Królewicz Jakub Sobieski i jego kontakty z dworami europejskimi do wybuchu wielkiej wojny północnej
Prince Jakub Sobieski and his contacts with European courts before the outbreak of the Great Northern War

Summary/Abstract: Election and crowning of Jan Sobieski changed the status of his son Jakub for ever, since he became a prince. His parents wanted for him to take over the kingship of Poland, thus they conducted politics that lead to this purpose. In order to reach their goal, they seek support abroad as well as inside the country. The price was included in busy court life, and even efforts were made for him to play an important political and military role, which was supposed to be signified by his participation in the Vienna Campaign, and subsequently, in Moldova. The fact that the prince took part in the journey of 1683 bear fruit of his contacts with princes of Reich, among who he fought the Turks. Another way to success of the prince was to be a lucrative marriage, giving him the support of people he would have been related to by it. Those endeavors, despite being immensely time-consuming, landed him in a marriage with Hedwig Elisabeth of Neuburg, coming from the family deeply-rooted in political scene of Europe. On the one hand, it resulted for young Sobieski in a hope for support from the emperor, but on the other hand, almost thwarted the political partnership with France. Notwithstanding, after his father’s death Jakub Sobieski seek support for his candidacy not only in Vienna, but also in Stockholm, Königsberg, and even planned a political turn by looking for help in Versailles. The help was declarred by his brother-in-law Maximilian Emanuel Wittelsbach. After the defeat of 1697, the prince stopped looking for opportunity to play serious political role. He among others counted on taking over the Principality of Piombino, where the ruling dynasty had died out. During the Northern War he tried, with a help of Charles XII, to capture the crown of Poland. It resulted in his imprisonment. It appeared that no foreign help will guarantee Sobieski keeping stable political position. But, it brought about anxiety of Augustus II concerning the chances of his family in terms of taking over the kingship of Poland as well as his deep aversion to Jakub, whom he perceived as his rival.

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