Polish oligarchs - people which were stronger than king

Polish oligchars from the Second Polish Republic were able without the agreement of the king to pursue his own foreign policy and even own wars with other countries! It was possible, because magnates had a lot of money and lands and they made depednent from them smaller land owners. Powerfull oligarchs lent smaller landlords moneys. Very often debtors could not pay back their debts. Since then they were under control. They have to vote on their debtors in Polish councils.

Polish magnates 1576-1586

Author: Jan Matejko

Oligarchs descended from the Polish nobility, but they differs from them. They had huge estates called latyfundia. Often, such latyfundias where so big, that become the country in the country. On such land, the king's will were less powerfull than the land owner. The owner could do his own local politics and rule on his own, mainly because of his private army.

Polish magnates 1697-1795

Author: Jan Matejko

One of the Polish magnats - Aleksander Ludwik Radziwiłł

Author: Marcin Franciszek Wobe

The power of the Polish oligarchs was so great, that in 1604 Mniszek and Wisniowieccy families tried to place "their man" on the Russian throne. Their man meant to be miraculously survived descendant of the Russian Emperor - Dimitr.They organized military expedition on Russia and they succeeded! It was the first and only one time in the history, when someone conquered Russian's capital - Moscow. Polish oligarchs placed on the throne their king, which was further called - False Dimitr the First. This wasn't the end. Dymitr ruled Russia for the some time but after few years he was murdered. Once again Polish families organized the expedition and placed on the throne... False Dimitr the Second.

False Dimitr I

Photo author: Martimar

After Poland partiation oligarchs lost their political importance, but they still ad their estates. Most of oligarch's families contributed than to the rescue of Polish cultural heritage. For example Czartoryscy family built in Puławy and Kracow museums which than become Czartoryski's Museums.
Tomasz (Tom) Działynski created in Kórnik one of the greatest polish libraries full of very old hand written books.
Józef Maksymilian Ossoliński created Polish National Institute in Lwów (today's Ukraine). It was library, institute, printing press and many more all in one.

Czartoryski museum