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Polish-Swedish war (1626—1629)
Part of the Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629)
Date6 July 1626 – September 1629
Location
Royal Prussia
Result Disputed, see § Outcome
Belligerents
Swedish Empire Swedish Empire Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth
Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire[a][1]
Kingdom of Prussia Brandenburg-Prussia[2]
Commanders and leaders
Swedish Empire Gustavus Adolphus
Swedish Empire Carl Gyllenhielm
Swedish Empire Axel Oxenstierna
Swedish Empire Dietrich von Falkenberg
Swedish Empire Lennart Torstensson
Swedish Empire Johan Banér
Swedish Empire Jindřich Matyáš Thurn #
Swedish Empire Maximillian Teuffel
Swedish Empire Johan Streiff
Swedish Empire Herman Wrangel
Swedish Empire Nils Stiernsköld †
Swedish Empire Wolf Heinrich von Baudissin (POW)		 Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Sigismund III Vasa
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Stanisław Koniecpolski
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Arend Dickmann †
Kingdom of Prussia George William
Holy Roman Empire Hans Georg von Arnim-Boitzenburg

The Polish-Swedish war (1626—1629) was an armed conflict between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden, fought between 1626 and 1629. The conflict began after a Swedish attack on Pomerania, including an attempt to capture Gdańsk, a key economic centre of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Despite the initial Swedish successes, the Polish army, led by Hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski, made an effective defence, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, including at the Battle of Trzciana in 1629.

The conflict was characterised by intense operations in Pomerania, Livonia and at sea. The Swedes, with their modern army and the support of mercenaries, initially dominated the front. However, thanks to a change of strategy to a ragged war, Stanisław Koniecpolski successfully repelled the Swedish attacks. An important event was the naval battle of Oliwa in 1627, in which the Polish fleet inflicted defeat on the Swedish forces. At the same time, the war exposed the problems of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, such as lack of funds, difficulties in paying salaries and the opposition of the nobility to increased taxes on the army.

The war ended with the Armistice of Altmark, concluded on 16 September 1629. Under it, Sweden gained Livonia and control over Prussian ports, as well as the right to collect duties on maritime trade, which was a major blow to the economy of the Commonwealth. Despite the unfavourable terms of the truce, the subsequent diplomatic efforts of Wladyslaw IV Vasa led to the conclusion of the Treaty of Stuhmsdorf in 1635, which partly improved the situation of the Commonwealth.

1626—1627: Swedish victories and Polish counter-offensive

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The Swedish Successes of 1626

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Main articles: Battle of Wallhof, Battle of Gniew, Prussian campaign (1626–1629), Battle of Selburg, and Battle of Wenden (1626)
The Baltic provinces of the Swedish Empire in the 17th century, with English country names and place names that were used at the time.

After his triumph at Wallhof, Gustavus Adolphus decided to strike at Gdańsk, the strategic heart of the Commonwealth's economy.[3] The aim of this move was to force Sigismund III Vasa to relinquish his title as King of Sweden.[4] The internal situation in the Commonwealth was worryingly difficult at the time. The Polish-Lithuanian Sejm failed to ensure adequate preparations for war, which enabled the Swedes to launch an effective offensive on Pomerania, starting on 23 June.[5] The swift strike led to the seizure of numerous cities by the Swedish army.[6] Despite the initial chaos, Gdańsk quickly organised its defence, employing 5,000 foreign mercenaries.[7] Although the attack did not surprise the royal court, it was feared that the conflict might attract other powers hostile to Poland.[8] In addition, tensions between the king and the nobility and strong political opposition made it difficult to take decisive action. It was not until the Swedish attack on the indigenous Polish lands that patriotic sentiments were awakened, prompting the nobility to support an expedition against the aggressor.[9] The Crown army assembled at Toruń, where offensive operations began.[10] The siege of strategic points, i.e. Gniew, prompted Gustavus Adolphus to intervene, which led to the Battle of Gniew.[11] The clash ended in defeat for the Polish troops, although they narrowly missed smashing the Swedish forces. After the battle, the Crown troops withdrew to Czarlin, where they were supported by Hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski, arriving with reinforcements.[12]

