# Yan Kazimir — The Deluge character guide > Yan Kazimir in The Deluge by Henryk Sienkiewicz. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Yan, Kazimir, the King Yan Kazimir, the ill-fated Yan Kazimir, the unfortunate Yan Kazimir **First appearance:** 0007-i ## Snapshot The wax-faced, ill-fated King of Poland who kneels in the snow to weep when he hears Chenstohova has held against the Swedish flood. ## Who they are Yan Kazimir opens the novel as a monarch whose throne is crumbling—Swedish armies occupy his lands, his nobles defect, and his face has gone pale with grief. When Kmita brings news from Chenstohova, the king's reaction is not political but devotional: he falls to his knees at the church door and sobs. His piety and vulnerability make him the moral center of the resistance, a king whose weakness is also his strange, stubborn strength. ## Relationships ### [Andrei Kmita](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters/andrei_kmita) _professional_ Andrei Kmita serves King Yan Kazimir as a loyal officer and defender of the throne. ### [Prince Boguslav Radzivill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters/prince_boguslav_radzivill) _rivalry_ Prince Boguslav Radzivill is a traitor and enemy to King Yan Kazimir, plotting to overthrow the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ### [Andrei Kmita](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters/andrei_kmita) _professional_ Andrei Kmita serves King Yan Kazimir as a loyal officer and defender of the throne. ### [Prince Boguslav Radzivill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters/prince_boguslav_radzivill) _rivalry_ Prince Boguslav Radzivill is a traitor and enemy to King Yan Kazimir, plotting to overthrow the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ### [Prince Boguslav Radzivill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters/prince_boguslav_radzivill) _rivalry_ Prince Boguslav Radzivill is a traitor and enemy to King Yan Kazimir, plotting to overthrow the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ### [Andrei Kmita](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters/andrei_kmita) _professional_ Andrei Kmita serves King Yan Kazimir as a loyal officer and defender of the throne. ## In the story ### [Remarks on Personages in The Deluge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/remarks-on-personages-in-the-deluge) Son of Sigismund III, elected King of Poland, later resigned and retired to France. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xv) The Polish king, whom Radzivill considers leaving for Karl Gustav; mentioned as the monarch the country might retain or abandon. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxvi) Mentioned as the king whom Boguslav pretends to support while secretly working against him. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxvii) Referenced as the king to whom Kmita intends to deliver the captured prince and letters. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxxv) Mentioned as the exiled king; Boguslav claims Kmita plotted against his life. ### [Chapter XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxxvi) Referenced as the lawful king to whom oaths were sworn, and who was abandoned by the nobles. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxxviii) Mentioned as the Polish king who can receive messages from Yasna Gora. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xli) Kordetski writes to him; he is in Opola making efforts to save the people. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xliii) Mentioned as the king whose false abdication is reported by the envoy; negotiations with Cossacks and the Khan are referenced. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xliv) Mentioned as the rightful king who is collecting troops and may return to the country. ### [The Awakening of the Nation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xlvii) The fugitive king issues manifestos calling for national resistance against the Swedes. ### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xlviii) The suffering king, moved by Kmita's news but haunted by betrayal and accusations of a plot against his life. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xlix) The king, who loves Kmita, commands him to accompany the council at Opol and decides to return to Poland despite risks. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/l) King of Poland; trusts Kmita despite suspicions; prays on the snow upon crossing into Poland; leads the retinue toward Jivyets. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/li) The king, determined to fight rather than flee, is restrained by bishops and Tyzenhauz but ultimately saved by the mountaineers. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lii) The king returns to Poland, gathering support and receiving reports of Swedish defeats. ### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/liii) Visits the wounded Kmita, listens to his confession, and offers conditional forgiveness while expressing concern over the alleged plot to kidnap him. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/liv) King Yan Kazimir advances through towns, receives the act of confederation, and expresses joy at the news of resistance and reform. ### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lvii) King Yan Kazimir arrives in Lvoff, leads consultations, and makes a solemn vow in the cathedral to improve peasant conditions and honor the Virgin Mary. ### [LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lviii) Receives Volodyovski, reads Sapyeha's report, grants the grand baton of Lithuania to Sapyeha, and reveals Babinich's true identity as Kmita. ### [LX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lx) Grants Kmita permission for the expedition, gives him a ring for Olenka, and approves his command over the Tartars. ### [LXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxiii) The king who sent Kmita to Sapyeha with letters and the baton, and is organizing the national uprising. ### [LXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxviii) Polish king whose return inspires resistance; mentioned as the reason for Karl Gustav's campaign. ### [LXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxi) Polish king, mentioned as marching from Lvoff; his location is the target of Kanneberg's reconnaissance. ### [LXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxii) Sends reinforcements and a letter to Charnyetski; is detained by negotiations with the Khan, Rakotsy, and Vienna. ### [LXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxiv) The Polish king, marches with the rearguard and advances toward the wedge between the San and Vistula. ### [LXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxvi) Remains at the river fork, sending couriers for reinforcements and provisions. ### [LXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxix) Arrives with his army; blesses Babinich (Kmita) holding the fort; warmly embraces Sapyeha in view of both armies. ### [LXXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxxi) King Yan Kazimir oversees the surrender of Warsaw, commands the departure of the Swedish garrison, and later pardons Zagloba despite the riot. ### [LXXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxxix) Referenced as the king who excluded Prince Boguslav from amnesty and is leading the Polish forces against the Swedes. ### [XCI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xci) Led the Polish forces in the three-day battle at Warsaw, nearly defeating Karl Gustav. ### [XCVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xcvi) Mentioned as taking Prussian fortresses during the peace. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters/yan_kazimir - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters