Battle of Verkiai explained

Conflict:Battle of Werki
Partof:Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
Date:24 September - 11 October 1658
Place:Verkiai near Vilnius
Coordinates:54.7483°N 25.2917°W
Result:Russian victory
Combatant1:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Combatant2:Russian Tsardom
Commander1:Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski
Commander2:Yury Dolgorukov
Strength1:4,500[1]
Strength2:8,500
Casualties1:500 dead, 77 prisoners

Battle of Verkiai fought in autumn of 1658 between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Tsardom of Russia marked the resumption of hostilities in the Russo-Polish War (1654–67); it ended with Russian victory.

Russians, close to signing a peace treaty with Sweden (truce of Valiersari ending the Russo–Swedish War (1656–58)) decided to resume the war with Poland in order to gain control over the disputed Ruthenian territories. After the inconclusive negotiations with the Poles in Vilnius, army of prince Yury Dolgorukov attacked the Polish units guarding the Polish delegations near Verkiai. Polish troops were taken by surprise and were defeated, Russians took many prisoners, including the Polish leader, hetman Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski; Gosiewski would remain a hostage for four years. Another Polish commander, hetman Paweł Jan Sapieha, would be later blamed for not coming to the aid of Gosiewski due to personal friction between them.

References

Notes and References

  1. Бабулин И. Б. Важнейшие победы России в русско-польской войне 1654-1667 гг.: ответ рецензенту (Папакін А. Реванш російської історіографії: Канів, 1662 р.) // История военного дела: исследования и источники. — 2017. — Т. IX. — С. 389. (30.12.2017)