In Lithuania, events took a different turn. The army there resumed hostilities, winning victories at the Battle of Mitava and in numerous skirmishes. In response, the Swedes sent substantial reinforcements to Livonia, which tipped the balance in their favour and led to Lithuanian defeats in the later phase of the conflict.[13]

The Swedish Campaign of 1627

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Main articles: Battle of Czarne, Battle of Dirschau, Assault on Kieżmark, and Battle of Oliwa
Probably sometime during the Polish-Swedish Wars. Potyczka ze Szwedami

At the end of 1626 and the beginning of 1627, both sides of the conflict found themselves in a difficult position.[14] Both the armies of the Commonwealth and the Swedes faced famine and epidemics. The situation improved in the spring, allowing the Swedes to develop a new offensive.[15] The plan was to strike the Crown from two directions, using German mercenaries stationed in Pomerania. On hearing of these plans, Hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski decided to issue the Battle of Czarne. The clash ended in a devastating defeat for the Swedish army, temporarily foiling their offensive intentions. Despite its success, the Battle of Czarne did not solve the Commonwealth's problems.[16] Koniecpolski's army continued to struggle, and the prolonged Swedish blockade of Gdańsk caused increasing economic losses[17]. Soon Gustavus Adolphus landed with new reinforcements and struck at Kieżmark, where he broke through the Polish defences.[18] In response, Koniecpolski took up arms at the Battle of Tczew. During it, Gustavus Adolphus was wounded, forcing the Swedes to abandon the offensive. This battle also demonstrated Koniecpolski's outstanding command skills. The campaign of 1627 inflicted heavy losses on Sweden, undermining Gustavus Adolphu's reputation as the Lion of the North. After these events, hostilities waned for a time, preparing the ground for the next stages of the conflict.[19]

Naval battle near Gdańsk in 1627

Faced with setbacks, Gustavus Adolphus began to send peace proposals, but these were rejected by the Commonwealth. The end of 1627 brought another severe defeat for Sweden — the Battle of Oliwa. The Polish fleet, although much weaker and only developed on the initiative of Sigismund III Vasa, was victorious under the command of Arend Dickman, who was killed during the battle. Death was also suffered by the Swedish commander, Nils Stiernsköld. In Livonia , fighting was sporadic, mainly due to the Swedes' fire superiority. These experiences prompted the command of the Commonwealth to carry out thorough military reforms. Stanisław Koniecpolski and Krzysztof Radziwiłł introduced a number of changes, modernising the army and adapting it to the requirements of the modern battlefield. Despite these efforts, the armies of the Commonwealth still lagged behind in technical terms compared to the Swedish army.

The blockade of Gdańsk, which had been in place for a long time, put an increasing strain on the finances of the Commonwealth. In response, the Sejm enacted a substantial appropriation for the continuation of the war effort, which was intended to support the military effort and avert an economic crisis.

1628—1629: The last years of the war and the diplomatic defeat of the Commonwealth

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Fights of 1628/1629 and batle of Trzciana

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Main articles: Battle of Górzno, Capture of Brodnica, Battle of Trzciana, and Battle of Latarnia

The experience of the 1627 campaign led Stanisław Koniecpolski to abandon traditional methods of warfare in favour of ragged warfare. In 1628 the Swedes, wanting to compensate for their defeat at Oliwa, attacked anchored Polish ships in the Latarnia. The attack caused significant losses, including the deaths of many experienced sailors, and damage to three vessels. At the same time, Gustavus Adolphus continued hostilities, attempting to extend his control over areas hitherto not covered by the fighting. Despite encountering strong resistance from Polish troops and suffering heavy losses, he managed to capture Brodnica. However, the campaign failed to produce any decisive results.

At the beginning of 1629, the Swedish army under Hetman Wrangel in the battle of Górzno crushed the Polish army under Stanisław Rewera. This event caused a major stir at the Warsaw Sejm, which passed substantial taxes for further warfare. At this time, Austria joined the conflict on the side of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, leading its army under the command of Hans Georg von Arnim-Boitzenburg.

