War of the Deluge (1648: Kingdom of the Three Sicilies)

The war of the Deluge (a.k.a the War of Polish sucession) was a militray conflict fought in the 1650's and 1660's. It primary fronts were in Poland, Lithuania and other Baltic countries. It was fought between Sweeden and her allies in Russia and Prussia and Poland-Lithuania.

The war with Sweeden and Poland was primarily over the sucession to the Polish crown. John II Casmir was elected king, but since he was a Jesuit objections were raised that he might become a bad or absent ruler. The Nobility wished for Charles X Adolphus of Sweden. When several vivodships declared Charles king, John Casmir declared war. Russia joined in to gain chunks of Ukrainian or Belarusian territory.

Eastern Orthodox Ukrainian Cossacks revolted and targeted Jews and Catholics in their pogroms. This caused thousands of Jews to flee to anywhere that would take them. Many middle class Jews fled to Sicily, where their talents as craftsmen, clerks, administrators, tax collecters, schoolars and teachers were needed.

The war ultimatly ended with Poland driving out the usurpers at a heavy cost. Its economy was ruined by civil strife and the foreign invasion. Ethnic and Religious tensions flared up in several other rebellions as a result of the war. The Ukrainians and Cossacks, who were orthodox, were elevated to the same leval as Catholic Poles and Lithuanians. In fact, the Commonwealth was forced to change it's name to Poland-Lithuania-Ruthenia, as it incoporated the newley created Duchy of Ruthenia.

The nation suffered a severe brain drain as it lost most of its Middle Class Jews. It also suffered humiliation in the form of territorial cessions.