Kirholm battle 27 sept. 1605

[perdurabo]

KIRCHOLM 1605

Battle between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden on Sept 27, 1605

translated by rick orli from the Polish on http://www.jest.art.pl/kircholm.html

(c) 2001 rick orli

The Swedish king Carol IX Sudermanski laid siege to the city of Riga on 23 September with an army of 14,000 men. The city controlled the trade routes of the region and was the base of provision for the forces of the Lithuanian Hetman, Carol Chodkiewicza. Conquest of this city would mean the gain of a major Baltic harbor and a corresponding reduction of power of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

By 25 September about 3500 men had rallied to Chodkiewicz’s camp, quite a distance from Riga. On the night of 26 September the army set up camp between Iskiel and Kircholm, having covered 80 kilometers in 36 hours!

The Swedes advanced at night from the evening of the 26 September with 5000 veteran cavalry, 6000 infantry and 11 artillery guns. Through the early morning mist, the Swedes approached Kircholm. They did not see the Commonwealth troops, so Carol IX judged that Chodkiewicz had escaped, frightened by the huge disparity of force. In the meantime the Commonwealth banners were advancing in good order to the north-west from cover to the high ground over Kircholm.

The Swedes stood in four divisions.

In the front, the Seven battalions of infantry with the artillery batteries. This totaled over 3900 infantry and 11 cannon under Andersen Linderson,
The second division’s six squadrons of cavalry totaled 2200; 1000 under Fredrick Joachim Mansweld and 1200 under Brandt.
The third division, in reserve, consisted of six battalions of infantry and the royal guard, and was led by Prince Lüneburski - 3000 infantry.
The fourth was made up of five troops of rieter cavalry - 1600 men - who had just arrived under the command of King Carol IX
The Swedish troops were in an advantageous defensive position at the beginning of battle behind the natural barrier of a stream, and Carol IX was in no hurry to lose his position.

Hetman Chodkiewicz arrayed his army into three divisions.

In the center under command of Hetman Vincent Wojny stood 300 hussar troopers (heavy cavalry armed with a long lance, pistols, and sabres), infantry numbering around 1000 men, and 4 to 7 light field artillery pieces. On the right wing of this first division were 700 hussars under Peter Sapiec, and on the left about 900 hussars under Tomas Dabrowa, with some light cavalry.
Duke Frederic Kettler’s 300 Kurlander rieters (armored cavalry armed with carbines, pistols and swords) - arrived just in time for the start of battle, and formed the second division.
The reserve division consisted of 200 hussars under Captain (Rotmistrzr) Theodore Lackim, the light cavalry troops and volunteer nobleman's Panzer Cavalry (maile-armored medium cavalry, armed with short lance, bow, pistols, and sabre).
Hetman Chodkiewicz attempted to provoke the enemy by sending forward numerous skirmishers and bringing up the light artillery. Several hours passed as they probed the strength of the position, but no Swede was lured from the slope. At last Chodkiewicz feigned a retreat.

The Swedish king ordered an attack. Infantry of first Swedish division (3840 men) proceeded uphill toward the infantry in the center. When they approached to close range they were staggered by the heavy fire of the Lithuanian infantry muskets and the cannon. The Hetman ordered a counter attack by the 300 hussars under Vincent Wojny.

The hussars picked up great speed down the slope. However, the Swedish foote managed a salvo of musket fire. The Hussars galloped on, not heeding their losses. The Swedish infantry were screened with pikemen, but the hussars pressed home the attack. The sounds of broken lances and pikes intermingled with battle cries, swords crashing, and horses neighing. To assist Wojny’s hussars the Kurlander Reiters were also sent in. Their goal was achieved: the small force overran the 3800 enemy infantry. Remarkably, it was estimated that in this phase of battle, only 13 hussar 'comrades' perished, 17 were wounded, but 150 horses were lost.

The Left polish wing with the strength of Dabrowa’s 900 hussars reinforced with the light cavalry now fell on the 3 squadrons (1000 men) under Mansfield. The rieters scattered at the first blow, and fell back in disorder, mixed with the retreating infantry. Cossacks of the light cavalry moved to pursue from Dabrowa’s regiment, but somehow they turned back in to the right with the hussars and hit the flank and rears of Swedish infantry - combining with the power of Wojny’s hussars and Kettler’ rieters.

Despite this success, victory was far from certain. On the left Swedish wing most of Brandt’s cavalry started to move in order to turn the flank. In response, Peter Sapiec’s 700 winged Polish hussars and 400 cossacks moved from the right wing simultaneously. They broke several companies of the rieters under Brandt. While the hussars tried to regroup, the Swedish king commited the reserve force of Brandt’s riters and his royal guard of 700 men against them. This blow badly deteriorated Peter Sapiec’s position, threatening to cut his force off. Seeing that Carol IX had committed his whole cavalry, Chodkiewicz sent for the 200 hussars under Theodore Lackim, who, swinging far to the right to avoid the ongoing combat, hit the flank of the Swedish cavalry at full tilt.

