European and Exotic - Jan III Sobieski’s commemorative and representative strategies towards Polish-Ottoman relations

Abstract

Żółkiew (today Zhovkva, Ukraine), near Lwów (Lviv), was one of the favourite residences of Jan III Sobieski (1629-1696). Founded by his great-grandfather, Stanisław Żółkiewski (1547-1620), great Hetman and vice-chancellor of the Polish Crown, and situated on the south-eastern borders of the Polish Commonwealth, it was always within reach of Tatar and Ottoman expansion. This is obvious, not only with regard to its geographical location, but may also be observed in the structures and decoration of the edifices. The four-winged castle in Żółkiew, with four edge towers and small windows, followed a type of palazzo in fortezza. As usual for this residence type during the time of Żółkiewski, it had a court but as yet no landscaped park. The representative rooms, especially the main hall or dining hall, were decorated with the favourite armour of the owner and family portraits.