The King of the Jesuits

Sigismund III was a son of King Johan III of Sweden. His father was a man that ruled a staunch Protestant country, but with a personal leaning toward Catholicism. Sigismund was brought up by Jesuits and preferred their company. Religion was as important to him as politics and one of his great obsessions was to make Catholicism the State-religion of Poland. This was perhaps the most impossible task for a man, even if king, to accomplish in Poland. The Freedom of religion and the ideological principle of religious tolerance was the foundation of Polish society. Sigismund was strong-willed and stubborn, so he tried nevertheless. He of course had the whole country against him and failed. These acts also made him many enemies, which would stop him from reforming the government and strengthening Royal power in the first decade of the 17th century.