Jan III Sobieski

Early years

Jan III Sobieski was a member of the ‘szlachta’, that is a member of those Polish noblemen, who cared greatly about education. As a young man, he studied in Kraków and in Western Europe, travelled widely, learned several languages including French and Italian and learned abroad the skills of organising armies and constructing fortifications for defence. He also took an interest in art and architecture. It is in his time that the beautiful palace in Wilanów was built. You can visit the palace today, not only to admire the building and the surrounding gardens, but also to learn more about the king and his times in the Museum of King III Sobieski. You can also listen to concerts which are often organised in its unique interiors. Being just a few kilometres from Warsaw, it will be a welcome break from the bustle and crowds of a large city.

King and Commander of the Polish Army

In 1674 Jan III Sobieski was chosen to be King of Poland. History shows that he was a great leader and a talented commander of armies. He had already won important battles in Chocim and later in Żurawno against the Turks (thus regaining previously captured territories), when in 1683, he set off with his army of 23,000 soldiers to Vienna to stop the Ottoman Empire from capturing the city. The Siege of Vienna became one of the most famous battles in this part of Europe. King Jan Sobieski became the Chief Commander of joint Polish, Austrian and German armies and he led these armies to victory. The successful epic charge of Sobieski’s Winged Cavalry became a source of numerous historic accounts. The Winged Cavalry were also known as Winged Hussars and they were knights on horseback who had wings attached to their armour. Today you can find exciting visual animated illustrations of this battle on You Tube (for example, The Epic Charge that stopped Ottoman expansion in Europe: 1683 Historical Battle of Vienna).

The King and Queen: Jan III Sobieski and Maria Kazimiera

Jan III Sobieski was devoted to his beloved wife Maria Kazimiera (also known as Marysieńka Sobieska). His letters filled with love from the battle fronts give proof of his literary abilities and his warm feelings. He was also able to describe in great detail many aspects of the battles and their aftermaths. King Sobieski and Maria Kazimera’s great love for each other never faded and lasted till the very end of his life in 1696.

Jan III Sobieski and his love of animals

Sobieski loved animals. We know about his pet otter named Robak from a chronicler of those times, Chryzostom Pasek. Initially the otter was his animal, but the king wanted it so much that Pasek gave in and Robak the Otter became Sobieski’s favourite pet. There were special vessels with water placed in the palace, so that the otter could catch fish.

Jan Sobieski remembered in Hungary

The memory of Jan II Sobieski is celebrated not only in Poland, but also in other parts of Europe. One of the places is Esztergom in Hungary where you can find a monument devoted to his name. There is also a chapel in the Esztergom Basilica that celebrates King Jan III Sobieski. After all, he was one of the commanders of the Polish and Austrian armies that freed the Hungarians in 1683 from a 150-year occupation by the Ottoman Empire. Fresh white and red flowers in the chapel of the Basilica surprise many visiting Poles. King Sobieski was a hero of many nations!

Illustrations:

Attributed to Daniel Schultz / Possibly Andreas Stech, John III Sobieski, after 1680

Workshop of Daniel Schultz, John III Sobieski with the Order of the Holy Spirit, circa 1676

Wandalin Strzałecki, King John III Sobieski and Marysieńka, MP 2399 MNW, National Museum in Warsaw, 1881

Alexandre Francois Desportes, Queen Maria Kazimiera (detail), between 1695 and 1696

Unidentified painter, Maria Kazimiera Sobieska,1670

Henri Gascar, John III Sobieski with his family, 1693

Sebastiano Bonicelli, John III Sobieski and Marie Casimire, 1677

Jan Matejko, King John III Sobieski Sobieski sending Message of Victory to the Pope, after the Battle of Vienna, 1883

Jerzy Siemiginowski-Eleuter, Sobieski at the Battle of Vienna, 1686

Anonymous (Poland) (?), John III Sobieski at the battle of Vienna (detail), turn of the 17/18^th century

Photo: Marcin Białek (2008), Warszawa, Wilanów Palace

Photo: Kgbo (2019), Interior of the Wilanów Palace, Warsaw, Poland

Photo: Alf Melin from Glasgow, United Kingdom (2011), King John III. Sobieski monument by Andre Le Brun at Wilanów Palace