Władysław IV Vasa

In the meantime, Władysław still tried to take a leading role in European politics, and negotiate a peaceful settlement to the [[Thirty Years' War]], a settlement which he hoped would ease his way into regaining the Swedish crown.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=205, 211–212}} Following the armistice of Stuhmsdorf, Władysław came to increasingly realize that his prospects for regaining the Swedish throne were dim.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|p=224}} In the years 1636–1638 he proposed several reforms to strengthen his and his dynasty's power in the Commonwealth. His first plan was an attempt to secure a hereditary province within the country, which would not be threatened by the possible power shift following a future royal election; this, however, did not gain sufficient support in the Sejm.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=225–228}} Next, Władysław attempted to create an [[order of chivalry]], similar to the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]], but this plan was scuttled down as well, with the szlachta and the magnates seeing this as an attempt to create a royal, loyalist elite, and traditionally opposing anything that could lead to the reduction of their extensive power.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=229–233}} Popular vote and opposition also resulted in the failure of the plan to raise taxes from trade tariffs; here it was not only the nobility but even the merchants and burghers from towns, like [[Gdańsk]] (Danzig) who were able to muster enough support (including from foreign powers) to stop the king's reforms.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=240–258}} In fact, the defeat of his plans was so total, that he was forced to make certain conciliatory gestures to the nobility, as the Sejm passed several laws constraining his authority (such as to hire foreign troops), further indicating the limits of royal power in the Commonwealth.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=240–258}}

In the meantime, Władysław still tried to take a leading role in European politics, and negotiate a peaceful settlement to the [[Thirty Years' War]], a settlement which he hoped would ease his way into regaining the Swedish crown.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=205, 211–212}} Following the armistice of Stuhmsdorf, Władysław came to increasingly realize that his prospects for regaining the Swedish throne were dim.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|p=224}} In the years 1636–1638 he proposed several reforms to strengthen his and his dynasty's power in the Commonwealth. His first plan was an attempt to secure a hereditary province within the country, which would not be threatened by the possible power shift following a future royal election; this, however, did not gain sufficient support in the Sejm.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=225–228}} Next, Władysław attempted to create an [[order of chivalry]], similar to the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]], but this plan was scuttled down as well, with the szlachta and the magnates seeing this as an attempt to create a royal, loyalist elite, and traditionally opposing anything that could lead to the reduction of their extensive power.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=229–233}} Popular vote and opposition also resulted in the failure of the plan to raise taxes from trade tariffs; here it was not only the nobility but even the merchants and burghers from towns, like [[Gdańsk]] (Danzig) who were able to muster enough support (including from foreign powers) to stop the king's reforms.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=240–258}} In fact, the defeat of his plans was so total, that he was forced to make certain conciliatory gestures to the nobility, as the Sejm passed several laws constraining his authority (such as to hire foreign troops), further indicating the limits of royal power in the Commonwealth.{{sfn|Czapliński|1976|pp=240–258}}

Władysław IV Vasa vested several localities with [[town rights]], including [[Krzeszów, Podkarpackie Voivodeship|Krzeszów]], [[Szlichtyngowa]], [[Astryna|Ostryna]], [[Wasiliszki]], [[Krolevets|Królewiec]], [[Olevsk|Olewsk]], [[Chavusy|Czausy]], and the Warsaw suburbs of [[Praga]] and Skaryszew.{{cite book|title=Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich|volume=I|year=1880|language=pl|location=Warszawa|page=776}}

Władysław IV Vasa vested several localities with [[town rights]], including [[Krzeszów, Podkarpackie Voivodeship|Krzeszów]], [[Szlichtyngowa]], [[Astryna|Ostryna]], [[Wasiliszki]], [[Krolevets|Królewiec]], [[Olevsk|Olewsk]], [[Chavusy|Czausy]], and the Warsaw suburbs of [[Praga]] and Skaryszew.{{cite book|title=Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich|volume=I|year=1880|language=pl|location=Warszawa|page=776}}{{cite book|title=Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich|volume=IV|year=1883|language=pl|location=Warszawa|pages=686, 787}}{{cite book|title=Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich|volume=VII|year=1886|language=pl|location=Warszawa|pages=480, 733}}

====Marriages====

====Marriages====