Battle of Vilnius (1702)

Battle of Vilnius
Part of the Great Northern War
DateApril 5, 1702 (O.S.)
April 6, 1702 (Swedish calendar)
April 16, 1702 (N.S.)
LocationVilnius, Lithuania
54°40′N 25°17′E / 54.667°N 25.283°E / 54.667; 25.283Coordinates: 54°40′N 25°17′E / 54.667°N 25.283°E / 54.667; 25.283
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden Swedish Empire Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Commanders and leaders
Carl Gustav Mörner Ludwik Konstanty Pociej
Strength
2,500–3,000 men 3,000 men
Casualties and losses
around 50 killed around 100 killed and two artillery pieces lost

The Battle of Vilnius was a battle which took place on 16 April 1702 in Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, during the Great Northern War. After having seen the city early seized by the Swedish army, the grand notary of Lithuania, Ludwik Konstanty Pociej launched a surprise attack with 3,000 men (other figures states as few as 2,000 and others 4,000 men) on the equally matched Swedes of 3,000 men[1] (due to intense sickness it could be lower [the Dala regiment alone had only 740 men prior to the battle in comparison to the 1,200 of the original strength] with as few as 2,500 men)[2] under Carl Gustav Mörner stationed inside the city. The attack was, however, repulsed and the Polish army had to withdraw with a loss of 100 men killed and two cannons lost while the Swedes lost 50 men killed in the action.[3] The city remained in Swedish control until Mörner left it with his army in order to reinforce Charles XII in his battle against Agustus. It was later recaptured by the Swedish general Carl Gustaf Dücker in 1706.

References

Notes
  1. Sliesoriūnas (2009), p. 81
  2. Loe (2012), p. 42
  3. Sliesoriūnas (2009), p. 83
Bibliography
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