The Tree of Europe · Person

Władysław IV Vasa

King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1632, son of Sigismund III. He defeated Muscovy in the Smolensk War and kept the Commonwealth out of the Thirty Years’ War.

1595 – 1648KingVasa

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 9 June 1595 Documented

Death: 20 May 1648 Documented

Role: King

Dynasty: Vasa

Territories: Poland (ES) · Lithuania (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns
King · Poland · Reign Pending review1632–1648Effective rule
Grand duke · Lithuania · Grand duchy Pending review1632–1648Effective rule
Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents
Partners
Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Władysław IV Vasa. Each title retains its own status.

Governments in 1632

  • Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth2 titles and offices
    View titles and jurisdictions

    The Union of Lublin of 1569 created a commonwealth with a shared monarch and parliament. The Crown and Grand Duchy retained their titles and institutions; Courland and Ducal Prussia thereby did not become provinces of the Crown. Source for this grouping

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

7 recorded claims · 3 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
Family and relationships (2/3 with a precise source)
Governments (0/2 with a precise source)
  • GovernmentPending review

    King · Poland · 1632–1648

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • GovernmentPending review

    Grand duke · Lithuania · 1632–1648

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Biographical and contextual references (7)
Editorial history
  • 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
  • 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

Related stories

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Story

A crown too great

Sigismund III Vasa: winning an election and losing an inheritance

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Story · Spanish original

The Republic of Nobles

How Poland turned a hereditary monarchy into an elective crown

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