This final blow determined the result of the battle. The Swedish rieters begin to flee, exposing the left flank of the infantry, sealing their fate. The duration of the encounter from the first hussar counter attack on the infantry to this point is estimated to be a most a half hour. A vigirous pursuit hounded the Swedes, who tried to rally and defend themselves at several points to save the situation. Around the church of Kircholm Lüneburski's infantry and some remants of the Swedish cavalry mounted a defense of the way to Riga under the leadership of King Carol IX. After momentary success, they too were innundated. The carnage and pursuit continued thorugh the evening.

Chodkiewicz carried the day in a victory that, taking into account the disparity of power and strategic result, was huge. It is estimated that 6000 Swedes died, including Lüneburski and Linderson. King Carol IX was wounded. All the artillery was captured, along with 60 unit banners. Commonwealth losses totaled about 100 killed and a few hundred wounded.

pic and text stolen from http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/Poli...eArtillery.htm

[perdurabo]

pics of hetman Karol Chodkiewicz



herb (cote of arms of chodkiewicz family)

[Marmot1]

Yeah one of greatest victories in polish history.... annd taking into acout that odds were 3 to 1 in favor of defenders it was one of many miracles that helped polish army in our history.... (Maybe we are the chosen nation not Jews )

[Freibier]

Good read and the links are great, thanks !

[perdurabo]

nah our best battle was Kluszyn hetman Żółkiewski won with only 6thousant troops aginst 30 thousand of Muscovites (ancestors of Russia) and foregin mercenaries i will post it soon
Also Somosierra was good 125 Poles aginst 5 000 Sapiards and Brits trenched on higher ground with artilery support Poles wiped them out in one charge

(Maybe we are the chosen nation not Jews )

we definetly are!
BTW it wasn't miracle!! even so caled miracle of vistula wasn't miracle that's just superior tactics and superior soldiers

[Herrmannek]

We just abuse our luck to much

[perdurabo]

We just abuse our luck to much

WTF? luck? luck has nothing to do with victories like this!

[Musashi]

nah our best battle was Kluszyn hetman Żółkiewski won with only 6thousant troops aginst 30 thousand of Muscovites (ancestors of Russia) and foregin mercenaries i will post it soon
Also Somosierra was good 125 Poles aginst 5 000 Sapiards and Brits trenched on higher ground with artilery support Poles wiped them out in one charge

Exactly 6800 Poles and Cossacks against 30000 Russians supported by 5000 well trained foreign mercenaries in defensive terrain. So the Poles were outnumbered 5,15 to 1 and won.

[Musashi]

Yeah one of greatest victories in polish history.... annd taking into acout that odds were 3 to 1 in favor of defenders it was one of many miracles that helped polish army in our history....

How I hate to read such a ****
There are not Middle Ages to believe in miracles. Man, you belittle the Polish soldiers' contribution. We won this battle due to better soldiers and tactics. It has nothing common with a miracle. The Polish winged hussars were in XVII and XVIII century something like the German "Tiger" tanks when they appeared in 1942.
The American soldiers were also outnumbered during the operation "Desert Storm". Does it mean it was a miracle, because they won?
Please reflect before you'll write something.

Krzysiek

[Marmot1]

[quote="Musashi"]

Yeah one of greatest victories in polish history.... annd taking into acout that odds were 3 to 1 in favor of defenders it was one of many miracles that helped polish army in our history....

How I hate to read such a ****
There are not Middle Ages to believe in miracles. Man, you belittle the Polish soldiers' contribution. We won this battle due to better soldiers and tactics. It has nothing common with a miracle. The Polish winged hussars were in XVII and XVIII century something like the German "Tiger" tanks when they appeared in 1942.
The American soldiers were also outnumbered during the operation "Desert Storm". Does it mean it was a miracle, because they won?
Please reflect before you'll write something.

yes americans were outnumbered but they had HUGE anventage in equipment and morale not to mention total air superiority and iraqis were not willing to fight and die for saddam (remember those thousands of volounteer POW's?) as for comparing Hussars to Tiger.... well yes they were better than any other heavy cavalery but diference was not such huge as betwen Tiger and let's say BT-7 I do not say that polish soldiers always won becouse of divine intervention but that we have a lot of luck.

[perdurabo]

luck?? WTF ????
where you see place for luck? you think that Chodkiewicz thought about luck when he started this battle? "and dear god we are your beloved ones give us victory..."
look at this battle you have plans and you don't see this? where is this miracle?

