5 – John III Sobieski (1629 – 1696)
Also known as Jan Sobieski, this great commander is regarded as Poland’s best ever monarch. He is hailed as ‘The Man Who Saved Europe’ due to his brilliant leadership at the Battle of Vienna in 1683 where he helped defeat the Ottomans. Sobieski was born on August 17, 1629, in Olesko, Poland, into a family renowned for its military achievements. As well as being an outstanding soldier, Sobieski was a man of learning and earned a degree from the Jagiellonian University while still a teenager.
On top of everything else, Sobieski was a cultured man due to the large amount of traveling he did after college. He visited numerous great European cities including Paris and London and his experiences shaped the man he became. Sobieski met influential men such as William II, Prince of Orange and Charles II of England and learned to speak German, French, Italian, Latin and even a little of the Tartar language for good measure.
As he was always in learning mode, Sobieski came to understand what made Europe’s great nations so powerful and later used this knowledge to improve his own country when he became king. When the leader of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth died, the Ukrainian Cossacks attempted to break away and gain independence. In response, Sobieski joined the army and quickly gained promotion. For a brief period, he spent time with the Ottomans on a diplomatic mission and learned some Turkish military traditions.
In 1655, Sweden invaded Poland and Sobieski pledged allegiance to the Swedish King, Charles X Gustav. However, he switched sides the following year and kicked the Swedes out of Poland. He enjoyed various military promotions throughout the 1660s after showing great leadership ability time and again. Sobieski defeated the Tartars and Cossacks in October 1667 and became grand hetman of the Polish army the following year. A noblewoman who he called Marysienka saw greatness in Sobieski and hoped to help him become king. However, Michael Wisniowiecki claimed the throne in 1669.
After further victories against the Cossacks, Sobieski became king in 1674 upon the death of Michael. Due to further battles on the frontiers, he was not crowned until 1676. The new king had grand plans for a country that was close to financial ruin. He aimed to implement new reforms, regain lost territories and ally himself with the French and Ottomans against the Habsburgs. However, the Ottomans emerged as the greatest enemy and, after a series of battles; the Poles signed a peace treaty with the Ottomans. Sobieski used this time to reform the army, and he sought new allies. In 1683, he made an agreement with King Leopold of the Holy Roman Empire.
In the same year, his spies uncovered an Ottoman invasion plot. Sobieski immediately ordered the fortification of Krakow and Lwow. He marched against the enemy with the aid of the Saxons and Bavarians as they went to the aid of the Habsburgs. A huge Turkish army of at least 140,000 men besieged the small Viennese garrison. With the city of Vienna at his mercy, Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa did not attack and finish things off. He waited and waited until about a week later; Sobieski and his army rode to the rescue and crushed the enemy. The Turks fled, and Vienna was saved.
He fought against the Turks for another four years but could not gain a decisive victory. Despite spending much of his life on a battlefield, Sobieski remained in excellent health for most of his life. However, the Savior of Europe died in 1696. His successes helped Poland became a great nation, and his triumph at Vienna probably saved Christianity in Europe.