Published: 2025-05-19

The plan for the defence of Greater Poland against the Swedes in the Środa Laudum of April 28, 1655 – a standard sejmik act or a military plan? Analysis of the resolution, circumstances of its introduction and consequences

Bartosz Staręgowski
Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings
Section: Rozprawy i Artykuły
https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2025.32.1.7

Abstract

When in 1655 Greater Poland proper was threatened by the invasion of Swedish troops, its representatives sought help from King John Casimir. His position regarding possible Swedish aggression became visible at the congress of senators on March 12, 1655 in Warsaw. It became clear that the monarch was more interested in the situation on the front of the fight against the Cossacks and Moscow than in helping the threatened Greater Poland. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the people of Greater Poland took matters into their own hands at the assembly on April 28, 1655, and decided to prepare the defense of both voivodeships: Poznań and Kalisz. Laudum envisaged the establishment of powerful, self-governing armed forces whose task was to defend Greater Poland against invasion. Interestingly, in addition to organizational issues, the appointment of field captains and the need to convene a popular movement, the resolution also includes provisions on the methods of using and deploying troops, tasks to be performed and a specific defense strategy. Therefore, it is worth comparing the laudum with similar resolutions that also touched on military matters, as well as outlining the broader context of the creation of this resolution and its implementation.

Keywords:

military plan, mass levy, lan’s soldiers, county troops, resolution

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Citation rules

Staręgowski, B. (2025). The plan for the defence of Greater Poland against the Swedes in the Środa Laudum of April 28, 1655 – a standard sejmik act or a military plan? Analysis of the resolution, circumstances of its introduction and consequences. Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings, 32(1), 98–112. https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2025.32.1.7

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