Chronicle sources depict the Polish King Stefan Batory as one of the most consistent and determined opponents of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in the Livonian War (1558-1583). Largely thanks to his efforts and the military gift of the Commonwe alth, it was possible to nullify all the successes of the Russian troops and impose on Moscow a difficult treaty that deprived the country of access to the sea for more than a hundred years.
Origin
The Batory family is one of the most ancient Hungarian dynasties. The first information about these magnates from the city of Chaumier dates back to the 11th century. In addition to Stephen himself (on the Hungarian motif - Istvan), the princes of Transylvania left their mark on history: Zsigmond, Krishtof and Istvan - the father of the future king of the Commonwe alth. Elizabeth or Erzhbet Bathory left behind a bad reputation. She holds the infamous record for the most documented murders ever committed by a woman. For 25 years, she personally sent about seven hundred people to the next world.
Early years
About the childhood of Stefan Batory leftvery little information. One can only assume that his upbringing was not much different from what representatives of noble dynasties gave their offspring. He was born on September 27, 1533, when his father, Stephen, acted as the Hungarian palatine - in fact, the second person after the king. It is known that at the age of 16, Stefan studied at the University of Padua, but, apparently, science was of little interest to him. Already in his youth, Batory shows a penchant for military affairs.
In the service of the Emperor
In the 16th century, Hungary, under the constant threat of attacks from the Turks, was increasingly drawn into the sphere of influence of the Holy Roman Empire. Its ruler Ferdinand from 1526 bore the title of the Hungarian king. It was to him that Stefan Batory went to serve. Europe, split by contradictions between the largest states, experienced difficult times in those years. In addition to the Reformation covering ever larger territories, it was necessary to constantly defend against the power of the Ottoman Empire, which was at the zenith. It was in the army of Emperor Ferdinand that Stefan first encountered the Turks. However, the young warrior had to face royal ingratitude. In 1553 he was taken prisoner. The emperor refused to pay a ransom for him.
Change of sovereign
As a result of numerous victories, the Turks were able to create a kingdom dependent on the Ottoman Empire on part of the Hungarian territory. The Turkish protégé Janos Zapolyai was placed on the throne. After Ferdinand refused to pay the ransom, Bathory offered Janos hisservices. The one who needed noble and strong supporters agreed.
But Batory had to leave the military craft for a while. He received the position of Ambassador Zapolya. One of his diplomatic missions was sent to Vienna, and there he fell directly into the hands of Ferdinand. Since it was impossible to execute the ambassador, the emperor put him under house arrest, in which Batory spent two years. During this time, he improved the knowledge gained at the university: he read a lot, especially the works of ancient historians.
Invading Transylvania
The Emperor still had to free his captive. Upon his return to Transylvania, Bathory found that the local nobility treated him with sympathy. He did not waste time and established close relationships with many influential people. It helped a lot a few years later.
Janos Zápolya had no children, so the question of succession to the throne was very acute. The prince had a negative attitude towards the growing popularity of Batory and even suspected him of treason. After much deliberation, he decided to appoint treasurer Kaspar Bekes as his successor. But after the death of the prince in 1571, the nobility unanimously demanded that Bekes renounce their rights. Stefan Batory was elected prince. The treasurer tried to resist and even organized several uprisings, but in 1575 Batory finally defeated his troops and confiscated all his possessions.
Rzeczpospolita
In the neighboring state, formed as a result of the union between Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania,a curious system of succession to the throne was established. Local lords did not want to establish the power of one dynasty, so elections were held after the death of one king. For the first time, Batory thought about the possibility of taking the Polish throne in 1573, but the French prince Henry of Valois won the election. But he did not stay on the throne: the autocracy of the gentry, a different culture and the difficult political situation in France became the reasons why Henry secretly left the Commonwe alth in 1575. The gentry was forced to announce new elections.
King of the Commonwe alth
After Henry's flight, three powerful monarchs claimed the Polish throne: Emperor Maximilian, Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible and Stefan Batory. Poland, which suffered heavy losses in the Livonian War, needed a leader who could break the chain of failures. Grozny's candidacy suited part of the nobility, since his election made further military operations meaningless. But the Polish Senate chose Maximilian. This was opposed by the gentry, who understood that the Commonwe alth was in danger of losing its independence under the scepter of the emperor. As a result of an agreement between the Senate and the gentry in 1576, Stefan Batory was elected to the Polish throne with the condition that he marry the sister of the former king Sigismund.
Batory immediately showed a cool temper. The magnates, who took advantage of the period of kinglessness to strengthen their power, did not want to reckon with the opinion of the king. King Stefan Batory, with the support of the middle and small nobility, launched a decisive attack onpower of magnates. Immediately after accession to the throne, he invaded the city of Bansk, where the local nobility was especially stubborn in seeking the election of Maximilian. The king's most stubborn opponents were executed.
Stefan Batory's reforms
The new king sought to introduce the Commonwe alth to European science. On his initiative, the Vilna Academy was opened in 1578. Batory contributed to the spread in the country of the collegiums of the Jezut order, famous for their organizational skills, as well as success in the dissemination of education.
Another important undertaking of the king was the creation of an organization of Zaporozhye Cossacks. He endowed them with lands, allowed them to independently choose the hetman, reserving the right to hand him insignia of power. The Cossack army subsequently formed an important part of the troops of Stefan Batory.
Foreign policy
The Livonian War was inherited from King Sigismund Batory. Ivan the Terrible, annoyed by his defeat, did not want to make peace. The army created as a result of Batory's reforms quickly showed the Russian Tsar his mistake. Already in 1577, the king recaptured Dinaburg and Wenden, and then Polotsk and Velikie Luki, transferring the war to Russian territories. A special page in military history was the siege of Pskov by King Stefan Batory. Its capture would have opened the way to the inner regions of the Muscovite kingdom, but the heroic resistance of the city's defenders thwarted the king's plans to quickly end the war on his own terms. While Stefan Batory continued to stand near Pskov, Ivan the Terrible took an unexpected diplomatic step. He invited toas mediator of the papal legate Antonio Possevino. In 1582, Stefan Batory signed the Treaty of Yam-Zapolsky, according to which Russia ceded all the occupied lands in Livonia, but retained the original Russian cities.
Last years and death
At the end of his reign, Batory was engaged in strengthening the Lithuanian borders and even planned to move the capital to Vilna. At the same time, he worked to create a large anti-Turkish coalition, but when the troops were assembled and ready to march, the king suddenly died. This happened on December 12, 1586.
The death of Batory on the eve of such an important event caused rumors in society about his violent death. To establish the truth, an autopsy was performed - the first in Eastern Europe. However, it was not possible to prove poisoning.
