John II Casimir Vasa

John II Casimir Vasa was king of Poland and grand duke of Lithuania from 1648 to 1668. His reign endured the Khmelnytsky Uprising, war with Muscovy and the Swedish invasion known as the Deluge, crises that devastated the Commonwealth and weakened royal authority.

John II Casimir Vasa also held the offices or ranks of Commendatory abbot. John II Casimir Vasa belonged to the House of Vasa and operated within Grand Duchy of Lithuania; Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. John II Casimir Vasa was born in Kraków and died in Nevers.

In Henryk Sienkiewicz’s With Fire and Sword, Book III, Polish forces withdraw into the fortified camp at Zbarazh as Khmelnytsky and his Tatar allies surround them with a much larger army. Jan Skrzetuski and his companions endure hunger, bombardment and repeated assaults while the defenders wait for relief from King John II Casimir. Outside the siege, Helena remains in danger and Bohun’s determination to possess her continues to drive a second, more personal conflict. Skrzetuski undertakes a desperate journey through enemy lines to carry news of the garrison’s condition, placing duty to the Commonwealth ahead of his own survival. Further fictional perspectives on John II Casimir Vasa can be found in Henryk Sienkiewicz’s With Fire and Sword and Henryk Sienkiewicz’s With Fire and Sword, Book II.