User:Gvssy/Transylvanian campaign into Poland (1657): Difference between revisions
Kaliforniyka (talk | contribs) m (GR) File renamed: File:Erpsync-main-image-details.jpg → File:Armies of George II Rákóczi and Charles X Gustav meeting in 1657, 1697 engraving.jpg Criterion 2 (meaningless or ambiguous name) |
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| date = 1657 |
| date = 1657 |
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| territory = Warsaw and Brest are temporarily occupied |
| territory = Warsaw and Brest are temporarily occupied |
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| result = |
| result = |
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| combatants_header = Belligerents |
| combatants_header = Belligerents |
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| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth}} [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] |
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth}} [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] |
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| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} [[George II Rákóczi]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} [[John Kemény (prince)|John Kemény]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} Péter Huszár <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} Ferenc Ispán <br> {{flagicon|Swedish Empire}} [[Charles X Gustav]] <br> {{flagicon|Swedish Empire}} [[Erik Dahlbergh]] <br> {{flagicon|Cossack Hetmanate}} Anton Zhdanovich <br> {{flagicon|Cossack Hetmanate}} Ivan Bogun |
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} [[George II Rákóczi]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} [[John Kemény (prince)|John Kemény]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} Péter Huszár <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} Ferenc Ispán <br> {{flagicon|Swedish Empire}} [[Charles X Gustav]] <br> {{flagicon|Swedish Empire}} [[Erik Dahlbergh]] <br> {{flagicon|Cossack Hetmanate}} Anton Zhdanovich <br> {{flagicon|Cossack Hetmanate}} Ivan Bogun |
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| units1 = Placeholder |
| units1 = Placeholder |
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| units2 = |
| units2 = |
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| strength1 = |
| strength1 = |
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| strength2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} 24,000–30,000 men <br> 30 cannons <hr> {{flagicon|Swedish Empire}} 7,000 men{{Efn|4,000 Swedes and 3,000 Brandenburgers}} <hr> {{flagicon|Cossack Hetmanate}} 6,000 men{{Efn|Some estimates put the number as high as 35,000, but this number is most likely not the true number}} <hr> '''Total''' <br /> 37,000–43,000 men / 70,000 men<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wikberg |first=Sven |url=https://books.google.se/books?id=e9pPDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT48&dq=erik+dahlbergh+1657+polen&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjryY-Kp--GAxWUR1UIHasUC_AQ6AF6BAgNEAI#v=onepage&q=erik%20dahlbergh%201657%20polen&f=false |title=Erik Dahlbergh : en stormaktstidens svensk : skildrad för ungdom |date=2018-03-06 |publisher=Lindhardt og Ringhof |isbn=978-87-11-95566-6 |language=sv}}</ref> |
| strength2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Transylvania before 1918.svg}} 24,000–30,000 men <br> 30 cannons <hr> {{flagicon|Swedish Empire}} 7,000 men{{Efn|4,000 Swedes and 3,000 Brandenburgers}} <hr> {{flagicon|Cossack Hetmanate}} 6,000 men{{Efn|Some estimates put the number as high as 35,000, but this number is most likely not the true number}} <hr> '''Total''' <br /> 37,000–43,000 men / 70,000 men<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wikberg |first=Sven |url=https://books.google.se/books?id=e9pPDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT48&dq=erik+dahlbergh+1657+polen&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjryY-Kp--GAxWUR1UIHasUC_AQ6AF6BAgNEAI#v=onepage&q=erik%20dahlbergh%201657%20polen&f=false |title=Erik Dahlbergh : en stormaktstidens svensk : skildrad för ungdom |date=2018-03-06 |publisher=Lindhardt og Ringhof |isbn=978-87-11-95566-6 |language=sv}}</ref> |
