Siege of Hlukhiv

Siege of Hlukhiv
Part of the Muscovite-Polish War (1654–1667)
Date 22 January — 9 February, 1664 Location Hlukhiv, Sumy Oblast, Ukraine Result Muscovite-Ukrainian victory Retreat of the Crown Army Unsuccessful Siege by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Belligerents
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Crimean Khanate	Tsardom of Muscovy Cossack Hetmanate
Commanders and leaders
John II Casimir John III Sobieski Stefan Czarniecki Stanisław Potocki	Grigory Romodanovsky Avraam Lopukhin Ivan Briukhovetsky Vasyl Dvoretsky
Strength
50,000–53,000	45,000
Casualties and losses
4,000–4,200 killed and wounded	Light

The Siege of Hlukhiv (Ukrainian: Облога Глухова, Глухів, Russian: Осада Глухова, Глухов, Polish: Oblężenie Głuchowa, Głuchów; January 22 — 9 February 1664). During the Muscovite-Polish War in 1654–1667, a forces of the Polish King Jan II Casimir, numbering around 50,000–53,000 men, unsuccessfully besieged the Muscovite-Ukrainian Garrison of Hlukhiv and finally retreated under pressure from the Muscovite and Ukrainian Armies under the command of the Muscovite Prince Grigory Romodanovsky and Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Briukhovetsky. The siege and the following retreat, during which the Crown Army became the target of the Muscovite and Ukrainian Attacks, proved to be one of the worst defeats in the whole course of war. Polish King John II Casimir miraculously survived and was able to escape from the battlefield.

Background

In November 1663, Polish King John II Casimir and Ukrainian Hetman of Right-Bank of the Cossack Hetmanate, Pavlo Teteria, began an offensive against Left-Bank of the Cossack Hetmanate with an army of 130,000 (including camp followers). Without sufficient forces to stop the offensive, Muscovite Prince Grigory Romodanovsky and Ukrainian Hetman of Left-Bank of the Cossack Hetmanate Ivan Briukhovetsky retreated to Putyvl. Proceeding almost without resistance, a forces of the Polish King John II Casimir ultimately and unsuccessfully besieged Hlukhiv, which was defended by the Zaporozhian Cossacks of the Kyivan Polkovnyk Vasyl Dvoretsky and the Muscovite Strelets Avraam Lopukhin.

Battle

With the help of the Polish Artillery and explosives the Crown Army managed to destroy some parts of the wall. John III Sobieski personally led the troops during the storming of the town. The Poles entered the town, but blundered into an ambush and came under heavy artillery and musket fire. Having lost about 4,000–4,200 men, including 200 officers, a forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was forced to retreat. French Duke Antoine III de Gramont, who at that time was an officer in the Crown Army of the Polish King John II Casimir, reported that the small Muscovite-Ukrainian Garrison showed miraculous bravery and excellent artillery skills.

Eight days later, 30 January 1664, a Polish King John II Casimir ordered a repeat of the storming. The Crown Army once again managed to penetrate the fortress, but the counterattack of the Muscovite and Ukrainian Garrison drove the attackers out of it. French Duke Antoine III de Gramont describes the storming as almost successful but once again expresses his surprise how the Muscovite and Ukrainian recaptured the openings in the walls and how efficiently they fired back in spite of heavy Polish Artillery fire aimed at them. The Crown Army again experienced heavy losses.

Meanwhile, Muscovite Prince Grigory Romodanovsky and Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Briukhovetsky arrives at Hlukhiv with their forces numbered around 45,000 Muscovite and Ukrainian Soldiers. Simultaneously, many Left-Bank of the Cossack Hetmanate Cities, which had previously surrendered without fighting, rebelled against the Polish-Lithuanian occupation. The rebellions also spread into Right-Bank of the Cossack Hetmanate. Wishing to avoid a great battle, which Polish King John II Casimir has lost, he lifted the siege.

Retreat of the Crown Army

Pursued by the Muscovite and Ukrainian forces led by the Muscovite Prince Grigory Romodanovsky and Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Briukhovetsky, the Crown Army, led by Polish King John III Casimir, retreated to Novhorod-Siverskyi. During the retreat, the Poles executed Ukrainian Polkovnyk Ivan Bohun, who was suspected of handing over important information to the Ukrainian Hlukhiv Garrison.

The Defense of Hlukhiv ruined the Polish-Lithuanian plans of bringing Left-Bank of the Cossack Hetmanate back under the control of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the following years, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was afflicted with internal conflicts (Lubomirski's Rebellion) and active fighting on the Muscovite-Polish frontline came to an end. Finally, the Treaty of Andrusovo was signed in 1667, formally ending the armed conflict as a Muscovite-Ukrainian victory.

Literature

• Малов А.В. Русско-польская война 1654-1667 гг. Москва, Цейхгауз, 2006. ISBN 5-94038-111-1.