Rigan War

The city of Riga

Belligerents| **Sweden*** Estonia (Swedish vassal)
* Novgorod (Swedish vassal)
* Lubeck (1483 - 1487)

Commanders and leaders| Leaders:**Gustav II** of Sweden* Otto I of Estonia
* Turen Lukisky of Novgorod

Commanders:* Oskar Liljencrantz†
* Ulrik Hard
* Fabian Theleman of Lubeck

Strength| **Sweden: 22,000 men, 15 ships*** Estonia: 3,000 men
* Novgorod: 1,000 men, 4 ships
* Lubeck: 8,000 men, 13 ships

Casualties and losses| **Total: 6,808 men, 1 ship*** Sweden: 6,468 men, 1 ship
* Estonia: 300 men
* Novgorod: 40 men
* Lubeck: 1,344 men, 3 ships
* Hamburg: 826 men, 1 ship

The **Rigan War** was a war between Sweden and Riga over the city of Riga.

## Background

Sweden had been dominating Baltic trade for some time by the time of the war, and the city of Riga was an important trading city to secure in order to gain a monopoly. Sweden also had interests on establishing a German foothold, and Riga's allies Hamburg and Lubeck (through the Hansa) were possible candidates.

## The War

### Riga and Scania

Sweden declared war on 14 May 1483, while Poland was at war with the Teutonic Order. The timing was vital as Lithuania also had interests in Livonia, and it was best to secure Riga as early as possible.

Swedish troops began besieging Riga the day war began. Lubeckian forces counterattacked by besieging the fortress at Skane, which was only annexed a few years prior in the Conquest of Scania. In a stroke of luck, a coalition against Brandenburg declared war on them, which brought in Hamburg and Lubeck and thus distracted their troops.

Riga fell on 1 June 1484, and the troops rushed to attack the Lubeckian ones besieging Skane. It fell anyways on 12 October, and Swedish troops began the siege to retake it. It was regained on 23 June 1485.

### Lubeck

Lubeck was besieged in September 1485 and fell on 19 June 1487. Lubeck left the war after that, paying much money to Sweden. Hamburg was besieged by Estonian troops shortly after the start of the Siege of Lubeck, but were unable to actually begin the siege until after Lubeck fell. Following a costly assault, on 11 June 1488, the city fell and Hamburg left the war as well.

### Other

Gustavstad was besieged by Hamburg and fell on 15 March 1487. Viborg was the next target, but the siege failed after Lubeck left the war. Swedish troops raced to un-siege Gustavstad, and during this famous general Oskar Liljencrantz died due to an illness.

Elfsborg was besieged by Hamburg, but that siege also fell when Hamburg left the ar.

### Naval Situation

The Rigan War marked the first war where Swedish ships played a vital role. In previous wars, Sweden relied on English ships, but the war was considered easy enough for Sweden to not call in their allies.

The Swedish navy began blockading Riga during its siege, whereas the Hansan ships blockaded the Swedish coasts. An engagement took place along the Gulf of Riga, which led to the loss of 3 Lubeckian ships. Another naval engagement took place a few months later in the Farosund (the strait between Sweden proper and Gotland), which was yet another Swedish victory. Soon, the Swedish navy began crushing Rigan fleets left and right; one battle in the Kattegat led to the capture of a ship.

## End

On 3 November 1488, the war finally ended with the Treaty of Linkoping, which ceded Riga to Sweden (which was immediately granted to Estonia) as well as the entire Rigan treasury.