Capture of Daugavgrīva explained

Conflict:Capture of Daugavgrīva
Partof:the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611)
Date:27 July–5 August 1608
Place:Daugavgrīva, Livonia (now in Latvia)
Coordinates:57.0547°N 24.0928°W
Result:Swedish victory
Combatant1: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Combatant2: Sweden
Commander2:Joachim Frederick von Mansfeld
Strength1:130 infantry
40 guns
Strength2:8,000 infantry
Casualties1:Entire garrison surrendered
Casualties2:none
Territory:Swedes capture Daugavgrīva

The Capture of Daugavgriva by Swedish forces in July 1608 occurred during the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611).

Daugavgrīva castle[1] (Polish: Dynemund, Swedish: Dünamünde) was the first objective of the Swedish forces during the campaign of 1608, due to its location near Riga (Daugavgrīva is Riga suburb today), and the fact that it could be used to block that city from the sea. When the Swedes, numbering 8000 troops and led by Joachim Frederick von Mansfeld, approached the fortress at Daugavgrīva, the Polish commander of the 130 strong garrison (with 40 cannons), Franciszek Białłozor, lacking in supplies and little hope of relief, decided to surrender.[2] Swedes captured Daugavgriva on 5 August 1608.[3]

The Poles recaptured the fortress a year later at the Battle of Daugavgriva (1609).

Notes and References

  1. http://wikimapia.org/652783/Daugavgrīva-castle Daugavgrīva castle (Riga)
  2. Book: Kircholm 1605 . MON . Wisner, Henryk . 1987 . 121 . 8311073872.
  3. Web site: Rīgas hronika: 12.-21. gadsimts . Rigas Balvas Biedrība . 2007 . August 5, 2012 . Arturs Henin̦š . 199 .