The Rejected Candidate: John III Vasa,the Polish-Lithuanian royal elections (1573/1575) and early-modern political decision-making |
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Authors: | Miia Ijäs |
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Institution: | 1. M?ntyver?j?ntie 3 C 22, 36200 Kangasala, Finlandmiia.ijas@uta.fi |
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Abstract: | This article analyses the candidacy of King John III Vasa in the royal elections of Poland-Lithuania in 1573 and 1575. Although the ‘Polish-minded’ policy of John Vasa is commonly known in earlier historiography, Swedish and Finnish historians have not given much attention to John III’s election campaigns in Poland-Lithuania in the 1570s. This article contemplates John III’s candidacy and rejection from the perspective of Poland-Lithuania. The royal elections are analysed as a political decision-making process by the Polish-Lithuanian estates. Thus the article emphasizes the existence of past alternatives and conditions of decision-making in early-modern history. |
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Keywords: | composite state decision-making process early-modern history elective monarchy Poland-Lithuania state formation |
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