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Thefree election of 1587 was the thirdroyal election to be held in thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, which took place after the death of KingStefan Batory. It began on June 30, 1587, when ElectionSejm was summoned in the village ofWola nearWarsaw, and ended on December 27 of the same year, when KingSigismund III was crowned inKraków’sWawel Cathedral.
Death of Stefan Batory (12 December 1586) began a third period ofinterregnum in 15 years. The Commonwealth was left without a monarch, sinceAnna Jagiellon, who was regarded as co-ruler of the country (together with her husband, Stefan Batory), had relinquished her claims to the crown. As a result, Poland–Lithuania was again ruled by an interrex, Primate and Archbishop ofGniezno,Stanisław Karnkowski, who organized the election and met with foreign envoys.
At that time, the Commonwealth was deeply divided between the powerfulmagnates and theszlachta (nobility). Stefan Batory had been backed by noble families (theRadziwills, theZamoyskis, theLubomirskis), while szlachta accused him of tyranny (see alsoSamuel Zborowski). Furthermore, there were internal divisions betweenPolish Crown and theGrand Duchy of Lithuania, also between Polish provinces (Lesser Poland,Mazovia,Greater Poland,Red Ruthenia,Royal Prussia).
The ConvocationSejm began on February 2, 1587, and was immediately marred by arguments between the magnates and the nobility.
The ConvocationSejm began on February 2, 1587, and was immediately marred by arguments between supporters of four camps:Habsburg, Swedish (or Jagiellon), Muscovy and those who backed a Piast, or a native citizen of the Commonwealth.
The Habsburg candidate was supported by the Zborowski family, Voivode ofPoznańStanislaw Gorka, Bishop ofVilniusJerzy Radziwiłł, andSejm MarshalStanislaw Sedziwoj Czarnkowski. All received large sums of money from EmperorRudolf II and also byKing Philip II of Spain,[1] but an ultra-Catholic, Habsburg candidate was regarded as a threat to religious tolerance, guaranteed byWarsaw Confederation. Another possible candidate, TsarFeodor I of Russia was supported by the Lithuanians, who hoped that his election would end never-ending wars between Muscovy and Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A Piast candidate was liked by the Poles, but opposed by the Lithuanians. Swedish/Jagiellon candidate, DukeSigismund, son ofKatarzyna Jagiellonka and Swedish KingJohn III, was backed by Anna Jagiellon and one of the most powerful magnates of the Commonwealth,Jan Zamoyski. A Swedish king would guarantee freedom ofBaltic Sea shipping, a Polish - Swedish alliance, aimed at Muscovy, and annexation ofEstonia by Poland–Lithuania.
Election Sejm was summoned toWola on June 30, 1587. Polish and Lithuanianmagnates came there with their own armed units, and electors were divided into two camps: pro-convocation (or pro-Habsburg), with the Zborowski brothers as their leaders, and anti-convocation, headed by Jan Zamoyski.
For the first weeks, the Sejm was occupied by the death ofSamuel Zborowski, and arguments between the Zborowski family and Jan Zamoyski. Since Zamoyski did not want to respond to any questions,rokosz was declared, with the purpose of judging Zamoyski and other officials, connected to the late King Stefan Batory. On July 27, both camps began preparation for military action, and at the last moment, the conflict was defused by PrimateStanisław Karnkowski,Voivode ofSandomierzStanislaw Szafraniec, and Bishop ofKamieniec Podolski,Wawrzyniec Goślicki, who mediated between the two warring parties.
In early August 1587, Swedish envoyErik Larsson Sparre came to Wola, giving a speech, in which he praised Duke Sigismund. His speech impressed the nobility and the magnates, including Zamoyski, Karnkowski, Crown MarshalAndrzej Opalinski, andAlbert Laski. On August 19, the Primate nominated Sigismund to the throne, but three days later, the pro-convocation camp declaredMaximilian III, Archduke of Austria new king of Poland (none was supported by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania). Both Sigismund and Maximilian accepted Polish throne, which resulted in theWar of the Polish Succession.
On September 27, 1587 inOlomouc, Maximilian Habsburg took on the title of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and swore to observe thepacta conventa. After several weeks, he entered the Commonwealth with an army of some 5,000 (plus 1,500 Polish supporters). Maximilian planned to captureKraków, but failed to do so, and gave up the siege on November 30.
On August 24, Swedish envoysErik Brahe and Erik Larsson Sparre swore the pacta conventa, without waiting for Duke Sigismund, who was on his way from Sweden. Swedish candidate anchored atGdańsk on September 29, and was welcomed by Bishop ofPrzemysl,Wojciech Baranowski. Following his father's order, Vasa stayed on the ship, as he disagreed with one of Polish conditions, which was incorporation of Swedish-ruled Estonia into the Commonwealth. Finally, on October 7, Sigismund Vasa swore to observe the pacta conventa at theOliwa Cathedral, and on December 9, 1587, he entered Kraków, where he was crowned on December 27.
On January 24, 1588, the army of Maximilian Habsburg was defeated by Jan Zamoyski in theBattle of Byczyna. Maximilian, together with his court, was interned inKrasnystaw. The conflict was ended in early spring of 1589, during the so-called Pacification Sejm. Supporters of Maximilian swore their allegiance to Sigismund, and were allowed to return to the Commonwealth.
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