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The '''Transylvanian campaign into Poland''' ([[Swedish language|Swedish]]: ''Transsylvaniens kampanj in i Polen''; [[Ukrainian language|Ukranian]]: ''Трансільванський похід на Польщу'') was a campaign by [[Principality of Transylvania (1570–1711)|Transylvania]], [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]], and the [[Cossack Hetmanate]] into the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] during [[Deluge (history)|the Deluge]] in 1657. The allied army saw quick success in the beginning, but when [[Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658)|Denmark declared war on Sweden]], Charles abandoned the Transylvanians, which led to their defeat. |
The '''Transylvanian campaign into Poland''' ([[Swedish language|Swedish]]: ''Transsylvaniens kampanj in i Polen''; [[Ukrainian language|Ukranian]]: ''Трансільванський похід на Польщу'') was a campaign by [[Principality of Transylvania (1570–1711)|Transylvania]], [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]], and the [[Cossack Hetmanate]] into the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] during [[Deluge (history)|the Deluge]] in 1657. The allied army saw quick success in the beginning, but when [[Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658)|Denmark declared war on Sweden]], Charles abandoned the Transylvanians, which led to their defeat. the and |
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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The combat skills of the Transylvanian army was "less than desired". Moreover, their movement was slowed by their large supply train and poor ability to build bridges. When the two armies had to cross the Vistula in the middle of April, the Swedes were forced to build a [[pontoon bridge]] for the Transylvanians, since their own attempt had ended in the bridge collapsing. During the construction of the pontoon bridge, mutliple Polish snipers harassed the Swedes. At one point, when King Charles, who had disregarded the warnings regarding the snipers, moved closer to the proceedings, a Pole in Swedish service shouted to the snipers that the King of Sweden had arrived, and requested them not to harm him. He also indicated that Charles was there with his hand. On the opposite side of the river, the Polish officers quickly ordered their men to cease their fire, greeted the Swedish king with all honours expected by a royal visitor, and promptly retreated.{{Sfn|Essen|2022|p=194}} |
The combat skills of the Transylvanian army was "less than desired". Moreover, their movement was slowed by their large supply train and poor ability to build bridges. When the two armies had to cross the Vistula in the middle of April, the Swedes were forced to build a [[pontoon bridge]] for the Transylvanians, since their own attempt had ended in the bridge collapsing. During the construction of the pontoon bridge, mutliple Polish snipers harassed the Swedes. At one point, when King Charles, who had disregarded the warnings regarding the snipers, moved closer to the proceedings, a Pole in Swedish service shouted to the snipers that the King of Sweden had arrived, and requested them not to harm him. He also indicated that Charles was there with his hand. On the opposite side of the river, the Polish officers quickly ordered their men to cease their fire, greeted the Swedish king with all honours expected by a royal visitor, and promptly retreated.{{Sfn|Essen|2022|p=194}} |
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When the bridge had been finished, it still took the Transylvanian army three days to completely cross the river. King Charles sent Dahlberfh ahead of the two armies for reconnaissance, since one of Dahlberghs tasks was to carry out intelligence gathering. Dahlbergh commanded a joint cavalry force, which consisted of 120 men taken from the Swedish Life Guard of Horse, who were also known as "blackcoats", along with 100 Swedish cavalry, 200 Transylvanians under the command of Ferenc Ispán, and 200 cossacks.{{Sfn|Essen|2022|p=194}} |
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== Aftermath == |
== Aftermath == |
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=== Result === |
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The exact result of the campaign is disputed among historians, with some stating that the joint campaign had "not lived up to expectations",{{Sfn|Essen|2022|p=203}} while others state that the Swedes and Transylvanians had "triumphed".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ingrao |first=Charles W. |url=https://books.google.se/books?id=Ncgq08FZYlQC&pg=PA54&dq=george+II+R%C3%A1k%C3%B3czi+april+1657&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiz6M2-pe-GAxW3CRAIHYnjDxkQ6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=george%20II%20R%C3%A1k%C3%B3czi%20april%201657&f=false |title=The Habsburg Monarchy, 1618-1815 |date=2000-06-29 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year= |isbn=978-0-521-78505-1 |pages=54 |language=en |quote="Although the triumph of France in the west and Sweden and Transylvania in the east seriously jeapordized the monarchy's international position and security, the greatest threat of all now arose in central Europe, where the Habsburgs suddenly faced the prospect of losing the imperial crown."}}</ref> |
