Introduced the historical background of the Polish nation and the origin and development of Sarmatism. Sarmatism was an important component of Polish social ideology from the 15th to the 18th century, which had a profound impact on Polish politics, economy, military, culture, and other fields, especially playing a key role in the formation and development of modern Polish national character. Domestic and foreign scholars have studied the relationship between Sarmatism and Polish nationalism, and believe that Sarmatism is a two-sided ideology that played a role in the formation of Polish culture. The academic community generally believes that the formation of Polish nationalism is closely related to Sarmatism. This article aims to provide a new perspective for explaining a series of behaviors in current Polish politics and diplomacy by combining the characteristics of Sarmatism.

The Origin and Decline of Sarmatism

Sarmatism originated from the ancient Greek term for Persian tribes and was widely used in Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries. In the second half of the 18th century, it was defined by Polish Enlightenment social activists as the cultural subject of Poland for hundreds of years. It is an ideology based on the interests of the nobility, involving political thought, cultural customs, etc., based on Polish local culture and combined with the characteristics of Eastern and Western civilizations. The emergence of Sarmatism in Poland had a political purpose. Initially, it combined Polish nobility with the Sarmatist image. In the 15th century, as Poland's national strength increased, Polish diplomats cited previous theories to shape a new national image, claiming that the Polish nation originated from the Sarmatist tribe. In the 16th century, this statement was widely adopted by the group of Polish chroniclers, forming the early Sarmatism, which claimed that Polish nobles had Sarmatian bloodline and were descendants of gods, enhancing national cohesion and confidence. In the 1670s and 1880s, King Stefan Batory of the Kingdom of Poland Lithuania instructed humanists to promote this viewpoint, which led to its widespread acceptance by the aristocratic class. Subsequently, the initial concept of Sarmatism rapidly spread and influenced the royal family, as evidenced by Stefan's conservative attitude towards religious reform. In the mid to late Renaissance, the Polish people's view of originating from the Sarmat people was widely recognized, and Sarmat ism reached its peak, giving rise to the Messiah spirit and beginning to reject the Western civilization model. This momentum persisted until the end of the 17th century, playing a crucial role in preventing the Polish nation from being assimilated by other powerful ethnic groups in the East and West. The aristocratic culture of Poland has been successfully established as a cultural label, exerting significant influence on the Slavic people and other neighboring countries. However, the Polish aristocratic class did not rely on Sarmatism for external expansion, but was keen on stabilizing the free and prosperous life of their own nobles domestically. This unique worldview led to a certain degree of blind arrogance among the Polish nobility, gradually causing Poland to deviate from the normal social development track. In the late 18th century, Poland was divided into three parts by Prussia, Austria, and Russia, marking the end of Sarmatism as the mainstream ideology in Poland.

2. The Historical Development Stages and Characteristics of Sarmatism

The historical development of Sarmatism in Poland has gone through three main stages, and its influence and characteristics have changed over time. Before the 16th century, Sarmatism was in its early stages of development and had not yet formed an ideology that had a significant impact on the development path of the Polish nation. From the 16th to the 18th century, Sarmatism became a common pursuit of the aristocratic class, influencing the direction of Poland's development. Its characteristics included patriotism, conservative national views, and reverence for Catholicism, which were related to the establishment of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth, national cultural development, and foreign wars. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, after the fall of Poland, Sarmatism was criticized as hindering national development. But with the rise of the national liberation movement, the improved Sarmatism became a ideological trend that stimulated national identity, emphasizing positive qualities such as freedom, equality, courage, and loyalty. The Polish intellectual class rallied people and reshaped the national spirit by promoting positive elements of Sarmatism.

The Shaping of Polish National Character by Sarmatism

From the 16th to the 18th century, Sarmatism profoundly shaped the Polish national character, especially among the aristocratic group. This ideology not only embodies courage and love for freedom, but also unites different ethnic groups and beliefs through the legends of the Sarmat people, forming a political entity. It advocates equality among nobles, aristocratic democracy, the orthodox status of Catholicism, and emphasizes patriotism and medieval chivalry. Sarmatism strengthened the privileges of the aristocracy, leading them to disregard the monarchy, lose their sense of social responsibility, and exhibit behavior characterized by arrogance and conceit. In terms of ethnic policy, the liberal nationalism and hierarchical ethnic system in the early days of the Polish Confederation made ethnic equality a priority, but it also brought potential crises of social instability. Polish culture has to some extent assimilated neighboring ethnic groups, and after the dramatic changes in Eastern Europe in the 1990s, Poland did not face sharp ethnic issues, but instead established institutions to support minority cultures.

4 Conclusion

Sarmatism is a key factor in the survival and development of Polish culture, which integrates the values of local culture, Western thought, Central Asian elements, and Baroque culture, forming a unique Polish cultural school. After the partition of Poland, Neo Sarmatism shaped the national spirit and became an important source of national character. This temperament has influenced Poland's social transformation and numerous social phenomena. In recent years, Poland has demonstrated its political aspirations as a regional power, such as participating in the Visegrad Group, launching the "Three Seas Initiative", and supporting Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which shows the rise of Poland.