Candidature of Ivan the Terrible for the throne of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Polish political pamphlets of the period of first “free election” (1572-1574)

Abstract

This article analyzes the Polish political pamphlets published during the time of first “free election” (1572-1574), the candidature of Ivan the Terrible or one of his sons was nominated for the throne of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The main goal consists in answering the question: did the Russian Tzar have a substantial number of supporters among the Polish-Lithuanian ruling elite, and did he have a chance for being elected as the king of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1573. The a…