Battle of Klushino

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Klushino
partof=Polish-Muscovite War (1605-1618)


caption=Polish hussar line at the Battle of Kluszyn
date=July 4, 1610
place=Klushino
result=Decisive Polish victory
combatant1=Poland
combatant2=Russia
commander1=Stanisław Żółkiewski
commander2=Dmitry Shuisky
Jacob De la Gardie
strength1=6,800Robert Sześniak, "Kłuszyn 1610", Warszawa 2004, ISBN 83-11-09785-2] [http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/kluszyn.htm KLUSZYN July 4, 1610] based on Leszek Podhorodecki, "Sławne bitwy Polaków" (Famous Battles of Poles), last accessed on 9 April 2006]
strength2=|strength2=35,000 - 40,000
casualties1=400
casualties2=5,000The Battle of Klushino (Kłuszyn) was fought on July 4, 1610, between forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia during Russia's Time of Troubles. In the battle the outnumbered Polish force secured a decisive victory over the Russians, due to the tactical competence of hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski and the military prowess of the elite Polish 'winged' hussars.

The opposing forces

Polish forces numbering about 6,800 men (of which about 80 percent (5556) were the famous 'winged' hussars) under Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski defeated a numerically superior force of about 35,000 - 40,000 Russians under Dmitry Shuisky, Andrew Golicyn and Danilo Mezecki, including about 5,000 - 10,000 mercenary units temporarily allied to Russia, under the command of Jacob De la Gardie, mostly Finnish and Swedish, with some regiments composed of French, German and British. Including the forces that did not take part in combat (remained in camp, reserve or was delayed), the numbers were 12,300 Poles against 48,000 Russians. Poles were supported by 2 cannons, and Russians by 11.

The battle

The Russian army under Prince Dmitry Shuisky was heading towards the besieged fortress of Smolensk, but was intercepted by Polish forces. The Russians, however, did not know the real strength of the Poles, and how greatly they outnumbered them. On the other hand, Zółkiewski was confident in his powerful hussars, and decided to press with the attack.

The Poles attempted to attack soon after dawn, but lost the element of surprise, and Russians were able to fortify their positions. As a result the opening stages of the battle were extremely hard fought all along the line. Mainly this was because the battlefield was crossed by a high fence which allowed the Polish hussars to charge only through a narrow gap. The first part of the battle consisted of Polish hussars repeatedly charging the fortified Russian positions, attempting to break them. The Poles continued to make ferocious attacks, and Samuel Maskiewicz, a witness from one hussar company claimed that his unit charged 8 or 10 times.

When rumours began to spread that the Russian's foreign mercenaries were deserting to the Poles, Russian morale cracked and the native Russian element of the army began to flee. Eventually a Russian cavalry counterattack was mauled by the Poles, and in the ensuring confusion Russians ranks broke, and as usual, infantry running from cavalry suffered extensive losses.

While the center of the Russian army disintegrated, Russian regiments continued to hold on the right wing until they were overpowered, and the foreign troops continued to put up strong resistance for several hours on the left wing. Eventually when Polish infantry and cannons arrived, the mercenaries were forced to abandon their position, and again it was in the retreat that they suffered heaviest losses. A large section of the foreign troops managed to retreat under the protection of their long infantry pikes in good order to the safety of their fortified camp (separate from Russian camp).

Both the Russian and foreign camps were surrounded, as well as the foreign infantry standing in the forest. However, while the Russians had been beaten in the field, they were still strong enough in their fortified camp to put up significant resistance. Fresh and uncommitted Russian troops alone greatly outnumbered the entire Polish force. In addition, the entire Polish army was exhausted after a long march and heavy fighting.

Żółkiewski then tried negotiations and succeeded in that regard brilliantly. Deserted by their Russian masters, the mercenaries entered peace talks and finally surrendered to the Poles. They could return home under their own recognizance under the condition that they swore never again to serve Russian Tsardom against the Polish republic. Several hundred chose instead to take up arms in Polish service.

The aftermath

The main Russian army was then able to retreat, as Polish forces were exhausted and more interested in looting the camp. Poles took great quantities of gold and silver, furs, hundreds of wagons and carriages. Trophies included several command flags and banners, extensive stocks of military equipment, and all 11 Russian artillery pieces.

Due partly to poor command and even worse coordination of the Russian forces the Poles were able to achieve the victory. Zólkiewski then turned towards Russians at Tsarovo, commanded by Walujew, who after learning about the defeat of their relief force at Kłuszyn decided to surrender. Soon after the battle Vasily IV was ousted by the boyars and Żółkiewski entered Moscow with little opposition. Boyars have proclaimed the new Tsar (Emperor) of Russia of Polish prince Władysław IV Waza. He claimed the Tsar's title from 1610 to 1634 but never assumed the throne.

The Russian fortress of Smolensk was taken on June 3, 1611, after 20-month siege.

Quotes

From Hetman Żółkiewski's Memoires:

"The hedge between us was long... There were, however, gaps in it and when we moved to attack, we had to break out through them. That hedge was a serious obstacle to us, for behind it Pontus had stationed infantry who very greatly hampered our men as they sallied out from and returned through the gaps." "

"The battle lasted a long time, for both our men and theirs... The falconets arrived with some infantry and met a great need. For the gunners discharged the falconets at the German infantrymen who stood by the hedge, and our infantry, not numerous but tried and experienced in many battles, rushed at them."

"Then when there were no more of the German infantrymen harassing us by the hedge, a few troops of our cavalry, joining together, charged the foreign cavalry with pikes - those who still had them - sabers and broadswords, They, deprived of protection of the Russian soldiers and cavalry, unable to resist, began escaping back into their camp. But there too our men rode after, and hitting and hacking drove them through their own camp" "

From Żółkiewski's letter to the king:

"It was hard to charge at him with the cavalry, which was exhausted. There was no more fresh infantry. We had only my regiment and Count Chmielnicki’s, as we had to leave the rest besieging the Carowa-Zajmiszcze camp, so there was no way to continue."

From Maskiewicz memoires:

"about that I shall remember, for it is beyond belief, that the companies managed eight or ten times to fall upon the enemy. (…) After the repeated charges and hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy, our equipment was broken and our strength was dissipated (.…) The horses were also ready to drop, because they have not received sustenance since dawn and for five hours of battle, they had served with a will but were reaching the limits which nature imposes."

"Seeing us weaken, Szujski ordered two reiter cornets, who were in readiness to move against us, to attack and destroy us. By the grace of God, they became the reason of our victory. As they moved forward we exchanged a salvo of fire with them, and each front rank fell back to reload the pistol or arkebuz in the ordinary manner, while the second rank advanced to fire their salvo. Seeing their rank retreat to load their secondary weapons, we did not wait for their next rank. We swooped down on them, sword in hand – whether they had managed to reload or not, I would not know because they took for the rear and did not stop galloping until they reached the Russian reserve at the rear camp gate, where their several tidy formations became chaotically entangled."

"The Muscovites ran by God’s grace for a mile, while we slashed at them and grabbed the rich ones, who, carrying what they owned, tried to get away" "Far more Muscovites fell in 2 or 3 miles of pursuit then fell in their ranks in battle,"

See also

* The De la Gardie Campaign

=References=