The Drunken Scholar

In this last episode of the series, we discuss the state of the Danes, Swedes, Russians, Prussians, and the Commonwealth following The Great Northern War and how the geopolitical situation has changed since the beginning of the series. We reflect on the series as a whole and reveal plans for the next project! This series was fun to put together and learn about, and it will take some time before i...

Charles XII has returned from his exile in the Ottoman Empire in hopes of turning the war around. In the final years of the war, the coalition against Sweden continues to grow, but as Sweden continues to lose battles and territory the coalition starts to have serious trust issues and its cohesion is falling apart. This episode concludes the Great Northern War and establishes a new balance of power...

Charles XII goes into a self-imposed exile in the Ottoman Empire (1709-14) hoping to convince Sultan Ahmed III to enter the war. Given residence at an estate in Bender, Charles's stay is anything but boring, but during his extended stay the Swedish Empire is losing ground. New enemies also begin to enter the war, hoping to capitalize on Sweden's weakened state.

The Great Northern War reaches its climax in 1709 as Charles XII's gambit into the Ukraine comes to head at Poltava and will largely decide the war's outcome. Meanwhile the civil war in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth rages on and much of the nobility is on the fence about which side to support. Everyone is holding their breath waiting to see the results of the Swedish campaign before s...

After the disaster of the Grodno campaign, revolts and dissent are brewing, and with Augustus now being officially out of the war, Peter decides to pull back the majority of the Russian troops out of the Commonwealth to prepare for the Swedish invasion. Meanwhile Wladyslaw Leszczynski starts to lose lose his grip on the Commonwealth as an emboldened Charles makes the fateful decision to march East...

The year is now 1704, The Great Northern War has been raging for 4 years and Charles XII of Sweden has successfully knocked out Denmark from the war and won stunning victories against the coalition forces. Now, Charles will install his own choice candidate for the Commonwealth throne as the Commonwealth falls into a violent civil war. Meanwhile, over the next two years Sweden will achieve even mor...

Following Charles XII's invasion of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the political tensions that have been building up over the last couple decades finally reaches a boiling point as the country descends into civil war that will decide the Commonwealth's future for the next 200 years. Meanwhile both Sweden and Russia will try to exploit the situation to their own advantage as the confli...

As Charles XII ascends the throne at the age of 14, and as the Turkish wars in the East come to a close, Sweden's traditional rivals begin to form a grand alliance to end the Swedish Empire once and for all. But the this young boy king would soon prove to be more than a match for his contemporaries, forging a legend that would be talked about for centuries to come.

With the Swedish economy facing utter collapse and its military in decline, the state is forced to accept French subsidies to help prop up its finances. These subsidies would come with a great cost to Sweden however, as it is forced to join in a war that the Swedes know they are underprepared for and launches a disastrous invasion into Brandenburg. After an initial Swedish defeat, the aura of invi...

Both Denmark and Sweden peace out 12 years into the Deluge in 1660, however both nations were pushed to the very limit and now face the threat of complete economic collapse. Denmark under Fredrick III embraces an absolutist revolution as it begins to push through radical financial and army reform. Meanwhile Charles X abruptly dies of illness after returning home from the war leaving Sweden with a...

Following the events of the great Deluge, Russia finds itself in a time a great change and reform amidst its wars with turks. Today well be discussing the events and reforms under Tsar's Alexis I, Feodor III, and Peter the Great, which would completely change Russia from the ground up and lay the foundations for its ascension to become a great power on the world stage.

In this episode well discuss the event in the Commonwealth after the deluge. We will briefly discuss John Casimir's abdication, the reigns of Michael the first, the "Hero King" John Sobieski and the close election of Augustus the Strong. Meanwhile, the Zaporizhian Cossacks seek Turkish protection which will spark nearly another 30 years of Polish-Ottoman wars and internal divisions b...

With the coalition beating back Sweden, The Commonwealth is now finally able to fully concentrate on the Russian threat to the East. Khmelnytsky, who started the Cossack rebellion 9 years ago, has died, throwing the Cossack hosts into disarray as they descend into civil war. Meanwhile John Casimir tries to reform the nation internally in hopes of tackling the causes of the Deluge crisis, while Gra...

In this episode the Polish Commonwealth finds itself in a state of utter devastation and collapse however despite Charles X winning all of the battles he will soon find that it doesn't necessarily mean he wins the war. John Casimir would return from his exile and rally polish freedom fighters from all across the Commonwealth to his banner and make a series of diplomatic maneuvers to reverse th...

In today's episode I discuss the ascension of John Casimir to the throne of the Polish Commonwealth (1648) amidst financial crisis, political divisions, the Cossack rebellion in the south, a Russian invasion to the east, and a Swedish invasion to the north. It will take everything he has to lead the Polish people out of the unprecedented devastation that is to come.

In this episode we discuss Poland's failing fiscal policy, internal corruption, the death of Wladyslaw IV, and the start of the great Cossack uprising of 1648. These events will start a period known as "The Deluge" in polish history. These events as well as ones that will soon occur would bring devastation so unimaginable that it would take centuries for the Polish people to recover....

In this episode we look at Poland after Gutavus leaves Prussia and joins the 30 years war. Sigismund III would die(1632), Russia would break its truce and invade during the interregnum as well as an ambitious Turkish governor. Polish arms would prove wildly successful in both conflicts but it would prove to be the last great hurrah for the Commonwealth.

In this episode we talk about northern involvement in the 30 years war, the death of Gustavus Adolphus, The Torstenson war as well as the geopolitical changes that occur because of these events.

In this episode we discuss the events of the 3rd and 4th Polish-Swedish wars (or phases) , the change in warfare, and the implications of the conflict resulting in the treaty of altmark in 1629.

This episode we talk about The Kalmar War (1611-1613) would see the last time Denmark-Norway is able to defend its sound tolls and effectively fight against Sweden, the ascension of Gustavus Adolphus, and the militaristic societal changes going on in Sweden which would bring about its age of greatness for the next hundred years. I would also highly recommend "The Northern Wars" by Robert...

In the aftermath of the Polish-Swedish union breaking apart in 1599, the stage is set for a new conflict to erupt over the lands of Livonia, Estonia and of course Sigismund III Vasa's claim to the Swedish throne. War would break out in 1600, beginning the first of four phases with the first phase ending in 1611 and the last ending in 1629 separated by various truces or ceasefires. Unfortunately on...

In this episode we discuss the legendary Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus (1594- 1632) and some of his reforms and achievements in the early 17th century before his tragic end the battle of Lutzen in 1632. 

A brief detour to explain the Cossacks, who they were, and what importance they had in eastern European politics.

The conclusion of the Russian time of troubles, Ingrian War, the polish muscovite war, and the ascension of Tsar Michael Romanov I.

This episode covers the ascension of Tsar Vasili IV, the rise and fall of "False" Dmitri II, as well as the beginnings of Swedish and Polish intervention.