Editing History of Poland (section)

====First kings of the Vasa dynasty====

[[File:Sigismund at horse.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Sigismund III Vasa]] enjoyed a long reign, but his actions against religious minorities, expansionist ideas and involvement in dynastic affairs of Sweden, destabilized the Commonwealth.]]

A period of rule under the Swedish [[House of Vasa]] began in the Commonwealth in the year 1587. The first two kings from this dynasty, [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund III]] (r. 1587–1632) and [[Władysław IV Vasa|Władysław IV]] (r. 1632–1648), repeatedly attempted to intrigue for accession to the throne of Sweden, which was a constant source of distraction for the affairs of the Commonwealth.<ref name="playground I xxix"/> At that time, the [[Catholic Church]] embarked on an ideological counter-offensive and the [[Counter-Reformation]] claimed many [[Counter-Reformation in Poland|converts from Polish and Lithuanian Protestant circles]]. In 1596, the [[Union of Brest]] split the [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christians]] of the Commonwealth to create the [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|Uniate Church]] of the Eastern Rite, but subject to the authority of the pope.<ref name="playground I xxix"/> The [[Zebrzydowski rebellion]] against Sigismund III unfolded in 1606–1608.<ref name="playground I xxix"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Gierowski|1986a|pp=130–146}}.</ref>

Seeking supremacy in Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth fought wars with [[Tsardom of Russia|Russia]] between 1605 and 1618 in the wake of Russia's [[Time of Troubles]]; the series of conflicts is referred to as the [[Polish–Russian War (1609–1618)|Polish–Russian War]] or the ''Dymitriads''. The efforts resulted in expansion of the eastern territories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, but the goal of taking over the Russian throne for the Polish ruling dynasty was not achieved. [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]] sought supremacy in the [[Baltic Sea|Baltic]] during the [[Polish–Swedish wars]] of 1617–1629, and the [[Ottoman Empire]] pressed from the south in the Battles at [[Battle of Cecora (1620)|Cecora]] in 1620 and [[Battle of Khotyn (1621)|Khotyn]] in 1621.<ref name="playground I xxix"/> The agricultural expansion and [[serfdom in Poland|serfdom]] policies in Polish Ukraine resulted in a series of [[Cossack uprisings]]. Allied with the [[Habsburg monarchy]], the Commonwealth did not directly participate in the [[Thirty Years' War]].{{Ref label|s|s|none}} Władysław's IV reign was mostly peaceful, with a Russian invasion in the form of the [[Smolensk War]] of 1632–1634 successfully repelled.<ref name="playground I xxix"/> The [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]] hierarchy, banned in Poland after the Union of Brest, was re-established in 1635.<ref name="playground I xxix"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Gierowski|1986a|pp=146–173}}.</ref>