ? However valuable liberal institutions be, we may reasonably doubt whether they are not too dearly purchased by the sacri-

X PREFACE.

fices sometimes made for them ; whether plenty, under the most absolute of governments, be not preferable to want with the utmost limit of human liberty. The peasant of Spain or of the Tyrol does not appear less happy that he lives under an arbitrary ruler ; neither certainly would exchange conditions with the English labourer.

Introduction

A.D.

892. 921.

TheSlavi ....

Origin of the Poles .

Division of the Subject

Lech I. -

Change of Government

Lech II. _

W^nda

Change of Government

Fable

Lesko I.

Extraordinary Mode of choosing a Ruler

Lesko II.

Lesko III.

Popiel I.

Popiel II.

Fable - -

Civil Strife

Fable

PlAST „

Ziemowit

Lesko IV. - -

Zemomysl

Page

- 4 . 4 . 5

- 5 . 6

- 7 . 8

- 14 . 14

Chapter I

962. MiecislasI,, 965. His Conversion

966—979. That of his Subjects Reflections

986—991. His Wars 999. Death

15 15 16 17 19 20

XU CONTENTS.

Boleslas L - - 20

His Character - . - - 20

1001. Poland made a Kingdom" - - . 20

1002—1018. Wars of Boleslas : — 1. With Bohemia and the Empire 21

Labours for the Good of his People - - 24

Miecislas II. - - _ 25

1026—1034. His inglorious Wars - - - - 25

His Prudence - - - - 32

1062 — 1076. Wars with the Bohemians, Hungarians, and Muscovites 35

1076. His Dissipation at Kiow - - - 38

Extraordinary Relation - - - 39

1067—1079. His Excesses at Home - - - 41

Murder of St Stanislas - - - - 42

Punishment, Death, and Character of Boleslas - - 43

1082. Uladislas I. - 44

Not recognised as King - .- - 44

1089. Recall and Death of his Nephew - - - 45

His bastard Son rebels - - - - 48

1C98. Conduct of both Sons - - ... 49

1102— 1106. Perversity of Sbigniew - - -51

1107. Intrepidity of Boleslas - - - 52

1109. Siege of Glogaw - - - - 54

1116. Sbigniew assassinated • - - 56

1116—1129. Remorse of Boleslas - - - - 56

1135—1138. Boleslas is defeated - - - - 57

Chap. II

1139. Poland divided into Governments - - - 59

1140. Uladislas II. - - " - - - 60 1141—1146. Invades the Rights of his Brothers - - 60

Is resisted and expelled - - - - 61

Boleslas, IV. - - ... 62

1149—1163. His Transactions with the Empire - - - 62

1164—1173. His Disasters and Death - - • 63

CONTENTS. Xill

A.D.

Page

MlECISLAS III. -

His Vices and Expulsion -

Casimir the Just -

Reforms Abuses ...

1181—1191

. Restlessness of Miecislas ...

Wars of Casimir - -

Lesko the White -

Opposed by Miecislas, who obtains the Government

Death of Miecislas - -

Uladislas III.

* 69

Resigns. . . .

Lesko the White restored -

Is assassinated -

Corruption of Morals at this Period

Boleslas V.

The Teutonic Knights - -

Settled in Poland ...

1233—1240,

, Disasters of the Duchy .

Invasion of the Tatars

Unworthy Conduct of Boleslas

1247—1260.

New Disasters -

The Jadvingi subdued ...

Death and Character of Boleslas

Lesko the Black - - * .

1279—1289.

Internal Troubles ...

Death of Lesko ....

1289—1295.

Horrid Anarchy - -

Chap. III

1295. Prezemislas, King of Poland - - - - 80 His wise Government - - - * 81

1296. His Murder - - - - 82 Troubles - - - - 82

Is unpopular, and abandons Poland - - - 83

1306. Uladislas IV. the Short - - - - 84

1307—1331. His Transactions and Wars with the Teutonic Knights 85

1322. Loss of Silesia - - - - - 88

1325. Alliance with the Lithuanians - - - 89

1333. Death and Character - - - - 90

The Dulcean Heretics ( > - , - 90

Casimir III. or the Great ... 91

Makes Peace with the Knights - - 91

Reforms Abuses - - - - 91

1347. Mends the Laws. Code of Wisliza - « 92

Encourages Industry and the Arts - . - 95

Chooses Lewis of Hungary to succeed him - -95

X1T CONTENTS.

