6 - The succession and the failure of the coalition: January—July 1658

Summary

By the end of 1657, after the withdrawal of the main Swedish army, Rákóczi's defeat and the construction of the anti-Swedish coalition, the immediate danger to the Commonwealth appeared to have passed. For the first time since 1656 it seemed that a quick end to the war was attainable and thought could be given once more to questions of the succession and political reform. Yet the optimism felt after the agreement with Brandenburg was soon dissipated. The Poles were anxious to take the offensive in the autumn of 1657 and fulfil their obligations to Denmark. Between September and November, Czarniecki mounted two expeditions into Swedish Pomerania with about 5,000 men. The Commonwealth's new allies, however, were more reluctant to commit themselves. Although Frederick William was keen enough to support Czarniecki, he was dissuaded by Austrian reluctance to fight outside the Commonwealth. With a delicate imperial election facing him in 1658, Leopold could not afford to risk breaking Westphalia by attacking Swedish possessions in the Empire: he had entered the war to prevent the partition of the Commonwealth, not to reopen the Thirty Years War.

This lack of support caused great problems for the Polish government and had serious implications for its election plans. The treaty of Vienna committed it to supporting the 12,000 Austrian troops now in the Commonwealth but it could ill afford the extra burden.