Jan II Kazimierz

John II Casimir
Portrait by Bacciarelli
King of Poland Grand Duke of Lithuania
Reign	November 1648 – 16 September 1668
Coronation	19 January 1649
Predecessor	Władysław IV Vasa
Successor	Michael I
Born	(1609-03-22)22 March 1609 Kraków, Poland
Died	16 December 1672(1672-12-16) (aged 63) Nevers, France
Burial	31 January 1676 Wawel Cathedral, Kraków
Spouse	Marie Louise Gonzaga Claudine Françoise Mignot
Issue	John Sigismund Vasa Princess Maria Anna
House	Vasa
Father	Sigismund III Vasa
Mother	Constance of Austria
Religion	Roman Catholic
Signature

John II Casimir (Polish: Jan II Kazimierz Waza; German: Johann II. Kasimir Wasa; Lithuanian: Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania during the era of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Duke of Opole in Upper Silesia, and titular King of Sweden 1648–1660. In Poland, he is known and commonly referred as Jan Kazimierz. His parents were Sigismund III Vasa (1566–1632) and Constance of Austria (1588–1631). His older brother, and predecessor on the throne, was Władysław IV Vasa.

In 1638 he embarked at Genoa for Spain to negotiate a league with Philip IV against France, but suffering shipwreck on the coast of Provence, he was seized and by order of Cardinal Richelieu imprisoned at Vincennes, where he remained two years, and was only released on promise of his brother the king of Poland never to wage war against France. He then travelled through various countries of western Europe, entered the order of Jesuits in Rome, was made cardinal by Innocent X, however, after his return to Poland he again became a layman, and, having succeeded his brother in 1648, married his widow, Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga. His reign commenced amid the confusion and disasters caused by the great revolt of the Cossacks under Chmielnicki, who had advanced into the very heart of Poland. The power of the king had been stripped of almost all its prerogatives by the growing influence of the nobles.