[Thor]

About this battle.. I think the numbers should be somewhat corrected. 10 000 swedes under the King Karl IX against some 3500 poles. But I agree defeating the swedes is a huge thing. Throughout history however it usually has been the other way around and Sweden has been the underdog defeating larger armies from nations with much larger populations. As when the King Karl XII with 8000 men defeated 40 000 russians at the battle of Narva in 1709 (and almost conquered Russia, but that's another story).

As a swede I'm getting a bit defensive here.. It should be said that no nation in history has more battlefield victories than Sweden (mainly due to being one of the worlds oldest nations and being constantly at war during a few centuries).. Winning battles that changed Europe forever. In some thousand years we have never been occupied and our collection of treasures of war is one of the biggest and most valuable in the world. Among others, the polish government continuesly asks for having some artifacts and so on returned, but even the very unnationalistic swedish goverment has given all the nations the finger.. Treasures of war is just not a subject of discussion.

Ok, I guess this was my nationalistic post of the year.

[Musashi]

Among others, the polish government continuesly asks for having some artifacts and so on returned, but even the very unnationalistic swedish goverment has given all the nations the finger.. Treasures of war is just not a subject of discussion.

My friend, you forget about something. These artifacts should be given back in accordance with a Treaty of Oliwa in 1660 (Oliwa is a present quarter of Gdańsk). This treaty was signed by Sweden and every civilised country should keep the signed treaties.
Cheers,
Chris

[Loco]

But I agree defeating the swedes is a huge thing. Throughout history however it usually has been the other way around and Sweden has been the underdog defeating larger armies from nations with much larger populations.

1634, battle of Nordlingen, an spanish army defeated a swedish force. It´s not celebrated in Spain, in fact if you read old reports of the fights, it seems that battle was a normal job for the experienced spanish infantry, but it seems it´s even more forgotten in Sweden . I think Nordlingen was the first swedish defeat in the 30years war. It must be the only time Spain an Sweden fought in a battle field. Anyway I envy swedish and their pragmatism, you have your museums full of war trophys and we haven´t. Not that spanish didn´t won war trophys, I bet we got more that Poland and Sweden together, but problaby many of them were lost the night after the battle together with playing cards and wine, sh$@ we even haven´t a single swedish helmet of Nordlingen! But sometimes we change our war trophys for other things we like more. Once the king François I of France was POW in the battle of Pavía, and his sword and his campaing tent was kept in a spanish museum until the middle of XX century, when they were exchanged by this iberian lady,

The lady wasn´t a french war trophy, it was sold to a french professor by the ignorant peasant that dug out the lady in his property. We like more our ladies than war trophys, so may be we haven´t the biggest war trophys museum of the world, but we have some of the best museums of the world.

Also Somosierra was good 125 Poles aginst 5 000 Sapiards and Brits trenched on higher ground with artilery support Poles wiped them out in one charge

Spanish were defeated in Somosierra, no doubt about this. But I wouldn´t say it was like Perdurabo said. There weren´t only 125 Poles against spanish, nor there were british soldiers around fighting together with spanish, all the John Moor´s army were escapeing to the Northwest ports to reembark to Britain. Polish were brave in Somosierra, but they weren´t only 125 polish, don´t tell me fairy tales, they were the spearhed of a huge army. In the place there was the army Napoleon brought with him from France in the autumn of 1808 after the french occupation army was defeated in Bailen by spanish army. Spanish in Somosierra hand´t rearguard. Spanish regular army was almost liquidated and killed in the battle of Espinosa de los Monteros before Somosierra battle, it´s true that spanish occupied a good position, but the army Napoleon had was much more bigger than spanish forces in the place, the 125 poles only were part of this army, spanish were defeated by that army, not only 125 poles. It´s not the first time I read such thing in this forum, I understand that Somosierra battle must be a feat for polish nationalism in the dark days Poland was and occupied country, but if you want to celebrate that victory, tell the way it really was. That battle was only one of the early battles of a war that didn´t finish when Napoleon entered in Madrid after Somosierra(the battle was in a mountain pass that shut the way to Madrid, that lies in a plain at the feet of a high sierra) just because spanish didn´t felt defeated and spanish people didn´t thought that frenchs soldiers and their mercenaries were supermen. After spanish regular army were defeated at the end of 1808 and and our government and army staff beheaded, our civil people built up new armies and specially partisan armies, and they were reponsables of some stunnig victories, like the battle of Bruch, were a group of catalan civil militias defeated frenchs troops with a polish contingent btw, here we have the habit of listing our victories as much as our defeats. I´ve read some foreging literature, mainly english to say the true, and it´s a shame the way they speak about war in Spain. It´s good to say that french regular army not only was the best of that time, but the biggest, that France was much more populated than Spain as alway was, but even so spanish irregulars were responsables of more than the half of french losses, spanish regular army and the overrated Wellington army were responsable of barely the 40% of french losses.

[radon]

Every Swedish battle lost meant dead Finns.