RICHARD BUTTERWICK -- Ph.D. Oxford University – Professor at University College of London
Dear Dr. Kolkey,
An example of the model process you postulate might be the decision by Polish-Lithuanian magnates to intervene in Muscovy's 'time of troubles' in 1605. The adventure involved pretenders to the Muscovite throne and drew the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth into a war that was not wanted by most of its citizens. You could read more in Robert Frost's book, The Northern Wars, 1558-1721....
I wish you well in your research.
Yours sincerely,
Richard
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
MACIEL SIEKIERSKI -- Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley – Curator East European Collection at Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Dear Dr. Kolkey,
The situation with primary sources is not as bad as one would expect, given Poland's tragic experiences during WWII. Indeed, Poland's 17th century conflicts have better documentation than the Peloppnnesian War! There are extensive records of parliamentary debates, correspondence, diaries, etc. The period from the middle of the 16th century till the end of the 17th, is one of almost continuous warfare, first with Muscovites, then with Swedes and the Turks - much of the time against more than one opponent. Additionally, there are periods of civil disturbances and revolt, the most significant and devastating being the great Zaporozhian Cossack revolt of 1648-1655. Yes, self-interested factional politics did play a very important role in all of these conflicts,with several magnate families striving to organize and control the votes of the nobility (10% of the population of the country), be it for or against war, or for or against the election of a new king. Similarly, the kings and the Church had their own interests, which they sought to advance. I do not know how familiar you are with Polish history, but I find both Oskar Halecki's and Norman Davies' books still readable and useful. You should find in them much support for your thesis. If you seek further clarification of a specific detail or episode in Polish history, please let me know, and perhaps I can help.
sincerely,
Maciej Siekierski
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KARIN FRIEDRICH -- Ph.D. Georgetown University – Professor at University of Aderdeen
Dear Dr. Kolkey,
I agree with a lot you say. I shall only be able to respond to this when I am
back from a research trip (and then a holiday) in mid-August. Until then, have a
good summer
Best wishes
Karin Friedrich
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHESTER DUNNING – Ph.D. – Professor at Texas A&M University
Dear Dr. Kolkey,
No doubt. Republics often leave records of policy discussions, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had pretensions of being related to the Roman Republican virtues and military prowess. No doubt such stuff seems contemporary to you. You live in USA after our worst foreign policy disaster in American history – a case in point in support of your basic premise. The interests of Haliburton are not the same as the interests of USA....
There are many Thucydides at work in early modern Europe, and there are dozens of contemporary and near-contemporary books written specifically about Poland’s intervention in Russia at the dawn of the 17th century. Start with the end notes in my big book. Can you read Latin? King Sigismund had many able adversaries among the proud Polish nobility, and some of them wrote eloquently about him and the period. For a wonderful Polish general’s perspective, look a Stanislaw Zolkiewski’s memoirs of the war. The debates in the Polish Senate about intervention in Russia show just how personal a decision it was by the king and how it had no perceived value to the state and instead was seen as dangerous. Not to mention the concerns about the king spending too much or using forces vs. his enemies at home. But, as I said earlier, Sigismund III is a good case study in support of your thesis....
Sigismund III was made for you! The only rub is the argument that his agenda = The Jesuits’ agenda, so it wasn’t just about the king’s greed for gold, land and glory. But that only goes so far. The closer you look the more it’s about Sigismund’s personal agenda, not the Pope’s....
Good. I see Poland-Lithuania as a perfect example of your thesis in operation (and its pernicious effects!). I look forward to further contact with you once you get back into your notes. In the meantime, you will enjoy Norman Davies' 2-volume history of Poland, God's Playground.
Best wishes,
Chester Dunning
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL SCHOLARLY CONFIRMATIONS WILL BE POSTED AS SOON AS THEY ARE RECEIVED
