Polish-Swedish Wars
1600-1611
Origins Traces its origin to War against Sigismund Sigismund III King of both PLU and Sweden. Civil War fought, decided at the Battle of Stangebro PLU Lost, ended Union with Sweden Sigismund outnumbered 2-1 Battle fought over two bridges Duke Charles won a quick victory at one bridge Moves all forced to the second bridge Polish cavalry were not used, resulting in a loss Tried to take back Estonia
Military Polish Swedish Confident Undefeated for nearly 100 years Smallest military to population ratio in Europe Population outnumbered 10-1 Centralized Government Obligatory draft for peasants
Early Battles PLU Fighting the HRE and Turks over Maldovia Sweden gains a 3:1 numerical advantage Poland won some early victories but eventually lose Estonia and Livonia Poland moved troops to the North Met in the Battle of Kokenhausen Polish gain a crushing victory with Cavalry, 3,000 S to 200 PLU
Swedish Retreat A large Polish army moved north after victory in Maldovia Swedes run, but leave some troops in fortress cities Polish slowly take those cities Meet again at the Battle of Weissenstein Hussars inflict a huge loss, 3000 Swedes to 150 Poles
Polish Problems Commonwealth, more like common poor All taxes needed to be agreed upon War effort is neglected Sweden backed financially by Russia Hires a new army
Riga Multiple Swedish armies converge on Riga Intent to lay siege Discover the PLU army nearby Meet at the Battle of Kirchholm
Battle of Kirchholm PLU outnumbered 3:1 Chodkiewics lured the Swedes by faking retreat Swedes advanced, closing ranks PLU forces opened fire and then charged with cavalry Swedes cavalry was routed Their center was exposed, lost up to 8,000 men, PLU 300
Fruitless Victory PLU Army, unpaid for year, gave up Chodkiewicz continued the fight as best he could Fought the Swedes to a stand still Truce signed until 1617
Polish Swedish War (1617-1618)
Origins Sigismund did not give up his claim New Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus decided to make another attempted on Estonia
The War Swedes overrun many cities Poland sends a small force Skill allows them to push invaders out Sign a new truce due to war with Russia
https://www. youtube. com/watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxEhFnr3aVA&list=PLaBYW76inbX46r95D4BjCxiJz7-OeyOtW&index=11
Polish–Swedish War (1621–25)
Intro King Gustavus Adolphus regarded as a usurper Army inferior to PLU PLU busy fighting other wars Adolphus reforms the military and wants for force King Zygmunt to renounce claim
First Phase Swedes land with a massive army Take important city of Riga Then took city of Mitau A truce is signed
Truce Swedes were broke Truce was with Lithuania Polish nobles wanted Zygmunt to renounce claim Invades instead
Second phase Swedish invaded with 20,000 men PLU armies divided due to rivalries Swedes ambush PLU Killed nearly half their men Leader had a nervous breakdown
Polish–Swedish War (1626–29)
Invasion of Prussia This took Poland by surprise Lost 16 towns without a fight Failed to capture Danzig A clash between forces met at Gniew, which was a Swedish victory
Win some, lose some Reinforcements arrived from Poland under Hetman Koniecpolski (Konie) Engaged in a war of maneuver Swedes went on the defensive The Sejm raised addition fund for the war
1627 Polish forces retook the port of Puck Swedes planned to surround them Flooding rivers stopped them Konies’s forces defeated half the attacking force Then met at the Battle of Dirschau
Battle of Dirschau Both sides were evenly matched Adolphus used his cavalry aggressively supported by Infantry Polish forces were withdrawing when Adolphus sniped
1628 Konie reformed the Polish military Neither side would engage the other Swedish forces lost many men due to disease
1629 Polish suffered a pretty severe defeat This served to increase funding and aid was sent from the HRE Catholics V Protestant King Adolphus arrived with reinforcements Met at the Battle of Trzciana
Battle of Trzciana Cossacks approached through the woods Hussars go on a flanking maneuver Swedish rearguard flees, artillery lost Swedes retreat, losing nearly 1,000 men of their 6,000
Outcome Poland makes a bad deal Give up much of Livonia and Prussia Surrender their fleet Pay tax on shipping in the Baltic