1349. His Success in War - - . -96

1370. Death and Character - - - - 98

The Flagellants - - - - - 98

Is unpopular - - . - - 100

1376. Abandons Poland - - - - 100

1382. Death and Character - - - - 101 Interregnum - - - - 102

1385. Her Suitors, and romantic Attachment to William Duke

of Austria - - - - - 103

1386. Consents to marry Jagello - - . 104 Uladislas V. (Jagello) - 105

1387. Converts the Lithuanians - - - 105 1387, &c. His Transactions with them . - 106 1404, &C. With the Teutonic Knights - - - 108

His Generosity towards the Emperor Sigismund - - 109

His Jealousy of his Wives ... -110

1430. His Son declared his Successor - . -Ill

Uladislas VI. - - - 112

1435, &c. Troubles during his Minority - - . 112

1439. He is called to the Throne of Hungary - - 113

144a His Wars with the Turks - - - 114

1444. Peace made, and shamefully broken by the Christians - 114 Indignation of the Sultan Amurath - 115 Defeat and Death of Uladislas - - - -116

1445. Casimir IV. ... 117 1447, &c. His Repugnance to take the Oaths - -117 1454, &c His Transactions with the Knights - - - 118 1459, &c. With the Lithuanians - - - 119 1479, &c. With the Russians and Tatars - - - 119 1471, &c. With the Bohemians and Hungarians - - 120

Progress of Aristocracy under Casimir IV. Origin of

Aristocratical Representation - -, - 121

1492. Death and Character of Casimir - - - - 123

John I. (Albert) - - - - - 124

149S. He penetrates into Wallachia - - - 125

1498. Invasion of the Turks, &c. - - - -125

1499. Of the Muscovites - - - 126

1500. Perfidy as well as Weakness of John Albert - - 126

1501. His Death and Character - - - - 127 Selfishness of the Aristocracy - - -127 Alexander - - - - - 127

1502, &c. His Baseness to Achmet Noble Behaviour of that Prince 128

1506. Defeat of the Tatars - - - 129

Death of Alexander, and Character of his Reign - - 129

CONTENTS. XV

1508, &c. His Transactions with Muscovy - - 130

1509, &c. With the Wallachians - - - - 132

1510, &c. With the Knights - - - 132 1525. Abolition of the Teutonic Order. Origin of the Greatness

of the House of Brandenburg - - - 134

Moderation (and Embarrassments) of Sigismund - - 135

Yet he persecutes the Lutherans - - 136

1548. His Death and Character - - - 136 Sigismund II. (Augustus) . - - 137

1549. Opposition to his clandestine Marriage - - 138 1552. Religious Dissensions. Progress of the Reformation - 139

Appeal of a married Priest against the Infliction of the

Ecclesiastical Penance - 141

1553, &c. Strange Policy of the King - - - 142

1556, &c. His Transactions with Livonia and the Russians - 144

With Lithuania - . - 146

Book II

CHAP. L

Preliminary Proceedings -

Opening of the Diet of Election

Candidates - -

Election of Henry de Valois

Pacta Conventa, afterwards called " Articles of Henry'

" 152

Henry - -

His Unpopularity -

Incident - -

His inglorious Flight

Troubles consequent on his Election

His Wars with Muscovy -

The Cossacks ...

Judicial Reforms, &c. «- -

Licentiousness of the Nobles

Death and Character of Batory.

Troubles consequent on his Election

He triumphs over his Rival

His Unpopularity -

He loses the Swedish Crown -

His Wars in Livonia - -

1605—1618

. His Transactions with Muscovy

1620—1623

With the Turks. Heroism of the Poles

XVI CONTENTS.

1620—1629. His Wars with the Swedes - -177

Uladislas VII. - - - 179

1634, &c. His Wars with the Muscovites - - 180

1635. His Transactions with the Turks - - - 181

His Transactions with Sweden - - 181

1638. Insurrection of the Cossacks - - 182

1648. Bogdan, their Chief - - - - 183 Death and Character of Uladislas . . .184 Interregnum - - 185 Ravages of Bogdan - - 185

1649. Election of a new King - . - - 186 ,John II. (Casimir) - - - 187

1649—1653. His Wars with the Cossacks, &c. - - 187

1654. Invasion of the Russians - « - -190

1655—1660. Of the Swedes. Subjugation of Poland - - 191

1660. Its Emancipation - . . . 192

1658. Death and Character of Bogdan - - - 194

1660—1667. Other Wars of John Casimir - - - - 195

1658. Civil Dissensions - - - - 196

1668. Abdication of the King - - - - 197

Character of his Reign - - - -198

Extraordinary Election of Prince Michael Koributh - 199

Michael, his Character - - - 200

1669, &c. Hi's disastrous Reign - - - - 200

1670—1673. War with the Cossacks and Turks. Triumphs of Sobieski 201

Death and Character of Michael - - 204

1673, 1674. Interregnum. Election of Sobieski - . 205

1676. John III. Wars with the Turks, &c. - - 207

His splendid Success - _ 208

1678. His imprudent Truce with Muscovy - - - 209

1678—1682. Internal Disorders - - - - 209

His Alliance with the Empire - - - 210

1683. Campaign of Vienna, - - -211

1684—1691. Imprudent Policy of the King - - - - 212

His Weakness - - - - - 213

Election of Frederic Augustus I. - - 218

1699. The King recovers Kaminiec - - 219

1700—1705. His Alliance with Peter the Great, and his War with

He is deposed by Charles XII. - - - 220

Elevation of Stanislas - - - 221

1710. Restoration of Frederic Augustus - 221

1726. Loss of Courland - - - - 222

1724. Religious Intolerance. Affair of Thorn „ - .223

CONTENTS. XVii

A. D- Pa S e

Horrid Cruelty - - - - - 224

1733. Death of the King - - - -225

Troubles of the Interregnum - ; - - - 225

Frederic Augustus II. forced on the Poles - - 227

1736, &c. His Idleness and Dissipation . - 227

Influence of Russia - - - -228'

