. A thousand years of Russian history. ises. As an act of retaliation the king refused to confirm their privileges, and this led to an impasse which for six years kept matters in a state of continual disorder. It was not until the Polishopposition, headed by the Bishopof Cracow, threatened to deposethe king, that a compromise wasarrived at, according to which Podolia remain under Polishrule and Volhynia was joined to Lithuania. Casimirs pre-occupation with his political and dynastic ambitions inBohemia and Hungary was taken advantage of by the Turks,who seized the opportunity to occupy Moldavi
. A thousand years of Russian history. ises. As an act of retaliation the king refused to confirm their privileges, and this led to an impasse which for six years kept matters in a state of continual disorder. It was not until the Polishopposition, headed by the Bishopof Cracow, threatened to deposethe king, that a compromise wasarrived at, according to which Podolia remain under Polishrule and Volhynia was joined to Lithuania. Casimirs pre-occupation with his political and dynastic ambitions inBohemia and Hungary was taken advantage of by the Turks,who seized the opportunity to occupy Moldavia and toconquer the estuaries of the Danube and the at the same time was increasing in power andtrying to come into closer union with the Russian princesin the Polish-Lithuanian kingdom. King Casimir (1447-1492) made an end of the oligarchicalsystem and inaugurated constitutional rule with the aid of thelesser nobility or Szlachta. In 1448 he created the Chamberof Deputies and instituted the General Diet of the realm ;. Battle-Axe (17th Century). 382 A THOUSAND YEARS OF RUSSIAN HISTORY yet oven this king failed to establish the royal power on apermanent basis. It always remained a personal matter,and the character and personality of the king played a greaterrole than the office itself. The prelates and magnates fearedCasimir and envied the Szlachta, who in their turn triedto curry favour with the king. It ended in the oligarchyof the former reigns being replaced by a despotic anarchy,with a corresponding loss of prosperity and power to thecountry. The most important political event of the reign of Casimirwas a war of thirteen years duration with the Teutonic perpetual feuds were finally settled at the Peace ofThorn in 1466. The Grand Master became a vassal of theKing of Poland, and was accorded equal rights with thoseenjoyed by the Duke of Masovia ; while, on their side, Poleswere permitted to become members of the Order. As a resultof this treaty, W
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1915
