when presented with periodic opportunities to fill the throne, the "szlachta" exhibited a preference for foreign candidates who would not establish a strong and long-lasting dynasty. this policy often produced monarchs who were either totally ineffective or in constant debilitating conflict with the nobility. furthermore, aside from notable exceptions such as the able transylvanian stefan batory (1576–86), the kings of foreign origin were inclined to subordinate the interests of the commonwealth to those of their own country and ruling house. this was especially visible in the policies and actions of the first two elected kings from the swedish house of vasa, whose politics brought the commonwealth into conflict with sweden, culminating in the war known as the deluge (1655), one of the events that mark the end of the commonwealth's golden age and the beginning of the commonwealth's decline.