Search results for "Polignac"

L’influence politique de Versailles sur la noblesse lituanienne à la fin du XVIIe siècle

2021

In the second half of the seventeenth century, French diplomacy dominated Europe, including the Polish-Lithuanian state and its most important aristocratic families. The reports of French diplomats described their encounters with the most eminent families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: the Sapiehas and Radziwiłłs (the most powerful), the Pacs, Wiśniowieckis and Ogińskis. Through them, Versailles sought to implement its policy in the Polish-Lithuanian state, and win these allies through (usually honoured) promises of money. The goal was to support a French candidate to the Polish throne and to prevail against Vienna and Berlin on the European political chessboard. While efforts to cooperat…