Siege of Dyneburg explained

Partof:Second Northern War /
Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658)
Conflict:Siege of Dyneburg
Place:Dyneburg
Coordinates:55.8833°N 26.5°W
Map Type:Latvia
Map Relief:yes
Date:18–31 July 1656
Result:Russian victory
Combatant1: Swedish Empire
Combatant2: Tsardom of Russia
Commander1: Johan Willichman
Commander2: Aleksey Mikhailovich
Strength1:Unknown
Strength2:3,400[1]
Casualties1:Unknown
Casualties2:Entire garrison killed
Width:315
Territory:Dyneburg is captured by the Russians
Units2: Unknown
Units1: Dyneburg garrison

The siege of Dyneburg by the Russian Army under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was one of the first events of the Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658), a theater of the Second Northern War.

The siege began on 18 July 1656. One night in early August, the Russian bombardment caused a fire in the grain reserves of the stronghold. Consequently, some of the garrison had to leave the defences to begin putting it down. The Russians took advantage by immediately storming the fortifications and after a two hour fight, secured a victory. The commandant of the fort, Johan Willichman, took the Swedish flag with him and jumped into the fire. The rest of the defenders as well as all males present in the stronghold were slaughtered. [2]

After capturing Dyneburg (Dünaburg, Daugavpils), Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich ordered the building of an Eastern Orthodox Church and the renaming of the city as Borisoglebsk. The capture of Dynaburg was followed by the capture of Kokenhusen.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Соловьёв С.М. Продолжение царствования Алексея Михайловича // История России с древнейших времён
  2. Book: Laidre . Margus . Dorpat 1558-1708. Linn väe ja vaenu vahel . 348.