A skirmish in the Livonian War where a small Lithuanian force repelled a much larger Russian detachment, though Polish-Lithuanian accounts were later deemed politically exaggerated.
Key Facts
- Date
- 19 August 1562
- Lithuanian force size
- 1,500 men
- Russian force (Polish estimate)
- 25,000 men
- Russian force (chronicle claim)
- 40,000 men
- Claimed Russian losses
- Over 8,000
- Conflict
- Livonian War
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Livonian War, Russian forces captured Nevel, bringing the territory under Tsardom control. In response, Polish-Lithuanian forces launched a pillaging raid into the newly acquired Russian-held territory, prompting a Russian military response under Andrey Kurbsky.
On 19 August 1562, a Russian detachment led by Andrey Kurbsky attempted to intercept and defeat a retreating Polish force commanded by Stanisław Leśniowolski. Despite significant numerical superiority, the Russian force failed to overcome the Lithuanian detachment, estimated at around 1,500 men.
Polish-Lithuanian chronicles portrayed the battle as a major Russian defeat, claiming losses exceeding 8,000 from a force of 40,000. Russian military historian Alexander Filyushkin concluded these figures were massively exaggerated for political purposes, casting doubt on the scale of the engagement as recorded.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Stanisław Leśniowolski.
Side B
1 belligerent
Andrey Kurbsky.