The siege of Polotsk (Russian: Осада Полоцка, Polish: Oblężenie Połocka) was a siege by forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth under Stefan Bathory on the Russian-held city of Polotsk. Polotsk had been captured and heavily fortified by the Russians under Ivan the Terrible in 1563 because the river Dwina, which led to the key city of Riga, flowed through it. Hungarian soldiers, led by Caspar Bekes, Polish soldiers, led by Mikolaj Mielecki, and Lithuanian soldiers, led by Mikolaj Radziwill, converged at the Dzisna fortress, joined Bathory's men, and moved on to Polotsk, with a total force of about 42,000.[7] Polotsk had three fortresses: the central one, nearby Strelec fortress, and the walled town of Zapolochie. The primary focus was on the central fortress: first with artillery, which failed because it only punctured the wooden walls, then with cannons, and eventually with fire. The Russians defended Polotsk with trenches and artillery, but after the Hungarian contingent captured Zapolochie, the Russians surrendered.[8] After taking the city, Bathory's forces then moved to besiegeVelikiye Luki.[7]
Kupisz, Dariusz (2003). Połock 1579 (in Polish). Warszawa, Poland: Dom Wydawniczy Bellona. ISBN83-11-09708-9.
Perrie, Maureen; Pavlov, Andrei (2014). Ivan the Terrible. Routledge. ISBN9781317894674. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
Szabo, Bela (2009). "The first campaign against Ivan, the Terrible by Stephen Báthory in 1579" (PDF). AARMS. 8 (4). Retrieved January 13, 2017.
October 19, 2023
siege, polotsk, 1579, siege, polotsk, russian, Осада, Полоцка, polish, oblężenie, połocka, siege, forces, polish, lithuanian, commonwealth, under, stefan, bathory, russian, held, city, polotsk, polotsk, been, captured, heavily, fortified, russians, under, ivan. The siege of Polotsk Russian Osada Polocka Polish Oblezenie Polocka was a siege by forces of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth under Stefan Bathory on the Russian held city of Polotsk Polotsk had been captured and heavily fortified by the Russians under Ivan the Terrible in 1563 because the river Dwina which led to the key city of Riga flowed through it Hungarian soldiers led by Caspar Bekes Polish soldiers led by Mikolaj Mielecki and Lithuanian soldiers led by Mikolaj Radziwill converged at the Dzisna fortress joined Bathory s men and moved on to Polotsk with a total force of about 42 000 7 Polotsk had three fortresses the central one nearby Strelec fortress and the walled town of Zapolochie The primary focus was on the central fortress first with artillery which failed because it only punctured the wooden walls then with cannons and eventually with fire The Russians defended Polotsk with trenches and artillery but after the Hungarian contingent captured Zapolochie the Russians surrendered 8 After taking the city Bathory s forces then moved to besiege Velikiye Luki 7 Siege of Polotsk 1579 Part of the Livonian campaign of Stephen Bathory in the Livonian WarThe Siege of Polotsk 1579 in a contemporary illustration DateAugust 11 30 1579LocationPolotsk55 29 13 N 28 45 39 E 55 48694 N 28 76083 E 55 48694 28 76083ResultPolish Lithuanian Commonwealth captures PolotskBelligerentsPolish Lithuanian CommonwealthTsardom of RussiaCommanders and leadersStefan Bathory Mikolaj Mielecki Jan Zborowski Gaspar Bekes Krzysztof Rozdrazewski Mikolaj the Red Radziwill Krzysztof Piorun Radziwill 1 Ivan IV of Russia residing in Pskov 2 Knyaz Wasyl Iwanowicz Tielatiewski garrison commander 3 StrengthTotal Polotsk campaign 41 714 4 6000 garrison 38 cannons 3 Casualties and lossesAt least 1 462 including dead injured deserted 5 602 Polish 860 Germans unknown number of Hungarians probably similar to Polish losses unknown small number of LithuaniansUp to 2 000 dead 5 All others captured and then released except commander and a few city elders 6 Citations Edit Kupisz 2003 pp 88 89 Kupisz 2003 p 165 a b Kupisz 2003 p 127 Kupisz 2003 p 103 a b Kupisz 2003 pp 155 156 Kupisz 2003 p 153 a b Perrie amp Pavlov 2014 Szabo 2009 pp 717 721 References EditKupisz Dariusz 2003 Polock 1579 in Polish Warszawa Poland Dom Wydawniczy Bellona ISBN 83 11 09708 9 Perrie Maureen Pavlov Andrei 2014 Ivan the Terrible Routledge ISBN 9781317894674 Retrieved January 13 2017 Szabo Bela 2009 The first campaign against Ivan the Terrible by Stephen Bathory in 1579 PDF AARMS 8 4 Retrieved January 13 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siege of Polotsk 1579 amp oldid 1167573453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
