the commonwealth reached its golden age in the early 17th century. its powerful parliament was dominated by nobles ("pic. 2") who were reluctant to get involved in the thirty years' war; this neutrality spared the country from the ravages of a political-religious conflict that devastated most of contemporary europe. the commonwealth was able to hold its own against sweden, the tsardom of russia, and vassals of the ottoman empire, and even launched successful expansionist offensives against its neighbors. in several invasions during the time of troubles, commonwealth troops entered russia and managed to take moscow and hold it from 27 september 1610 to 4 november 1612, when they were driven out after a siege.