Johnor John IIIof Poland

John, or John III., of Poland (Sobieski), was born in 1624, being the son of the Castellan of Cracow. His military abilities put him at the head of the Polish army, and he kept in check the Cossacks of the Ukraine, as well as the Turks, whom he utterly defeated in 1673 at Choczim. Next year he was elected king, and continued his successes, raising the siege of Vienna in 1683. He died in 1696. His granddaughter was the wife of the Old Pretender.