Factions - - - - 230

Russian Influence increases - - 230

176a Death of the King - - - -232

Disasters of his Reign - - - 232

Policy of the Empress Catherine - - 233

State of Parties. Manoeuvres of Russia and Prussia - 233

1764. Tumultuous Diet Patriotism of two noble Poles - - 234

Illegal Election of Stanislas Augustus - - 237

1765, &c. His good Intentions frustrated by Russia - - 237

1768, &c. Violence of that Power - - - 238

The Poles vainly endeavour to throw off the Yoke - 238

1772. First Partition of Poland - - - 239 Impudent Pretensions of the Three Powers - - 239

1773. Diet of this Year. Intrepidity of Reyten - - 240 1775, &c. Selfishness of the Polish Nobles - - -242

1778—1792. Remarkable Diet New Constitution - - 242

Violence of Catherine, and Weakness of Stanislas - 243

1793. Second Partition - - - - 244

The Poles rise* Exploits of Kosciusko - - 244

They are reduced by Suwarof and the Prussians - - 246

1795. Third Partition. Annihilation of the Republic - -245

Reflections - - - • - 246

CHAP. III.

1796. Sympathy for the Poles - - - 247

1797. Polish Nobles enter the French Service . - 248 They are deceived by Bonaparte - 249

1801. Their Exploits in Italy - - - - 249

Condition of their Countrymen at home - - 250

1806. Bonaparte draws them to his Standard ... 252

1807. Grand Duchy of Warsaw formed - - - 253 Its Constitution ■> - - - - 253

1809. Its Condition, and its Services to France - - 254

1812. Bonaparte again draws them to his Standard ) . . 255 His insulting Duplicity ... 256

1813. Fall of the Grand Duchy - - - .257

1814. Attention of the Allied Sovereigns directed to Poland . 257

1815. Policy of Alexander - - - . .258 Bases of the Treaty of Vienna. Kingdom of Poland

restored - • i . 259

XV 111 CONTENTS.

Articles of the Constitutional Charter . - 260

1818. Prosperity of Poland. Popularity of her King - - 262 Differences begin between the Poles and him. Consider.

ationson the Causes of the Disagreement - - 264

Advice of Dombrowski : its Effect - - 265

1819. Fermentation of the Public Mind. Censorship laid on the

Secret Societies - - - - - 266

1820, &c. Unpopularity of Constantine - - - 267

1824. Grievances of the Poles - - - - 268

Examined - - - - 269

1825. The National Prosperity improves - 269 Mistrust and Hatred between Alexander and the Poles - 270

1830. Influence of the French Insurrection in Poland - - 271

Other Causes of the Polish Insurrection - - 272

Its Explosion and Details - 273

Its Success - - 274

Administrative Council - - 275

Considerations on the present Struggle - - 276

Republic of Cracow : its Constitution - - 277

CHAP. IV. State of Polish Society in its Infancy - 278

Authority of the Generals - 278

The National Tribunals - - - - 279

Formation of the Senate - 279

Convocation of the warlike Nobles - - 280

The Feudal forsaken for the Teutonic Law - - 281

State of Polish Legislation - - - 281

Powers of the King . - . - 282

Of the Senate .... 282

The Palatines - - .. - - 283

The Castellans - - - - - 283

The Starosts - , - - - 284

The Diets - - . - -284

Various Kinds of Diet - - - - 284

The Veto, and other Abuses of the Diet - - 285

Confederations - 286

Their various Kinds - - - - 287

The Dietines - - - - - 288

Manners of the Poles. The Slavi were democratic - 288

Testimony of Dlugoss ... 289

Paganism yields to Christianity - 289

Progress of Manners - 290

The Polish Nobles well informed - - - 291

Readiness of the Peasants to repair their Disasters - 291 Imitative Character of the Poles ... 292

CONTENTS. XIX

The Jews in Poland - . . 292

Their Condition at various Periods - 293

Their unprincipled Dealings ... 294

Their numerical Increase - - , 294

Their Boldness - - - - 295

Their Disaffection or Loyalty - - 295

Their internal Dissensions occasioned by false Messias 296

Frank of Wallachia : Maxim of his Sect - - 296

Private Condition of the Jews - - - 297

Their Conduct as Spies - -297

Regiments of Jews ... -298

Their Fecundity, and Injury to the Polish Nation - 298

Their Universal Chief - 298