Historical calendar – the anniversary of the last large conflict involving Hussaria. It is about taking off at Kliszow, where Poles and Saxons succumbed to Swedes.
Today, in our calendar, we will look at the circumstances that accompanied the conflict of Klishov from 1702. How did it come to be that the Swedish had gone all the way to Krakow?
When Charles XII, occupying Kurland and part of Lithuania, moved towards Warsaw in the spring of 1702, the Polish legislature Council rapidly gathered. In the course of two-day pushes, it was decided to urge the Crown captains to concentrate their armies in Szczyrc close Lviv, far from the main direction of the Swedish attack. A common decision was besides called upon, and universities were issued for the Sejm to gather together to discuss the necessity of raising taxes on the army.
The legislature Council besides agreed to the authoritative entry of Saxon troops into Poland. In addition, wishful reasoning was expressed to prepare the capital for defence. The commander of the Warsaw garrison was Stanisław Krasiński, but in the absence of money and soldiers he did almost nothing. In May 1702, Swedes assisted by Lithuanian troops of traitors from Sapieh camp seized Warsaw without a fight. Charles XII he hoped that it would force Poles to respond (he counted on the dethronement of August II) but he miscalculated.
It turned out that the collapse of the capital practically did not impress anyone. Dysmocratic comets or as much as the political parties prefer, were just getting ready to push on the Seyms, and fewer were curious in specified a “minor” as a abroad invasion. The neighbouring countries were treated by native politicians as allies or competitors in the current games. The general state of the state was not very much concerned, although as a standard everyone had their homeland on their lips. specified a policy ended in weeping and gnashing of teeth, but only erstwhile 1 or the another abroad army plundered the private property of a given nobleman.
Many of the Seymites, at least in unoccupied areas, have gathered. After typically dissmocratic disputes, bribery and selling election sausage, they chose MPs with instructions on the seym wall. So what if the delegates had nowhere to go due to the fact that the capital was dead? Central power just wasn't there. Under these conditions, the only sensible solution was to put on abroad courts even stronger and hold your thumbs for the fact that a given, only the right option will win the war, will introduce any order and we will be able to fight again, after old times, not only on local Seymites but besides on the central parliament.
After the death of Stanisław Jabłońowski in April 1702, the king established the captain of the field Felix Potocki. However, he died a period later, which further deepened chaos and slowed the concentration of as usual modest Polish forces. The fresh captain of the large was Jerome Lubomirski and the fieldman Adam Sieniawski. These two, of course, were Sax's supporters. Lithuanian forces, faithful to August (or to the alliance with Russia) were commanded by the captain of the field, Michał Wiśniowiecki.
The Polish plan was the following: the Polish army will merge with Saxon somewhere in Małopolska and then defeat the main forces of Charles XII. In the event of victory, the Swedes automatically lost the full war due to the fact that they had nowhere to retreat, being so profoundly in the territory of the opponent.
Unfortunately, the thought looked good only on paper. The Polish army was few, and in addition it focused for a long time, as the gathering of troops scattered across Ukraine was not easy. The morale was the worst. The parliament did not assemble, so taxes on the military were not passed, and the money from the erstwhile period was long gone.
Hetman Lubomirski sent implore letters to August to pay soldiers out of his pocket at least 2 quarts, otherwise mass desertion or rebellion and transition to the Swedish side. Meanwhile, over 12 1000 well-equipped Saxon soldiers, after concentrating in the Zgorzelca region, began the march through Legnica, Oleśnica and Opole to Tarnowskie Mountains. On July 10, this army was located under Kraków.
There were besides another Saxon troops present in Poland so far, yet constituting the strength of 16500 soldiers. On 17 July, Crown forces of 6500 soldiers, mostly cavalry, joined the Saxons close Pińczów.
A 10 million dismocratic country was able to exhibit 6,500 obsolete, unpaid and unincorporated soldiers, and 2 million, ruled by the sole ruler of Saxony 16500. In addition, the ruler of this tiny country had to pay wages for Poles. This says a lot about the effectiveness and relevance of both systems.
Meanwhile, Ukraine, stripped of its troops, raised a fresh rebellion. This time, the leader of the Cossack rebellion was Bohuslaw colonel Samuel Samus. He obtained assistance from the theoretically subordinate Moscow hetman of the left-wing Ukraine of Ivan Mazepa, who sent him powder, ammunition, and volunteers. The rebels smoked, robbed, and raped everything that got in their hands. By the end of 1702, they captured a number of cities specified as Niemirs, Berdyczs and White Church. The uprising completed the image of the complete ruin of the dizmocratic Polish state.
Charles XII, who had already had adequate diplomacy and unsuccessful conference with Poles to dethrone August II, set out to meet him with the army. The main Swedish forces counted 15500 against 23 1000 combined Sasko-Polish forces. Enemy armies met on 19 July close Kliszew, about a 3rd of the distance between Kielce and Krakow. Each side hoped for victory, but only August's triumph could mean the end of the war.
Augustus prepared to fight a defensive conflict based on respective graves and terrain inequality, possibly counterattack depending on the situation. He forgot that Polish cavalry troops were not suitable for specified activities. The initiative, the overall numerical advantage, the power of the Saxon infantry and the maneuverable character of Polish troops should have been used. Charles XII, seeing the passiveness of his opponent, attacked his right flank composed of Saxon and Polish cavalry troops.
These, having no way out, counterattacked, thus maintaining their positions. 1 of the Swedish attacks of driving broke down in a fire rather well set up, though the standard fewer Polish infantry and artillery.
Augustus and his generals considered it a success just to halt the Swedish force and decision on to counterattack. It went against the highly trained Swedish infantry on average, but the conflict continued. As it turned out, the attitude of hetman Lubomirski was essential for the result of the battle. Despite obtaining specified a advanced office at the hands of August II, Lubomirski resented him and secretly hated him.
At the crucial minute of the battle, he was to issue an order to charge Polish Hussars and Armours. For unknown reasons, he sent only about 500 cavalrymen (4 Hussar flags and 6 armored flags).
They may have shown the greatness of the Hussars for the last time, for they rapidly attacked 1 of the branches of the Swedish kiraszers. They broke copies on the enemy and reached for the swords. Unfortunately, there were not adequate of them to beat the ride and standing behind the foot. The sharp volleys of the gunmen and the attack of the pickiniers stopped the Poles and forced them to retreat. The chance was to throw all the forces or respective 1000 idle soldiers into combat, but Lubomirski did not decide to do so. Instead, he made a voluntary decision to retreat from the battlefield and began a hasty retreat towards Pinchev.
Seeing his movements, the another Saxons of the right wing were disorganized. The remainder of the army lost their spirit and, despite resisting Swedish attacks, shortly found themselves in retreat or escape. The left wing has entered the swamp. any troops capitulated there. The center, in turn, defended itself in a fortified reduction, but there was small that could have done.
Lubomirski is liable for the defeat, but besides general distrust between Sas and Poles. Even at the time of concentration, they ridiculed others, accusing themselves of cowardice and the desire to betray the Swedes. Poles lost about 80 people, Saxons 2000 and Swedes 1000.
In the harsh words of the Hetman, the primate Michał Radziejowski thundered.
The Kliszowski triumph opened the way for Charles XII to Kraków, which won without a fight on August 10. August managed to escape. He hoped to gather the remains of his army and reconnect with Poles, but they were dreams. His authority remained completely, and in Poland there was further destabilisation and complete anarchy.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
