Tambov War

Kazan Monastery in Tambov

Belligerents| **Poland*** Lithuania (junior partner under Poland)
* Sweden
	+ Estonia (Swedish vassal)
	+ Novgorod (Swedish vassal)

Commanders and leaders| Leaders:**Jan I Kazimierz** of Poland and Lithuania (also commander)* Gustav II of Sweden
	+ Otto II of Estonia
	+ Turenin Lukisky of Novgorod

Commanders:* Lukasz Leszczynski of Poland
* Zygimantas Augustas Simonavacius
* Ulrik Hard of Sweden

Strength| **Poland: 31,000 men, 16 ships*** Lithuania: 17,000 men, 6 ships
* Sweden: 22,000 men, 21 ships
	+ Estonia: 6,000 men, 1 ship
	+ Novgorod: 1,000 men, 4 ships

Casualties and losses| **Total: ~108,000 men, 1 ship*** Poland: 19,217 men
	+ Lithuania: 15,296 men
* Sweden: 12,572 men
	+ Estonia: 1,800 men
	+ Novgorod: 580 men, 1 ship
* Tver: Unknown

The **Tambov War**, also known as the **Polish-Muscovite War** (this secondary name is not used to prevent any confusion with the many wars between Poland and Muscovy/Russia), was a war between Poland and Muscovy over the area around Tambov.

The Polish and the Muscovites have been long-standing rivals since the Mongol Empire collapsed, and sensing a weakness in the latter due to them fighting a war with Kazan, a conflict to hamstring them began. The war is the bloodiest in Swedish history, with nearly 100,000 men dying on both sides.

## Background

Tambov the city was annexed by Poland on 23 May 1471, so one can argue the name is a misnomer; the conflict, however, stems from the area around Tamov, which is also called Tambov.

In 1494, Muscovy declared war on Kazan to get the fertile plains. This was the perfect time for Poland to declare war on Muscovy. A peace was signed between Muscovy and Kazan on 26 October 1497 which ceded former Kazanian lands back to Kazan, along with a lot of money and reparations.

## The War

War was declared on 6 November 1494. Sweden, which was rebuilding following the costly Rigan War, was nevertheless called into the conflict.

### Russia and Poland

#### The North

Estonian troops besieged the fortress at Pskov on 4 December; it was the first incursion into Muscovite territory of the war. The fortress was eventually occupied some time after 1495. Swedish troops, who were all the way in Sweden proper when the war started, were ordered to besiege the fortress at Luki; however, Lithuanian forces arrived there much earlier. The Swedish troops instead targeted Yaroslavl, which fell on 4 September 1495, then moved onto Tver the city, which then fell on 30 May 1496. Shortly after, Tver the country left the war.

Meanwhile, Novgorodian troops occupied the frozen tundras of the north, in an effort to reclaim their lands. This was undone by advancing Muscovite troops. Soon, a back and forth took place; Novgorodian troops would occupy their former lands, followed by Muscovite troops undoing the occupations, with very few engagements taking place. Kola was occupied by Muscovy on 7 February 1496, and a costly siege to retake it finally ended on 21 April 1499.

#### The Center

*Main article: Sack of Moscow*

Polish troops besieged both Mozhaisk and Moscow in 1496, though Moscow itself was abandoned due to a lack of forces. Moscow was later besieged by Swedish troops after the siege of Tver ended, and it fell on 1 Januray 1498. The lands around the city were scorched; the military paraded through the streets and stole art and other treasures from the city. They then moved over to liberate Podole (see below). Mozhaisk fell a few weeks later on 29 January.

Moscow fell once more, this time to disgruntled nobles, on 6 July 1499. The Swedish army narrowly won while fighting to retake the city, losing more than half of their men in the process.

Estonian troops besieged Ryazan some time in 1496, but were pushed back by the Muscovites. A second siege began in 1498 by Polish troops.

#### The South

Muscovite troops arrived in Tambov the city on 25 December 1494, but were pushed back by Polish troops (no battle took place though). The Muscovites returned sometime later in 1495, but were fought in a proper battle at Tambov; the Poles were defeated and retreated back to the heartland of Lithuania. The Muscovites advanced to Lubnai but did not occupy it; they pushed forward and occupied Podole on 28 December 1495. Most of Galicia-Volhynia was occupied by the time Moscow fell in 1497, and their grip in the region began to wane after that. Podole was liberated on 14 July 1497, after which Swedish troops returned to Sweden proper to stop the advancing armies.

Podole was retaken by Muscovy on 24 December 1499.

Kaunas was besieged by Muscovy in 1498, and it fell on 25 May. It was only retaken on 22 July 1500.

### Sweden

Muscovite and Tverian troops entered into Finland and Sweden proper in late 1495, occupying the countryside and laying siege to Stockholm. Swedish troops finally arrived to liberate the lands in late 1496, and the bloody Battle of Stockholm led to the deaths of 14,000 Muscovites.

## End

After a long and arduous war, the Treaty of Glogau was finally signed on 11 October 1500. Large amounts of land were ceded to Poland, including Mozhaisk which is located right next to Moscow. Sweden did not get any provinces; only its vassal Novgorod, who got Soroka.