Wladyslaw IV Vasa

Władysław IV Vasa was elected Tsar of Russia by a faction of boyars during the Time of Troubles. He was never crowned due to opposition from his father Sigismund III, who sought the throne for himself, leading to the failure of the Polish-Russian union.

Władysław IV Vasa, as a prince, commanded Polish forces at the Battle of Chocim against the Ottoman Empire. The Polish-Lithuanian army held off the Ottoman siege, leading to a peace treaty that secured the Commonwealth's southern border.

Władysław IV Vasa led a campaign to recapture Smolensk from Muscovy during the Smolensk War. The Polish victory resulted in the Treaty of Polyanovka, which confirmed Polish control over Smolensk and secured a 20-year truce.

Władysław IV Vasa attempted to strengthen royal power by proposing reforms to make the monarchy hereditary and reduce noble privileges. The plan failed due to opposition from the szlachta, who feared absolutism, and the king's lack of funds.

Władysław IV Vasa secretly planned a large-scale war against the Ottoman Empire, seeking to unite the Cossacks and European allies. The plan was exposed and opposed by the nobility and the Sejm, forcing the king to abandon it and weakening his authority.