Battle of Klushino
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Klushino (Battle of Kłuszyn) was fought on 4 July 1610, between forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
and Grand Duchy of Moscow
during the Polish-Muscovite War, part of Russia's Time of Troubles
. The battle occurred near the village of Klushino
(Kłuszyn) near Smolensk
. In the battle the outnumbered Commonwealth force secured a decisive victory over the Muscovites, due to the tactical competence of hetman
Stanisław Żółkiewski and the military prowess of the elite Commonwealth 'winged' hussars
.
) under Hetman
Stanisław Żółkiewski defeated a numerically superior force of about 35,000 - 40,000 Muscovites under Dmitry Shuisky
, Andrew Golitsyn and Danilo Mezetski, including about 5,000 - 10,000 mercenary units temporarily allied to Muscovy, under the command of Jacob De la Gardie
, mostly Finnish and Swedish, with some regiments composed of French, German and British. Including the forces that did not take part in combat (remained in camp, reserve or was delayed), the numbers were 12,300 Commonwealth soldiers against 48,000 Muscovites. The Commonwealth army was supported by 2 cannon
s, and Muscovites by 11.
was heading towards the besieged fortress of Smolensk
, but was intercepted by Commonwealth forces. The Muscovites, however, did not know the real strength of the Commonwealth, and how greatly they outnumbered them. On the other hand, Żółkiewski was confident in his powerful hussars, and decided to press with the attack.
The Commonwealth forces attempted to attack soon after dawn, but lost the element of surprise, and Muscovites were able to fortify their positions. As a result the opening stages of the battle were extremely hard fought all along the line. Mainly this was because the battlefield was crossed by a high fence which allowed the Commonwealth hussars to charge only through a narrow gap. The first part of the battle consisted of Commonwealth hussars repeatedly charging the fortified Muscovite positions, attempting to break them. The Commonwealth forces continued to make ferocious attacks, and Samuel Maskiewicz, a witness from one hussar company claimed that his unit charged 8 or 10 times.
When rumours began to spread that the Muscovite's foreign mercenaries were deserting to the Commonwealth, Muscovite morale cracked and the native Muscovite element of the army began to flee. Eventually a Muscovite cavalry counterattack was mauled by the Commonwealth, and in the ensuring confusion Russians ranks broke, and as usual, infantry running from cavalry suffered extensive losses.
While the center of the Muscovite army disintegrated, Muscovite regiments continued to hold on the right wing until they were overpowered, and the foreign troops continued to put up strong resistance for several hours on the left wing. Eventually when Commonwealth infantry and cannons arrived, the mercenaries were forced to abandon their position, and again it was in the retreat that they suffered heaviest losses. A large section of the foreign troops managed to retreat under the protection of their long infantry
pikes in good order to the safety of their fortified camp (separate from Muscovite camp).
Commonwealth forces have surrounded the enemy two camps (Muscovite and foreign mercenaries had separate ones). Further, the mercenaries who took positions in the forest were surrounded as well. However, the Muscovite fortified camp, filled with some still unbloodied troops (outnumbering the exhausted Commonwealth force) was a serious obstacle.
Żółkiewski then tried negotiations and succeeded in that regard brilliantly. Abandoned by the Muscovites, the foreign mercenaries entered negotiations with the Commonwealth troops and eventually surrendered, having reached satisfactory conditions. They were allowed to withdraw under the condition that they would not enlist with the Muscovite state against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth again. Several hundred mercenaries chose to switch sides, enlisting with the Commonwealth army.
Due partly to poor command and even worse coordination of the Muscovite forces, the Commonwealth forces were able to achieve victory. Zólkiewski then turned towards Muscovites at Tsarovo, commanded by Walujew, who after learning about the defeat of their relief force at Kłuszyn decided to surrender. Soon after the battle, Vasily IV was ousted by the boyar
s and Żółkiewski entered Moscow with little opposition. Boyars then proclaimed as the new Tsar
of Muscovy the Polish prince of the Commonwealth Władysław IV Waza. He claimed the Tsar's title from 1610 to 1634 but never assumed the throne.
The fortress of Smolensk
was taken on 3 June 1611, after a 20-month siege.
From Żółkiewski's letter to the king:
From Maskiewicz memoires:
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
and Grand Duchy of Moscow
Grand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Duchy of Moscow or Grand Principality of Moscow, also known in English simply as Muscovy , was a late medieval Rus' principality centered on Moscow, and the predecessor state of the early modern Tsardom of Russia....
during the Polish-Muscovite War, part of Russia's Time of Troubles
Time of Troubles
The Time of Troubles was a period of Russian history comprising the years of interregnum between the death of the last Russian Tsar of the Rurik Dynasty, Feodor Ivanovich, in 1598, and the establishment of the Romanov Dynasty in 1613. In 1601-1603, Russia suffered a famine that killed one-third...
. The battle occurred near the village of Klushino
Klushino
Klushino is a village in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, situated on the old road between Vyazma and Mozhaysk, not far from Gzhatsk.It was the site of a major battle during the Russo-Polish War . The village is best known as the birthplace of Yuri Gagarin, the first Soviet cosmonaut and the first man in...
(Kłuszyn) near Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. In the battle the outnumbered Commonwealth force secured a decisive victory over the Muscovites, due to the tactical competence of hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
Stanisław Żółkiewski and the military prowess of the elite Commonwealth 'winged' hussars
Polish Hussars
The Polish Hussars were the main type of cavalry of the first Polish Army, later also introduced into the Army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, between the 16th and 18th centuries...
.
