war war conflict fought polish lithuanian commonwealth russia hostilities began october russian forces tried capture city small military engagements produced mixed results sides surrender main russian force february led treaty russia accepted polish lithuanian control region lasted years background king poland lithuania died commonwealth nobility quickly elected son new ruler poland neighbours expecting delays electoral process tested commonwealth perceived weakness swedish king sent envoys russia ottoman_empire propose alliance war commonwealth commonwealth ready war royal army numbered barely men garrison strong garrisons border area composed regular mercenary soldiers local volunteers aware russia preparing war spring polish lithuanian parliament increased army recruiting additional men deputy volunteers regular army soldiers senate poland agreed increase size army objected arguing current forces war likely nonetheless field lithuanian recruited additional soldiers russia having recovered certain extent agreed assessment commonwealth weakened death king attacked waiting ottomans russia aim gain control ceded commonwealth truce ending russo polish war capital commonwealth contested changed hands times 15th 16th 17th centuries days lithuanian wars major supporter war father represented anti polish camp court inspired russian parliament vengeance lost lands russian army west hostilities russian army crossed lithuanian border early october carefully prepared experienced command previously defended poles siege towns castles fell russians advanced october day historic town taken moved begin siege polish estimates size russian forces varied artillery pieces recent research 17th century russian archive documents showed size russian army compared russian armies army significantly dissatisfied traditional formations musket equipped infantry russians looked foreign officers update equipment training troops based western european model regulars regiments totaling men comprised army siege commonwealth forces composed garrison men artillery pieces command strengthened local nobility formed force strong city fortifications recently improved italian style constructed lines fortress tunnels mines forces damaged long section city wall towers russian heavy artillery western manufacture reached december heavier guns arriving following march preliminary artillery bombardment ordered assault repulsed polish defenders nonetheless siege progressing fortifications eroded defenders suffering heavy casualties running supplies june soldiers started desert talked surrender despite difficulties city commanded deputy held commonwealth newly elected king organised relief force informed russian invasion october starting november discussed possibility relief process delayed spring officially sanctioned declaration war authorised large payment million highest tax contribution entire reign raising suitable force intended relief force effective strength men include horses light cavalry known cavalry composed horses squadrons horses lithuanian regiments horses large regiments horses regiments infantry men infantry organized based western model previously common commonwealth armies lithuania established camp kilometres moving later february amassed soldiers including infantry engaged raiding rear areas russian disrupt logistics managed break russian lines occasions bringing soldiers supplies reinforce fortress raising defenders morale summer relief force led personally king numbering polish lithuanian army according arrived near reached august days september main body relief forces approaching numbered russian army recently reinforced numbered reinforcements led numbering arrived september commonwealth army gain numerical superiority raid russian rear lines freeing polish lithuanian units join effort break siege brother commanded regiments relief army notable commander field king great supporter modernization commonwealth army proved good innovations use artillery fortifications based western ideas greatly contributed eventual polish lithuanian success replaced old standardized commonwealth artillery introducing pounder regimental guns great effect commonwealth cavalry including significantly restricted russian mobility forcing stay trenches series fierce engagements commonwealth forces gradually overran russian field fortifications siege reached final stages late september september commonwealth forces took main russian supply points october siege broken army retreated main camp turn surrounded commonwealth forces mid october besieged russians waited relief arrived commonwealth cavalry sent disrupt russian rear historians cite dissent internal divisions russian camp responsible blames russian parker foreign mercenaries invasion threatening south russian factor soldiers regions russian camp return protect homeland foreign mercenaries deserted commonwealth began surrender negotiations january february swing russians finally signed surrender treaty february march vacated camp scholars date march capitulation surrender terms russians leave artillery allowed retain banners ceremony laid promise engage commonwealth forces months forces numbered time capitulation including foreign contingent immediately decided defect commonwealth engagements towns fortresses region site smaller battles russian forces captured significant locations advance speculates delay arrival main force artillery caused effort cost siege consequently war july russians took towns scene particularly heavy fighting russians captured city fortress attacks successfully repulsed polish forces laid siege allies forced withdraw autumn commonwealth forces retook important russian supply point capture year setback wrecked russian plans send reinforcements army event russians begin gather strong army purpose january autumn grand crown defeated ottoman south commonwealth freeing force lay siege russian town failed fortress tied large russian forces preventing moving north relief spring commonwealth army moved fortress siege turned king manage capture treaty spring russians lost army threatened raids ravaged southern russia patriarch died previous year war end russia considering best end conflict elected russia lay claim russian throne king wanted continue war polish swedish treaty soon ally russians strike sweden wanted conflict wrote weeks surrender happiness remaining borders health keen war began negotiating armistice eternal peace talks began april treaty signed putting end hostilities treaty confirmed pre war status quo russia paying large war gold agreed surrender claim russian throne return royal insignia moscow notes russian perspective likely claim important terms subsequent increase internal stability loss disputed despite winning militarily russians scored diplomatic triumph authors support interpretation aftermath later stages war commonwealth army moved new threat begun southern borders ottoman_empire invasion force begun reinforcements theater later year commonwealth forces scored victory south ending war ottomans sides introduced new tactics units equipment based western models polish lithuanian forces proved adept innovations russians main factors kept russians winning delay moving siege artillery severe disruption russian supply lines polish cavalry needed accused treason second command son executed moscow april learning defeat russians adopt new successful tactics polish russian war war gave russians border town nearby territories hoping persuade join anti swedish alliance king ultimately unable overcome objections polish lithuanian unwilling fight sweden treaty russians unable benefit alliance proposed alliance came war cost commonwealth treasury commemorated tomb unknown soldier warsaw inscription
Smolensk War