Vengeance War

The Vengeance War was a war between Sweden and Lithuania that lasted from 26 February 1572 to 6 December 1578.
==Background==
Sweden lost to Lithuania in the Lithuanian War, being forced to cede Riga and Pskov. This victory was mainly due to Poland intervening. During the Swedo-Muscovite War, King Gustav III noticed a law which prevented the Polish government from being at war with someone they were allies in another war. As such, he timed his war declaration on Lithuania to be the day before the Swedo-Muscovite War ended. While not planned, Lithuania was also at war with Crimea at the time, making the timing even more lucky.
==The War==
War was declared on 26 February 1572, the day before the Treaty of Noteborg which ended the Swedo-Muscovite War was signed. The army immediately targeted Smolensk, while Swedish ships sunk one Lithuanian one in the Gulf of Riga. Smolensk fell on 23 October 1572, after which the army besieged the capital Vilnius. In this siege King Gustav III died and was succeeded by his wife Mary I. The siege was not for naught, as the fortress finally fell on 7 January 1574, and the city was burned in Gustav III's honor and for, well, vengeance.
Meanwhile, Lithuanian forces invaded Pomerania and besieged Kolberg, which fell on 14 May 1573. The Swedish army attacked the Lithuanians in Nowy Sacz in neutral Poland and defeated them. They were attacked again in Palenke and were completely wiped out.
Kaunas was the next province besieged; it fell on 22 November 1575. Goldingen was occupied, which led to the entire Lithuanian fleet being destroyed. Daugplis was next, and it was occupied on 21 January 1577. Lithuanian troops attempted to retake Smolensk but were defeated. Polotsk fell on 2 December 1578. Shortly after, the war ended.
==End==
On 6 December 1578, the war ended with the Treaty of Reval. Riga, Pskov, Goldingen, Mitau, Wenden, Latgalia, and Memel were ceded to Sweden. Money and reparations were paid as well. These lands were immediately granted to the new state of Livonia.
Category:Wars