The opposing forces
Commonwealth forces numbering about 4,000 men (of which about 80 percent were the famous 'winged' hussarsPolish Hussars
The Polish Hussars were the main type of cavalry of the first Polish Army, later also introduced into the Army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, between the 16th and 18th centuries...
) under Hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
Stanisław Żółkiewski defeated a numerically superior force of about 35,000 - 40,000 Muscovites under Dmitry Shuisky
Dmitry Shuisky
Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Shuisky was a Russian boyar from the Shuisky family, a younger brother to Vasily IV of Russia.As a playmate of young Tsarevich Feodor Ivanovich, Dmitry was said to accompany him day and night in his devout wanderings from monastery to monastery. In 1584, his slandering of...
, Andrew Golitsyn and Danilo Mezetski, including about 5,000 - 10,000 mercenary units temporarily allied to Muscovy, under the command of Jacob De la Gardie
Jacob De la Gardie
Field Marshal and Count Jacob Pontusson De la Gardie was a statesman and a soldier of the Swedish Empire....
, mostly Finnish and Swedish, with some regiments composed of French, German and British. Including the forces that did not take part in combat (remained in camp, reserve or was delayed), the numbers were 12,300 Commonwealth soldiers against 48,000 Muscovites. The Commonwealth army was supported by 2 cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s, and Muscovites by 11.
The battle
The Muscovite army under Prince Dmitry ShuiskyDmitry Shuisky
Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Shuisky was a Russian boyar from the Shuisky family, a younger brother to Vasily IV of Russia.As a playmate of young Tsarevich Feodor Ivanovich, Dmitry was said to accompany him day and night in his devout wanderings from monastery to monastery. In 1584, his slandering of...
was heading towards the besieged fortress of Smolensk
Siege of Smolensk (1609-11)
The Siege of Smolensk, known as the Smolensk Defense in Russia lasted 20 months between September of 1609 and June of 1611, when the Polish army besieged the Russian city of Smolensk during the Polish-Muscovite War .In September of 1609, the Polish army under the command of King Sigismund III Vasa...
, but was intercepted by Commonwealth forces. The Muscovites, however, did not know the real strength of the Commonwealth, and how greatly they outnumbered them. On the other hand, Żółkiewski was confident in his powerful hussars, and decided to press with the attack.
The Commonwealth forces attempted to attack soon after dawn, but lost the element of surprise, and Muscovites were able to fortify their positions. As a result the opening stages of the battle were extremely hard fought all along the line. Mainly this was because the battlefield was crossed by a high fence which allowed the Commonwealth hussars to charge only through a narrow gap. The first part of the battle consisted of Commonwealth hussars repeatedly charging the fortified Muscovite positions, attempting to break them. The Commonwealth forces continued to make ferocious attacks, and Samuel Maskiewicz, a witness from one hussar company claimed that his unit charged 8 or 10 times.
When rumours began to spread that the Muscovite's foreign mercenaries were deserting to the Commonwealth, Muscovite morale cracked and the native Muscovite element of the army began to flee. Eventually a Muscovite cavalry counterattack was mauled by the Commonwealth, and in the ensuring confusion Russians ranks broke, and as usual, infantry running from cavalry suffered extensive losses.
While the center of the Muscovite army disintegrated, Muscovite regiments continued to hold on the right wing until they were overpowered, and the foreign troops continued to put up strong resistance for several hours on the left wing. Eventually when Commonwealth infantry and cannons arrived, the mercenaries were forced to abandon their position, and again it was in the retreat that they suffered heaviest losses. A large section of the foreign troops managed to retreat under the protection of their long infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
pikes in good order to the safety of their fortified camp (separate from Muscovite camp).
Commonwealth forces have surrounded the enemy two camps (Muscovite and foreign mercenaries had separate ones). Further, the mercenaries who took positions in the forest were surrounded as well. However, the Muscovite fortified camp, filled with some still unbloodied troops (outnumbering the exhausted Commonwealth force) was a serious obstacle.
Żółkiewski then tried negotiations and succeeded in that regard brilliantly. Abandoned by the Muscovites, the foreign mercenaries entered negotiations with the Commonwealth troops and eventually surrendered, having reached satisfactory conditions. They were allowed to withdraw under the condition that they would not enlist with the Muscovite state against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth again. Several hundred mercenaries chose to switch sides, enlisting with the Commonwealth army.
The aftermath
The main Muscovite army was then able to retreat, as Commonwealth forces were exhausted and more interested in looting the camp. Commonwealth took much loot and trophies, from luxury goods (gold, silver, furs) through military equipment (including all 11 Muscovite artillery pieces) to war trophies (several command flags and banners).Due partly to poor command and even worse coordination of the Muscovite forces, the Commonwealth forces were able to achieve victory. Zólkiewski then turned towards Muscovites at Tsarovo, commanded by Walujew, who after learning about the defeat of their relief force at Kłuszyn decided to surrender. Soon after the battle, Vasily IV was ousted by the boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
s and Żółkiewski entered Moscow with little opposition. Boyars then proclaimed as the new Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
of Muscovy the Polish prince of the Commonwealth Władysław IV Waza. He claimed the Tsar's title from 1610 to 1634 but never assumed the throne.
The fortress of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
was taken on 3 June 1611, after a 20-month siege.
Quotes
From Hetman Żółkiewski's Memoires:From Żółkiewski's letter to the king:
From Maskiewicz memoires:
External links
- Radoslaw Sikora, Battle of Kluszyn [Kluszino] http://www.radoslawsikora.republika.pl/materialy/Kluszyn.pdf
- Battle of Klushino Silver Coin Issued by Mint of Poland http://news.coinupdate.com/silver-coin-issued-for-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-klushino-0366/