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Perhaps Poland's most famous king, he was also arguably the country's most talented general. The son of a famous soldier, Jakub Sobieski, and grandson of Hetman Zolkiewski, his career path was chosen for him, and he became Grand Hetman in 1668. But his military successes marked him for better things and he was elected king in 1674, only the second native Pole to be elected king of Poland.
Sobieski's greatest moment came in 1683, when a Turkish army of 100,000 men laid seige to the Imperial capital, Vienna. After desperate pleas from the pope and the Hapsburg emperor, Leopold II, to "save Christian Europe from the rising tide of Islam", Sobieski marched for Austria with an army of 30,000 Poles. Once near Vienna, King Jan III was appointed commander-in-chief of the combined Polish and German Imperial armies.
The battle of Vienna took place on September 12, 1683. For much of the day Polish infantry fought to clear the wooded hills around Vienna from Turks. Only towards evening had enough space been made on the Vienna plain for the Polish-Austrian army to deploy. On a signal from Sobieski, the cavalry led by 3,000 Polish "winged" hussars smashed through the Turkish army led by Kara Mustafa, and poured into the Ottoman camp. The Turks fled in panic.
The Imperial capital was saved, the Turkish menace at last defeated. Sobieski became an international hero, and Poland received the thanks and praise of all Europe.
(From An Illustrated History Of Poland)
This traditional Polish doll set is completely hand made the old fashioned way with paper mache, dress materials and paints. The doll is clothed in authentic regional folk custume as certified by the Polish Ministry of Culture. Notice the attention to detail and fine workmanship. |
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- Posable arms
- Mounted on a wooden base
- Size - 5.5" x 5.5" x 12" - 14cm x 14cm x 30.5cm
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