Podolia

Yeah.

He and his team traveled extensively across the regions of Podolia and Volhynia.

Which are in present-day western Ukraine.

Right.

But then, in 1914, the mission is violently interrupted.

Because World War I breaks out.

And the exact geography Ansky had just spent two years surveying, you know, those little market towns, the shtetls in Podolia and Volhynia, they suddenly become the Eastern Front.

It just turns into a brutal, grinding battleground between the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires.

If we consider that these high officials and commanders, though appointed by the king, were appointed for life and were irremovable, that they enjoyed therefore complete independence within their sphere, and, once appointed, paid absolutely no attention to the crown, it will be seen that out of the new order of things there must result even greater confusion than existed before.

What availed resolutions in common if afterwards the Lithuanian high treasurer or the Lithuanian commander-in-chief had the power to pursue an entirely different course from that of his Polish colleague? It was from a sense of this that attempts were made at the Lublin Diet to strengthen Poland proper, which was vastly smaller than the Grand Principality, by separating from this latter the provinces of Volhynia and Podolia and adding them to the crown.

At any rate, by the Lublin Union, Sigismund had secured external unity for his kingdom and thereby rendered Poland an immense service.

One cannot fairly deny him the glory of a brilliant and useful reign, marked, moreover, by a considerable growth of learning and letters, and forming a striking contrast to the disastrous times that followed.

Vytautas had priorities of his own, so he was all too happy to make peace with the Teutons in 1404.

According to the agreement, Samogitia remained in Teutonic hands, while Svitrigaila had to contend himself with managing a piece of land in the south of the country, Podolia.

With this peace, it was also agreed that King Jagaiwa of Poland, also known as Władysław II Jagiełło, would buy the Dobrożyn land from the Teutons, and with that, the rulers could turn to their pressing concerns.

Grand Duke Vytautas and King Władysław II settled their accounts with the revolt in Smolensk and waged wars against the Russian Grand Duchy of Moscow.

If we consider that these high officials and commanders, though appointed by the king, were appointed for life and were irremovable, that they enjoyed, therefore, complete independence within their sphere, and, once appointed, paid absolutely no attention to the crown, it will be seen that out of the new order of things there must result even greater confusion than existed before.

What availed resolutions in common if afterwards the Lithuanian high treasurer or the Lithuanian commander-in-chief had the power to pursue an entirely different course from that of his Polish colleague? It was from a sense of this that attempts were made at the Lublin Diet to strengthen Poland proper, which was vastly smaller than the Grand Principality, by separating from this latter the provinces of Volhynia and Podolia and adding them to the crown.

At any rate, by the Lublin Union, Sigismund had secured external unity for his kingdom and thereby rendered Poland an immense service.

One cannot fairly deny him the glory of a brilliant and useful reign, marked, moreover, by a considerable growth of learning and letters and forming a striking contrast to the disastrous times that followed.

The bishoprics of Kulm and Elmland were removed from the Order's jurisdiction.

Dlugosz, one of the negotiators at the peace talks, claims that the Lithuanians were unhappy with the treaty because it strengthened Poland and the King and reduced their chances of keeping Podolia.

But we can probably put that down to his own prejudices.

In 1477 the Order allied with Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and attempted to challenge the treaty, resulting in a very short war in which it was completely outclassed and defeated.

well done ticheles what sayeth

theridemus I left the confines and the bounds of Afric, and made a voyage into Europe, where, by the river Tyrus, I subdued Stoka, Podolia, and Cademia, then crossed the sea, and came to Oblia, and Negra Silva, where the devils dance, which, in despite of them, I set on fire.

From thence I crossed the gulf called by the name Mea Majore of the inhabitants.

yet shall my soldiers make no period until natalia kneel before your feet