Gustav II Adolphus almost killed in the battle of Trzciana

Knowing of the tensions in the Polish-Austrian command, Gustavus Adolphus planned to strike at the combined forces of the allies. However, on hearing of their imminent combination, he withdrew. Hetman Koniecpolski, trying to surprise his opponent, struck at the Swedish army at Trzciana. In the first phase of the battle, Polish cavalry smashed Gustav Adolphus' troops. In the second phase, the Swedish king began a retreat, covered by Hetman Wrangel, who was killed during the manoeuvre. As a result of the clash, 1,200 Swedes were killed and 400 taken prisoner. This was a significant success for the allied forces, forcing the Swedes to take refuge in castles. In Livonia , warfare was limited to minor skirmishes due to conflicts within the Lithuanian command. The war revealed all the weaknesses of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, including problems in defending the borders and difficulties in paying soldiers' wages. The warfare devastated Pomerania and the economy of Gdańsk suffered significant losses.

Truce of Altmark and Treaty of Stuhmsdorf

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Main articles: Władysław IV Vasa, Truce of Altmark, and Treaty of Stuhmsdorf
Treaty of Stuhmsdorf, wall painting from Kielce Castle. Visible: bishop and chancellor Jakub Zadzik, Polish king Władysław IV and Hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski.

After lengthy negotiations in which both sides made exorbitant demands, a truce was concluded at Altmark on 16 September 1629. The treaty proved extremely unfavourable to the Commonwealth. The Swedes retained Inflants and Prussian ports such as Tolkmicko, Elbląg, Braniewo, Piława and Klaipėda. Malbork, Sztum, Gdańsk Head and the Vistula Zulawy were sequestered to the Elector of Brandenburg, George William. In addition, Sweden was given the right to levy a 3% duty on maritime trade, which hit the finances of the Commonwealth hard. In 1632, Gustavus Adolphus was killed at the Battle of Lützen. Władysław IV Vasa, son of Sigismund III, became the new king of Poland. Władyslaw, hoping to regain the Swedish crown, inherited the title of King of Sweden from his father. However, these plans were thwarted by the Smolensk War and the Polish-Turkish War (1633-1634). Meanwhile, Sweden, plunged into crisis and suffering defeats, including at Nördlingen, agreed to peace negotiations.

As a result of the diplomatic efforts of Wladyslaw IV, a peace was signed at Stuhmsdorf in 1635, which was much more favourable to the Commonwealth than the earlier truce at Altmark. The agreement was a triumph for Polish diplomacy, ending the stage of the devastating war with Sweden and allowing the Commonwealth to focus on internal stability and other armed conflicts.

Outcome

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For some historians, the war was won neither by the Swedes nor by the Poles.[20]But most historians believe that the war ended successfully for Sweden.[21][22]

Notes

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  1. ^ After 1628

Reference

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  1. ^ Black, Jeremy (5 July 2005). European Warfare, 1494-1660. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-47708-1.
  2. ^ Leathes, Stanley (1902). The Cambridge Modern History. Cambridge University Press. p. 186.
  3. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 145—146.
  4. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 147.
  5. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 148—149.
  6. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 149.
  7. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 150.
  8. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 151.
  9. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 152—154.
  10. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 154.
  11. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 154—155.
  12. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 155—161.
  13. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 162—163.
  14. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 165.
  15. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 166.
  16. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 166—174.
  17. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 174.
  18. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 176—177.
  19. ^ Podhorodecki 1985, p. 177—190.
  20. ^ Пенской, Виталий (2022-05-15). Великая огнестрельная революция (in Russian). Litres. ISBN 978-5-457-12496-7.
  21. ^ Podhorodecki, Leszek (1985). Rapier i Koncerz. p. 150. ISBN 830511452X. wojna skończyła się niepowodzeniem
  22. ^ Porshev, Boris (2014). Тридцатилетняя война и вступление в нее Швеции и Московского государства [The Thirty Years' War and the entry of Sweden and the Moscow State] (in Russian). T8. p. 171. ISBN 978-5-519-03225-4.

Bibliography

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