Musashi
03-22-2008, 08:38 PM
Everyone knows about Swedish Deluge in Poland in years 1655 - 1656, but few people know about Polish invasion of Sweden in 1598 which started Polish-Swedish wars in XVIIth century (in XVIth century Poland fought against Sweden during the first Northern War: 1558 - 1570).
Sweden was invaded by Poles in 1598 - King of Poland Zygmunt III Waza (who wanted to regain his Swedish crown, which rightfully belonged to him - he had Polish ancestors from Jagiellonian dynasty, and Swedish ancestors from Vasa dynasty) and Polish hetman Jan Zamojski with 4,000 soldiers. In July 1598 Polish fleet with army on boards, sailed from Gdansk to Kalmar. When Polish fleet with army got to Kalmar, the city was occupied by 4,000 Swedisish soldiers, followers of Zygmunt III Waza. Zamojski's army now grew to 8,000 men - he started his march on Stockholm.
Carolus of Sudermania - who was Zygmunt's rival to Swedish crown and was far more popular in Sweden than Zygmunt since Zygmunt became the king of Poland and left Sweden - retreated from Stockholm in fear, without resistance - Polish forces easily captured the capital of Sweden. The first unit which came into the city was a banner under command of famous Polish statesman, Samuel Łaski. After capturing Stockholm, Zamojski ordered to send some troops to Kalmar to protect the fortress - the only way of eventuall withdraw from Sweden. Rest of Polish forces started to conquer other parts of Sweden and chase after Carolus of Sudermania to the north.
In the meantime Carolus of Sudermania was gathering an army in northern provinces of Sweden - he managed to gather an army of around 18,000 men.
Near the town of Stegeborg on the 8th of September 1598, Zamojski's forces (around 6,000 men - the rest of the army was in Kalmar, Stockholm and occupied provinces of Sweden) met in combat with 18,000 Swedish followers of Carolus of Sudermania. This was crushing Polish victory - Carolus of Sudermania lost around 5,000 dead and had to retreat. Casualties of Zamojski's army were slightly any.
Unfortunately, Carouls and around 10,000 of his men managed to escape - this happend because the Polish king didn't even make an attempt to end this battle with full succes. He stopped cavalry chase as he didn't want a massacre of his future subjects. If not his mercy, after the victory of Stegeborg Sweden would be Polish. But he halted chase after escaping Sweds and slaughter of crushed Swedish army. He didn't want to kill his future subjects in such way. That's why only 5,000 Swedish soldiers died during this battle, not 18,000. Carolus of Sudermania managed to escape from this bloody massacre.
This was the biggest mistake of Sigmund III - Carolus of Sudermania reorganized and reoinforced his army, then he attacked. On 25th of September 1598, near Linkoping, his army - 15,000 men, defeated Zygmunt's III army - 8,000 men. The battle took place on both sides of the river, in very foggy wheather - fog was very thick - it made coordinating of army manoeuvres pretty hard - when the decisive moment of the battle came, Zamojski couldn't find Polish cavalry commander in the battle chaos - and he couldn't send cavalry to the most important place in the battlefield. Lack of cavalry on Polish side when it was needed the most, determined the result of the battle.
During the battle of Linkoping 2,000 men of Zygmunt died - of them, many Poles. Casualties of Carolus's army - around 500 dead. Polish king was captured. Polish invasion was halted, but it wasn't the end of the war - Polish king regained freedom, but price was heavy - he had to betray his best Swedish followers, and gave them into Carolus of Sudermania hands - he handed over his best Swedish ally to Carolus - chancellor of Sweden, Erik Sparre (ancestor of famous Swedish politician from XVIIIth century).
Zygmunt III also had to officialy claim that he renounces his rights to Swedish crown. Polish forces withdrew from Stockholm to Kalmar - Carolus regained his power in the city without fighting. Zygmunt, with most part of his army, came back to Poland - his fleet reached Gdansk on the 30th of October 1598. But a strong garrison was left in Kalmar - so Kalmar was still in Polish hands - the siege lasted for around one year - Polish soldiers, and Swedish enemies of Carolus - defended the city untill October 1599.
They had to surrender when they ran out of food. In July 1599 Swedish parliament officialy dethroned Zygmunt III - but it proposed the Swedish crown to Polish prince, Wladysław IV Waza, son of Zygmunt III - however, on some raw conditions... - he had to leave Poland and change his relligion - from catholicism to protestantism (Swedish lutheranism) - his father, Zygmunt III the king of Poland, of course refused. He also said, that he "won't resign from his rights to Swedish crown" - so war continued on...
War continued on - only with short break - from 1600, but this time it was fought on Polish territory - in Polish Inflants (Livonia) - today Estland and Latvia (for example battles of Kokenhausen - 1601, battle of White Stone aka Biały Kamień in Polish - 1604, and the decisive battle of Kircholm aka Salaspilis - 1605, after that - Polish succefull offensive took place - for example siege of Parnawa in 1609, sea battle of Salis - 1609, and battle of Gawia - 1609). The war was finally won by Poles who regained power over the whole Inflants.
Formal treaty, which confirmed Polish victory and Polish conquests in Inflants, was signed in 1611, after eleven years of constant conflict.
Other famous battles of this conflict in Inflants were: battle of Kies - 1601, siege of Wolmar - 1601, siege of Fellin - 1602, battle of Rewel - 1602, battle of Rakvere - 1603, siege of Bialy Kamien (White Stone) - 1602.