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== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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* {{Cite book |last=Essen |first=Michael |title=Charles X's Wars Vol.2: The Wars in the East, 1655-1657 |publisher=[[Helion & Company]] |year=2022 |isbn=9781915070302 |pages=194–203 |language=en}} |
* {{Cite book |last=Essen |first=Michael |title=Charles X's Wars Vol.2: The Wars in the East, 1655-1657 |publisher=[[Helion & Company]] |year=2022 |isbn=9781915070302 |pages=194–203 |language=en}} |
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* {{Cite book |last=Kotljarchuk |first=Andrej |url=https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16352/FULLTEXT01.pdf |title=In the Shadows of Poland and Russia : The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden in the European Crisis of the mid-17th Century |publisher=[[Södertörn University]] |year=2006 |isbn=9789189315631 |pages=226–235 |language=en}} |
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Revision as of 18:53, 22 June 2024
| Transylvanian campaign into Poland | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Deluge | |||||||||
 Transylvanians discussing strategy with King Charles X of Sweden in 1657 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth |
 Transylvania  Swedish Empire  Cossack Hetmanate | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Lubormirski |
George II Rákóczi John Kemény Péter Huszár Ferenc Ispán Charles X Gustav Erik Dahlbergh Anton Zhdanovich Ivan Bogun | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| Placeholder |
Swedish Life Guard of Horse | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
24,000–30,000 men 30 cannons 7,000 men[a] 6,000 men[b] Total 37,000–43,000 men / 70,000 men[1] | |||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Placeholder | Placeholder | ||||||||
The Transylvanian campaign into Poland (Swedish: Transsylvaniens kampanj in i Polen; Ukranian: Трансільванський похід на Польщу) was a campaign by Transylvania, Sweden, and the Cossack Hetmanate into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Deluge in 1657. The allied army saw quick success in the beginning, but when Denmark declared war on Sweden, Charles abandoned the Transylvanians, which led to their defeat. During the campaign, the allied forces successfully managed to capture both Warsaw and Brest from the Poles.
Background
In March of 1657, Charles X Gustav of Sweden commenced a new offensive into the south of Poland. Although there are some disputes over the size of his force, it was not large and likely consisted of around 4,000 Swedes and 3,000 Brandenburgers divided into four regiments under Friedrich von Waldeck. Charles had ordered his field artillery and musketeers to be on horeback so they would be able to keep up with the Swedish cavalry.[2]
During this campaign, however, Charles had gained two new allies, being Prince George Rákóczi of Transylvania and Bohdan Khmelnytsky of the Cossack Hetmanate. The latter having in February sent Colonel Anton Zhdanovich of Kiev with three cossack regiments to link up with the Transylvanian Prince and the Swedish king. Khmelnytsky had planned to fight in the campaign himself, but an illness prevented this.[2]
Rákóczi marched north into the Commonwealth with a large army split into three divisons under respectively John Kemény, Péter Huszár, and Ferenc Ispán. Rákóczi was quickly joined by a Cossack contingent under the command of Anton Zhdanovich.[2]
Dispute over the strength of the Transylvanian and Cossack army
Both contemporary and modern historians disagree with exactly how many men Rákóczi brought with him for the campaign. A certain Gordon, who is a contemporary writer, claims that his army consisted of 20,000 Transylvanians, 5,000 Moldavians, 6,000 cossacks, and 30 cannons, along with a supply train of around 1,000 wagons. Due to the cossacks being allied with the Transylvanians, the total strength of the Transylvanian army, using this claim, comes out to 30,000.[2]
