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The Drunken Scholar(WitN part 26) The War Shifts EastAfter the disaster of the grodno campaign, revolts and dissent brewing back, and Augustus offically 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 towards Ukraine.2023-11-0533 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 25) The Grodno CampaignIt is now 1704, The Great Northern War has been raging for 4 years now 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 fall into a violent civil war. Meanwhile, over the next two years Sweden will achieve even more decisive victories in what will be known as the Grodno Campaign. By 1708 Charles will have successfully dethroned Augustus from the Commonwealth throne and knock out Saxony from the war. Sweden now stands from...2023-10-1217 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 24) Division in the CommonwealthFollowing 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 conflict intensifies. 2023-09-2520 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 23) The War for the North BeginsAs 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. 2023-09-1118 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 22) The Scanian WarWith 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 invincibility surrounding Swedish arms is broken and its neighbors decide to join in. Amidst all the chaos the 21 year old Charles XI would lead the Swedish army personally to defend...2023-08-2727 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 21) After the Deluge: Denmark and SwedenBoth 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 mountain of debt, a declining military and a seemingly unremarkable 5 year old Charles XI to succeed him. After joining France in a defensive alliance against the anti-french coalition, a reformed Denmark would see a...2023-08-1420 minThe Drunken ScholarWitN Part 20) After the Deluge: RussiaFollowing 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. 2023-08-031h 12The Drunken Scholar(Witn Part 19) After the Deluge: The CommonwealthIn 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 between both the king and the magnates as well as between the magnates themselves is at an all-time high. The people of the Commonwealth would have to wait a little longer for the peace they so desperatly want.2023-07-1735 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 18) End of the DelugeWith 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 Grand Marshall Lubomirski tries to defend the constitution that binds The Commonwealth together. 2023-07-0147 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 17) Return of the KingIn 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 the Commonwealth's fortunes during the Deluge, building a coalition a to fight the Swedish forces.2023-06-1715 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 16) Collapse of the CommonwealthIn 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. 2023-06-1214 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 15) The Commonwealth in CrisisIn 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. It is the beginning of the end for the Commonwealth.
2023-05-2619 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 14) Ascension of Wladyslaw IV and The Smolensk WarIn 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.2023-05-2216 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 13) The 30 Years War and Torstenson WarIn 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.2023-05-1520 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 12) Gustavus's Polish CampaignsIn 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 1629.2023-05-0824 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 11)The Kalmar WarThis 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 Frost as he compiles information many of the primary and secondary sources which for the most part are exclusively in Polish, Swedish, and Russian and thus has been a very...2023-04-2421 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 10) The Polish Swedish WarIn 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 this particular conflict my resources were limited for information as its not covered extensively, as such i had to get my sources from various encyclopedias such as...2023-03-1421 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 9) Gustavus AdolphusIn 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. 2023-02-2028 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN part 8) The CossacksA brief detour to explain the Cossacks, who they were, and what importance they had in eastern European politics.2023-02-0424 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN part 7) Time of troubles Episode 3The conclusion of the Russian time of troubles, Ingrian War, the polish muscovite war, and the ascension of Tsar Michael Romanov I.2023-01-2923 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN part 6) Time of troubles Episode 2This 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. 2023-01-1516 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN part 5) Time of Troubles Episode 1This episode covers the aftermath of Ivan the Terrible's death (1584), Tsar Feodor's reign (1584-1598), and the beginning of Russia's Time of Troubles (1598-1613). During this time period the Russo-Swedish war (1590-1595), Ingrian war (1610-1617), Polish-Russian war (1609-1618), and the succession crises all occur. Thus will require multiple episodes to delve into the details of this tumultuous time.2022-12-3120 min
The Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 4) The Polish-Swedish Union1592-1599 covers the events of the beginnings of the union as well as it's downfall. The union would have great impact on Baltic politics in the future. 2022-11-1916 min
Thrills Kills and ChillsH.H Holmes Part 2In this episode we talk about H.H Holmes murder castle. We also would like to introduce a very special guest the man, the myth, the legend..... Devan Claeys. 2022-11-1128 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 3) The Livonian War Episode 2The second half of the Livonian war and the subsequent aftermath. These events will set the stage for future generations of tensions and rivalries between the Baltic powers of the north. 2022-10-2916 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 2) The Livonian War Episode 1The start of conflict between Russia, Poland, Sweden, and Denmark that would plague the region for the next 2 centuries. In my opinion this is true beginning of the wars in the north. 2022-10-2223 minThe Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 1) The Stockholm BloodbathHere we discuss the events leading up to and following the Stockholm Bloodbath and how the rivalry between Denmark and Sweden began.2022-10-1513 min
The Drunken Scholar(WitN Part 0) Wars In The North IntroductionWelcome to the Wars In The North podcast series! This short video just covers the setting, location, and style of the pod cast. So sit down, relax, have a drink, and join us for The Wars In The North!2022-10-1501 min