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Swedish army from Polish movie "The Deluge" - it's about Swedish Deluge in Poland, not about Polish Invasion of Sweden:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNii3m9yJAw&feature=related
"The Deluge", some scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GihwyldGGM&feature=related
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=137026
Sweden was invaded by Poles in 1598 - King of Poland Zygmunt III Waza (who wanted to regain his Swedish crown, which rightfully belonged to him - he had Polish ancestors from Jagiellonian dynasty, and Swedish ancestors from Vasa dynasty) and Polish hetman Jan Zamojski with 4,000 soldiers. In July 1598 Polish fleet with army on boards, sailed from Gdansk to Kalmar. When Polish fleet with army got to Kalmar, the city was occupied by 4,000 Swedisish soldiers, followers of Zygmunt III Waza. Zamojski's army now grew to 8,000 men - he started his march on Stockholm.
Carolus of Sudermania - who was Zygmunt's rival to Swedish crown and was far more popular in Sweden than Zygmunt since Zygmunt became the king of Poland and left Sweden - retreated from Stockholm in fear, without resistance - Polish forces easily captured the capital of Sweden. The first unit which came into the city was a banner under command of famous Polish statesman, Samuel Łaski. After capturing Stockholm, Zamojski ordered to send some troops to Kalmar to protect the fortress - the only way of eventuall withdraw from Sweden. Rest of Polish forces started to conquer other parts of Sweden and chase after Carolus of Sudermania to the north.
In the meantime Carolus of Sudermania was gathering an army in northern provinces of Sweden - he managed to gather an army of around 18,000 men.
Near the town of Stegeborg on the 8th of September 1598, Zamojski's forces (around 6,000 men - the rest of the army was in Kalmar, Stockholm and occupied provinces of Sweden) met in combat with 18,000 Swedish followers of Carolus of Sudermania. This was crushing Polish victory - Carolus of Sudermania lost around 5,000 dead and had to retreat. Casualties of Zamojski's army were slightly any.
Unfortunately, Carouls and around 10,000 of his men managed to escape - this happend because the Polish king didn't even make an attempt to end this battle with full succes. He stopped cavalry chase as he didn't want a massacre of his future subjects. If not his mercy, after the victory of Stegeborg Sweden would be Polish. But he halted chase after escaping Sweds and slaughter of crushed Swedish army. He didn't want to kill his future subjects in such way. That's why only 5,000 Swedish soldiers died during this battle, not 18,000. Carolus of Sudermania managed to escape from this bloody massacre.
This was the biggest mistake of Sigmund III - Carolus of Sudermania reorganized and reoinforced his army, then he attacked. On 25th of September 1598, near Linkoping, his army - 15,000 men, defeated Zygmunt's III army - 8,000 men. The battle took place on both sides of the river, in very foggy wheather - fog was very thick - it made coordinating of army manoeuvres pretty hard - when the decisive moment of the battle came, Zamojski couldn't find Polish cavalry commander in the battle chaos - and he couldn't send cavalry to the most important place in the battlefield. Lack of cavalry on Polish side when it was needed the most, determined the result of the battle.
During the battle of Linkoping 2,000 men of Zygmunt died - of them, many Poles. Casualties of Carolus's army - around 500 dead. Polish king was captured. Polish invasion was halted, but it wasn't the end of the war - Polish king regained freedom, but price was heavy - he had to betray his best Swedish followers, and gave them into Carolus of Sudermania hands - he handed over his best Swedish ally to Carolus - chancellor of Sweden, Erik Sparre (ancestor of famous Swedish politician from XVIIIth century).
Zygmunt III also had to officialy claim that he renounces his rights to Swedish crown. Polish forces withdrew from Stockholm to Kalmar - Carolus regained his power in the city without fighting. Zygmunt, with most part of his army, came back to Poland - his fleet reached Gdansk on the 30th of October 1598. But a strong garrison was left in Kalmar - so Kalmar was still in Polish hands - the siege lasted for around one year - Polish soldiers, and Swedish enemies of Carolus - defended the city untill October 1599.
They had to surrender when they ran out of food. In July 1599 Swedish parliament officialy dethroned Zygmunt III - but it proposed the Swedish crown to Polish prince, Wladysław IV Waza, son of Zygmunt III - however, on some raw conditions... - he had to leave Poland and change his relligion - from catholicism to protestantism (Swedish lutheranism) - his father, Zygmunt III the king of Poland, of course refused. He also said, that he "won't resign from his rights to Swedish crown" - so war continued on...
War continued on - only with short break - from 1600, but this time it was fought on Polish territory - in Polish Inflants (Livonia) - today Estland and Latvia (for example battles of Kokenhausen - 1601, battle of White Stone aka Biały Kamień in Polish - 1604, and the decisive battle of Kircholm aka Salaspilis - 1605, after that - Polish succefull offensive took place - for example siege of Parnawa in 1609, sea battle of Salis - 1609, and battle of Gawia - 1609). The war was finally won by Poles who regained power over the whole Inflants.
Formal treaty, which confirmed Polish victory and Polish conquests in Inflants, was signed in 1611, after eleven years of constant conflict.
Other famous battles of this conflict in Inflants were: battle of Kies - 1601, siege of Wolmar - 1601, siege of Fellin - 1602, battle of Rewel - 1602, battle of Rakvere - 1603, siege of Bialy Kamien (White Stone) - 1602.
------------------------------------------------
Swedish army from Polish movie "The Deluge" - it's about Swedish Deluge in Poland, not about Polish Invasion of Sweden:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNii3m9yJAw&feature=related
"The Deluge", some scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GihwyldGGM&feature=related
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=137026