Erik Dahlbergh, who was a military engineer and fortification officer that participated in the campaign, claims that the total strength of the Transylvanian army was 24,000. He also mentioned a cossack force of 2,000, but it is unlikely that this number refers to the entire cossack army since it is this number that accompanied Rákóczi to a meeting with Charles Gustav. Dahlbergh also claims that the cossack army consisted of upwards of 35,000 men, but this number may very likely refer to the total number of fighting men in the Hetmanate.[2]
The figure of 6,000 cossacks claimed by Gordon corresponds to the three regiments which Zhdanovich brought from Kiev. It is then likely that the 2,000 cossacks mentioned by Dahlbergh was one of Zhdanovich's regiments.[2]
Campaign
In the beginning of the campaign during new years,[3] Rákóczi wanted to besiege L'vov (modern day Lviv), but he lacked both the necessary equipment and experience for extensive siege operations, which would be needed for a siege of the city. When Rákóczi received a signal for help from Paul Würtz in Krakow, which had already been besieged by Lubormirski for five months, he decided to march towards the city instead. Not wishing to engage in a battle with the Transylvanians, Lubomirski lifted his siege and retreated towards the north-east, following along the Vistula river. Rákóczi followed the Polish army, until he linked up with the Swedish army in the area around Sandomierz on 11 April.[2][4]
The combat skills of the Transylvanian army was "less than desired". Moreover, their movement was slowed by their large supply train and poor ability to build bridges. When the two armies had to cross the Vistula in the middle of April, the Swedes were forced to build a pontoon bridge for the Transylvanians, since their own attempt had ended in the bridge collapsing. During the construction of the pontoon bridge, mutliple Polish snipers harassed the Swedes. At one point, when King Charles, who had disregarded the warnings regarding the snipers, moved closer to the proceedings, a Pole in Swedish service shouted to the snipers that the King of Sweden had arrived, and requested them not to harm him. He also indicated that Charles was there with his hand. On the opposite side of the river, the Polish officers quickly ordered their men to cease their fire, greeted the Swedish king with all honours expected by a royal visitor, and promptly retreated.[2]
When the bridge had been finished, it still took the Transylvanian army three days to completely cross the river. King Charles sent Dahlberfh ahead of the two armies for reconnaissance, since one of Dahlberghs tasks was to carry out intelligence gathering. Dahlbergh commanded a joint cavalry force, which consisted of 120 men taken from the Swedish Life Guard of Horse, who were also known as "blackcoats", along with 100 Swedish cavalry, 200 Transylvanians under the command of Ferenc Ispán, and 200 cossacks.[2]
Aftermath
Result
The exact result of the campaign is disputed among historians, with some stating that the joint campaign had "not lived up to expectations",[5] while others state that the Swedes and Transylvanians had "triumphed".[6]
Notes
References
- ^ Wikberg, Sven (2018-03-06). Erik Dahlbergh : en stormaktstidens svensk : skildrad för ungdom (in Swedish). Lindhardt og Ringhof. ISBN 978-87-11-95566-6.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Essen 2022, p. 194.
- ^ "Erik J Dahlbergh - Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon". sok.riksarkivet.se. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Ingrao, Charles W. (2000-06-29). The Habsburg Monarchy, 1618-1815. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-78505-1.
- ^ Essen 2022, p. 203.
- ^ Ingrao, Charles W. (2000-06-29). The Habsburg Monarchy, 1618-1815. Cambridge University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-521-78505-1.
Although the triumph of France in the west and Sweden and Transylvania in the east seriously jeapordized the monarchy's international position and security, the greatest threat of all now arose in central Europe, where the Habsburgs suddenly faced the prospect of losing the imperial crown.
Works cited
- Essen, Michael (2022). Charles X's Wars Vol.2: The Wars in the East, 1655-1657. Helion & Company. pp. 194–203. ISBN 9781915070302.
- Kotljarchuk, Andrej (2006). In the Shadows of Poland and Russia : The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden in the European Crisis of the mid-17th Century (PDF). Södertörn University. pp. 226–235. ISBN 9789189315631.